I intend taking this route to Chiang Khan next month.

Any advice on the condition of the road?

It would be great to get an update I'm also interested in this route. Has to be an interesting drive. Hope you have a great time and report back on your success.

I bicycled up this route. Nice, except for the busy bits around Chaiyaporn (for a bicyclist, anyway). After that, very nice all the way thru Loei and then Chiang Khan. Have a nice drive.

Not sure if we're talking the same route, Loei isn't on 211.

Where is Chaiyaporn?

The road I want to use closely follows the Mekong.

Oops, my bad. I was thinking of 201, up from Si Kieu (sp), thru Chaiyaphum (sp from map I'm looking at).

The stretch of 211 you're looking at from Chiang Khan to Nong Khai is actually very nice, a bit twisty with some potholes earlier on, I biked that a year ago, then drove it 4 months ago. Easy and scenic along the Mekong.

Sangkhom is a nice place for lunch and a nite. There's cute guesthouse-restaurant right on the river, called Rimkong (sp? can't quite remember) run by a Thai-Singaporean woman with her European husband. You'll see it on your left going down river, among a series of 3 hotels/resorts.

Not sure if we're talking the same route, Loei isn't on 211.

Where is Chaiyaporn?

The road I want to use closely follows the Mekong.

I drove the road about 3 months ago,its a good road but don,t expect miles of divided highway as it is single lane but usually in good condition and quite a scenic drive.

Not sure if we're talking the same route, Loei isn't on 211.

Where is Chaiyaporn?

The road I want to use closely follows the Mekong.

I drove the road about 3 months ago,its a good road but don,t expect miles of divided highway as it is single lane but usually in good condition and quite a scenic drive.

Really nice drive but do not drive it during songkrarn, Chang Charn to Nong Kai took me 7 hours.

Could not believce how low the river was never seen it like that

Wow, seven hours...

When did you do it Robbo?

There's plenty of water in the Mekong up our way at the moment.

Mekong near the Golden Triangle 24/08/2010.

Edited September 10, 201015 yr by sceadugenga

The 203 from near pitsanaloch is pretty good too a nice drive and good road all the way. Does anyone know if there is a road from say Loei to Chiangmai maybe through Uttaradit thst is useable to ChiangMai?

The 203 from near pitsanaloch is pretty good too a nice drive and good road all the way. Does anyone know if there is a road from say Loei to Chiangmai maybe through Uttaradit thst is useable to ChiangMai?

I have been on GE along with a Michelin Road Map and if you start at Nong Khai and go west these roads parallel the Thai and Lao boarder just about to Nan. 211-2195-1268-1241-1243-1162-101. I'm thanking seriously of doing this route in which direction I don't know.

The 203 from near pitsanaloch is pretty good too a nice drive and good road all the way. Does anyone know if there is a road from say Loei to Chiangmai maybe through Uttaradit thst is useable to ChiangMai?

I made the trip from Loei to Uttaradit several months ago and it is a very nice scenic drive. The roads are good and fairly well marked. I only missed one turn and realized it immediately.

If you enjoy driving, you will enjoy the trip.

Wow, seven hours...

When did you do it Robbo?

There's plenty of water in the Mekong up our way at the moment.

Mekong near the Golden Triangle 24/08/2010.

songkrarn time april 14 if I remember rightly but nice drive still the same

I've done 211 a couple of times, both ways: a very mellow route. Good road conditions, two lane.