All destinations
● Best season Isan (Northeast)630 km from Bangkok
Ubon Ratchathani
Sam Phan Bok, Pha Taem, Two-colour river
The 'Grand Canyon of Thailand' (Sam Phan Bok, Nov–May), old cliff paintings and the first sunrise in Thailand at Pha Taem, and Wat Sirindhorn, the temple that glows.
NaturePhoto spotsTemplesHistory Ideal: 3 days630 km · 1 hr flight / 10 hrs bus
How to go
Fly DMK → UBP ≈ 1,000–1,800 ฿ · Night bus ≈ 500–700 ฿ · Sam Phan Bok is 120 km from the city — you need a car (≈1,500 ฿/day)
Entry
Pha Taem National Park 400 ฿ · Sam Phan Bok boat 300–500 ฿ per boat · Wat Sirindhorn is free
Stay
City 600–1,400 ฿; by the river in Khong Chiam 800–1,800 ฿
Season in Nov ● Best season
You can only see Sam Phan Bok when the water is low, Nov–May (it is under water in the rainy season). The Candle Festival is in July in Ubon city.
Day-by-day plan
3 days
1Day 1
- Arrive in Ubon, rent a car
- Wat Phra That Nong Bua and Thung Si Muang candle park
- Lunch, then drive to Khong Chiam (2 hrs)
- Boat at the two-colour river (Mae Nam Song Si)
- Wat Sirindhorn Wararam (the tree mural glows in the dark at dusk)
2Day 2
- Pha Taem — first sunrise in Thailand + 3,000-year-old cliff paintings
- Sao Chaliang mushroom rocks, Soi Sawan waterfall (rainy season)
- Lunch in Khong Chiam
- Sam Phan Bok (Nov–May) — boat ride in the golden evening light
- Dinner by the river
3Day 3
- Hat Chom Dao sand beach (dry season), Kaeng Tana National Park
- Lunch, then back to Ubon (2 hrs)
- Flight or bus back
Food to try
- •Ubon: grilled chicken at Wat Jaeng, Isan sausages
- •Khong Chiam: Mekong fish by the two-colour river
- •Ubon night market (Thung Si Muang)
Good to know
You need a car (the nearest sights are 100+ km away). For 2 couples, share a car with driver for 2,500 ฿/day.
Book directly
Partner sites show live prices.
฿6,400 / per person
3 days · 2 people · ฿12,800