R3024 & The Amazing Road To Muang Khong

DavidFL

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Chiang Khong
www.thegtrider.com
Muang Khong is a small is a tambon (subdistrict) on the banks of the Mae Taeng river, hidden behind Chiang Dao mountain.
A bit of a forgotten place, it is a genuine gem of a natural beauty - unspoiled & relatively isolated for many years.
20 years ago only trekkers ventured out there for the hill tribes & rafting on the Mae Taeng river.
Access to Muang Khong has only been by the road "over the side of the mountain."
Dirt road access has been from Huay Nam Dang & Wiang Haeng, both about 25 kms away, but these roads are often impassable in the wet.

So it's only the one way in & one way out Muang Khong, unless your a dirt road fan.
But what a road it is too - one of the best, steepest roads you can get.

A road that seems to climb forever
GTR%20-%20IMG_8508.jpg


This baby is right up with the best climbs; and it is tight narrow concrete through some magnificent forest.

To get there you take the road to the Chiang Dao caves
GTR%20-%20IMG_8487.jpg

It's a beautiful start straight off with some big trees
GTR%20-%20IMG_8489.jpg


You don't take the left turn into the caves, but make a right onto R3024
GTR%20-%20IMG_8534.jpg


2 kms down the road is the Chiang Dao Wildlife sanctuary checkpoint, where there is a foreigner fee of 200 baht for going to the sanctuary; but tell the staff you are going to Muang Khong / Wiang Haeng & there is no fee.

Immediately after the checkpoint the real road starts & up & up you go.
GTR-R3024MKhong.jpg

& what a climb it is!!!

Just check out that profile. Is that the steepest now or....?

GTR%20-%20IMG_8492.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8500.jpg


Occasionally it seems to level out, but only momentarily
GTR%20-%20IMG_8495.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8494.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8531.jpg


On the Chiang Dao side of the ridge line the road is in better condition than the Muang Khong side.
Some parts are nice new, wider asphalt.
GTR%20-%20IMG_8522.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8509.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8541.jpg


Somewhere along the way I stopped to take a few photos & was startled by some movement in the bamboo above me.
I looked up & there was a genuine live monkey prancing along the bamboo.
I was momentarily stunned - a first for me in Thailand. The real thing, live in the "wild." You really don't see much wild life in the North, sad to say.
Naturally he / she ran off & I missed a photo.

Back on that amazing up & down road
GTR%20-%20IMG_8551.jpg


A group pf spirit shrines beside the road & the location of what looks a few landslides.
GTR%20-%20IMG_8543.jpg


The local water supply
GTR%20-%20IMG_8548.jpg


The drop off point for hiking up the mountain
GTR%20-%20IMG_8746.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8754.jpg

don't go without a guide.

GTR%20-%20IMG_8743.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8738.jpg


A wee bit further on the ridge line & highest point a Lisu lookout
GTR%20-%20IMG_8575.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8580.jpg


Sadly the Lisu who have been there for 25 years had been asked to remove their tourist huts, located a mere 50 metres from their house & village. No longer allowed.
GTR%20-%20IMG_8576.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8577.jpg


All a bit unfair I thought. Some of the people I spoke to had been there all their life.

On the flat on the ridge line
GTR%20-%20IMG_8582.jpg


then downhill you go
GTR%20-%20IMG_8585.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8586.jpg


Some patchy concrete, with some twists and turns.
GTR%20-%20IMG_8559.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8595.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8632.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8602.jpg


The road follows a stream for some of the way
GTR%20-%20IMG_8734.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8627.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8731.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8607.jpg


Muang Khong city & the bridge over the Mae Taeng
GTR%20-%20IMG_8636.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8691.jpg


An amazing old police station in Muang Khong
GTR%20-%20IMG_8665.jpg

it should be a museum piece....

a bit more to come.
 
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DavidFL

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Chiang Khong
www.thegtrider.com
In the valley by the river

Downstream
GTR%20-%20IMG_8638.jpg


Upstream
GTR%20-%20IMG_8641.jpg


Muang Khong city
GTR%20-%20IMG_8644.jpg


Wat Si Klang Muang on the west side
GTR%20-%20IMG_8648.jpg


The village on the west side seems to be a maze of lanes & tracks, and fortunately almost every important corner seems to be signposted.
GTR%20-%20IMG_8649.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8650.jpg


Straight ahead to Huay Nam Dang
GTR%20-%20IMG_8689.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8650.jpg


Straight ahead to Wiang haeng
GTR%20-%20IMG_8658.jpg


Getting ready for the masses & selfies
GTR%20-%20IMG_8678.jpg


Pottering around the valley I spotted what looked like a new resort overlooking the valley.
GTR%20-%20IMG_8693.jpg


Enter the Phu Tawan - open only 3 months
1488181645338.jpg


7 bungalows
DSC_0152.jpg


& a nice restaurant with a view
DSC_0157.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8647.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8705.jpg


The valley view from Phu Tawan
GTR%20-%20IMG_8706.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8707.jpg


The restaurant
GTR%20-%20IMG_8714.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8715.jpg


Highly recommended for those loving nature.

That classsic old police station again
GTR%20-%20IMG_8663.jpg

oh the stories that place could tell too!

For dirt road fans there are several excellent dirt rides from Muang Khong
Wiang Haeng
Huay Nam Dang
Doi Sam Muen
plus tracks along the Mae Taeng downstream back into Sop Kai.

You could do some nice loops from Muang Khong & stay at the Phu Tawan resort now.
I predict this place -Muang Khong - will be booming in a couple of years for Thai tourists
They are gradually working on the Wiang Haeng & Huay Nam Dang roads, such that they will be concrete in a couple of years & then there will be some fantastic loops for the nature loving city slickers to drool over.
So check out Muang Khong as soon as you can....before the Bangkok masses over run the place.

For those interested Muang Khong has featured on GTR before
Chiang Mai -Muang Khong - Arunothai Return

Pai - Wiang Haeng - Chiang Dao. Muddy trails and mighty mountains

Dirt from Muang Khong to Huai Ya Sai

Half day ride to Muang Khong

Maetang to Muang Khong to Huai Nam Dang to Pai to.......

muang khong - wiang heang enduro track

There's gold riding out there in them Muang Khong hills.

To understand the road network use a GT Rider Mae Hong Son Loop map - all the tracks & villages are on the map, so you can get the big picture.
Mae Hong Son Loop Map

The Phu Tawan
Muang Khong Accommodation
 
Last edited:

midnight

Active Member
Nov 6, 2016
35
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thailand
Muang Khong is a small is a tambon (subdistrict) on the banks of the Mae Taeng river, hidden behind Chiang Dao mountain.
A bit of a forgotten place, it is a genuine gem of a natural beauty - unspoiled & relatively isolated for many years.
20 years ago only trekkers ventured out there for the hill tribes & rafting on the Mae Taeng river.
Access to Muang Khong has only been by the road "over the side of the mountain."
Dirt road access has been from Huay Nam Dang & Wiang Haeng, both about 25 kms away, but these roads are often impassable in the wet.

So it's only the one way in & one way out Muang Khong, unless your a dirt road fan.
But what a road it is too - one of the best, steepest roads you can get.

A road that seems to climb forever
GTR%20-%20IMG_8508.jpg


This baby is right up with the best climbs; and it is tight narrow concrete through some magnificent forest.

To get there you take the road to the Chiang Dao caves
GTR%20-%20IMG_8487.jpg

It's a beautiful start straight off with some big trees
GTR%20-%20IMG_8489.jpg


You don't take the left turn into the caves, but make a right onto R3024
GTR%20-%20IMG_8534.jpg


2 kms down the road is the Chiang Dao Wildlife sanctuary checkpoint, where there is a foreigner fee of 200 baht for going to the sanctuary; but tell the staff you are going to Muang Khong / Wiang Haeng & there is no fee.

Immediately after the checkpoint the real road starts & up & up you go.
GTR-R3024MKhong.jpg

& what a climb it is!!!

Just check out that profile. Is that the steepest now or....?

GTR%20-%20IMG_8492.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8500.jpg


Occasionally it seems to level out, but only momentarily
GTR%20-%20IMG_8495.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8494.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8531.jpg


On the Chiang Dao side of the ridge line the road is in better condition than the Muang Khong side.
Some parts are nice new, wider asphalt.
GTR%20-%20IMG_8522.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8509.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8541.jpg


Somewhere along the way I stopped to take a few photos & was startled by some movement in the bamboo above me.
I looked up & there was a genuine live monkey prancing along the bamboo.
I was momentarily stunned - a first for me in Thailand. The real thing, live in the "wild." You really don't see much wild life in the North, sad to say.
Naturally he / she ran off & I missed a photo.

Back on that amazing up & down road
GTR%20-%20IMG_8551.jpg


A group pf spirit shrines beside the road & the location of what looks a few landslides.
GTR%20-%20IMG_8543.jpg


The local water supply
GTR%20-%20IMG_8548.jpg


The drop off point for hiking up the mountain
GTR%20-%20IMG_8746.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8754.jpg

don't go without a guide.

GTR%20-%20IMG_8743.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8738.jpg


A wee bit further on the ridge line & highest point a Lisu lookout
GTR%20-%20IMG_8575.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8580.jpg


Sadly the Lisu who have been there for 25 years had been asked to remove their tourist huts, located a mere 50 metres from their house & village. No longer allowed.
GTR%20-%20IMG_8576.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8577.jpg


All a bit unfair I thought. Some of the people I spoke to had been there all their life.

On the flat on the ridge line
GTR%20-%20IMG_8582.jpg


then downhill you go
GTR%20-%20IMG_8585.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8586.jpg


Some patchy concrete, with some twists and turns.
GTR%20-%20IMG_8559.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8595.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8632.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8602.jpg


The road follows a stream for some of the way
GTR%20-%20IMG_8734.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8627.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8731.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8607.jpg


Muang Khong city & the bridge over the Mae Taeng
GTR%20-%20IMG_8636.jpg


GTR%20-%20IMG_8691.jpg


An amazing old police station in Muang Khong
GTR%20-%20IMG_8665.jpg

it should be a museum piece....

a bit more to come.



Great report.
from Huay Nam Dang to Muang Khong do you think possible on a PCX in September? would love to get there and come out on route 3024 to chiang dao.
 

Jurgen

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Oct 23, 2009
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www.chopard.org
Amazing journey and place, just around the corner. As I have never been there I just added it to my wish list :) . A enticing report David ... thank you .
 

canthai

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Apr 8, 2015
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Just got back this afternoon. Exercise caution as the old concrete is broken in many places. After the Rains lately there were lots of bamboo overhanging the road too. And the ever present sand washed down and covering the road in spots, usually corners !! And the Park made me Pay !!
 
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