2024 GTR Mekong Sunset Dinner & Boat Cruise - Takhong
A proposal - something I've been thinking about & working on for a while.
I'm been working on something special: trying to hire a Laos boat to sail upstream from Chiang Khong for 2 hrs to have a sunset dinner & party @ Takhong on the 20th January.
This was to celebrate 70 years on the planet - a post 70th HBD bash.
The dinner @ Takhong would be a buffet or set dinner.
I can arrange some live music @ Takhong, and at the moment the Clumsy Strangers look like they will be on for the gig, &/or Miss Eve with her reggae band (from Okanes) are also a possibility. Maria the Filpino singer from CK, may also be available to entertain on the boat.
If you have not been to Takhong yet, it is a very unique spot on the river, where you can see the sunset across the Mekong river in Laos.
It is the only place like this in Thailand!
www.gt-rider.com
A rough outline - Saturday 20th January 2024.
Depart Chiang Khong 2pm.
Arrive at Had Bai Takhong 4pm, 28 kms upstream from Chiang Khong.
Music starts 5pm.
Watch the sunset over the Mekong.
Eat drink & be merry to start off 2024, as a nice group.
8.30PM depart Takhong back to Chiang Khong by mini bus / border bus.
Costs
Originally, I thought I could sponsor the boat trip, Laos beer & snacks on board. However, it looks like those total costs will far exceed my budget.
So, I propose to sponsor Beer Lao on board the boat for the cruise + the music / band(s) at Takhong.
That leaves dinner, the boat cost & transport back to Chiang Khong from Takhong to be paid for individually.
The boat can handle 40 people. The boat will be one of those nice Houei Xai - Luang Prabang passenger boats. Shared cost aiming for maximum 500 baht a head.
Dinner at Takhong should be about 300 baht a head - menu to be confirmed. Either set or a buffet.
Transport back to Chiang Khong needs to be confirmed, guess 200/250 baht a head. Mini bus or border bus (songtaew).
Date Saturday 20th January 2024
There's an optimum time to do this trip.
The water level is receding, by mid-late February there may not be enough water in the river upstream.
The 2023 rainfall at the GT was down 65% down on the yearly average.
Go much later late February & you maybe entering smoky season, which will be less pleasant for some.
We are starting to enter the nice sunset season now.
A Takhong sunset 25 December 2023.
The beauty of the river at this time of the year is you can see all the rocks & reefs in the river, go in the wet season or when the water is high & you dont see anything.
I need a minimum of 20 people for this to be worthwhile organising.
This would be a unique, very special one-of trip; & I don't think anyone has done one like this from Chiang Khong, upstream to Takhong yet.
The Boat
Who's interested & wants to commit - Saturday 20th January.
This a special one-off trip, "never to be repeated."
The boat is coming from the Laos side, not the Thai side, to pick up passengers on the Thai side.
You can't do this often, because the Chiang Khong Thai boat union doesn't approve, but 1 off is ok.
A proposal - something I've been thinking about & working on for a while.
I'm been working on something special: trying to hire a Laos boat to sail upstream from Chiang Khong for 2 hrs to have a sunset dinner & party @ Takhong on the 20th January.
This was to celebrate 70 years on the planet - a post 70th HBD bash.
The dinner @ Takhong would be a buffet or set dinner.
I can arrange some live music @ Takhong, and at the moment the Clumsy Strangers look like they will be on for the gig, &/or Miss Eve with her reggae band (from Okanes) are also a possibility. Maria the Filpino singer from CK, may also be available to entertain on the boat.
If you have not been to Takhong yet, it is a very unique spot on the river, where you can see the sunset across the Mekong river in Laos.
It is the only place like this in Thailand!
Takhong - Haad Bai - Chiang Khong - & A Special Mekong Sunset
One of the beauties of Thailand & Laos is the magnificent Mekong river that sees thousands of people enjoy a late afternoon / dusk happy hour drink &/or a meal as the sun goes down. If you are on the Laos side you generally get to watch the sun go down across the river in Thailand, and the...
www.gt-rider.com
A rough outline - Saturday 20th January 2024.
Depart Chiang Khong 2pm.
Arrive at Had Bai Takhong 4pm, 28 kms upstream from Chiang Khong.
Music starts 5pm.
Watch the sunset over the Mekong.
Eat drink & be merry to start off 2024, as a nice group.
8.30PM depart Takhong back to Chiang Khong by mini bus / border bus.
Costs
Originally, I thought I could sponsor the boat trip, Laos beer & snacks on board. However, it looks like those total costs will far exceed my budget.
So, I propose to sponsor Beer Lao on board the boat for the cruise + the music / band(s) at Takhong.
That leaves dinner, the boat cost & transport back to Chiang Khong from Takhong to be paid for individually.
The boat can handle 40 people. The boat will be one of those nice Houei Xai - Luang Prabang passenger boats. Shared cost aiming for maximum 500 baht a head.
Dinner at Takhong should be about 300 baht a head - menu to be confirmed. Either set or a buffet.
Transport back to Chiang Khong needs to be confirmed, guess 200/250 baht a head. Mini bus or border bus (songtaew).
Date Saturday 20th January 2024
There's an optimum time to do this trip.
The water level is receding, by mid-late February there may not be enough water in the river upstream.
The 2023 rainfall at the GT was down 65% down on the yearly average.
Go much later late February & you maybe entering smoky season, which will be less pleasant for some.
We are starting to enter the nice sunset season now.
A Takhong sunset 25 December 2023.
The beauty of the river at this time of the year is you can see all the rocks & reefs in the river, go in the wet season or when the water is high & you dont see anything.
I need a minimum of 20 people for this to be worthwhile organising.
This would be a unique, very special one-of trip; & I don't think anyone has done one like this from Chiang Khong, upstream to Takhong yet.
The Boat
Who's interested & wants to commit - Saturday 20th January.
This a special one-off trip, "never to be repeated."
The boat is coming from the Laos side, not the Thai side, to pick up passengers on the Thai side.
You can't do this often, because the Chiang Khong Thai boat union doesn't approve, but 1 off is ok.
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