Driving Across The North

[sceadugenga]

I was thinking of going across to Nong Khai from Chiang Rai and taking the border/river roads.

Any tips on roads like Route 2195?

Is it worth the obvious extra time that would be taken from a scenic viewpoint? Any military hassles?

[gotlost]

It looks like nobody has any adventure in their soul or are laze. I hope you make this trip. I would thank it well be scenic and hopeful not to bumpy. Looking for a report back after you return.

[Gary A]

I live up here and never had the nerve to try the route. I'd guess that the road leaves a lot to be desired. As it is, I have a friend who lives in Chiang Rai. I do go cross country a bit and then take 203 all the way down to highway 12 then back north on highway 11. The 4 digit roads can get pretty tough.

If you decide to try the 4 digit roads, let us know how it works out.

[sceadugenga]

Thanks gotlost and GaryA, I'd just about given up I'll admit.

At the moment it's all on the drawing board, I intend to drive to Udon Thani the straightforward way, pick some friends up, spend a few days in Vientiane, then back to Thailand and do a bit of sight seeing with them on the way back to Chiang Rai.

I'll more than likely do the Nong Khai to Chiang Khan stretch which seems fairly straight forward but the land route around the Lao border has always intrigued me I'll admit.

I'm no stranger to 4 digit routes, there's plenty run through the mountains up in the north here and the road surfaces are usually uniformly good. However they tend to go through every small community where dogs, chickens and drunks sleep on the road.

Who knows, I'll definitely do a report for the forum anyway.

[gotlost]

Thanks gotlost and GaryA, I'd just about given up I'll admit.

At the moment it's all on the drawing board, I intend to drive to Udon Thani the straightforward way, pick some friends up, spend a few days in Vientiane, then back to Thailand and do a bit of sight seeing with them on the way back to Chiang Rai.

I'll more than likely do the Nong Khai to Chiang Khan stretch which seems fairly straight forward but the land route around the Lao border has always intrigued me I'll admit.

I'm no stranger to 4 digit routes, there's plenty run through the mountains up in the north here and the road surfaces are usually uniformly good. However they tend to go through every small community where dogs, chickens and drunks sleep on the road.

Who knows, I'll definitely do a report for the forum anyway.

Defiantly go for it. I to have seen the things you mentioned plus a few other unmentionable on these 4 digit roads. What I'm aware of is the 4 digit roads around Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are relative good but when you go over to Issan I would rate them from bad to sucks with sucks having holes the size of the Grand Canyon. So take your time becarful and enjoy. Looking forward to your report.

[happylarry]

Good luck with your trip. Just a thought though....I have never driven to Laos but dont you have to have a passport of some sort for your car?

Have you looked into all the paperwork involved???

HL

[KhunDave]

I've driven part of your route while doing a trip from Chiang Mai to Loei. Took Highway 11 to just south of Uttaradit and then off onto the minor roads up towards Na Haew. Then by the road which parallels the border to Chiang Khan. It's very scenic and the roads are not in too bad condition - I've come accross much worse elsewhere. No problems with the military.

It's also possible to pop across to Laos at Tha Li, visas available at the border. There's not much to see at that point though - just a couple of noodle stalls and a small market selling mostly junk. Good opportunity to stock up on Beer Lao however.

[sceadugenga]

Thanks Dave, that's great to hear.

happylarry, I appear to have mislead you, I wouldn't take your car to Lao let alone my own.

My intention would be to leave the car at a Nong Khai hotel, with the security guard lucratively encouraged to watch over it, and take a tuktuk to the border.

Edited November 25, 2009 by sceadugenga

[JusMe]

I've done the trip a few years ago by public bus. Chiang Khan to Nong Khai is easy. Around the hump was tough by public bus as not many went that way - had to do a roundabout. But I've meandered around lots of those roads (again, a few years ago) by motorbike, and they were in excellent condition. Kept that way by the military because Laos is such a short hop away.

I'd think by now you'd have no difficulty making the route, as long as you take it slow.

[happylarry]

hey sceadugenga...you may want to buy todays Bangkok Post.

There is an article that takes up two pages of the horizons supplement, all about driving overland in Laos, including many interesting pictures.

I know you said you werent driving yourself but its still interesting.

HL

[sceadugenga]

No way mate, I lived there for a year.... for start they drive on the wrong side of the road.

Hiring a car and driver is certainly an option I considered. I've made several road journeys there by bus and it's a fascinating country.

[Cuban]

I did it the other way round some years ago, most of the trip was at night so can't comment on the views. The only lasting memory was of really bad Lao stations being the only thing I could get on the radio.

>Any military hassles?

Never encounted anything bad, few normal police check points here and there. No scams, just interested in what a farang is doing off the normal tourist route, wave a map at them and yaba on about sight seeing.

I did get stopped by a check point (police) looking for drugs once (not that area), they searched the car I was in. Have read more about the Thai legal matters on that subject recently, I think they need a drugs officer in attendance to do it legally(?).

Fuel: I did make a point of refilling when 1/2 full not being sure about supplies ahead, but this was in the days of over night gas station closures to save fuel.

Have fun.

[phibunmike]

:

:

No scams, just interested in what a farang is doing off the normal tourist route, wave a map at them and yaba on about sight seeing.

I did get stopped by a check point (police) looking for drugs once (not that area), they searched the car I was in.

:

:

- perhaps you shouldn't have waved the yaba at them...

[Roota]

I've done the route a couple times, most recently about three years ago. As of then, there wasn't a lot of signage, and what there was could be confusing -- GPS recommended! Also allow plenty of time. Nong Khai to Chiang Khan is a pleasant and easy 3 hours. I suggest you spend the night in Chiang Khan, because the drive to the next real bit of civilization, Nan, is definitely an all-day project. There isn't much in between CK and Nan in terms of food or fuel, never mind hotels. Views aren't spectacular, but it's nice rugged countryside. There's been a good deal of road construction up here, linking into Laos, so perhaps things aren't quite wild as they were, but it's still pretty much the back end of nowhere.

[Roota]

I've done the route a couple times, most recently about three years ago. As of then, there wasn't a lot of signage, and what there was could be confusing -- GPS recommended! Also allow plenty of time. Nong Khai to Chiang Khan is a pleasant and easy 3 hours. I suggest you spend the night in Chiang Khan, because the drive to the next real bit of civilization, Nan, is definitely an all-day project. There isn't much in between CK and Nan in terms of food or fuel, never mind hotels. Views aren't spectacular, but it's nice rugged countryside. There's been a good deal of road construction up here, linking into Laos, so perhaps things aren't quite wild as they were, but it's still pretty much the back end of nowhere.