Although geographically located in the northeast or I-San, Loei has many things in common with the northern region – namely its numerous high hills and mountains and its wintry as well as foggy climate. Literally speaking, the province deserves its name “Loei” which means ‘beyond’ or ‘to the furthest extreme’ as Loei lies in the northernmost part of the Northeastern region. Most notable is that Loei is the only province in Thailand where the temperature can drop to as low as zero Celsius in winter while it can become hotter than any province during summer. In short, Loei’s geography and climate is unique when compared to other I-San provinces.
Situated along the Phetchabun Mountain Range, Loei, a province that rises approximately 400 meters above sea level, is dubbed “the land of seas of mountains, the coolest in Siam”. Covering an area of 11,424 square kilometers (equivalent to 7.14 million rai of land), Loei Province, which is 520 kilometers from Bangkok shares a border with Laos to the north with the Khong and Heung Rivers forming the natural border, with Khon Kaen and Phetchabun Provinces to the south, with Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani, Nong Khai and Khon Kaen Provinces to the east, and with Phitsanulok Province to the west. The province can be divided into three main areas: the high mountains in the west, the plains at the foot of the hills in the south and the east, and the lowlands in the basins of the Khong and the Loei Rivers.
Loei Province has an abundance of precious resources such as forests and natural resources. Of equal importance, however, is its unusual mix of northern and northeastern culture which is treasured by both locals and visitors. This remarkable cultural blend has produced more than one local dialect but only one local identity.
Attractions within the province that should be explored include Phu Kradung, Phu Luang and Phu Reua National parks, as well as Tha Li and Chiang Khan Districts.Administratively, Loei is divided into 12 districts (Amphoes) : Mueang, Wang Saphung, Phu Kradueng, Chiang Khan, Pak Chom, Tha Li, Phu Ruea, Dan Sai, Na Haeo, Na Duang, Phu Luang, Pha Khao, Erawan and Nong Hin.
How to get there
While Loei is easily accessible by road, one needs to use Udon Thani or Khon Kaen railway stations to reach Loei by train. A commercial airport is situated 6 kilometers from the town center.
As for river transportation, local residents use the Khong River to connect to Laos.
By
Car
Route 1:
From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 to Saraburi and Highway No. 21 via Phetchabun and continue the trip along Highway No. 203 via Lom Sak, Dan Sai and Phu Ruea to Loei. Total distance is 520 kilometers.
Route 2:
From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 to Saraburi and Highway No. 2 via Nakhon Ratchasima to Khon Kaen, then continue driving along Highway No. 12 via Chum Phae before turning left into Highway No. 201 and proceed to Loei via Wang Saphung. Total distance is approximately 540 kilometres.
By Bus
Buses depart from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal (Mochit 2 Bus Terminal) to Loei every day. There are VIP (24-seat) buses departing at 8.30 p.m. and 10.00 p.m. while air-conditioned and regular buses depart on a daily basis. Daily buses are also operated on the Bangkok-Dan Sai-Phu Ruea route. For more information call 0 2936 2852-66
By
Train
Regular trains depart from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Railway Station (Tel. 1690, 02 223 7010-20) to Railway Station located in Udon Thani province. Then take a bus on route Udon Thani – Loei to the provincial city (Loei). Call.1690, 0 2233 7010, or 0 2223 7020 for more up-to-date information, or contact Udon Thani Bus Terminal at 0 4222 2061. Alternatively, visit http://www.railway.co.th/ for more details on schedules and fares.
By Air
Visitors can fly from Bangkok to Phetchabun, Udon Thani or Khon Kaen and continue the trip to Loei by bus. For more information, call Thai Airways International at tel.: 1566, 0 2628 2000, 0 2280 0060.
Air Andaman flies to Loei from Bangkok three times a week. For updated flight schedules, contact 042 81 2344.
Getting around the city
Tuk-tuk, which can be found at the bus station, can take you to any place in town for 5-10 bahts/person. Alternatively, a chartered tuk-tuk will cost approximately 40-50 baht/trip into town.
Getting to other provinces/Loei’s districts
Numerous air-conditioned and regular buses provide services from Loei to its neighboring provinces namely Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Nong Khai, Phetchabun, Phitsanulok and Nakhon Ratchasima Provinces. In addition, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai Provinces can also be traveled to from Loei. Other than these provinces, Pak Chom, Chiang Khan, Na Duang, Wang Saphung and Tha Li Districts can also be reached from Loei.
