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● Best season Isan (Northeast)450 km from Bangkok
Khon Kaen
Isan city, Wat Nong Wang, Ubolratana
The big city of Isan. See the 9-storey Wat Nong Wang, night markets, Ubolratana Dam and Hin Chang Si viewpoint, and the Phu Wiang dinosaurs.
CityFoodTemplesMarkets Ideal: 2 days450 km · 6–7 hrs by bus / 55 min flight
How to go
Fly DMK → KKC ≈ 900–1,600 ฿ · Bus ≈ 350–450 ฿ (6–7 hrs) · Train ≈ 300–900 ฿
Entry
Temples are free; Phu Wiang Dinosaur Museum 60 ฿; Hin Chang Si viewpoint is free
Stay
City hotel 600–1,500 ฿
Season in Nov ● Best season
Nov–Feb is cool. The Silk Festival is in late Nov–Dec. April is hot (Songkran water party on Khao Niao Road).
Day-by-day plan
3 days
1Day 1
- Arrive, visit Wat Nong Wang (9-storey stupa with lake view)
- Bike around Bueng Kaen Nakhon lake + Hong Moon Mang Museum
- Isan lunch (gai yang, som tam)
- Central Plaza or art at Khon Kaen University
- Ton Tann Green Market or the Walking Street (Saturday)
2Day 2
- Ubolratana Dam and Hin Chang Si viewpoint (1 hr)
- Lunch at the fish restaurants by the dam
- Phu Wiang Dinosaur Museum (1.5 hrs)
- Back to the city, night market
3Day 3
- Chonnabot silk village, or the bat cave at Phu Pha Man National Park (bats fly out at sunset)
- Flight or bus back
Food to try
- •Isan food: som tam, larb, gai yang (Khao Suan Kwang grilled chicken)
- •Ton Tann night market
- •Isan dishes at Khao Kao, and mudmee silk shopping in Chonnabot
Good to know
A good base for an Isan food tour. You can go on to Udon or Nong Khai (2 hrs).
Book directly
Partner sites show live prices.
฿4,150 / per person
3 days · 2 people · ฿8,300