Morning, Last week we were in Xieng Kok and looking to get from there to Xieng Dao, by riding along the Mekong. We were told there is now a "New Road"...but all we found was a jungle track when heading out of Xieng Kok and in one place it took 4 guys to get a Honda step-thru down one area and up the other side. Being 2Up on a DRZ400 that is set up for being Off Road, we gave this idea of getting to Xieng Dao a miss and turned back to Xieng Kok. We were also told that the bridge has been completed across the river Nam Fa, so possibly a "Road" is coming, but we could not find it and the locals out riding only knew about the jungle track, where they had some difficulties and told us that it takes 3-4 hours to make this trip; 30+ Kilometers. And for getting from Ban Mom to Xieng Dao, after leaving Ban Mom and heading North, we finally ran out of road/track and the locals tolds us there was no way to get through. Cheers, David and Mai Chiang Khong
There is definitely a road there which I rode during the third week of March 2010 - you cross a stream soon after the start and yes it then continues as a track - does get better and the last stretch looks quite new - the trip on the XR250 measured it at 29km’s and it took me 1.5 hours with a few stops for smokes and photos - here are some shots. I had the GT map and would rate the road as one of those brown dotted routes and may possibly not be passable in the rainy season. Will post a road report of my 15 day tour of the north soon. - here are some photos of the 'new' road. {} {} {} {} {}
