Chiang Khan is a small peaceful town in Loei province in Northeast Thailand, located on the bank of the Mekong River with Laos on the other side of the river.
Chiang Khan is an old town and a very popular destination for Thai tourists. The town is famous for its simple wooden houses adapted to be guest houses, coffee shops, and souvenir shops. Chiang Khan is a compact town so you can just hire a bicycle and ride around the town visiting all attractions.
There are several temples presenting the art of Lanna and Lan Chang in Chiang Khan. The town is also typified by local people and tourists giving alms to the Buddhist monks very early in the morning, ritual that can be seen in Luang Prabang, Laos.
Attractions in Chiang Khan
Walking street
Chai Khong Road, which runs parallel to the Mekong River and is separated from it just by one line of wooden houses, is the main tourist attraction in Chiang Khan. Rows of teakwood buildings, housing small restaurants, bars, shops and guesthouses, lines the street. On weekends Chai Khong Road becomes the Walking Street and fills up with crowds of visitors. Clothes, local arts and crafts are sold at the shops and some really authentic goods can be found here. Various local delicacies are on offer at the restaurants and the street food stalls of Walking Street.
Mekong River Front
One of the main attractions in a peaceful town of Chiang Khan is the promenade on the river front of Mekong. It’s a perfect place for taking a walk in a calm atmosphere, enjoying the view of the mighty river and the forests on Laos’s side. And in the evening here you will rewarded with the most romantic sunset view.
Phu Tok
Phu Tok is a small mountain located 3 km from Chiang Khan. From the top of it you can enjoy stunning panoramic views of the town, Mekong River and surrounding mountains. The best time to visit Phu Tok is early in the morning, when a sea of fog covers all the surroundings and the rising sun adds even more mysticism to this breath-taking scenery.
Wat Si Khun Mueang
Wat Si Khun Mueang temple is one of the most important religious places for local people. It is situated on Chai Khong Road, just at the end of the Walking Street. This ancient temple was influenced by Lanna and Lan Chang styles and houses a nice wooden Lan Chang style Buddha image inside.
Food in Chiang Khan
You can find a variety of interesting and reasonably priced Thai food dishes in Chiang Khan. Check what are 5 dishes you must try in Chiang Khan.
If you would like to know more about Chiang Khan, let us be your guide and introduce you to Slow Life in Chiang Khan.
Where to Stay in Chiang Khan
The best place to stay in Chiang Khan is near the Walking Street as the center of life in this quiet Isan town. Chiang Khan is very popular destination for Thais, so you should book accommodation in advance if you are going there on weekend or national holiday. For places to stay in Chiang Khan check Hotels in Chiang Khan on Booking.com or Hotels in Chiang Khan on Agoda.com.
How to get to Chiang Khan?
You can reach Chiang Khan by air or by bus.
Flights to Chiang Khan
The nearest airport to Chiang Khan is Loei Airport (LOE), located in the city of Loei, the capital of province. Loei is about 50 km from Chiang Khan and can be reached by bus or songtaew. The airport is served by 2 low-cost airlines, offering domestic flights from Bangkok. Flight deals can be found here:
Buses to Chiang Khan
There are direct daily and night buses coming from Bangkok to Chiang Khan. The town is well connected with Loei and few other cities in the region, such as Nong Khai and Nakhon Ratchasima. But the easiest and most flexible way to reach Chiang Khan by bus is to take a bus from Bangkok to Loei first and then get a bus to Chiang Khan. Buses to Loei leave from Mo Chit Bus Terminal in Bangkok. Tickets for these bus routes can be booked here:
Bus from Bangkok to Chiang Khan
Weather in Chiang Khan
Between November and May the weather is mostly dry with little rain expected for much of this time. The dry season in Chiang Khan is broken up into the periods of cool season (November to February) and hot season (March to May), when it is not unusual for the temperature to reach up to 40°C.
The wet season in Chiang Khan is from May to October. The rain usually comes in the form of short showers, lasting an hour or two. As the rainy season progresses, the rain can become heavier and more constant, traditionally reaching peak levels in August and September.
For the best time to visit Chiang Khan check our Northeast Thailand weather ratings chart.
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After visiting Chiang Khan you are planning to continue your trip down south or to the central area? Check when is the best time to visit Thailand's other destinations.
