Nov 25-26 |
Departed Na Hin for Khong Lor Cave, though caves (temples, waterfalls) are not top on my list of must do activities. But this was well worth the diversion. Amazing scenes on the 40km ride there and back. Wasn't raining, so good views of the terrain I missed the day before riding in to Na Hin.
The cave is renowned for the river that runs through it, traversed by boat 7km roundtrip. Or one way: when I purchased my ticket, was asked if I was taking my motorbike. Apparently, some adventurous people traverse their bikes by boat through the tunnel, and then continue their journey on the dirt track road on the other side. Considering the boat was really unstable, and seemed like it could have easily capsized, it's hard to believe anyone would take this approach and transport a "big bike" this way.
Interesting journey through the cave, walked a bit at one stage, then exited into an amazing limestone mountain scene at the other end.
Onwards from Khong Lor via Na Hin to Thalang, second stage of the Thakhek Loop. Good ride there, including the lake of dead trees (interesting they didn't log them before filling dam reservoir). Thalang is a nothingburger of a destination, basically a few guesthouses. I stayed at Sabaidee, the main place, apparently. It was a full-house of young backpacker types riding rental 100c bikes, which numbered about 30. The cat is well out of the back that the Thakhek Loop is a must do on the backpacker trail.
Ride: 192 km | 4 hrs
Stay: Sabaidee Guesthouse, Thalang | $ 9.5 | 3/5
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