My Southern Laos Motorcycle ride west side of the Mekong.
I crossed in to Laos from Thailand from Chong Mek without any hassles at all, my only problem was that I was starting a 7000km trip on worn set of tyres, because I assumed that Ubon Kawasaki would have had a couple of tyres in stock. Oh well, Ill just have to nurse them I thought.
My plan was to spend a month in Laos, starting in Southern Laos west side of the Mekong, because this is a part of Laos I’ve only riding in once before, and that was for only a day, and I wanted to see more.
That other time was with BrianBkk two years earlier. We rode next to the river, down to Don Khong, and it was mostly single trail where it was green and lush. Brilliant ride.
As much as I enjoyed that ride, I gave that track a miss this time as I wanted to explore the tracks further west towards the Thai border, and further south to Cambodia.
Here is a few links of my first trip south with Brian.
https://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorcycle-forum/showthread.php/35871-Southen-Laos-Trip-Report-January-2012
https://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorcycle-forum/showthread.php/35971-Two-white-guys-and-there-white-Kawasaki’s-explore-Southern-Laos
Also a cool video that Brian put together of our ride down south.
I didn’t really have a plan, and I didn’t really know where I was going….but I was going.
In the black box…the first week of my 2014 Laos trip.
This is most of the tracks/roads I took while in the south. One of the highlights was seeing the Laos/Cambodian friendship bridge.
Leaving the fun town of Pakxe and heading south to Don Khong.
Just over the bridge at the bottom of the temple is a group of little restaurants, where you can have breakfast, and full up the camel back before taking off. Just look how clean my bike is..Yes day one.
I headed along the tar road that runs towards Chong Mek before turning down this dirt road which wasn’t the road I thought it was, …so off to a great start, one turn and lost already.
Those matrasses would be handy if you had a crash, or got tired.
Before to long I was on the road I should have been on….I think.
First pit shop for a drink. Just look at how neatly the merchandise is stacked.
The bustling town of Dontalat.
The road from Dontalat to Mounlapamok is in good condition and as straight as a gun barrel.
Big Bikes could ride from Paxse down to Mounlapmok via Champasak, and cross the river there over to hwy 13, then down to Cambodia without to much trouble. Or loop back up to Pakse.
The ferry at Mounlapamok/BanVeurnkhaen, I didn’t go across, but took the photo to show anyone that was thinking about it.
I headed a further 28km south to another ferry, which would take me across the Mighty Mekong to the island of Don Khong, which Im told is number 2535 of the 4000 in this group of islands.
The road down the this ferry is a nice ride that follows the river as it winds south. Nothing like the gun barrelled hwy to Mounlapamok
The KLX boarded, and ready for the crossing. Note the Coke bottle on the back. Designed for the motorcycle rider in mind. Great for carrying spare oil, as its shape stops it from sliding off when you strap it down. Plus, it pours without going every where, I carry an extra top with a hole it for oiling the chian.
Just love these crossings…feels so adventuress.
On the island, safe and dry, now time for a cool drink by the river before finding some where to stay.
The main tourist street on the island has plenty of accommodation, and you can get a good room for about 80,000 kip.
All the restaurants, and most hotels, have great views of the river.
These islands are beautiful, but I do find them a little too quiet for my liking, but I still decided to stay a extra night so as to spend a day riding around the island. Last time I stayed here with Brian we arrived just on dark, and left first thing in the morning so I didn’t see much…we were on a mission, and had no time for relaxing.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I came across this bridge under construction.
This has to be over kill. Its located at the bottom of the island, and will connect to hwy 13.
Maybe they will build another one on the other side of the island giving then easier access to Thailand from the very south ? Just seems too big for a tiny little island.
This is what almost all the island looks like away from the river.
Dusty old town on the west side of the island.
One of the many temples on the island.
Nice spot for a drink after checking out the island. At this stage I was thinking its going to be another less than exciting night, where the lights were out at 9pm. But then I heard someone playing the drums, so I went for a look.
Not one, but two stages had been set up,…and by looking at those speakers I knew it wasn’t going to be a quiet night.
The official Beer Lao transporter, full of the nectar of the gods. Just look at those Eskys.
I went back after a few sunset beers down the road/river, and the festival was in full swing.
This stage was for the grown ups, where hot girls, load music and smoke entertained the Beer Lao drinking public.
Problem was it was a big Buddha day, and the only way you use the tables and chairs was to buy some beer, so except for a hand full of die hard drinkers, the furniture was left empty, and everyone else stood up the back. ..My god it was loud.
The family friendly stage was the big draw card….also super loud.
It was all good fun till the farang start winning all the teddy bears
This woman went from fruit seller, to fruit and teddy bear seller thanks to the farang supplier.
Next day I was feeling a little second hand…yes my friends…the beer god was making a statement.
I sat by the river nursing a cup of coffee, and watching the river life unfold. Couldn’t help thinking that bridge was going to stuff this place up good and proper.
It was time to leave the island, so down to river bank I rode to where a boat was waiting.
The main land, and a big days ride ahead.
Once off the boat I headed south following the river towards Cambodia. Great riding along this section with quant villages and palm trees.
It wasn’t to long before I came to a dead end. This is as far south as you can go in Laos, on the west side of the Mekong. Straight ahead is Cambodia, and to the left is Laos.
You can get a boat to Don Khong from here as well. But you need to take 2 boats, and I’m not so sure you can rely on a boat being available.
Back on the road and heading north.
One of the Lao’s true adventure riders…the ice cream man. He hit the jackpot when I stopped.
Once back at Mounlapamok I rode west to Ban Nong Gaa. This road was one of those roads that you had the stand up all the way. No good for a lazy rider like myself. There was woops and potholes all the way.
The petrol outlet in Ban Nong Gaa.
From Ban Nong Gaa, I would rode about seventy kilometres south west to the Cambodian border, and the Laos/Cambodian friendship bridge. The Emerald Triangle, the point where Cambodia, Laos and Thailand meet, is only 2 kilometres from the bridge.
………......................….TO BE CONTINUED…......................………
I crossed in to Laos from Thailand from Chong Mek without any hassles at all, my only problem was that I was starting a 7000km trip on worn set of tyres, because I assumed that Ubon Kawasaki would have had a couple of tyres in stock. Oh well, Ill just have to nurse them I thought.
My plan was to spend a month in Laos, starting in Southern Laos west side of the Mekong, because this is a part of Laos I’ve only riding in once before, and that was for only a day, and I wanted to see more.
That other time was with BrianBkk two years earlier. We rode next to the river, down to Don Khong, and it was mostly single trail where it was green and lush. Brilliant ride.
As much as I enjoyed that ride, I gave that track a miss this time as I wanted to explore the tracks further west towards the Thai border, and further south to Cambodia.
Here is a few links of my first trip south with Brian.
https://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorcycle-forum/showthread.php/35871-Southen-Laos-Trip-Report-January-2012
https://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorcycle-forum/showthread.php/35971-Two-white-guys-and-there-white-Kawasaki’s-explore-Southern-Laos
Also a cool video that Brian put together of our ride down south.
I didn’t really have a plan, and I didn’t really know where I was going….but I was going.
In the black box…the first week of my 2014 Laos trip.
This is most of the tracks/roads I took while in the south. One of the highlights was seeing the Laos/Cambodian friendship bridge.
Leaving the fun town of Pakxe and heading south to Don Khong.
Just over the bridge at the bottom of the temple is a group of little restaurants, where you can have breakfast, and full up the camel back before taking off. Just look how clean my bike is..Yes day one.
I headed along the tar road that runs towards Chong Mek before turning down this dirt road which wasn’t the road I thought it was, …so off to a great start, one turn and lost already.
Those matrasses would be handy if you had a crash, or got tired.
Before to long I was on the road I should have been on….I think.
First pit shop for a drink. Just look at how neatly the merchandise is stacked.
The bustling town of Dontalat.
The road from Dontalat to Mounlapamok is in good condition and as straight as a gun barrel.
Big Bikes could ride from Paxse down to Mounlapmok via Champasak, and cross the river there over to hwy 13, then down to Cambodia without to much trouble. Or loop back up to Pakse.
The ferry at Mounlapamok/BanVeurnkhaen, I didn’t go across, but took the photo to show anyone that was thinking about it.
I headed a further 28km south to another ferry, which would take me across the Mighty Mekong to the island of Don Khong, which Im told is number 2535 of the 4000 in this group of islands.
The road down the this ferry is a nice ride that follows the river as it winds south. Nothing like the gun barrelled hwy to Mounlapamok
The KLX boarded, and ready for the crossing. Note the Coke bottle on the back. Designed for the motorcycle rider in mind. Great for carrying spare oil, as its shape stops it from sliding off when you strap it down. Plus, it pours without going every where, I carry an extra top with a hole it for oiling the chian.
Just love these crossings…feels so adventuress.
On the island, safe and dry, now time for a cool drink by the river before finding some where to stay.
The main tourist street on the island has plenty of accommodation, and you can get a good room for about 80,000 kip.
All the restaurants, and most hotels, have great views of the river.
These islands are beautiful, but I do find them a little too quiet for my liking, but I still decided to stay a extra night so as to spend a day riding around the island. Last time I stayed here with Brian we arrived just on dark, and left first thing in the morning so I didn’t see much…we were on a mission, and had no time for relaxing.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I came across this bridge under construction.
This has to be over kill. Its located at the bottom of the island, and will connect to hwy 13.
Maybe they will build another one on the other side of the island giving then easier access to Thailand from the very south ? Just seems too big for a tiny little island.
This is what almost all the island looks like away from the river.
Dusty old town on the west side of the island.
One of the many temples on the island.
Nice spot for a drink after checking out the island. At this stage I was thinking its going to be another less than exciting night, where the lights were out at 9pm. But then I heard someone playing the drums, so I went for a look.
Not one, but two stages had been set up,…and by looking at those speakers I knew it wasn’t going to be a quiet night.
The official Beer Lao transporter, full of the nectar of the gods. Just look at those Eskys.
I went back after a few sunset beers down the road/river, and the festival was in full swing.
This stage was for the grown ups, where hot girls, load music and smoke entertained the Beer Lao drinking public.
Problem was it was a big Buddha day, and the only way you use the tables and chairs was to buy some beer, so except for a hand full of die hard drinkers, the furniture was left empty, and everyone else stood up the back. ..My god it was loud.
The family friendly stage was the big draw card….also super loud.
It was all good fun till the farang start winning all the teddy bears
This woman went from fruit seller, to fruit and teddy bear seller thanks to the farang supplier.
Next day I was feeling a little second hand…yes my friends…the beer god was making a statement.
I sat by the river nursing a cup of coffee, and watching the river life unfold. Couldn’t help thinking that bridge was going to stuff this place up good and proper.
It was time to leave the island, so down to river bank I rode to where a boat was waiting.
The main land, and a big days ride ahead.
Once off the boat I headed south following the river towards Cambodia. Great riding along this section with quant villages and palm trees.
It wasn’t to long before I came to a dead end. This is as far south as you can go in Laos, on the west side of the Mekong. Straight ahead is Cambodia, and to the left is Laos.
You can get a boat to Don Khong from here as well. But you need to take 2 boats, and I’m not so sure you can rely on a boat being available.
Back on the road and heading north.
One of the Lao’s true adventure riders…the ice cream man. He hit the jackpot when I stopped.
Once back at Mounlapamok I rode west to Ban Nong Gaa. This road was one of those roads that you had the stand up all the way. No good for a lazy rider like myself. There was woops and potholes all the way.
The petrol outlet in Ban Nong Gaa.
From Ban Nong Gaa, I would rode about seventy kilometres south west to the Cambodian border, and the Laos/Cambodian friendship bridge. The Emerald Triangle, the point where Cambodia, Laos and Thailand meet, is only 2 kilometres from the bridge.
………......................….TO BE CONTINUED…......................………