Laos to Thailand Northmost border?

[olionel]

Hello;

I was wondering what the northmost border crossing do-able by bike is from Laos to Thailand. Will get 30 day visa in Laos for Thailand beforehand.

Looked at google maps and a list of borders and Chiang Khong seems to be town with a borderpost.I guess they'll have customs too. Google maps shows no bridges so cross by boat? Hope they take Africa twins.

Then I found this article:
Fourth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Does anyone know whether this is open yet? I'll also ask on GT rider.

Found my own answer, ah well at least it'll become and info post

http://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-mot...-Khong-Opening

Many thanks
Oli

[krammit]

yeah Chiang Khong is easy. I crossed there with no worries. There isn't a bridge but they have boats and a barge that take the trucks and bikes across.

[Snakeboy]

You answered Your own question pretty well. From Huai Xai in Laos to Chiang Khong in Thailand is the northernmost bordercrossing between Laos and Thailand. They just opened the 4th friendship bridge there a few weeks ago.

If you have the possibility - try to tour Northern Thailand on motorbike for some time. There are some amazing roads there, People are friendly, its cheap, food and accomodation is plenty and cheap. Amd many many sights.....

[olionel]

Thanks for the replies folks. I read on GT rider that the Thai side doesnt like letting bikes through and has also advised the Laos side. I'll just try ignorance and see if I can cross the bridge with no issues.

We will do a couple of weeks in northern thailand. Probably do some GT rider rec routes. Then want to get to Tao for a bit of beach life, before the visa runs out. Then onwards to Malaysia...

[Snakeboy]

Originally Posted by olionel

Thanks for the replies folks. I read on GT rider that the Thai side doesnt like letting bikes through and has also advised the Laos side. I'll just try ignorance and see if I can cross the bridge with no issues.

We will do a couple of weeks in northern thailand. Probably do some GT rider rec routes. Then want to get to Tao for a bit of beach life, before the visa runs out. Then onwards to Malaysia...

Partly correct - the Thais dont like to get motorbikes through from the Thai side to Laos on these friendship bridges. From the Laos side to Thailand there should be no problem.....

[RTWbyBIKE.com]

We took our AT accross a 1.5years ago from Thailand to Laos at Chiang Khong. DO NOT GO SUNDAYS! They told us there is "a boat evry hour, every day MR. NO PROBLEM. So we arrived and they told us "Mr. it is Sunday, no boat!" They said a small boat is going and can take us, 3m long and 40cm wide... No way, but we had our visa stamed out allready so we waited till a huge bunch of bikers on a guidet tur came and rented the big ferry all together... So try to do not cross on a Sunday. (We always tryed not to do such things as border crossings, visa extensions etc. on a Sunday or public holiday... but we always failed! Murphys Law I guess)

[Snakeboy]

Originally Posted by RTWbyBIKE.com

We took our AT accross a 1.5years ago from Thailand to Laos at Chiang Khong. DO NOT GO SUNDAYS! They told us there is "a boat evry hour, every day MR. NO PROBLEM. So we arrived and they told us "Mr. it is Sunday, no boat!" They said a small boat is going and can take us, 3m long and 40cm wide... No way, but we had our visa stamed out allready so we waited till a huge bunch of bikers on a guidet tur came and rented the big ferry all together... So try to do not cross on a Sunday. (We always tryed not to do such things as border crossings, visa extensions etc. on a Sunday or public holiday... but we always failed! Murphys Law I guess)

There is a bridge at Huai Xai - Chiang Khong now.....

[RTWbyBIKE.com]

Whow really? Hard to believe actually, it must be a big, long one Cannot see it with Google Earth, Maps etc... But obviously there is one:

Chiangrai Bulletin | Will Chiang Khong still be nice little town after construction of friendship bridge completed.

If this is good or not... will see. I think we have been lucky that we have been there some time ago. And when the Chinese finish the highway through Laos...

[amzahsulaiman]

Hi!,
The friendship Bridge #4 linking Chiang Khong, Thailand and Hua Xai, Laos was officially opened on the 11th December 2013. I knew a group of Malaysian bikers crossed from Laos to Thailand using this bridge but no bike is allowed to cross from the Thailand side. Dunno why.
However the normal ferry service both the passenger and vehicle ferry service runs accordingly. For your bike, you should go with the vehicle ferry. Cost you Thailand Bhat 500 one way.
In Chiang Khong there is a good hotel by the Mekong river (NanKhong Riverside Hotel). Good food and great drinks.
When you enter Malaysia and passing through the state of Perak, if you need a free lodging please drop by Batu Gajah town. Get in touch with me for details.

Amzah

[Snakeboy]

Originally Posted by RTWbyBIKE.com

Whow really? Hard to believe actually, it must be a big, long one Cannot see it with Google Earth, Maps etc... But obviously there is one:

Chiangrai Bulletin | Will Chiang Khong still be nice little town after construction of friendship bridge completed.

If this is good or not... will see. I think we have been lucky that we have been there some time ago. And when the Chinese finish the highway through Laos...

If you have travelled around a bit you should have known that you cant always trust a map 100 %......and that includes Googles maps as we....

[krammit]

Originally Posted by Snakeboy

There is a bridge at Huai Xai - Chiang Khong now.....

wow they built that quick. I was there mid year last year and there wasn't even any signs of a bridge being built. It's a pretty long way across too.

[kevinhancock750]

Crossed here s couple of days ago, the bike goes on boat and you go on bridge!
Get bike papers done at bridge then take it to boat where papers are officially stamped, I crossed with bike to make sure all was good and then came back on same boat leaving bike on port. Taxi to bridge and get yourself stamped out then over bridge on bus shuttle. Get stamed in the otherside and taxi to port for the bike, then back to the bridge for inport papers and insurance...
Then off you go

[Snakeboy]

Originally Posted by kevinhancock750

Crossed here s couple of days ago, the bike goes on boat and you go on bridge!
Get bike papers done at bridge then take it to boat where papers are officially stamped, I crossed with bike to make sure all was good and then came back on same boat leaving bike on port. Taxi to bridge and get yourself stamped out then over bridge on bus shuttle. Get stamed in the otherside and taxi to port for the bike, then back to the bridge for inport papers and insurance...
Then off you go

What? Are the bridge only for pedestrians? Or is it some stupid rules and practise from Thai/Laos governments?

The bridge are pretty far away from where the ferryboat goes I have heard - is that correct?

[kevinhancock750]

The bridge is for vehicles only but not bikes! The bridge and ferry port are about 4/5km apart so a taxi is needed 100 baht for taxi and to cross the bridge you cant walk but take bus shuttle which was cheap. Shame you cant cross ferry with the bike. Stupid but its the rules

[olionel]

Originally Posted by kevinhancock750

Crossed here s couple of days ago, the bike goes on boat and you go on bridge!
Get bike papers done at bridge then take it to boat where papers are officially stamped, I crossed with bike to make sure all was good and then came back on same boat leaving bike on port. Taxi to bridge and get yourself stamped out then over bridge on bus shuttle. Get stamed in the otherside and taxi to port for the bike, then back to the bridge for inport papers and insurance...
Then off you go

Hi Kevin;

Which way did you cross Thailand to Laos or Laos to Thailand?

Many thanks,
Oli