BaanRimtaling Guesthouse - Chiang Khong - On Mekong River - Rooms & Restaurant

BaanRimtaling Guesthouse
Chiang Khong, Thailand
Overlooking the Mekong River
Close to Bus Station (400meters)
Clean Rooms, Good Food, and a Quiet Friendly Atmosphere
"Maleewan" - Owner - English speaking
Email: maleewan_th@yahoo.com
Mobile # 0846155490 (in Thailand)
International Call # (66) 846155490

SawatDee (Hello!) and YindeeThonrab (Welcome!)

(View from BaanRimtaling balcony across to Huay Xai, Laos)

Free pickup at the Bus Station
Arriving buses will unload on the main street near the "7/11 Shop" in Chiang Khong.
A green sign at the "7/11" has guesthouse directions and phone number.

Guesthouse Amenities

Bungalows, Double and Single rooms, and Four-Bed Dorms, with private or shared bathrooms - all with hot showers. Room rates from 100 Baht - 450 Baht per night.

Restaurant - Thai food (curries) and Western food (hamburgers, pasta).

Free trip to the border crossing each morning.

Free internet & wifi.

Large Common Area - TV, DVD player, Computer (free for guests).

Additional rooms are available in a separate house on Soi 19 about 30 meters from the guest house. (Groups tend to like the separate house.)

Current Laos travel information is posted near the front desk.

Assistance with boat and bus ticketing in Laos.

Several open areas and a garden for relaxing, or gathering with friends.

And, a splendid view of the Mekong River.

Chiang Khong - Things To Do

Chiang Khong is a small, quiet and safe town. The people are friendly. And, although usually thought of as an overnight stopover to Laos, there are fun things to do here;

Get a glimpse of life in a little-changed and rural Thai small town. Relax and spend the day wandering around Chiang Khong. Enjoy a cobblestone pedestrian river walk (2km), a daily market, seven temples, a port area, and main street with shops.

Ride 10km up to the several Hmong hill tribe villages around Chiang Khong. A pristine waterfall is further up the mountain past the last hill tribe village, but it is an arduous foot-only trek.

Take a 55km daytrip to Chiang Saen, the oldest city in Thailand. Or, go on 10km further to the Golden Triangle and the Opium museum. Enroute to Chiang Saen, is a multiple waterfall, an expansive Mekong River overlook, a hilltop Hmong village, an organic tea plantation, and a side road through a textile weaving village alongside the Mekong, all with spectacular mountain and river scenery along the way.

Guests can also fish the Mekong in front of the guesthouse. Or, go swimming (no crocodiles or piranha in the river).

And, for guests wanting more exercise, a public aerobics class is in the late afternoon at the town center. And, a Tai Chi class at a local park. The Chiang Khong Cycling Club pedals daily in the late afternoon. Join in where you wish.
Or, for others, maybe just a pleasant read and a nap on the balcony while the fishing boats pass slowly in front of the guesthouse.

And, in the evening, possibly enjoy a bit of conversation in the open areas with interesting fellow travelers from other parts of the world.

Getting to Chiang Khong

Local buses (red bus) depart from Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong every hour from 5:00AM to 5:00PM. About 2-1/2 hours enroute.

Buses (green bus) depart from Chiang Mai to Chiang Khong around 8:30AM, and 1:00PM each day. About 7 hours enroute.

Direct buses to Chiang Khong will depart the Mo Chit (Northern) bus station in Bangkok during the early evening and early morning hours. About 13 hours enroute.

Walk-In Map from Bus Stop to BaanRimtaling Guesthouse

A few more Guesthouse photos

And, a few Links

Chiang Khong Photos (1) Chiang Khong Photos(2) Chiang Khong Photos(3) Chiang Khong Photos(4)

These photos of the Chiang Khong area were taken by Khun Issrasai, a Thai professional photographer living in Bangkok. He has kindly uploaded them to Flikr. And, as you can see he is quite talented. He is sometimes a guest here. And, we thank him for sharing his work.

Google Map - Chiang Khong Area

Expand the map a bit and you can see the road northwest to Chiang Saen, and the road south to Wiang Kaen, Pha Tang and Phu Chi Fa.

Mekong River Hill Tribe People Chiang Rai Province

History and geography links about the Mekong River, Thailand Hill Tribe peoples, and Chiang Rai Province.

And, if you would like to know, .....

Old Teak, Elder Monk, Construction, Old Carpenters, Guesthouse Name?

Old teak was used in the majority of the guesthouse construction. Teak, so old it was cut and hewn by hand. The axe marks are clearly visible on the flooring and beams. And, antique wooden shutters and carvings were used. In the months before construction, several old Thai homes were found and acquired. With the help of local Hmong hill tribe workers, these old houses were carefully taken down and all the wood was piled up on the guesthouse property. The elder monk at the temple suggested a lucky day to start construction. A pole was put in the ground on that day. And, after a traditional waiting period, construction was started by three old carpenters. Who argued daily as to the best ways to build the guesthouse. You can judge for yourself how well they did.

And, lastly, the guesthouse name? Okay. Well, "Baan" in Thai means "home". And, "Rimtaling" means "by the water". A simple name, ... like the simple quiet life here.

And, now fellow traveler, you have it all.

So, LaaKorn (goodbye) and JerKanMai (we hope to see you) ......