Chiang Khan is a small, peaceful town located on the banks of the Mekong River. It is an ideal place for relaxation and rejuvenation, especially for those seeking a break from the hustle and bustle of city life. If you have the time, Chiang Khan is definitely worth a visit. However, for those traveling from Bangkok, the journey can be quite long. Having your own vehicle offers the most flexibility and allows for sightseeing along the way. For a more adventurous experience, consider taking a bus or train, especially if you choose to travel overnight and arrive in the morning. If speed is your priority, various airlines offer convenient flights to Chiang Khan with attractive promotions.

As salaried workers, planning a trip often involves considering several factors, including available vacation days, workload, and, most importantly, finances. While work is essential, taking breaks is crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. We believe that vacations offer a valuable opportunity to de-stress, leaving worries behind and allowing for relaxation and rejuvenation. Returning to work after a break can feel like a fresh start, with renewed energy and focus.

The desire to travel to various destinations constantly arises in my mind. Reading reviews from various pages that I follow and from travel review threads on various platforms serves as inspiration to visit those places.

Let's go to Chiang Khan. We took advantage of the long weekend to travel to Chiang Khan. This time, we drove ourselves and planned to stop by various attractions along the way to make the most of our trip. Our plan was to leave Bangkok and reach Khao Kho, which is on the way, in the morning to see the sea of fog. However, we initially considered going up to Phu Thap Boek, which might have taken longer, so we settled for Khao Kho instead. And as planned and timed perfectly, we left Bangkok around 2:00 a.m. and arrived at Khao Kho just before dawn. We stopped at a viewpoint and went up to the Khao Kho Memorial. The morning air was excellent, but unfortunately, there was no fog today. TT

We spent some time here, stopping by various places, until it was time for our journey to Chiang Khan. We had to hurry to find something delicious to eat before we ran out of time. We left Phetchabun at almost 9 am, but before driving for a long stretch, we decided to stop and try the famous 7-color Khanom Jeen, a local specialty of Phetchabun.

Driving along, we encountered roadworks and lane expansions, which significantly extended our travel time. We weaved through the left and right lanes, finally arriving at our midday destination: Chiang Khan. This small town had been a long-awaited dream, and we were thrilled to finally set foot in it.

Upon arrival, we drove around from the first alley to look for accommodation. Although we knew the specific alley where our accommodation was located, we were curious about the other options we had found online. We decided to take this opportunity to explore the area and get a better sense of the different accommodations available.

Before we delve into the details of our accommodation, it's worth mentioning that securing a place to stay proved to be quite a challenge. With our decision made just a week prior to our trip, we contacted nearly 20 different accommodations, only to find them fully booked. Our visit took place during the Father's Day weekend in December 2016, a time when finding available lodging can be particularly difficult due to the high demand associated with the festive season. While this review may not strictly adhere to the conventional format, it serves as a personal account of our travel experience, capturing the essence of our stay and the challenges we faced in securing accommodation during a peak travel period.

We found a comfortable place to stay in Sukhothai. The accommodation has rooms on the upper and lower floors. The lower floor has rooms facing the Mekong River, complete with balconies offering stunning river views. Luckily, a room on the lower floor was available, allowing us to check in at 1 pm. However, we arrived at noon, and the staff were still cleaning the room. We left our belongings with them and went for a walk to find some food. As it was early, many restaurants were not yet open. While strolling, we stumbled upon "Khun Mae's Custard Shop," a takeaway-only establishment with no seating. This shop is renowned in Chiang Khan for its freshly baked bread and fragrant, tempting custard.

It's time to check in to our accommodation.

The accommodation is highly recommended for relaxation. It features a balcony with a view of the Mekong River and a private bathroom. The owner is friendly and provides comprehensive information. The room rate includes breakfast, with vouchers provided for designated restaurants. In the morning, guests can enjoy toast, Ovaltine, coffee, and deep-fried dough sticks at the accommodation's kitchen.

The balcony on the ground floor

We relaxed and waited for the evening when more shops would be open, then went out to find something to eat. One place we had in mind was Heuan Luang Prabang Restaurant, which serves authentic northern Thai cuisine based on traditional recipes. It's located on the banks of the Mekong River and features beautiful, simple Lanna-style decor. The menu offers a wide variety of dishes to choose from. We arrived at the restaurant around 5-6 pm, and it was already starting to get crowded. The restaurant has two floors, with one side facing the Mekong River. We enjoyed our meal while taking in the beautiful view. Most of the dishes on the menu are made with local ingredients. Since we were in the region, we decided to try some of the local specialties.

We arrived in Chiang Khan on the 4th, one day before Father's Day, so there weren't many people yet. However, various shops offered candle lighting to pay respects to the King.

Today, I took a leisurely stroll along the Chiang Khan Walking Street. The atmosphere was relaxed, with a moderate number of people. As the evening approached, various shops began to open their doors, displaying an array of goods for sale. The weather was pleasantly cool upon my arrival. After finishing my meal, I embarked on a leisurely walk, searching for souvenirs and snacks. As I ambled along, my attention was drawn to a particular coffee shop. I was particularly impressed by the establishment's aesthetic appeal. The name of the shop is "Two Spouses Guesthouse." This establishment offers more than just coffee; it also serves a variety of beverages, eggs, and provides comfortable accommodations. The ambiance within the shop, the restrooms, and the guest rooms were all exceptionally clean and aesthetically pleasing. I had previously inquired about availability via phone, but the guesthouse was fully booked. However, I was content with simply visiting and enjoying the ambiance.

After a leisurely stroll and some relaxation, our stomachs were full and our eyelids heavy. Feeling drowsy, we returned to our accommodation. However, at this location, once it reaches around 7 or 8 pm, and it's not a festive period, various shops begin to close陆续关门. Some groups, particularly families, finish their dinner and stroll around before returning to their lodgings. In other words, visitors come here primarily for relaxation.

The next morning…

The alarm clock went off, but it was actually my phone ringing. It was the owner of the house. They were kind enough to remind me that I had told them I wanted to participate in the morning sticky rice alms offering. If you're in Chiang Khan and don't participate in the sticky rice alms offering, it's like you haven't even been here. In the morning, in the alleyway of the walking street, in front of the various houses, people have prepared offerings for the alms. If you want to bring your own sticky rice from home, you can. But if that's not convenient, there are people selling ready-made sets of sticky rice in small containers. You can also buy additional snacks or side dishes from the aunties who walk around selling them. Some accommodations may also provide these offerings for you, so you can just buy them there. It's a one-stop shop for everything you need.

After offering alms, I planned to head up to Phu Tok to see the sea of mist.

Phu Thok and the walking street are not far apart. You can drive there in just a few minutes. However, you are not allowed to drive up Phu Thok yourself. There are cars available at the bottom of the hill to take you up. The drivers are local people from the area. When you arrive, buy a queue ticket first. Once you have your ticket, you can get on the car. The cars go up and down all the time. When you reach the top, you can get off at any time and take any car back down.

Where are you, fog? I can't find you again. I only saw you faintly. This trip, I planned to capture the foggy atmosphere. I stopped by from Khao Kho to Chiang Khan, but I didn't see any fog. Maybe the weather was dry and cool when we went, so the fog wasn't thick. But that's okay. I can see the beautiful view of the Mekong River instead. The morning air is also cool.

Breakfast

Those who want to cycle along the Mekong River can rent bicycles at some accommodations.

This time, the original plan was to travel to a different location for our second night. While it is true that moving accommodations, checking in, and checking out can be tiring, we were curious about the other location and wanted to experience it. After all, we were already there, and we didn't want to have any regrets about not staying there. However, realistically, staying at multiple locations would be too much, so we decided to choose a few outstanding options and make the most of them.

We stayed at Himkong Nava, which is located a short drive from the walking street on the way to Phu Tok. The resort offers small, private houses at various prices, all with stunning views of the Mekong River. In the evening, we visited the walking street again, which was even more crowded than the previous day. Fortunately, we arrived early, allowing us to take photos of the various shops without any interruptions.

The next morning, I woke up early and took a deep breath of the fresh morning air.

Mist on the Mekong

The weather must be really good.

Today I must see the sea of fog. In the end, it's the same as always. Where did the fog go? Today, too, the line to buy tickets to go up to Phu Thok is very long, unlike yesterday when I arrived and bought a ticket and got on the bus right away. Huhu, my dream trip to see the sea of fog is over. Time is up, go go back to pack my things and let's go BKK TT.

Sending a postcard to myself

Farewell "Chiang Khan"

** This post may not be a complete review of the accommodation and attractions. I apologize for that.