Chiang Khan...The Mekong route starts promisingly at CHIANG KHAN, whose rows of wooden shop-houses stretch out in a two-kilometre-long ribbon parallel to the river. The town has only two streets – Highway 211, also known as Thanon Sri Chiang Khan, and the quieter Thanon Chai Khong on the waterfront – with a line of sois connecting them numbered from west to east. Arguably the most enjoyable thing you can do here is to join other travellers for a boat trip on the river. Upstream trips (B200–400 per person; 2–3hr) head west towards the mountains of Khao Laem and Khao Ngu; downstream trips go to Pak Chom (B1300 per boat; 6hr round trip) through beautiful rural scenery and some dramatic rapids.Frequent songthaews from Loei and Pak Chom and buses from Loei stop at the west end of town near the junction of Highway 201 (the road from Loei) and Highway 211.For food, try the day market, on the south side of Thanon Sri Chiang Khan between sois 9 and 10, and the night market (6–8pm), between sois 18 and 19 on the same road.