Ubon Ratchathani is the largest city in Thailand’s Isan region. The city is located in the Sankamphaeng Range on the Mekong River, which forms the natural border between Thailand and Laos. Ubon Ratchathani is famed for its historic Buddhist temples and the vibrant Thai culture that dominates the city’s lifestyle.

The city dates back to at least the 13th century when it was an important trading port in the Siam Empire. It was founded by King U-Thong who reigned from 1238 to 1270. Ubon Ratchathani was an important center for trade between the East and West, and the city was known for its abundant wealth and culture. As the centuries passed, Ubon Ratchathani grew and prospered. A palace was built in 1791 within the city walls. In the early 20th century, Ubon Ratchathani was declared a province in Thailand, and it developed into an important center of culture and education.

Today, Ubon Ratchathani is best known for its annual candle and lantern festival, which is held in July. During this festival, the people of Ubon light hundreds of floating paper lanterns on the Mekong River. This is a centuries-old tradition and one of the most spectacularly beautiful cultural events in Thailand.

In addition, the city is a great base for those wanting to explore surrounding nature, e.g. Kaeng Tana National Park and Pha Taem National Park.

How to get there?

Ubon Ratchathani can be reached by air, train, or bus from Bangkok. There are daily flights from Bangkok to Ubon which take less than an hour. Train and buses are significantly cheaper but the travel time takes between 9 – 11 hours. My preference is the sleeping train which has the best comfort-to-price ratio but the arrival is very early in the morning, so you will need to hang around the city a few hours before checking in to the hotel.

You may also check your connections at 123Go.Asia

When to go?

The city can be visited at any time of the year. The dry season runs from November to March. During this time, the weather is generally mild, sunny, relatively dry, and with less humidity.

I visited this region in May and unfortunately, it wasn’t the best experience as it was scorching hot and most of the waterfalls dried up.

Where to stay?

I stayed at Phadaeng Hotel and can’t say anything bad about it. It’s nicely located within walking distance of most of the sights, there is a big parking lot and the rooms are clean and spacious.

If you prefer to stay out of town, closer to the Mekong River and national park, I recommend Khong Chiam 2 Hotel in the small town with the same name: Khong Chiam.

What to see?

Wat Phra That Nong Bua

It is one of the most famous and important temples of Ubon Ratchathani Province. The highlight is the gold and white Sri Maha Pho Chedi which was built in 1956 to honor 2500 years of Buddhism and resembles the Mahabodhi stupa in Bodhgaya, India.

Ubon Ratchathani National Museum

In my opinion, the most interesting museum in the region, with ten exhibition rooms organized around two courtyards. It was built in 1918 in Western Colonial architecture to be used as the City Hall. The museum was opened in 1989. The exhibition presents different historic periods as well as textiles, folk music, handicraft, household utensils, and objects related to Buddhism Everything is well explained in English. The entrance ticket costs 100 THB for foreigners.

Wat Maha Wanaram

The temple was established in 1807 by the second ruler of the city and changed its name to Wat Maha Wanaram in 1941. It’s considered to be the principal temple in Ubon Ratchathani, containing one of the province’s most sacred Buddha images – Phrachao Yai In Paeng. It’s a popular place for locals to come over and make merits.

Wat Thung Si Mueang

The temple was constructed during the reign of King Rama III (1824-1851) to house a replica of Buddha’s footprint. The most photogenic part is Ho Trai, a small wooden hall used to preserve Buddhist scriptures. It was built in the middle of a pond to keep termites and other insects away.

Thung Sri Mueang

Very nice public park with lots of people jogging in the evening. The highlight of the park is a giant candle sculpture. It is 22 meters high and was completed in 2000.

Thung Sri Muang Night Market

Many different kinds of Thai food with multiple tables to sit and eat. There are also quite a few stalls with Vietnamese dishes.

Wat Si Ubon Rattanaram

Quite a big temple just off the main road. It was built in 1855 during the reign of King Rama IV.

Other sights in the region

Wat Nong Pah Pong

One of the area’s best-known forest monasteries was established by the late Ajahn Chah. Before he died in 1992, he established nearly 100 branch monasteries with thousands of followers, including Western monks who set up branches in Europe and elsewhere. On the monastery grounds, apart from the temple and the golden chedi with Ajahn Chah relics, there is also a museum with exhibits including a life-like statue of Ajahn Chah, his robes and other memorabilia, archaeological finds, Buddhist art, and crafts.

Wat Pah Nanachat

It was established in 1975 by Ajahn Chah as a branch monastery of Wat Nong Pah Pong. An American disciple, Ajahn Sumedho, was invited to lead the community as the first abbot. The monastery aims at providing English-speaking people with the opportunity to train and practice the simple and peaceful lifestyle that the Buddha taught his monks in the forests over 2500 years ago.

Khong Chiam

The main attractions of the town are the two rivers that run through it: the Mun with its blue water and the Mekong which is kind of brownish. You will get the best views from Two-colored River View Point. At the time of my visit in May, I didn’t see much of a difference in color between the two rivers.

Other than that, you may want to visit Wat Tham Khuha Sawan. There are great views over the Mekong River and Laos. Additionally, you can admire a huge gong. It’s free to visit.

Wat Sirindhorn Wararam

The temple is famous for some elements that glow in the dark, especially the floor outside and the symbol of a tree on one of its walls. The best time to see the lights is shortly before sunset. I arrived when it was already completely dark and the temple didn’t impress me that much.

Saen Tor Beach

Huge lake with nice and calm beaches, perfect to relax after a day full of sightseeing. You may spot some water buffaloes around.

Kaeng Tana National Park

I had some trouble finding the entrance, so don’t rely fully on Google Maps. If you are driving on Road 2222, take a turn off towards Pak Mun Dam and then continue into the park.

First I walked over the Kaeng Tana Bridge to Don Tana Island. It’s the longest suspension bridge in the Northeast Region of Thailand. The views were nice but there were armies of insane mosquitos in the forest on the other side of the bridge.

Then, I parked the car next to the Visitor Center and did a short hike to the viewpoint. On the way, there were some signs indicating the cave but it was just a hole in the rock rather than the cave. Luckily, while coming back to the main track, I saw a small snake.

The walk to the viewpoint was on the open savannah-style terrain so it was unbelievably hot. The track was supposed to be a loop but due to lack of hat and poor signage, I decided to come back the same way.

From the parking area, you may also check out a nice viewpoint from which you can see rapids on the Mun River. Be extremely careful when hopping around the huge rocks.

Tat Ton Waterfall is located on the opposite side of Kaen Tana National Park but at the time of my visit (May 2023) it was closed for renovation.

The entrance ticket to the national park for foreigners costs 100 THB.

Pha Taem National Park

One of my favorite national parks in Thailand is located just next to the impressive Mekong River. Pha Taem is named after a large cliff where besides the panoramic views, you can also admire ancient rock paintings. Entry to the park for one day costs 400 THB for foreigners.

The first turn-off when driving from Khong Chiam takes you to Sao Chaliang. It is a natural monolith formed by water and wind erosion that looks like mushrooms. There are visible remains of shells, gravel, and sand in the rock, therefore, it is assumed that about a million years ago, this area used to be the sea. The Meak Mai Sai Than Hin Taek Nature Trail is comprised of 3 pathways. The first trail is 350 meters long, the second one has 1 kilometer and the third one is 2.7 kilometers. I highly recommend doing the longest loop as the views are really beautiful.

Further down the road is Pha Taem Cliff with incredible views over the Mekong River, a natural border between Thailand and Laos. Due to its geographical location to the east, the area is also known as the best place to experience the first rays of the sun in the country.

The hiking trail takes you first down the cliff to see ancient prehistoric paintings that were first discovered in 1981. They were made in various styles and techniques and present people, animals (elephant, turtle, catfish, and freshwater stingray), utensils, symbols, and human palms. The paintings are dated to be approximately 3,000 – 2,500 years old. Then you will climb up and return to the parking lot following the path at the top of the cliff. The total distance is nearly 5 kilometres but it is worth it!

Another turn-off from Road 2112 takes you to Soi Sawan Waterfall. From the parking, there is a short walk down to the falls. It was a beautiful sight even though there was very little water in May. From the parking area, you also have the option for a longer hike to Pha Chek Cliff and Pha Moei Cliff. The panorama of the Mekong River from there is simply breathtaking. The distance is about 4.5 km one way which should take 1.5 – 2h to complete.

Come back to the main road and continue further north. Saeng Chan Waterfall is another interesting place to stop by and quite unusual because the water runs through the hole in the sandstone rock. Take your time to absorb the atmosphere of this place!

Nearby, there is Thung Na Mueang Waterfall and if you continue following the road along the Mekong River, you will reach its end and the easternmost point of Thailand.

The next two attractions are a bit more difficult to reach. The road up to Pha Chana Dai Cliff is narrow and there are specific times when at which you can go up and down. The schedule as of April 2023 looked as follows:

Time of going up: 04:30 – 06:30, 10:30 – 13:00, 16:00 – 18:00

Time of going down: 07:30 – 09:30, 14:00 -15:00, 19:00 – 19:30

The road seems to be closed during the month of May. Check their website for the most recent information.

The cliff is an easy 10 minutes walk from the car park. Great views over the Mekong and into the mountains of Laos. Consider camping overnight to see the magnificent sunrise! Huai Phok Waterfall is nearby.

On the way to Pha Chana Dai, don’t forget to stop at Twin Pillars which is another sandstone formation shaped like a mushroom. Very photogenic.

Sao Chaliang Yai

Further north, following road 2112, you will notice the turn-off to Sao Chaliang Yai. It is okayish to have a quick look if you have time but there is nothing much except the giant rock pillar, similar to the ones seen in other locations.

Pha Chan

The cliff on the Mekong River that goes vertically down on both sides of the river is a very impressive and wonderful place. Park your car at the end of the road and walk down to the riverside. Villagers who come to fish in this area have made a wooden ladder to climb down, in case you want to add some adventure vibe to your visit.

Sam Phan Bok

An excellent landscape with sandstones that have been eroded by the stream of the Mekong River. People also call it the “Grand Canyon of Thailand”. It’s a seasonal attraction so plan your visit in the dry season. Jumping on the back of the pickup truck costs 200 THB per person and I highly recommend it, as walking all the way down on the rocks in that scorching weather can be deadly. You can also hire a guide that will show you some unique rock formations and take pictures of you. More expensive option for exploration includes not only the pickup truck to the Mekong riverbank but also a boat ride.

Traveling through the Isan region of Thailand was a wonderful experience, mainly because of the amazing landscape filled with national parks and the breathtaking Mekong River. I haven’t visited too many temples there, mainly because I felt a bit bored with them after seeing so many in the last few years. But Wat Phu Tok was completely different and I was so happy to explore it!

How to get there?

The temple can be reached from Nakhon Phanom, Udon Thani, or Nong Khai, and from all these places the driving time will take about 2.5 – 3 hours. Alternatively, get a bus to Bueng Kan and organize your further transport there, by renting a car/motorbike or hiring a driver. The best would be to consult the options at your accommodation.

You may check your connections at 12Go.Asia

When to go?

The temple can be visited at any time of the year. The dry season runs from November to March. During this time, the weather is generally mild, sunny, relatively dry, and with less humidity.

I visited this region in May and unfortunately, it wasn’t the best experience as it was scorching hot, and walking around the rock wasn’t easy.

Sightseeing

I didn’t have any problems with finding a parking space inside the temple grounds. Understandably, there weren’t too many people willing to expose themselves to the sun in a massive heatwave that was over Thailand at that time with over 45 C every day. It would be smart to plan your visit in the early morning or later afternoon.

Around the parking, there is another big temple with a beautiful lake as well as Atthaborikhan Museum Chedi Phra Ajarn Juan Kulchetto, dedicated to the founder of the entire place.

I grabbed my water bottle and started climbing the wooden stairs and ladders up the rocky mountain of Phu Thok. Even though there was some shadow created by the trees, I stopped frequently to wipe the sweat off my forehead.

Wat Phu Tok is certainly one of the most unique and exciting temples I’ve visited in Thailand. The whole experience of climbing and the panoramic view from the top reminded me of the visit to Wat Chalermprakiat Mountain Temple in Lampang Province in 2022.

Phu Tok Mountain is 359 meters high, and the name literally means “a lonely mountain”. Indeed, there aren’t any other significant peaks in that area. Due to its isolation from the outside world, it seemed to be the perfect place for meditation, and the construction was initiated by Phra Ajarn Juan Kulchetto, one of Thailand’s most venerated monks. Several wooden staircases, ladders, and walkways were created on seven levels to connect meditation places, shrines, and Buddha statues. Number seven is not a coincidence as it relates to the seven stages of awakening that lead to Nirvana. The construction was finished by 1980, including the walkways into the sides of the cliff, providing a 360-degree panoramic view of Bueng Kan District.

The navigation is rather simple and even though sometimes you will have to decide to turn left or right, the best is to just follow your intuition and immerse yourself into this place. Sooner or later you will reach the top level anyway. Keep in mind that following wooden walkways hanging at the edge of the cliff is not something for people afraid of heights. The construction is stable, but still, it’s hard to get rid of the thought that you are several hundred meters from the ground.

On level 5, you will see an impressive boulder and a small pavilion with the relics of the Buddha and a statue of Ajarn Juan. The views are breathtaking and it’s a good photo spot to capture the walkways installed on the rocky wall.

The summit of Wat Phu Tok is on the 7th level, but it’s mostly covered with vegetation. There will be two nice spots for taking photos if you decide to make a loop walk around that area. I strongly recommend doing so!

When going down, I was trying to take different walkways and staircases than I did on the way up. The whole sightseeing experience took me about 2 hours, at a rather relaxing pace. It was a good and sweaty exercise but worth it! Some of the walkways may look a bit terrifying but in the end, I felt only positive thrill and excitement.

Other places to visit

As already mentioned, visiting Wat Phu Tok should take you between 2-3 hours. If you have your transport, you may want to fill up your day with some of the attractions mentioned below.

Chet Si Waterfall

It takes about 1 kilometer of walking to get to the waterfall from the parking area. There are several levels to explore but be careful as the rocks may be slippery. Best to visit in the rainy season, otherwise there might be no water and no fun 🙂

Tham Phra Waterfall

On my visit in May, the waterfall has run mostly out of water but I still enjoyed the visit to this place. The sandstone cliffs are beautiful and the eroded pools filled with water are good for cooling down. It’s an excellent place to take some pictures and enjoy nature. You need to get a short boat ride from the pier to get there, which usually cost 50 THB per person for a round trip but you might be charged more if you are a solo traveler.

Three Whale Rock

Another stunning rock formation in the region with incredible views of the Isan countryside and the Mekong River in the distance. The bus to the top together with a guide will take you to five stops including Three Whale Rock. It costs 500 THB per vehicle which can fit up to 8 people. Yellow tape lets you know how far you can go toward the edge of the rock.

Phu Langka National Park

A great park with well-maintained trails. The most popular one to Nakee Cave takes about 3 hours for a round trip and a moderate level of fitness is required. When going up, you need to take at least one guide per group of no more than 10 people. No need to book in advance but it’s recommended to go early in the morning to avoid heat. During the rainy season, there is a beautiful waterfall along the trail. The park seems to be closed in May. The entrance fee is 200 THB for foreigners.

Naka Cave

The round trip takes about 4 hours and you should be moderately fit. There are lots of stairs to climb so carry plenty of water and something to eat. The mountain has rocks with the texture of snakeskin and also some rocks that look like snake heads. During the weekends, it’s recommended to book your hiking trip with the QueQ application. You will be assigned a guide who will accompany you and tell you more about the cave and the mountains around.

Nakhon Ratchasima, or “Khorat” as it is more commonly called, is the largest city in the Isaan province of northeastern Thailand. Located close to the famous ancient Khmer ruins of Phimai, and with a booming city center, Nakhon Ratchasima has become a popular tourist destination.

How to get there?

From Bangkok, there are several ways of getting to Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Khorat.

By bus: There are numerous bus services from Bangkok which run every day. The journey takes around 4 hours and tickets can be purchased from several major bus terminals in Bangkok, but probably the easiest is to start at Mochit Bus Terminal.

By train: The State Railway of Thailand operates several services from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station or Don Mueang to Nakhon Ratchasima. The journey takes around 4-5 hours.

By car: The journey takes around four hours by highway.

By air: Nakhon Ratchasima has an airport, Khorat Airport (KKC), with direct flights from Bangkok. Flight time takes around 1 hour.

You may also check your connections at 123Go.Asia

When to go?

The city can be visited at any time of the year. The dry season runs from November to March. During this time, the weather is generally mild, sunny, relatively dry, and with less humidity.

Where to stay?

I spent two nights in Moonlight House and can’t say anything bad about it. It’s nicely located within walking distance of most of the sights, there is parking and an opportunity to rent motorbikes. The staff at the reception is very friendly too.

What to see?

Wat Sala Loi

Located in the northeast of the city, about 500 meters from Rob Mueng Road. The temple was built by the Khorat heroine Thao Suranari and her husband in 1827. Wat Sala Loi’s highlight is the meeting hall which is the applied Thai art in the shape of a ship riding the waves. The outdoor is also made of metal. Inside the hall, there is a giant statue of Buddha. Outside there is a plaster sculpture of Thao Suranari sitting and praying in the middle of a pong, plus a small pagoda containing her ashes. There are even small waterfalls if you need to slow down and relax.

City gates

Nakhon Ratchasima has been the important gateway to the northeastern region since the Ayutthaya period, preventing Khmer invasions. Therefore, the city wall and gates were built. Chumphon Gate is the only original one still standing. The other ones: Phon Saen Gate, Phon Lan Gate, Chainarong Gate or Yamo Gate have been recently rebuilt.

Wat Phayap

Definitely an extraordinary site with an interesting history. When the abbot of Wat Phayap learned that blasting for a quarry in Saraburi Province was destroying a beautiful cave, he decided to rescue some pieces of it and create a room full of stalactites, stalagmites and Buddha statues just next to his residence.

Thao Suranari (Ya Mo) Monument

A statue of Thao Suranari stands in the center of Nakhon Ratchasima and is a popular object of devotion. Lady Mo, also known as Ya Mo (Grandma Mo) was the wife of the deputy governor of Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat), the stronghold of Siamese control over its Laotian vassals.

In 1826, the King of Vientiane invaded Siam, seeking complete independence. His forces seized the city, and evacuated the inhabitants, intending to resettle them in Laos. This is when Lady Mo comes into the stage. She became a hero by organizing a successful prisoner revolt. There are several versions of the legend. One of them says that she convinced the women to seduce the Lao soldiers. According to another one, she simply got them drunk. One more says that she requested knives from the invaders so that food could be prepared and then she gave the knives to the imprisoned men. The result was, however, the same in all stories. Thai men launched a surprise attack, saving the city.

Maha Weerawong National Museum

A very small museum in a one-story building behind the library. There are interesting antiques to see but you will be done with sightseeing in half an hour.

Wat Pha Narai Maha Rat

The temple takes its name from the Vishnu statue which is housed in a shrine there. The statue is Khmer in origin and made of sandstone. There are three of these sandstone statues in the temple. It is nicely located on an island in the center of a small lake, but somehow the area seems to be neglected.

Wat Sa Kaeo

Small and calm temple next to an artificial pond alongside a road.

Art Gallery and Exhibition

A pair of two-story pavilions have a variety of art and exhibits of Thai kings. Located in a little park beside a section of moat. Most of the information is in the Thai language only. Free to enter.

City Pillar Shrine

More than the altar it is the large pottery wall telling the battle against Lao invaders (the one Thao Suranaree presumably led).

Around Nakhon Ratchasima

Prasat Hin Phanom Wan

A must-visit Khmer sanctuary, which is believed to be built in the 15th century and renovated during the 18th and 19th centuries. Initially dedicated to the Hindu religion but later became a Buddhist ritual site. The main pagoda and a tiered pagoda are still remaining and make the site incredibly beautiful and atmospheric. Not many tourists come here so you won’t find guides or shops. Just a peaceful place with ancient structures.

Prasat Non Ku

It is a small cluster constructed of bricks and sandstone. The plan is rectangular facing east. From the archaeological evidence, it is assumed that it used to be a Hindu religious building cluster in the ancient Khmer style in the 10th century.

Prasat Muangkhaek

This large ancient ruin is 600 meters from Prasat Non Ku, made of bricks and sandstone with a rectangular plan facing towards the north. It is assumed that this building might have possibly been another Hindu shrine in this region. It was built around the 10th century.

Mueang Sema Historical Site

Mueang Sema is a large ancient city that was surrounded by an earthen moat and divided into outer city and inner city. The outer city was larger on the north side, where three ancient monuments were found. In the center of the city, a square moat or pond was dug. Monuments of the inner city are found at 6 sites. Some sites are religious centers of the Brahman religion, such as Prasat Prathan, constructed in Khmer style with bricks. Additionally, within the Muean Sema were found skeletons buried ritually in the prostrate position, wearing bronze rings, along with pottery, iron tools, and glass beads.

Mueang Sema has developed since the late prehistoric age around the 13th – 14th centuries Buddhist Era. During this period, under the influence of Dvaravati culture Buddhist religious sites were constructed. Later, around the 15th – 16th centuries of the Buddhist Era, the influence of Khmer culture brought about the appearance of Hindu buildings.

Wat Thammachak Semaram

This reclining Buddha image made of sandstone is the oldest and largest in Thailand. It was built approximately in the 15th-century Buddhist era about the same time as the ancient city of Mueang Sema. It is in the area just outside of the moat of Mueang Sema. The image is built from large blocks of red sandstone placed in layers and carved into the shape of a reclining Buddha oriented north to south. It has been hypothesized that this area was an important Buddhist religious center for the ancient Mueang Sema.

Wat Ban Rai and Luang Phor Koon Museum

Wat Ban Rai is one of the famous Temples in Nakhon Ratchasima. It required some effort to get there as it’s over one hour drive from the city center.

Originally, Wat Ban Rai was a small monastery, but then the monk Luang Pho Khun developed it into the big and well-known temple that we can see today. An interesting building on the grounds is definitely an elephant-liked ceramic shrine in the center of the water. On the rooftop are the statue of the walking Buddha and the statue of Luang Pho Khun. The Museum of Luang Pho Khun presents some more details about the life of a famous monk.

Phimai

It is a charming town famous for the 11th-century Khmer ruins of Phimai Historical Park. It’s one of Thailand’s most impressive and well-preserved archaeological sites. Long before it was a tourist attraction, the site served as an important religious and political hub for the Khmer Empire. Today, visitors to Phimai are treated to an incredible display of ancient architecture and intricate carvings, as well as a glimpse into the region’s rich cultural heritage. You can read more about it in a separate post HERE.

Jim Thompson Farm

Beautiful place to spend some time among flowers and relax. It only opens for a specific period during the year, which is usually around December. Check the info in advance on their Facebook to avoid disappointment.