North West Isaan | Adventures

: ROUTE OF NORTH WEST ISAAN ROAD TRIP

We headed north out of Khon Kaen on Route AH 12 to Udon Thani, then Nong Khai.

: The Mekong River at Nong Khai.

Nong Khai on the Mekong River

Nong Khai is an important immigration point.

The promenade on the river bank close to the Friendship Bridge is popular with visitors, merchandisers and street food vendors, and is the site of some spectacularly-decorative Nagas.

: Spectacular Nagas.

: Naga on the waterfront.

: Riverfront statement at Nong Khai crafted from cane in the style of a frieze.

Friendship Bridge

The Friendship Bridge at Nong Khai links Thailand and Laos. It was built in 1994 as a gift by the Australian Government to Laos. The bridge carries two lanes of Mittraphap Road (Asian Highway 12) across the Mekong River and a railway that connects Nong Khai to Vientiane.

: Disused shelter near the Friendship Bridge in Nong Khai.

Nong Khai to Mekong Skywalk

Route 211 follows the Mekong River to Chiang Khan. A great drive. The road is lined with banana trees, pineapple plants, tamarind, rubber and mango trees and a great variety of lush vegetation.

: View over Sangkhom and an island in Laos. The watercourse that creates the island is known as the Nam Ton River, however, in reality it is the Mekong River.

: After only a little experience of Thailand it would be unsurprising to see scaffolding erected at a height dangerous for a person of even average height. T.I.T.

The Skywalk at Wat Pha Tak Suea was the first in Thailand, built in 2016 at a cost of ฿17,000,000. At the time of our visit in December 2024 the see-through glass floor was opaque making it, in effect, just a Viewpoint. Fortunately it was getting a badly-needed makeover that, hopefully, will restore the glass walkway.

Time for Coffee

: Coffee plus accommodation.

: Great views from the coffee shop.

: Premiun riverside accommodation.

: Interesting part of the river.

Rock Garden

The river water level was low, exposing rock gardens from one side of the river to the other.

: Navigation hazard.

: Impediment for larger river vessels.

: These rocks are covered at normal water levels.

Lunch

We found an unprepossessing riverside restaurant at Ban Khok Phai – a kilometre upriver from Pak Chom – for a good, simple lunch.

: Lunchtime restaurant.

: Another choke point in the river.

Another Skywalk

The riverside road, Route 211, took us to Chiang Khan, however, our immediate destination was a few kilometres further on – the Chiang Khan skywalk/viewpoint, opened in 2020.

This 80 metre long, two metre wide, glass floored walkway is 80 metres above the confluence of the Mekong and Hueang rivers.

: Chiang Khan Skywalk.

: Chiang Khan Skywalk.

Sand Mining

Between the Skywalk and the town of Chiang Khan there are a number of sand extraction operations. Sand/silt is dredged from the river and stockpiled along the road. There is a worldwide shortage of sand. Who knew!

: Sand/silt is extracted from the river.

: Numerous stockpiles

: Roadside stockpile

: Constant stream of trucks.

Walking Street Out Front, Mekong River Out Back

The feature of the accommodation spread along Walking Street is its traditional wooden buildings.

: Walking Stret, Chiang Khan. Before the street vendors get established.

: Mekong River from our hotel.

Chiang Khan to Tha Li

: Mist over the Mekong.

: Early morning fisherman,

: Bicycles are an iconic feature of Chiang Khan – the symbol of the town.

: Our hotel on Walking Street.

The scenery on Rural Roads between Chiang Khan and Tha Li is fantastic. Very rural, very authentic, country Thailand.

: This statue of Buddha at Tha Li has its own distinctive style (standing rather than sitting or in repose) that adherents to the faith who have more interest in the subject than me might more readily identify. Although photographs of this type rarely appear on these pages this very tall depiction of what the locals perceive as a subject worthy of veneration is sufficiently spectacular (without getting into the race to erect the biggest/tallest edfice) to merit a place in this humble photo-essay.

Tha Li to Nong Bua Lamphu

A drive through country Isaan.

: Spectacular bluff at Wang Thong.

150 Million Years Back in Time

Leaving Tha Li our route was toward Nong Bua Lamphu where one of the attractions is the Dino Park and Shell Museum.

The shell fossils on display are from the Jurassic Period – about 140-150 million years ago. Small and large clams in perfect conditions can be seen.

The fossils were discovered in 1994 around an abandoned mine, leading to the proposition that the area was at one time under the sea.

: Entry to Dino Park/Shell Museum.

: Not sure the building is that old.

The animatronics at the Dino Park are exceptional.

: Not sure how the sounds of the various dinosaurs were determined. Probably to scare the kids.

The Dino Park has numerous large models of dinosaurs, animated and vocalised. Modern research has shown that the mighty roars and screeches coming from the ‘dinosaurs’ may not be realistic. More photographs of the animatronic dinosaurs.

Photographs of some of the fossils on display.

: It is unclear if this is an up-sized model or one of the correct size. Or the real thing?

We left the Dino Park, had lunch and headed for Khon Kaen via Ubol Ratana Dam. The drive along the edge of this huge reservoir is always pleasant.

The North West Isaan Road Trip was a 2.5 day, two night, 786 kilometre outing in December 2024.

To see another 15 suggestions for Day Trips and Weekend Trips ex Khon Kaen (non commercial) that are ‘way different’ from your usual Wat and Food Tour, follow this link.

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