Christmas Trip Up to Petchabun, Phu Rua and Chiang Khan Loei

We left on Thursday the 21st with the first stop in Petchabun, Sri Thep Historical site. This site dates to the 3rd Century until the 13th century. Spanning cultural periods from late pre history, through Dvaravati, to the golden age of the Kymer Empire.

The largest remaining stupa.

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In and around.

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You take these "trolleys" out to the ruin and then you are free to walk about as you like. They were celebrating the anniversary of becoming a world heritage site so all was free.

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The layout of the site.

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Then off to the mountains and Phu Tap Buek and Kow Kor. Quite a windy road.
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Really overbuilt up here with little to no planning, the top was okay though.

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Then off to Kow Kor and what I think is the nicest temple in Thailand. Wat Phra Sorn Kaew/

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Time for a drink before a good meal and then off to Phu Rua Loei the next morning.

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Originally Posted by aging one

Then off to Kow Kor and what I think is the nicest temple in Thailand. Wat Phra Sorn Kaew/

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It's a beaut. Thanks for the pics.

Ditch the 4 wheels, grab 2 wheels, and head for Nam Nao Raceway. (Nam Nao National Park) Best motorbiking road in Thailand. (Big call, Ed.)

Beauty pics AO and hope you enjoyed the BeerLao IPA. Perfect on any occasion.

Headed up to Loei province where it was cold, yes I would say cold. 12 or so in the mornings warming up to 20 or 21 in the later afternoon. But the mountain tops of Phu Rua and Phu Tak were both around 8 degrees.

Mountains galore.

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Beautiful temple up there, Wat Somdej Phu Rua Ming Muang

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Got a bit chilly up there so I switched to a nice wine as well. Actually was a really nice gift from Mendy to my wife.

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Next up off to Chiang Khan. Phu Tak, bicycle lane along the Mekong, walking street and the Skywalk.

Great pics AO, happy holidays.

That nice, clean brisk air will be good for your lungs. Thanks for sharing, AO. Keep the pics coming, please!

Yeah the clean air was nice, plus being 1300+ meters up for 5 days. Back to full health was doing 12-14,000 steps a day. :)

Thank you AO. The vistas of mountain country are very refreshing too. ✅

Looks like a nice trip, ao. Great pics too. Thanks for sharing.

Great little travel thread, onya AO. Thanks that world heritage site could have had some dual language on their signs, eh?

Some great pics there AO keep em coming

So the last leg was the drive up to Chiang Khan. A lovely small border town right on the Mekong. Got there had some lunch and were on bicycles to check out the nice bike lane they have that runs about 6 kilometers from Kaeng Kut Khu, into the town of Chiang Khan ending right at the walking street.

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Up early to get up for the sunrise on Phu Tok.Attachment 110166

Then to the Skywalk, about 20 k out of town up on a hill with great Mekong and tributary views. Only 80 baht for a songthaew ride up and back.

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Last night sunset over the Mekong. A road trip well worth taking but the 700 kilometer ride home got long.

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Stunning pictures and you're looking great AO!

Stunning sunset pics!

Really great thread with some stunning photos and the descriptive texts are just right. Looks like you had a great time.

You are inspiring us!

Many thanks...

Chiang khan is looking very festive and colourful
By the way are the pics taken with a camera or just using the phone camera?

AO, the last picture on post 14 could be almost be an oil painting, if the stuff at the bottom wasn't there. Nice pictures again!

Outstanding pics AO. Keep them coming. Wife and I plan a 2 week trek south after the New Year.