New bus services to Laos by Nok Air

Nok Air will launch a twice daily fly/ride service from Bangkok to Chiang Khong, via Chiang Rai, effective 29 May.

Adding a bus service from Chiang Rai airport to Chiang Khong will help travellers who need to get to the border with Laos as quickly as possible. The distance is about 100 km from the airport to the friendship bridge at Chiang Khong that connects to Huay Xai in Lao PDR.

Most travellers stay overnight in Chiang Khong and then board a boat, early morning,  for the downstream trip to Pak Beng and Luang Prabang. The boats leave from Huay Xai on the Lao side of the Mekong River. Foreigners cross the river at the international checkpoint on the friendship bridge.

The Fly ‘n’ Ride service combines a flight ex- Bangkok (Don Mueang) to Chiang Rai Airport that connects with a bus service to Chiang Khong. Based on the cheapest Nok Air fares to Chiang Rai the bus fare component is around Bt200.

There are regular buses between Chiang Rai bus station in the town centre and Chiang Khong. The non air-conditioned ride costs about Bt80 and take around two hours. It is important to board the right bus as there are two different routes to Chiang Khong. The shortest is via Phaya Mengrai. The longer one via Thoen.

Fly/ride schedule

*Operates from 29 May 2014 onwards

*Coach Service operated by ChiangKhong Teak Garden Hotel

ChiangKhong Teak Garden Hotel

666 Saiklang rd. Moo 8 Wiang Chiang Khong, Chang Rai, Chiang Rai, Thailand 57140. Tel 053 7920 089.

The fly/ride service costs Bt1,462.15 one-way.

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Bus route linking Thailand & Laos via the new Friendship Bridge

The Transport Co Ltd, under the Ministry of Transport, introduced its 11th bus route linking Thailand and Laos via the Fourth Mekong Friendship Bridge in Chiang Rai province.

Transport Minister, Chadchart Sittipunt, said the new bus service was approved recently by Thailand’s Ministry of Transport and the Lao PDR Department of Public Works and Transport.

“The new Chiang Rai-Chaing Khong-Bokeo bus route crosses the 4th Mekong Bridge connecting Chiang Rai and Huay Xai in Bokeo province in Laos making it more convenient to travel between the two provinces.”

The minister added: “The service is also in line with the ASEAN Economic Community policy to build cooperation between Thailand and neighbouring coutries as well as other countries in the region.”

The Transport Company Limited president, Wuthichart Kalyanamitra, said the 11th bus route Chiang Rai-Chaing Khong-Bokeo uses second-class air-conditioned buses with 46 seats offering four to eight trips daily. The two countries operate three buses each on the route.

The one-way fare from Chaing Rai to Bokeo is Bt220 (55,000 Kip) and from Chiang Khong to Bokeo Bt30 (7,500 Kip).

The bus route ends at the Bokeo bus station. It covers  a distance of 166 km and take four hours to complete the trip between Chiang Rai and Bokeo. The service starts at Chiang Rai’s second terminal which is on the main highway 1 about 5 km from the town centre.

There is also a bus transfer across the bridge at least four times daily with a fare of Bt20 per person (5,000 Kip). Travel across the bridge is limited to motorised traffic. Cycles are not allowed, they have to be transported across the bridge on the bus which is very inconvenient for tourists who use the route to cycle to Luang Prabang.

None of the Friendship bridges allow cycles despite them being a very environmentally way to travel and popular with tourists who want to tour the Mekong Region at a leisurely pace. Motor cycles are allowed and cycle enthusiasts will argue that should have opened the way for cycles.

The 10 bus routes are: Nong Khai-Vientiane; Udon Thani-Vientiane; Ubon Ratchathani-Pakse; Mukdaharn-Savannakhet; Khon Kaen-Vientiane; Nakhon Ratchasima-Vientiane; Nakhon Phanom-Khammouane; Bangkok-Vientiane; Udon Thani-Nong Khai-Vang Vieng; and Bangkok-Pakse.

The Fourth Mekong Friendship Bridge connecting Chiang Khong in Chiang Rai province, Thailand and Huay Xai in Bokeo province, Laos opened on 11 December.

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A warm welcome from Threelanders.

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