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Major city · Thailand

Chiang Khongเชียงของ

Stop one night if the riverfront, markets and temples are the point; if you only want the Laos crossing, sleep in Huay Xai instead.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Chiang Khong is a Mekong border town in Chiang Rai Province, about 2 h by road from Chiang Rai and the Thai side of the crossing to Huay Xai in Laos. Most travellers pass through on the way to the slow boat to Luang Prabang. The old riverside ferry to Laos is closed to foreigners; crossings now use the Fourth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge about 10 km south of town. Stay one night, see the riverfront and the markets, then move on.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
THB
Best months
Oct–Jan
avoid Mar–Apr (smoke and heat), Jun–Sep (rain)
Airport
CEI
Nights
1
Rules in force · 6Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
  • Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
  • Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
  • Thailand ↗Check entry rules and any arrival card on the official Thai government sites for your passport; visa-exempt stays and pre-arrival forms change.
  • Thailand ↗Do not criticise or mock the monarchy: insulting the royal family is a criminal offence.
  • Thailand ↗Temples and palaces: shoulders and knees covered, shoes off before entering halls.
  • Thailand ↗E-cigarettes and vapes are illegal to import or use; do not pack them.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Chiang Khong191 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Chiang Khong, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or fruit shake฿40–80 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Street or quick mealNoodle soup or rice plate฿50–120 (≈ US$2–4)
  • Beerdraught in a bar / can at a 7-Eleven฿80–120 (≈ US$3–4)฿35–60 (≈ US$2)
  • Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Guesthouse to border, tuk-tuk฿150–200 (≈ US$5–7)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week฿250–500 (≈ US$8–16)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per person฿150 (≈ US$5)
  • Mid-range bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per room฿600 (≈ US$19)
  • High-end bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per room฿1,200 (≈ US$40)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget ฿700 (≈ US$25) · Mid ฿1,500 (≈ US$50) · High ฿3,000 (≈ US$95)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Mekong riverfront and Laos border crossingSlow boat to Luang PrabangMekong giant catfish and the fishery stationRiverside temples and the Friday market
Airports
CEI Chiang Rai International (About 2 h by road; no airport in Chiang Khong.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Best

    29°C (84°F)

  2. Feb

    not flagged

    32°C (90°F)

  3. Mar

    Avoid

    35°C (95°F)

  4. Apr

    Avoid

    36°C (97°F)

  5. May

    not flagged

    34°C (93°F)

  6. Jun

    Avoid

    32°C (90°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    31°C (88°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    31°C (88°F)

  9. Sep

    Avoid

    31°C (88°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    31°C (88°F)

  11. Nov

    Best

    30°C (86°F)

  12. Dec

    Best

    28°C (82°F)

Best: Oct–Jan. Avoid: Mar–Apr, Jun–Sep. Month by month →

Warmest Apr (36°C (97°F)), coolest Jan (14°C (57°F) low), wettest Aug (21 rain days), driest Jan (2). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Chiang Khong: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

29°C (84°F)

14°C (57°F)

2 rd

Feb

32°C (90°F)

16°C (61°F)

2 rd

Mar

35°C (95°F)

19°C (66°F)

4 rd

Apr

36°C (97°F)

22°C (72°F)

8 rd

May

34°C (93°F)

23°C (73°F)

15 rd

Jun

32°C (90°F)

24°C (75°F)

18 rd

Jul

31°C (88°F)

24°C (75°F)

20 rd

Aug

31°C (88°F)

23°C (73°F)

21 rd

Sep

31°C (88°F)

23°C (73°F)

17 rd

Oct

31°C (88°F)

21°C (70°F)

10 rd

Nov

30°C (86°F)

18°C (64°F)

5 rd

Dec

28°C (82°F)

14°C (57°F)

2 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The riverfront and market area are walkable. Tuk-tuks cover the bus stations and the border; agree the fare first. Bicycles and motorbikes can be rented in town for the villages along the Mekong.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Chiang Saen

go

Door to door: About 1–1.5 h (check)

Local bus or songthaew south along the Mekong

Riverside temple ruins and the Golden Triangle viewpoint; easy half day.

Golden Triangle

go

Door to door: About 1 h each way (check)

Motorbike or a hired car via Chiang Saen, about 55 km (34 mi)

Combine with Chiang Saen; the opium museum and the river confluence are the stops.

Huay Xai, Laos

go

Door to door: About 1.5–2 h with border formalities

Tuk-tuk to the Friendship Bridge, shuttle bus, then a shared tuk-tuk

Bring US dollars for the Lao visa; it is cheaper than paying in baht.

Mae Sai

caution

Door to door: About 3 h

Bus or car north via Chiang Rai

Too far for a comfortable return day; better as a stop on a Chiang Rai loop.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Riverside, along the Mekong

Guesthouses with river views, walkable to the market and the old bus station; best for one night before Laos.

Main road near the traffic lights

Central fresh market, ATMs, 7-Eleven and most buses; practical if you arrive late.

Near the Friendship Bridge

New bus station and immigration, about 10 km (6.2 mi) south; only useful for a very early crossing.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
฿700–1,200 (≈ US$25–40) excl. bed
Mid
฿1,200–2,500 (≈ US$40–80) excl. bed
High
฿2,500 (≈ US$80)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Guesthouse double room1 × 1 night × ฿600฿600
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ฿1,500฿3,000
Tuk-tuk to the Friendship Bridge1 × ฿200 · check฿200
Shuttle bus across the bridge, both ways2 × ฿50 · check฿100
Slow boat to Luang Prabang, two days2 × ฿1,180 · check฿2,360
eSIM, about a week of data2 × ฿300฿600
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge฿686
Trip total≈ ฿3,773 per person per day, bed included฿7,546≈ US$250

2026 estimate in baht; flights and onward Laos costs excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or fruit shake฿40–80 (≈ US$2–3)
Noodle soup or rice plate฿50–120 (≈ US$2–4)
Mekong fish dish at a riverside restaurantGiant catfish is seasonal and priced by weight.฿150–350 (≈ US$5–11)
Beer: draught in a bar / can at a 7-Eleven฿80–120 (≈ US$3–4) / ฿35–60 (≈ US$2)
Bicycle / motorbike rental, one daycheck฿50–100 (≈ US$2–4) / ฿250–350 (≈ US$8–11)
Guesthouse to border, tuk-tuk฿150–200 (≈ US$5–7)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week฿250–500 (≈ US$8–16)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A quiet border town and generally safe by day; the real risks are the border timetable, unlit lanes with dogs at night, and slow-boat ticket swaps.
  • The old ferry to Huay Xai is closed to foreigners; cross by shuttle bus over the Friendship Bridge.
  • Border and shuttle-bus hours change: confirm the current timetable on the day before you travel.
  • You cannot walk or cycle across the bridge; only vehicles and the shuttle bus.
  • Guides may push you to swap a booked slow boat for a bus at the same price; the bus is cheaper.
  • Feral dogs roam at night: avoid unlit lanes and carry a light.
  • Withdraw baht here before Laos: Lao ATMs cap withdrawals and rates are worse.

Emergency numbers

Police
191
Ambulance and rescue
1669
Tourist police
1155

Pocket card

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Chiang Khongเชียงของ

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

ไปที่ที่อยู่นี้To this address, please

Emergency

  • Police191
  • Ambulance and rescue1669
  • Tourist police1155

Embassy

No embassies in Chiang Khong; most are in Bangkok, with consulates in Chiang Mai.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Tuk-tuk to the Friendship Bridge: ฿150–200 (≈ US$5–7) (check)
  • Shuttle bus across the bridge: ฿20–25 (≈ under US$1) each way (check)
  • Slow boat Chiang Khong → Luang Prabang: about ฿1,180 (≈ US$40) bought in town, about ฿950 (≈ US$30) after Lao immigration (check)

Say or show

  • สวัสดี — Hello (sawatdee)
  • ขอบคุณ — Thank you (khop khun)
  • เท่าไหร่ — How much is it? (tao rai)
  • ด่านอยู่ที่ไหน — Where is the border? (dan yu thi nai)
  • ไม่เผ็ด — Not spicy, please (mai phet)
  • ห้องน้ำ — Toilet (hong nam)

Border hours and shuttle times change: confirm on the day.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Chiang Khong. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Oct–Jan · avoid Mar–Apr (smoke and heat), Jun–Sep (rain) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for CEI: last bus from Chiang Rai field-checked, tuk-tuk fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Three walking clusters with rescue anchors: riverside guesthouses, the central market and traffic lights, the old bus station.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (fishery station, Wat Phra Kaew, the Hub bike museum) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Border-day fixtures so the Laos crossing can go green: shuttle hours, visa currency, slow-boat departure window.

Meanwhile

Back to Thailand

Sources