Loei Things to Do
A couple of mountains in the Loei province which can be either climbed or reached by car make Loei a worth-exploring destination for nature lovers, hikers and outdoors activities enthusiasts.
Phu Ruea National Park
Located some 50 km west of town, this small national park covers the 1365 m high peak which is considered one of the coldest places in Thailand (don’t forget a jumper – especially in the cold season!). The summit is reachable by car or motorbike, too, and stunning views over the Loei valley to the east and mountains in Laos to the North will leave you speechless. On a clear day it’s quite easy to spot the Mekong River (which in fact is almost 80 km away from Phu Ruea).
The park is boasts great floral biodiversity and is famous for many varieties of wild orchids, but it also hosts some wildlife. Monkeys, bears and wild boars live there but are not easy to spot.
If you have your own transport, keep driving past the visitor centre until you get to the parking lot 500 m from the summit. From there you can either walk up to the summit or hire a songthaew. If you don’t have your transportation, hire a songthaew at the visitor centre.
On the way to the top there are several viewpoints with boards in English showing landmarks you’re looking at. Another major attraction of the park is a couple of nice waterfalls – do not miss them.
From Loei the trip is pretty straightforward; follow route 21 until you get to the entrance of the park where you have to pay THB200 (open every day from 5.00am to 8.00pm). Buses and minivans are available from Loei but they will drop you on the main road and you’ll have to walk or hitchhike to reach the visitor centre. Accommodation options and restaurants are available outside and inside the park.
Phu Kradueng National Park
Located in the south of the province 80 km far from Loei, Phu Kradueng is a spectacular mountain with a 60 square km plateau at the top. Hiking up Phu Kradueng is quite challenging with rather steep and slippery sections along the way. Yet the only way to get to the top of the mountain from the visitor centre at the bottom is on foot via a 6 km trail. If you are an experienced hiker, you won’t have any problem here; but for everyone else the way up can take 5–6 hours. To slightly facilitate the whole deal, porters can be hired to carry your backpack.
Considering the distance from the city and the time required to complete the ascend, we would recommend this destination only to those who are ready to spend the night in the park. On the summit tents and cabins for rent and restaurants offering simple Thai food are available and needless to say that the views from the top at sunset and dawn are simply breathtaking.
Phu Kradueng is an extremely popular destination with the Thais, especially student groups who stay overnight at the top during weekends and public holidays. That is why it’s better to plan your visit during the weekday.
Please note that Phu Kradueng is a seasonal destination – the park is closed during the rainy season (June to September) and if you’re visiting in December and January keep in mind that this is the only place in Thailand where the temperature at night can go below zero.
To get to Phu Kradueng from Loei, take the bus to Khon Kaen that stops in Phu Kradueng village. From the bus stop a tuk-tuk will take you to the visitor centre for THB50. If you have a car simply drive south on route 201.
Chiang Khan
Chiang Khan is a small town located on the banks of the Mekong River. It’s mainly famous for its historic Walking Street featuring old teakwood houses and the riverfront from where you get fantastic views over the mountains in Laos. Once a hidden gem in the Northern Isaan, it is now losing its authentic laid back atmosphere quite quickly due to hordes of local tourists flooding the village during weekends but it’s still a nice relaxed place to spend a couple of days. Guesthouses and restaurants are widely available along the river. To get to Chiang Khan from Loei, regular daily buses and songthaews depart from Loei bus station. The trip takes one hour and costs THB40.
