Chiang Saen To Jing Hong

[hesperus]

Hi,

I would like to enquire how can I get from Chiang Saen to Jing Hong in China by boat? On the return trip, I would like to travel by land (means China > Laos > Thailand).. Any recommendations and cost for transport and accomodation? Dun need a guide as I prefer to look and get around myself.

Thanks!

[RoastLamb]

Hi,

I would like to enquire how can I get from Chiang Saen to Jing Hong in China by boat? On the return trip, I would like to travel by land (means China > Laos > Thailand).. Any recommendations and cost for transport and accomodation? Dun need a guide as I prefer to look and get around myself.

Thanks!

I did this trip around 18 months ago. There was only one company doing the trip. At the time they did the trip to China on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with the return journey on Tues, Thurs and Saturday. I arrived at a guesthouse in Chiang Saen (sorry can't remember the name, but it was central and along the road by the river) and asked the lady owner where I could buy tickets and she directed me to the boat company ticket office which was located a few minutes walk down the road. I ended up walking a long way past it and she must of somehow caught wind of this because just as I was starting to worry she turned up by my side on her motorbike and pointed me back in the right direction, then kept watching me from a distance until she saw that i'd found it.

You need to have your passport with Chinese visa and passport photos and they will issue you with immigration docs. You will also need to pay upfront. Try to get to the ticket office early in the day to ensure everything runs smoothly. Their English is not very good at all. I got there too late and didn't have all of the money on me, so I went off to a cash point leaving my passport and 2000baht with them, only to return and find the place all shuttered up with only a couple of phone numbers stuck to the shutter along with some Thai writing that I didn't understand. A few bizzare phone calls and curious motorbike drive-bys later and everything was solved. My fault, really.

The boat leaves very early - about 5am. You'll need to walk to the port. It might be a good idea to suss out where the port is in relation to where you are staying in the daylight the day before, rather than doing as I did and wandering along a pitch black road, on my own, with everything I owned on my back, in a small Thai border town in the middle of the night, with no idea where I was supposed to be going and nothing but eerie noises for company. As it happens, it's quite easy to find. It's about a two minute walk from the town centre along the river.

Upon arriving at the port there were a few confused looking falang and several busy looking Thais loading things onto boats. Eventually a girl i recognised from the ticket office came and rounded us up and lead us down some rudimentary steps and along a 5 metre wooden plank (above the river, in the dark, with full bags... scary) onto the boat. It was very quiet. About eight falang, a few more Thai/Chinese. They served nice Chinese food a few times during the trip and there were snacks available to buy. The scenery is as you would expect along the Mekong. It was possible to sit at the back of the boat in the sunshine but the boats engine was extremely loud so I ended up spending most of my time inside chatting to a very tall guy from Switzerland and relaxing on the spacious seats. Arrived in Jinghong just after dark, went through immigration and was let loose on the streets. If you ever come across a town with more beautiful women than Jinghong please let me know. Unbelievable. All in all a good trip.

On the return trip it bacame clear why the staff at the boat company were so indifferent, because this is where they make their money. On the return leg the boat was completely full, every single seat taken with mostly Chinese tourists. They even had a second boat that was full as well. I was the only forienger on either of the boats. I made an awful mistake of sitting right at the back where there was absolutely no leg room, I hardly moved for ten hours. However as fate would have it I was sat next to a very nice Chinese girl who was on her way to Thailand to learn about spirituality and we ended up becoming very good friends and still keep in touch to this day. Funny how these things happen.

I realise I've probably got a bit carried away typing all of this out without providing much actual information, but the key points are that you can sort everything out on the ground from Chiang Saen; it's expensive but probably just about worth it; Jinghong and the whole of Xishuangbanna is great; the staff at the boat company aren't very useful but arrive in Chiang Saen at least the morning before departure and you'll be fine.

[chirunr]

Hi,

I would like to enquire how can I get from Chiang Saen to Jing Hong in China by boat? On the return trip, I would like to travel by land (means China > Laos > Thailand).. Any recommendations and cost for transport and accomodation? Dun need a guide as I prefer to look and get around myself.

Thanks!

Roast Lamb's post is probably 100% correct, but maybe of no use. When I went to Jinhong 2 months ago, the boat had been canceled for a few days or weeks because of potshotters shooting at it from the Burma side. So had to go overland through Laos.

Regarding China to Thailand (or vice versa) through Laos, just remember that a few dozen white-skinned foreigners, most of whom are probably not as smart as you, do this trip every day. MOST IMPORTANT ADVICE: (1) Any advice older than about one week is probably partially or wholly incorrect (2) Ask questions along the way, at guesthouses, at Internet cafes, etc. (3) Be prepared for frequent delays of an hour or two or a day or two, and consider the delays part of the good experience of travel in Asia, (4) Overland between Chiang Hong-Huey Xai-Mengla-Jinhong will take you at least 2 grueling days, but you will see far more than if you fly, because that way you will see nothing, (5) Enjoy the journey.

[hesperus]

Hey guys, that was informative indeed.. At least I do know what to expect there.. Just to ask where did you guys change your money at? In Chiang Saen or at Jing Hong? If at Jing Hong, do they accept Baht to CNY? Or I must prepare some USD..

Anyway, Thanks for the replies..

[foreststone]

I Know there is only one tourist company running the speed boat from Chiang Saen to Jinghong. In China the boat ticket cost 800 yuan RMB, If you can buy ticket from China, maybe it is cheaper.

good luck!

www.forest-cafe.org

[mja1906]

Theres a company called 'Chiang Saen Tour and Travel' they have an office opposite the river.

Their number is 053 777051, 01 1112470, -18817827.

They offer boat tickets and tours in China.

Good Luck