Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
need to backtrack since buses from Siwilai go to Udon Thani (140B, four hours, last bus
4.45pm).
If you're driving or pedalling, continue past Bueng Kan for 27km until you reach
Chaiyapon, then turn right at Rte 3024, the road signed for Chet Si, and several other wa-
terfalls. (These are in the Phu Wua Wildlife Reserve and make worthy detours, as much
for the weird rocky landscape as the cascades. There's only water mid-May through
December.) After 17.5km make a right and continue 4km more.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Ban Kham Pia
Isan is flush with village homestay programs that let you delve deep into rural life;
however most are aimed at Thai tour groups. But, thanks to the help of Open Mind Pro-
jects and English-speaking village-head Khun Bunleud,
Ban Kham Pia
( 08 7861 0601;
www.thailandwildelephanttrekking.com
; r 200-300B, meals 50-90B)
really knows how to welcome
fa·ràng
.
Another great thing about this homestay is that it's within walking distance of the
186-sq-km
Phu Wua Wildlife Reserve
, so you can add some superb treks (including sleeping in
a cave) to your trip. The forest is flush with waterfalls and home to about three-dozen ele-
phants. They're sometimes encountered on day walks from the village during the rainy
season and seen almost daily from January to April during overnight stays in the 'tree-
houses' (not for the faint-hearted). These are in the middle of a forest clearing where
monks bring sugarcane to discourage the elephants from raiding farm fields. It's about an
hour's drive from the village. The standard guide fee in and around the village is 300B per
day and motorcycles cost 200B per day.
Buses between Nong Khai (150B, 3½ hours) and Nakhon Phanom (130B, three hours)
will drop you at Ban Don Chik, 3km away.
