Khong Chiam - Mae Nam Song Si

Mar 28, 2013
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Khong Chiam - Mae Nam Song Si

A really dreamlike route for bikers in eastern Eesan starts in Khong Chiam ( there where Mae Nam Mun / Mae Nam Chi flows into Mekong river - "Mae Nam song si" = two colour river) - goes to Pha Taem ( rock plateau with a breathtaking ancient cliff and a phantastic view to Mekong plain and Laos). Last station is Sam Pan Bohk with it's phantastic river-landscape. You should stay for two overnight-stays ( one in Khong Chiam and one in Sam Pan Bohk) to have enough time to enjoy the scene and - specially for Sam Pan Bohk - in the dry season when Mekong has low water to see the rocks...
Who wants, can continue passing Kemmarat to Mukdahan - if still more time:

https://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorcycle-forum/showthread.php/38166-2012-Bueng-Khong-Long-Phu-Tok

Khong Chiam: 15.318521, 105.498413 - +15° 19' 6.68", +105° 29' 54.29"
Pha Team : 15.399280, 105.507832 - +15° 23' 57.41", +105° 30' 28.20"
Sam Pan Bohk : 15.823037, 105.365278 - +15° 49' 22.93", +105° 21' 55.00"

Fantastic view from Wat Tham Khuhasawan (curve on highway 2222 just before K.Ch.)
15.322534, 105.488104

MaeNamSongSi2.jpg


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You find that little town on the banks of Mekong river 80km's eastern from Ubon Ratchatani. Nearby Ubon is the confluence from Mae Nam Mun (takes all the water from southern Eesan) and Mae Nam Chi ( brings nearly all the water from the other parts of Eesan). If in Khong Chiam weren't the confluence of those Eesanwaters with the Mekong - no tourist would go there. The whole border region to Laos still is "unseen Thailand"...

Khong Chiam fortunately is no partyzone - in Germany we call that "dead-trouser-zone". But for someone who likes to enjoy a good meal with a phantastic view to Mekong and Laos, who likes to have a calm night and a wonderful sunrise - those people will be hooked! For sunrise you have to go to the temple above the confluence of the rivers - in the dry season there are a lot of small islands with trees growing on them, a wonderful scenery...

Eesan's riversystem:

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nice small hut - about 500 Baht the night, simpel and clean (here 2010 still with my Phantom)
15.318488, 105.499101


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and here with my friend Thedi 2012 and his "thickbike" - was a nice two-men-two-bikes-tour ( I had the Dragstar 400cc at that time - now Dragstar 1100cc)

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Jurgen

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Wonderful pictures Gerhard, very enticing for a fabulous part of Isan. This region is very photogenic and you took clear and colorful shots. Will put it on my wish list for a near future.