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LeonardCohe-
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Wondering if this itinery was reasonable
3 nights nong khai
3 " Loei
1 " Udon
Not sure if this is enough time or about right to have a good look around but still chill out a bit
Also not sure if we should stay outside town along the river in the villages but thought maybe a bit quiet at night.
Hotels we found are
Hirun - Nong Khai
Sirimathani - Loei
Centara - Udon
Any suggestions would be useful
(we would be driving so don't need to worry about buses)
#1 Posted: 16/2/2013 - 23:26
MADMAC
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I like the Irish Clock for chillin' and sleepin'. A little more pricey than some, but I found it cozy.
I'm not a huge Udon fan, although there are some interesting archeological takes in the province if you're up for it. Would probably need two days though. I presume you are travelling around by bus or I'd say head off to Chaiyapum and highway 225. I loved that areas.
#2 Posted: 17/2/2013 - 02:10
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LeonardCohe-
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car as stated.
#3 Posted: 17/2/2013 - 07:28
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I've also stayed at the Irish Clock. It has that British expat steak and chips vibe about it, but the rooms were very comfortable and spacious and the staff friendly enough. Nong Khai is an excellent place to spend a few days. While you're there it is highly recommended that you pay a visit to Sala Kaew Ku. It's about 7kms out of town and is a large parkland filled with the most extraordinary massive scultptures depicting quite bizarre blending of eastern spiritualism, all hand built by a self-styled mystic. You won't be disappointed.
#4 Posted: 18/2/2013 - 21:42
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For Nongkhai, I think Royal Nakara is better than Hirun.
#5 Posted: 19/2/2013 - 02:02
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MADMAC
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"car as stated."
You'd think I'd have noticed that...
The Chaiyupum loop is nice. At least I thought so. Like the foothills of the Herz Mountains. Not a lot of people. Some nice resorts. But, you'd have to axe something else to do it.
#6 Posted: 19/2/2013 - 02:24
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LeonardCohe-
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Looking at the map, there's not a lot to do in Nong Khai and it doesn't look that good in photos so will probably just visit for half day and drive west onto Chiang Khong and then onto Loei.
1 n Udon
2n Chiang Khong
3n Loei
1n Udon
I think this will be better
#7 Posted: 20/2/2013 - 09:47
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I hate to ask, but why does Chiang Khong look more interesting than Nong Khai? It's the size of a postage stamp.
#8 Posted: 22/2/2013 - 02:51
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LeonardCohe-
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More peaceful and I hear there's some water activities you can do. Nong Khai looks like any other town - it just looks a bit disappointing in photos.
The thing is we won't be pre-booking hotels so if we like or hate a place it's easy for us to stay on or move.
We are more interested in nature than towns anyway.
#9 Posted: 22/2/2013 - 10:39
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"The thing is we won't be pre-booking hotels so if we like or hate a place it's easy for us to stay on or move."
Good plan. I was just curious. I'm a city guy, more interested in towns and people than nature. Differnt strokes.
#10 Posted: 23/2/2013 - 02:04
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LeonardCohe-
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I often visit Bangkok so I get my city/people fix there. We will just fly into Udon, hire a car for a week and take it as we see it. Should not be so busy mid year so finding a good room on the day shouldn't be an issue or we will just book 1 day ahead.
#11 Posted: 24/2/2013 - 06:47
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Yeah, you should be good to go. It looks like you've planned something to your taste - but if you like nature, route 225 was very nice. Some very pleasant mountain top resorts out there. I liked it a lot - and I'm not even a nature guy.
#12 Posted: 25/2/2013 - 04:02
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LeonardCohe-
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"The Chaiyupum loop is nice"
Would you start the loop from Khon Kaen and where else would you go?
Also looking at Lom Sak and Petchabun but don't know much about them.
Might be able to stay up to 11 nights so looking at various options. Hard to decide.
#13 Posted: 3/3/2013 - 07:06
LeonardCohe-
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http://www.martinstrong.com/thai/Chaiyaphum.html
Most info I could find. Looks pretty nice.
#14 Posted: 3/3/2013 - 07:17
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Yeah, depending on where you're coming from, Khon Kaen to Chaiyupum and then west along 225. There were some nice mountainside resorts along this road. The mountain scenery was really nice. There are some Khmer ruins in the province, but you would have to check to see exactly where - I didn't check them out because I didn't have time. When you hit route 21 you go north. This area is not very scenic, but from Lom Sak down highway 12 it's nice. If you work your way on lessar roads into the national forest I'll bet it would be interesting, but I don't know how car friendly that terrain would be - as you know I'm a motorcycle guy. But I loved the 225 and will do it again.
#15 Posted: 3/3/2013 - 09:32
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LeonardCohe-
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Do you have any photos?
http://walkinginthefootstepsofchangnoi.wordpress.com/2012/05/16/motorbike-trips-again-lom-sak-and-loei-thailand/
found this
#16 Posted: 3/3/2013 - 20:02
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Unforunately I did not have a camera with me when I made the trip. I wasn't actually planning on going there. I took a wrong turn and... there I was.
#17 Posted: 4/3/2013 - 01:22
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MADMAC
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But the photos look right. Same kind of scenery - maybe better on 225.
#18 Posted: 4/3/2013 - 01:23
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Couldn't you also go northwest from Udon via Sangkhom and Chiang Kham then take a left down via Lomsak (i think) to Loei? I've only done it by motorbike, but it is a beautiful trip and Sangkhom has some good guesthouses and a great laid back river scene (far lower key than Nong Khai).
From Loei could continue south via Khon Kaen to Chaiyaphum, and then loop back to Udon.
The big time sink would be the parks around Loei - there are three, all pretty solid & totally Thai destinations rather than foreigners (if that is what you are after).
Should also message Tilapia as he has cycled around there a lot.
/s
#19 Posted: 4/3/2013 - 02:30
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Yeah, I have to do that Loei piece as well. My son has been through there and raves about it.
#20 Posted: 4/3/2013 - 06:39
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