Trip Recommendations - Rayong/Nong Khai/ Chiang Khan/Loei/Pitsanulok/Phetchabun/Rayong

[dinga]

G'day

 

Now looking to undertake Trip 2 on my Enfield.  In the continued absence of Trip Reports in this Forum, appreciate any advice/recommendations including tourist spots and accommodation:

 

*  am thinking I will take my time (as usual). Can include extra days as timings are pretty flexible

*  Day 1:  Ride Rayong to Korat - O/N

*  Day 2:  Ride to Nong Khai - O/N

*  Day 3:  Ride along the Mekong to Chiang Khan (O/N there or Loei)

*  Day 4:  Ride to Pitsanulok - O/N

*  Day 5:  Ride to Petchabun - O/N there or somewhere another 150km or so closer to Rayong (any suggestions???)

*  Day 6:  Ride to home in Rayong 

 

Thanks (previous suggestions about my 1st trip were very helpful)

[The Hammer2021]

I am not a biker but an inveterate traveler around Thailand. Go for it! Nong Khai and the surrounding area deserves a few days.

 

Edited October 30, 2021 by The Hammer2021

[JAS21]

In Phitsanulok I can recommend staying at D11 Hotel.

 

We stayed there twice in the last two weeks. Once on the way up to Chiang Mai and once last night on the way back.

 

Room 206 is worth booking. Cost us 800thb going up and 1000thb on the way back!

 

Book direct. Breakfast is rice soup/toast&jam/orange juice/fruit/coffee. Like many hotels at present. Lucky to find one with buffet at that price.

 

We looked at The Zense… disappointing!

[HashBrownHarry]

I'd wait a couple more weeks to confirm no more rain on the way.

 

NK to CK is one of my favourite roads in Thailand, all the way along the Mehkong, very cool

 

I'd defo stay in CK rather than Loei city itself.

 

With the exception of Route 12 over Khao Kho i find there's not much worth seeing in Phitsanulok, i'd spend that extra day or more exploring Khai Kho, Phu Ta Burk (sp) and the surrounding hills, some really cool stuff to see and spoilt for choice of very nice resorts. ( take some warm clothes ).

 

Let us know how you get on...

 

 

[Moonlover]

Check out a diversion up into the hills between Nong Khai and Chiang Khan to visit Wat Pa Phu Ae. There's some great riding along the way and the site itself is stunning.

 

 

[MikeyIdea]

Phu Tapp Boek is nice, good bike roads

[HashBrownHarry]

9 hours ago, MikeyIdea said:

Phu Tapp Boek is nice, good bike roads

Avoid weekends during the next 3-4 months - crazy busy!

[Expat68]

You should be ok for the weather in NK/CK/Loei. If you are into sky walks

(it is scenic anyway) a relatively new one outside Chiang Khan, in CK instead of turning left towards Loei go straight on, it is probably about 20K on your right, the road eventually joins up with the CK to Loei road, with a couple of left turns. Enjoy

[Pierre Hanot]

8 hours ago, HashBrownHarry said:

Avoid weekends during the next 3-4 months - crazy busy!

Why should it be busy ??? The whole country is under restrictions.. ???? 

[HashBrownHarry]

24 minutes ago, Pierre Hanot said:

Why should it be busy ??? The whole country is under restrictions.. ???? 

It's up to you then buttercup it's solid advice unless you like being stuck in traffic / queues....

 

Go at the weekend, pls report back.

 

Have a nice time.

[HashBrownHarry]

4 hours ago, Expat68 said:

You should be ok for the weather in NK/CK/Loei. If you are into sky walks

(it is scenic anyway) a relatively new one outside Chiang Khan, in CK instead of turning left towards Loei go straight on, it is probably about 20K on your right, the road eventually joins up with the CK to Loei road, with a couple of left turns. Enjoy

Was at the Skywalk end of January, it's good for a coffee and a photo, we were the only people there the day we went - perfect.

[Denim]

10 hours ago, HashBrownHarry said:

Avoid weekends during the next 3-4 months - crazy busy!

Check first though. Covid outbreak there recently so might still be closed or in lockdown.

[HashBrownHarry]

i live close by, trust me.

[DJ54]

Might want to post in the .. ASEAN Now ...more bike porn ... forum. Lot of motorcycle enthusiasts...

uhhh and it’s quasi lorn... naked motorcycles.. I’m here in the NE Udon Thani province and it 

sound like a good ride... might make me get the itch ,. 

 

Havent been on any long rides here with exception to Golden Triangle loop 5-7 years ago..

last US ride 30 days 9,000+ miles.. phone stuffed in my pocket and stayed there until stopped

fir the night... 

[Jeffr2]

13 hours ago, Pierre Hanot said:

Why should it be busy ??? The whole country is under restrictions.. ???? 

It's insanity here south of Pattaya on weekends.  Can barely move around.  Been like that for a year now.

 

Restrictions?  Right....5555

[Peterw42]

13 hours ago, Pierre Hanot said:

Why should it be busy ??? The whole country is under restrictions.. ???? 

There isn't much in the way of travel restrictions, half of Bangkok comes down to pattaya/jomtien on the weekend.

I was down past Rayong last week, full of Thais traveling about.

[Jeffr2]

9 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

There isn't much in the way of travel restrictions, half of Bangkok comes down to pattaya/jomtien on the weekend.

I was down past Rayong last week, full of Thais traveling about.

I read they're projecting 7,000 international arrivals today, and 30,000 domestic ones.  Thais are for sure on the move again.

[kelboy]

Busy ha that's why he's on a motorbike. 

[Kiwithl]

30-50 kms before ck aleft turn off leads up a nice twisty road. You'll know it when you see it, a proper intersection with turning lanes etc.

Past ck keep to river side or as close to as possible. Some nice twisty back roads (sealed) before turning south to main road to Loei. Very good nic main road through hills, nice high speed curves. (Yes, I know you're on a R.E.)

Sangkhom, half way Nongkhai to ck, accomodation 200baht up.

Wat pha tak seua and waterfall 10kms or so before Sangkhom is nice. Follow river away from shallow crowded area, it gets better. Good for a dip.

 

 

 

[Kiwithl]

Mrs told me Ck or nearby there are tents available for overnight. 2 man pups up to family size with floor, electricity, beds etc. Some by the river, some at elevation. Good for cold season, misty valleys etc. Thais love that sort of thing.

[dinga]

43 minutes ago, Kiwithl said:

Mrs told me Ck or nearby there are tents available for overnight. 2 man pups up to family size with floor, electricity, beds etc. Some by the river, some at elevation. Good for cold season, misty valleys etc. Thais love that sort of thing.

Thai's may but not for this little black duck (at 67 years old, I'm pretty well over camping...).  

[Damrongsak]

One of the guys from Loei Gentleman's Motorcycle Club(Facebook) just started out on this route in Loei on Sunday.  He was going to camp a night in the hills by Na Haeo.  No doubt some nice twisty roads and some mountains (Phu Reua and Phu Suan Sai) in that area.

 

Route map:

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.co.uk%2Fmaps%2Fdir%2F17.5003569%2C101.71801%2F''%2F''%2F''%2F17.4750252%2C101.0458245%2F17.4729383%2C100.8626969%2F17.3590692%2C100.8655613%2F''%2F%4017.4040997%2C101.1818889%2C10z%2Fdata%3D!4m46!4m45!1m1!4e1!1m15!1m1!1s0x0%3A0x6663889b7a21107e!2m2!1d101.2752719!2d17.4248551!3m4!1m2!1d101.1899517!2d17.4350784!3s0x3120dc96f11fcb2f%3A0x410bd2e1be3ac9a7!3m4!1m2!1d101.101952!2d17.3313358!3s0x3120e9b71c944d13%3A0xea93c0f5bcf5aac0!1m5!1m1!1s0x0%3A0x2324e631390a8875!2m2!1d101.0891546!2d17.5030437!1m5!1m1!1s0x0%3A0xba31820cf9deeeae!2m2!1d101.0414066!2d17.4807702!1m0!1m0!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d101.3344257!2d17.3538922!3s0x3120dffb007961d1%3A0xa84d5b083ddce491!1m5!1m1!1s0x0%3A0xf6aebe06c4a32e72!2m2!1d101.7132604!2d17.487283!3e0%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1X8r_f_2Xgw35sGdV0sgSkqOzFzxuqNCG3mAG3bJd2ojDqGYUvzSyHZP8&h=AT0laJEit1G170QUnQG4ZHBoLb3jfcQ4_ai1mtpcMsOfQGJpqgosbZrp33FcXOm3CUfCWYPcLOlqTd935QbBISNloc7FARiVhHpRAfaARz1B-pvSBQGcJrqJHBERRABSrt4&__tn__=H-R&c[0]=AT1prioFPMD4wrEbTnyLKVLrVHFbfDNlJai-fkmluXgp_E3g0pp94OXllNTFfY1bAGUKLEnnoLI51V34qCEKPm3QzPYfgxsOgr549fTPP3--SBLY0rGaKtaeUqFfLKeNhG01FS9a6OGy6SafWboFvFdFfSQ9xTu8PfD9ZBKym-AwTSf08rJdW9gWg9k7p5K2ElBQYywTVV8rIrF1Sag

 

 

[HashBrownHarry]

13 hours ago, kelboy said:

Busy ha that's why he's on a motorbike. 

Strange comment???

 

Will being on a motorbike get him a seat at a restaurant quicker / skip queues at tourist attractions / get him a room quicker than being in a car / on foot / on an elephant?

 

 

[Damrongsak]

I've only been on the part of the CK - NK road from Chiang Khan to Pak Chom.  I think it was a dirt road back then (circa 1978).  In '79/'80, I worked in the refugee camp in Ban Winai, about 10 km south of Pak Chom on Rt 2108.  That was dirt for sure.  Miserable in the dry season if you got stuck behind a 10 wheel truck. 

 

On the way to the camp one day, there were hundreds of bedraggled Hmong people coming up the river bank having forded the river.  Huge pile of guns ( mostly M1 carbines AFIK) where they disarmed them.  Apparently they were marched all the way to CK.  I think they sent them back to Laos, much to their peril. 

 

Edited November 2, 2021 by Damrongsak

[Damrongsak]

Some riding routes in Loei from an experienced Loei biker:

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/583024785866623/permalink/1031529287682835/

 

Look at all the comments, as there are 3 or four recommended routes.

 

 

Edited November 3, 2021 by Damrongsak

[dinga]

Thanks so much for all the suggestions & comments (I've been somewhat silenced due to a still karked PC).

 

Anyhow, am off on Sunday on this pencilled-in itinerary:

*  Day 1:  Rayong Home --> Si Khio O/N  (bypassing Korat)  -  400 Kms

*  Day 2:  Si Khio -->  Chaiyaphum/Nam Nho NP/Tat Kloi/Phu Luang O/N  -  375 Kms

*  Day 3:  Phu Luang -->  Wat Pa Phu Ae/Tha Bo/ Sangkhom  O/N  -  300 Kms

*  Days 4 & 5:  Sangkhom -->  Chiang Khan/Huai Tio/ Khao Kho/Phu Thap Buek  -  420 Kms

*  Day 6:  Phu Thap Buek -->  Petchabun/Korat  -  360 Kms

*  Day 7:  Korat -->  Rayong Home  -  340 Kms

 

Some 2,200 Kms (but it's always longer than planned),  Should be great - starting to feel a bit excited

[seedy]

Remember - for every Km of road you ride, you ride 2 Km of ditch

Be Safe

[HashBrownHarry]

3 hours ago, dinga said:

Thanks so much for all the suggestions & comments (I've been somewhat silenced due to a still karked PC).

 

Anyhow, am off on Sunday on this pencilled-in itinerary:

*  Day 1:  Rayong Home --> Si Khio O/N  (bypassing Korat)  -  400 Kms

*  Day 2:  Si Khio -->  Chaiyaphum/Nam Nho NP/Tat Kloi/Phu Luang O/N  -  375 Kms

*  Day 3:  Phu Luang -->  Wat Pa Phu Ae/Tha Bo/ Sangkhom  O/N  -  300 Kms

*  Days 4 & 5:  Sangkhom -->  Chiang Khan/Huai Tio/ Khao Kho/Phu Thap Buek  -  420 Kms

*  Day 6:  Phu Thap Buek -->  Petchabun/Korat  -  360 Kms

*  Day 7:  Korat -->  Rayong Home  -  340 Kms

 

Some 2,200 Kms (but it's always longer than planned),  Should be great - starting to feel a bit excited

Allow time for up/down thap buek, although short on km's, it's relatively time consuming, also quite a technical ride particularly with trafiic. I went up last week and it was 7C cooler than Phetchabun, about 24 ish @ midday - lovely.

 

Timing is just about right i'd say, the last of the hot weather should be over by then.

 

Enjoy your trip,  safe travels.

[dinga]

Thanks again all for the great suggestions.  I arrived back home yesterday after 6 days and +2,200 Kms.  Great trip with the highlights being:

*. the ride along the Mekong from Sangkhom and passed Chiang Khan (and catching up with Kiwithi for a couple of beers)

* Khao Khao and Phu That Buek (simply stunning)

* winding roads through forests and National Parks

*. Being cold for the first couple of hours in the morning

 

Couple of perplexing things:

*. Wanted to see the Wat that was recommended (with photo) - Wat Pa Phu Are.  My GPS took me to a tiny and isolated Wat by that name.  Appreciate confirmation of the name for next time (not Wat Pa Phu Kon????)

* At various times the GPS indicated I was riding in the middle of the Mighty Kong...,.(thankfully not so)

 

Now looking to plan the next trip - no doubt I'll be seeking more advice from you guys.

 

best regards

 

 

 

[Kwasaki]

On 11/27/2021 at 10:23 AM, dinga said:

Thanks again all for the great suggestions.  I arrived back home yesterday after 6 days and +2,200 Kms.  Great trip with the highlights being:

*. the ride along the Mekong from Sangkhom and passed Chiang Khan (and catching up with Kiwithi for a couple of beers)

* Khao Khao and Phu That Buek (simply stunning)

* winding roads through forests and National Parks

*. Being cold for the first couple of hours in the morning

 

Couple of perplexing things:

*. Wanted to see the Wat that was recommended (with photo) - Wat Pa Phu Are.  My GPS took me to a tiny and isolated Wat by that name.  Appreciate confirmation of the name for next time (not Wat Pa Phu Kon????)

* At various times the GPS indicated I was riding in the middle of the Mighty Kong...,.(thankfully not so)

 

Now looking to plan the next trip - no doubt I'll be seeking more advice from you guys.

 

best regards

We just got back from a bike ride from Sukhothai going to Prahre and then onto Nan.  

We needed proof of vaccination.

Edited November 28, 2021 by Kwasaki