Mekong tour itinerary

DAY 1 Airport arrival- 140 km taxi ride to the hotel

Your fellow travellers will be arriving at all times from around the world today, so there are no arranged activities for the daytime. Our taxi driver will pick you up at Bangkok Airport. We will hold a meeting in the evening when everyone arrives. You will get a note at reception explaining this.

DAY 2 Jomtien Beach - relax, shopping and local ride

We recommend to relax at the pool or the sand beach opposite the hotel to get rid of jet-lag in the morning. Alternatively should you consider that you are not experienced enough, have not ridden for some time or just wish to ride with a group you can join our two hour morning ride/training. After you can do some shopping particularly items you might need on the tour. Pack your things into panniers in the afternoon. We shall have a dinner together this evening.

DAY 3 Ride to Aranyaprathet and Khmer country

Your suitcases with items not needed will be deposited at the hotel. After the breakfast we shall ride east to Cambodian border. This is one of the least populated areas of Thailand because it was until recently part of Cambodia. Good winding roads with hardly any traffic. At one stage the road disappears under the surface of the lake during the rainy season. We will have to take detour. There is a beautiful scenery all the way to Aranyaprathet (hotel) where we shall arrive after 290 kilometres of ride. You can join the tour leader for a meal on the night market and if the mood is right visit some Thai karaoke.

DAY 4 Taxi ride to Angkor Wat temples (130 km)

Early morning departure. 5 kilometres tuk-tuk (three-wheeler) ride to the Thai-Cambodian border. Visa is arranged there. Continue two hours taxi drive to Angkor wat temples. You can cycle around ancient monuments if you wish but in a hot climate a motorcycle (not ha horse) driven carriage is more comfortable. Return to Aranyaprathet (hotel) in the late afternoon.

DAY 5 Along the Cambodian border to Ubon Ratchatani

This day involves a longer ride. Road runs through a hilly area first and then across the Isaan plateau through mainly Khmer (Cambodian) language spoken area. Rice paddies, water buffaloes - typical Thai rural life. After 390 kilometres we will arrive to Ubon Ratchatani (hotel).

DAY 6 Mekong river rapids, boat trip to prehistoric paintings

Leaving Ubon behind (as the locals call the city) we will have a short ride of 90 kilometres ahead to get to Khong Chiam (bungalow hotel) where you will get the first glimpse of Mekong river. On the way we shall stop at the river Mun rapids. After dropping our luggage at the hotel and a lunch we will board a boat and take 3 hours trip up the Mekong. We shall stop at the cliffs next to the river rapids and take a walk through bamboo woods to prehistoric rock paintings. On the way back we shall stop at Laos village (no visa or stamp but depending on border conditions) for some refreshments/shopping (Chinese medicines like bottles of rice brandy with cobra snakes or centipedes inside). After an exhausting day it will be pleasant to relax on the terrace restaurant on the banks of Mekong and enjoy tranquillity of the place.

DAY 7 Indochina market at Mukdahan, That Phanom chedi

After the breakfast we shall ride north along the river. There are unusual rock formations along the way to Mukdahan where we shall stop at the market (big variety of dried fruits, cashew nuts and others). Further north we shall visit the "pilgrimage" Buddhist temple - That Phanom with tallest pagoda in region. After 310 kilometres of ride we arrive at Nakhon Phanom (hotel) - that used to be the biggest American air-force base during the Vietnam war. From Nakhon Phanom there is only 60 kilometres to Vietnam and this narrow strip used to be the most bombed part of Ho Shi Ming trail.

DAY 8 Jet Si waterfalls and Phutok temple on red sandstone massif

In the morning we shall ride to Jet Si waterfalls which are the most magnificent during the rainy season. We shall take a walk along the stream with seven levels of waterfalls to the top. We shall refresh in the river cascades. After lunch we shall visit Phutok (the Lonely Mountain) forest temple. The stairway to the temple is divided into 7 levels symbolising 7 levels of enlightenment. The view atop is striking. After a short ride to Bung Kan (hotel) on the banks of the Mekong and a well deserved dinner.

DAY 9 Ahorn temple and Nong Khai

Today we have a short morning ride to Nong Khai (hotel and laundry). On the way we shall stop at Wat Ahorn, the narrowest point on the Mekong with a Thai and Lao Buddhist temples on the top of the rock on each side of the river. We shall arrive to Nong Khai around mid-day giving everybody a chance to sort out laundry, visit some Buddhist temples or get a bargain in the Indochina market. Dinner on the banks of the Mekong overlooking Laos is a must.

DAY 10 Trip to Vientiane - the capital of Laos

Today we travel to the Capital of Laos, Vientiane. At Nong Khai there is one of two bridges across Mekong river. At the Laos side we shall sort out all necessary visa formalities and after  take a tuk-tuk taxi for 30 kilometres ride to Vientiane. Also called City of the Moon it is one of the classic Indochina cities, it conjures up images of exotic Eurasia, with its intriguing mix of Thai, French and Soviet influences. Very unusual items are for sale on the markets and you can enjoy a delicious French baguette with pate. Wide boulevards, tree-lined streets and sidewalk cafes impart a timeless atmosphere. We shall return to Thailand in the early evening before the border closes.

DAY 11 Mountainous Loei province

We shall leave Nong Khai but instead of turning South we shall continue to ride West along Mekong river rapids into Loei mountains. This is not northern most area of Thailand but it is the coldest. With mountains up to 2000 meters high that is the only place where it can snow in the winter. In the valleys it still remains hot during the day (around 28 degrees Celsius). At Chiang Kan we shall leave the Mekong and turn South to provincial capital Loei (hotel).

DAY 12 Loei mountains and Chayapoum plains

Today we have a long but scenic ride. In the morning we shall stop at "old witches tooth" as the locals call the leaning mountain and in the afternoon in Chayapoum before arriving at Pak Chong (hotel).

DAY 13 Rainforests of Khao Yai

After the breakfast we shall ride over the Khao Yai mountain range (1000-1300 meters above sea). There we shall take a jungle walk to two waterfalls. One of them was used for a scene from movie "The Beach". Khao Yai is world's No 7 national park and there will be a good chance to see monkeys, hornbills and gaur, less chance to see wild elephants or tigers. (the jump in The Beach - movie). The afternoon brings us back to our base hotel on Jomtien Beach. Usually the group has a last farewell dinner this day.

DAY 14 Transfer from Jomtien Beach to Bangkok Airport

Your motorcycle touring holiday is ending today. You will receive a DVD with photos and video clips of your escapades during the tour before our taxi picks you up. The time will be arranged depending on your flight departure. The ride from the hotel at Jomtien Beach to the airport takes about one hour. We recommend to book an evening/night flight, giving you an extra day at the end of your holiday.

Avalon Tours