The boats hold about five passengers safely and tourists typically hire the whole vessel for the trip for somewhere around the THB400 mark. The trip takes passengers upstream as far the Golden Triangle Paradise Resort first. The brilliant white casino complex is on the Myanmar bank of the Mekong and is something of an anomaly when compared to the verdant landscapes surrounding it.
The boat then heads back downstream to the landing pier at Koh Don Sao where visitors are granted entry to this so-called Laos duty-free zone for a nominal fee. Boat pilots allow around 30 minutes for passengers to take a look around the market. The selection of products is diverse and includes attractive cotton sarongs, Beer Lao, fermented snake liquor and cute souvenirs.
The majority of buses to this far-flung corner of Thailand stop at Chiang Saen. From there it is 15 minutes in a local shared taxi or bus to Sop Ruak. 12GO ASIA can provide travellers with cheap tickets on most intercity routes to Northern Thailand.
A trip to a Laos river island from Chiang Saen
News in Asia
People travelling in the Golden Triangle region of Northern Thailand have the opportunity of making a quick excursion into Laos. The Mekong River island of Koh Don Sao is slightly downstream of Sop Ruak. Longtail boat owners congregate at piers close to the huge golden Buddha statue and his boat.