I’m cycling in Loei area of Thailand next month and thinking of crossing into Laos at Ban Na Kra Seng Border Check Point, then heading N.E. along the boarder towards Xanamkham and Vientiane. It looks like there’s a need to get a boat across the river half way and Guest house’s between the boarder crossing Vientiane look a bit thin on the ground. Does anybody have any info for this route? Is the border crossing okay for cyclists, does a boat run regularly for the river crossing, any info on Guest house’s?
Thanks
Thailand into Laos
Re: Thailand into Laos
You cannot cross at that border with bicycle going into Lao unless things have changed very recently. See this post https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/ ... motorbikes
It's s drag, because you could in the old days when the road was mainly dirt. It's now paved all the way to H13, but closed to bikes, even though there is accomodation and food, etc.
The river crossing you ask about is presumably the one at Pak Lay across the Mekong. There has always been a ferry here, by now maybe even a bridge.
You may be able to do your ride the other way round. The road from Vientiane is reported as paved, cross the river at Pak Lay and then down H4 to the border.
It's s drag, because you could in the old days when the road was mainly dirt. It's now paved all the way to H13, but closed to bikes, even though there is accomodation and food, etc.
The river crossing you ask about is presumably the one at Pak Lay across the Mekong. There has always been a ferry here, by now maybe even a bridge.
You may be able to do your ride the other way round. The road from Vientiane is reported as paved, cross the river at Pak Lay and then down H4 to the border.
Re: Thailand into Laos
simonhill wrote:The river crossing you ask about is presumably the one at Pak Lay across the Mekong. There has always been a ferry here, by now maybe even a bridge.
Thanks for the reply. Its not the Pak Lay crossing I'm talking about but rather the one across the Mekong where it meets the Hueang river, to the North East of the border crossing. I think what I'll probably do is head up there and try my luck, if I get turned back with the bike, try a few transport options like chucking it in the back of somebodies pick up and if that doesn't work I'll have to cross at Nong Khai. I'm guessing the road on the Thai side of the river to N.K. will be fairly pleasant, much rather get into Laos though.
Re: Thailand into Laos
If you look on Google maps, it shows a dotted line for a ferry crossing across the Mekong west of where Hueang enters. If you do satellite view, you can see roadway and a boat that is possibly a ferry.
I've ridden the Thai side a few times, last time 3 years ago and it was OK. Everything on the Lao side looked very basic.
Then (3 years) I saw the beginnings of the work paving of the road from Pak Lay to Vientiane further downstream. From what I hear it is now all paved. This would be a much easier route.
The ride down the Thai side is one of my favourites in Thailand. I've ridden it 3 times over the years. It gets less remote after Chiang Khan, which is low key touristy, mainly Thais, but still good. Lots of food and well spaced accommodation options.
Edit: Currently pedalling the south and on Ko Samui at the moment, which couldn't be more different. I was last here in 1986 and thought it was time to see how it had changed.
I've ridden the Thai side a few times, last time 3 years ago and it was OK. Everything on the Lao side looked very basic.
Then (3 years) I saw the beginnings of the work paving of the road from Pak Lay to Vientiane further downstream. From what I hear it is now all paved. This would be a much easier route.
The ride down the Thai side is one of my favourites in Thailand. I've ridden it 3 times over the years. It gets less remote after Chiang Khan, which is low key touristy, mainly Thais, but still good. Lots of food and well spaced accommodation options.
Edit: Currently pedalling the south and on Ko Samui at the moment, which couldn't be more different. I was last here in 1986 and thought it was time to see how it had changed.
- Neil Wheadon
- Posts: 105
- Joined: 30 Mar 2008, 11:52pm
Re: Thailand into Laos
Only an aside, but having just led a CTC Holidays trip to Laos, there is more accommodation than apparant from Google Maps / Trip Advisor etc. We stayed in one place that wasn't marked, but was on maps.me which may help with places to stay
Enjoy as it's changing quite quickly now
Neil
Enjoy as it's changing quite quickly now
Neil
Former CTC Tour Leader, now with Bikexplore
Re: Thailand into Laos
Thanks for the MAPS.ME suggestion, forgot all about them. You're right, loads there that don't show up on Google.
Many thanks.
Many thanks.
Re: Thailand into Laos
Be warned that Lao are changing their Visa on Arrival (VoA) rules. From (I heard,) 1/1/20 VoA are not being issued at a number of mainly land borders.
The whole thing seems odd as the new eVisa isn't properly up and running yet (plus there is an additional $15 charge for using it).
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/ ... t_23234666
The whole thing seems odd as the new eVisa isn't properly up and running yet (plus there is an additional $15 charge for using it).
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/ ... t_23234666
- Neil Wheadon
- Posts: 105
- Joined: 30 Mar 2008, 11:52pm
Re: Thailand into Laos
There is a list at present of entry points where you can get a VISA on arrival, see https://www.visalaos.com/border-crossing-points/ (I think this is a commercial site, so be careful of clicking the hyperlinks as will ask for extra money and add complication to e-VISA's)
We went through Chiang Khong to take the bikes down the Mekong to Pay Beng. The process was straightforward. You need $35 (perfect notes, no creases/scribbles on them) and a passport picture, but could pay an extra $1 for the picture to be taken. We couldn't cycle through, bikes were loaded onto a transit bus between the Thai and Laos border.
Personally, I would only get an E-Visa if I knew the system was running 100%, if I was considering a different point of entry.
Neil
We went through Chiang Khong to take the bikes down the Mekong to Pay Beng. The process was straightforward. You need $35 (perfect notes, no creases/scribbles on them) and a passport picture, but could pay an extra $1 for the picture to be taken. We couldn't cycle through, bikes were loaded onto a transit bus between the Thai and Laos border.
Personally, I would only get an E-Visa if I knew the system was running 100%, if I was considering a different point of entry.
Neil
Former CTC Tour Leader, now with Bikexplore
Re: Thailand into Laos
Did you read my post and the link?
That website you refer to and their list of borders that issue VoAs is now out of date (or will be on 1st Jan depending what you read) hence my warning.
As I tried to point, it's all change on many of the less used VoA borders. Unfortunately, these are often the ones used by cyclists.
To arrive at a border with a couple of days left on your VN visa, as I have done many times only to find you can't get a Lao VoA will be problematical to put it mildly particularly as many of those borders are fairly remote.
As you say it's a commercial website and is trying to get you to use them to get an eVisa presumably with their added handling charge. Given that eVisas are only accepted at 3 entry points and they cost 50% extra anyway, as you say, steer clear. Probably best to steer clear of the whole website.
Edit: No one seems to know why they have withdrawn VoA from those 9 borders with nothing to replace it except Embassy issued visas.The Lao Govt haven't widely publicised it. Time will tell.
Edited
That website you refer to and their list of borders that issue VoAs is now out of date (or will be on 1st Jan depending what you read) hence my warning.
As I tried to point, it's all change on many of the less used VoA borders. Unfortunately, these are often the ones used by cyclists.
To arrive at a border with a couple of days left on your VN visa, as I have done many times only to find you can't get a Lao VoA will be problematical to put it mildly particularly as many of those borders are fairly remote.
As you say it's a commercial website and is trying to get you to use them to get an eVisa presumably with their added handling charge. Given that eVisas are only accepted at 3 entry points and they cost 50% extra anyway, as you say, steer clear. Probably best to steer clear of the whole website.
Edit: No one seems to know why they have withdrawn VoA from those 9 borders with nothing to replace it except Embassy issued visas.The Lao Govt haven't widely publicised it. Time will tell.
Edited