This loop takes you from Udon to the west and the little town of Loei, then along the Mekong, the natural Thai-Laos border, through Nong Khai, and on to Nakhon Phanom. With a side trip to That Phanom (and a possible stop at Ban Chiang) you return to Udon, from where you can fly back to Bangkok. You could also amend the route to follow the Mekong all the way south from Nakhon Phanom to Ubon Ratchathani. This is adventurous off-the-track travel, and it's not a bad idea to hire a guide or a car and driver.
Loei
520km (322 miles) NE of Bangkok; 344km (213 miles) N of Nakhon Ratchasima
Cool and usually rainy because of its higher elevation (the town is reputedly the coldest spot in the kingdom), little Loei is a lazy riverside town worth an overnight stop, but this route is more about the beautiful road journey, not the destination. Dan Sai 80km (50 miles) southwest of Loei hosts the annual Pi Tha Khon Festival, a Thai-style Mardi Gras in which young men dress as spirits and go crazy in the streets. "The devil made me do it!" is the excuse for all kinds of outlandish behavior; it's lots of fun. Outside of Loei town is Phu Kradung National Park, and one of Thailand's most dramatic sights: a bell-shaped tabletop mountain of 1,200m (4,000 ft.). The park is 82km (51 miles) south of Loei and well worth the trip.
