Traveling through the province of Loei looks a little like traveling through both the northeast region and the northern region of Thailand at the same time. The mix of mountains and farmland make for a beautiful trip. Northern Thailand is known for the mountains, while northeast is known for the farmlands. One way to get a feel for this beautiful province and its northern border, the Mekong River, is to visit the Chiang Khan Skywalk. Our family loves Loei province. We’ve been to over 50 Thai provinces and this is one of our favorites! The Chiang Khan skywalk is one of the reasons.
Visiting the skywalk is not a long activity and one that can easily be done with any number of kids in tow.
Location
The Chiang Khan Skywalk is an attraction created about 30 minutes down the road from Chiang Khan town, found at the location where the Hueng River meets up with the mighty Mekong River. Its purpose was for people to have a bird’s eye view of the convergence of the rivers.
If you are driving from Loei City, it will take you about an hour and a half to get to the Chiang Khan Skywalk.
We usually spend the night in Chiang Khan and visit in the morning as we are often traveling to or from the town of Chiang Mai in the northeast or Thailand. Along this route the skywalk is about an hour out of our way. We felt that the views and experience outweighed the inconvenience of an extra hour. If you are staying in Chiang Khan and want to make your way to the skywalk it will be about a 30-minute drive. We highly recommend pairing a trip to the Skywalk with a day exploring the Chiang Khan Walking Street.
History of Chiang Khan Skywalk
The Chiang Khan Skywalk construction was finished in 2020. Just in time to open and then shut down again because of the Covid 19 outbreak. Once restrictions were lifted, the skywalk reopened to the public and has drawn a fair number of visitors. The Skywalk is 80 meters above the ground below, and it also has about 80 meters of glass flooring to view the ground below! It was constructed to view the spot where the Hueang River meets the Mekong River. The Mekong River is a sacred river and very important throughout Southeast Asia.
The Mekong River
The Mekong River is the 10 largest river in the world. Starting in the Tibetan Plateau’s in China, the Mekong River winds itself from China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam before finally emptying out into the South China Sea. This river is crucial to the livelihood of over 60 million people through Southeast Asia. The Chiang Khan Skywalk is a great location to be able to see the influence of the Mekong as you are looking at the rushing water that separates Thailand from Laos.
From the skywalk, you can see far into Laos. This is lots of fun, especially if you are not planning on leaving Thailand. You can show your kids what Laos looks like from afar. You can even see small villages on the other side that use the Mekong as their livelihood.
How to Visit Chiang Khan Skywalk with Your Family
Parking
Park at the bottom of the hill. There is a large open space that is available as a parking lot. If you come on a busy day, you may be directed to a specific spot. Otherwise, you can choose your spot.
The bottom of the hill includes the parking lot, toilets, souvenir and snack stalls, an elephant center, and most importantly the ticket office.
Buy Tickets
Find the ticket office near the souvenir shops. During high season, there will be a line to pay for tickets, so it will be easier to find. During low season, look for the signs marking the ticket office by the souvenir shops.
Also, when buying tickets, they will give each person in your group shoe coverings to wear when you are out on the skywalk glass.
Chiang Khan Skywalk Hours
Hours of Operation
Daily: 7 am - 6 pm
Ticket Prices
Price
Adult - THB 60
Child - THB 30
Ticket price is inclusive of parking, transportation up the hill, skywalk entrance, and shoe coverings. Ticket prices are in Thai Baht.
Ride Up the Hill
After getting your tickets, go back out to the parking lot. There you will find songtaews (open trucks with side benches) parked. A driver will be calling people to come over and get inside. This ride is included in your ticket price, so as long as you show your tickets, they will take you up the hill.
Once the songtaew is full, that driver will start the drive up the hill to the skywalk. The reason for the songtaews is that the road leading up to the top is only available for vehicles belonging to Chiang Khan Skywalk. Private vehicles can only go as far as the parking lot.
The songtaew will park at the top and everyone gets off together.
Waiting to Enter the Skywalk
Pick up a queue number from a skywalk employee. This will tell you when you can go onto the skywalk.
While you wait your turn to enter the glass skywalk, you can walk around the rest of the hilltop. There are photo opportunities created for you, as well as beautiful views of the two rivers.
It’s also really fun to look into Laos and see if you can note similarities and differences with your children.
Entering the Skywalk
The person at the beginning of the skywalk will call out your group number. Everything is in Thai, so pay close attention if you don’t speak much Thai.
If you speak no Thai, I recommend making the attendant aware so that they can make sure to get your attention when it is your turn.
Now that your number is called, you can put on your shoe covering that was given to you back at the ticket counter. These shoe coverings should only be used on the glass floor. Their purpose is to stop people from scratching the glass.
On the Chiang Khan Skywalk
On you go to the skywalk! Enjoy your time and don’t feel hurried.
My children absolutely loved their experience on the glass. Looking straight down is so much fun! You have a view of the tall trees and river below you, as well as the view directly looking out at the convergence of the rivers.
Once you make your way to the middle of the skywalk, you feel like you are hanging out in the air as you leave the land behind.
Follow the direction of the people. You can take your time but the crowd is all going one direction, so you want to keep going. Many people stop to take photos.
Do make sure that you leave your food and drink behind or in your purse. You can not take any food or drink onto the skywalk.
Things to Do Around the Skywalk
Once you are off the skywalk glass, put your shoe coverings into buckets that are available to dispose of them.
Take your time looking around a bit more. There is no set time for you to get back onto the songtaew to go back down the hill. And honestly, the views even from land are beautiful.
There is also a big Buddha there where you can view Buddhists paying tribute to it. We find this is always good conversation with our children about what people are doing.
Ride Down the Hill
Go back to the same place where you got off the songtaew and you should find a waiting songtaew that is filling up with people. Each time we have gone, there was a waiting songtaew. However, if you go at a busy time, you may need to wait by the side of the road for the next songtaew that arrives.
You may also need to wait on the songtaew while it fills up with more people, as they don’t want to leave before the vehicle is full.
Go back down the hill on the songtaew. It will drop you back in the parking lot.
Shopping and Eating Around the Chiang Khan Skywalk
In the parking lot, you will find souvenir shops and some food stalls. Many of the souvenir shops have items that you can find around the region, like at markets such as the Chiang Khan Walking Street.
The shops are still fun to peruse and you just might find something unique!
My kids’ favorite part of the parking lot is the man selling coconut ice cream! For just 20 THB each, it’s a perfect snack to finish our time at the Chiang Khan Skywalk.
Final Thoughts on the Chiang Khan Skywalk
The skywalk is a well-made tourist attraction. It seems far away from other attractions, but we feel that it is well worth the time to drive out to it.
Very rarely have we found a way to see rivers from up high and seeing the confluence of two rivers is really beautiful!
Nearby Accommodations
We usually stay in Chiang Khan town along the Chiang Khan walking street, but if your family wants more space and an alternative to the normal hotel-type accommodation, we can highly recommend The Camp Chiang Khan.
We loved our stay at The Camp Chiang Khan. They have glamping tents right up against the river. The view of the mist on the river in the morning is other-worldly.
It is just a bit out of Chiang Khan town on the way to the skywalk. So, expect it to take a little over 20 minutes drive to get to the Chiang Kha Skywalk.
If you want more accommodation options in Chiang Khan, head over to our post all about Chiang Khan Walking Street.