Riding The Kok

[DavidFL]

The Kok River - Chiang Rai Attractions

Mae Kok River

The Mae Kok River is the blood line for the people of Chiang Rai, starting from the hills of Myanmar to enter Thailand at Tha Ton and then flow into the Mekong River.

Some Kok Info
The Nam Mae Kok basin covers an area of 10,730 km2
The river starts in Myanmar & flows for 320 kms before it joins the Mekong at Sob Kok, just a few kms downstream from Chiang Sean.
The first 170 kms of the Kok are in Myanmar, upstream from Tha Ton.
In North Thailand it’s main tributaries are
1. Nam Mae Fang
2. Nam Korn, a significant river for flooding issues.
3. Nam Mae Lao, who’s start basically runs parallel to R118, starting on the ridgeline between Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai provinces.
Downstream from Chiang Rai city there are 2 main smaller tributaries
1. Mae Hang
2. Mae Phue.

The valleys of the Fang, the Lao and the Kok rivers from Chiang Rai to the mouth are flat and flood prone.
On both sides of the Kok there are often stunning vistas from wats on hills, plus some great little ethnic villages upstream from Chiang Rai.

The mouth of the Kok @ Sob Kok

Looking into the Kok & the Chiang Saen cargo point

20°14'33.5"N 100°09'01.2"E · Ban Saeo, Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai 57150, Thailand

Ban Saeo, Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai 57150, Thailand

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[DavidFL]

1.5 kms upstream on the Kok, from the river mouth, sits Phrathat Sang Chan (Chiang Saen), on a hill overlooking the countryside.

The white buildings to the left are the admin offices for the Chiang Saen Cargo port @ the mouth of the Kok.

A work in progress, there are some interesting structures going on at the very top of the hill.

Check it out sometime, off R1290.

Phrathat Sang Chan (Chiang Saen) · 64JP+QX5, Ban Saeo, Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai 57150, Thailand

âââââ · Buddhist temple

goo.gl

 

[DavidFL]

Wat Sob Kok - Sob Kok - R1290- Chiang Rai
Oops this should have been the 2nd post on this thread.

A mere 600 metres from the mouth of the Kok, is Wat Sob Kok.

Just another wat, most of us would say, but the abbot here is a top guy, & measures the level of the Mekong regularly to post any significant changes on his facebook page. Wat Sob Kok Facebook. A very caring abbot, he's concerned about the environment & his community, plus even his temple dogs are friendly!

The grounds of the wat are always immaculate & well kept.

Interestingly enough to one side of the wat, there are several impressive logs / trees, that are blessed with charms & good luck offerings to the spirits.

My guess is that these logs have been fished out of the Mekong / Kok river over the decades?

Wat Sob Kok · 65Q2+WW8, Ban Saeo, Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai 57150, Thailand

âââââ · Buddhist temple

goo.gl

Swing on by sometime.

 

[DavidFL]

2.5 kms upstream from the mouth of the Kok, sits Wat Phrathat Wang Sang, on a small hill over looking R1290 & R1063 the Chiang Saen bypass.

Wat Phrathat Wang Sang · 64FH+H79, Ban Saeo, Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai 57110, Thailand

★★★★☆ · Buddhist temple

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