Esan and Mekong river 12 days

Esan and Mekong river 12 days

This roundtrip will take you from Bangkok to the banks of the Mekong river across the Khorat Plateau and the northeastern Thailand cities, deeply influenced by Khmer and Laotian cultures.

Itinerary

Day 1: First day in Esan

Pass By: Suvarnabhumi Airport, 999 Soi Mu Ban Nakhon Thong 1, Nong Prue, Amphoe Bang Phli, Chang Wat Samut Prakan 10540, Thailand
Departure from Bangkok to Khorat

Or transfer from the city of your choice.

Stop At: Phimai Historical Park, Ananthachinda Rd, Tambon Nai Mueang, Amphoe Phimai, Chang Wat Nakhon Ratchasima 30110, Thailand
Visit the Khmer temple of Prasat Hin Phimai. Prasat Hin Phimai is a sanctuary of Mahayana Buddhism and is located in the city of Phimai. All the buildings of this temple have been beautifully preserved by time and date back to the Angkor Wat period.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Ban Dan Kwian Pottery Village Group, Dan Kwian, Chok Chai District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30190, Thailand
Visit of the potters' village of Ban Dan Kwian. The expertise of Ban Dan Kwian potters is recognized throughout Thailand.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Ban Dan Kwian Pottery Village Group, Dan Kwian, Chok Chai District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30190, Thailand
Walk in the Ban Dan Kwian village and visit to the local market. In the village you can observe the making of the famous local pottery.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Thao Suranaree (Ya Mo) Monument, Chumphon Road Nai Muang, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000 Thailand
Visit of the Thao Suranari Memorial. The Thao Suranari Memorial was built in memory of the exploits of Lady Khunying Mo, wife of the city governor who, in 1826, gathered his people to defeat the Laotian invaders during the reign of King Rama III.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Dinner: Dinner in a typical restaurant.
Accommodation included: Night at a typical hotel.

Day 2: Historical Park and silk weaving

Stop At: Phanom Rung Historical Park (Prasat Hin Phanom Rung), Moo 2 Ta Pek, Chaloem Phra Kiat 31110 Thailand
The Khao Phanom Rung Historical Park is the most impressive Khmer monuments of Thailand. Khao Phnom Rung is the name of an extinct volcano about 900,000 years old, on which was built, from the tenth century, the Prasat Phanom Rung temple.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Prasat Muang Tam, ปราสาทหินเมืองต่ำ Tambon Chorakhe Mak, Amphoe Prakhon Chai, Chang Wat Buri Ram 31140, Thailand
Discovery of the Prasat Mueang Tham. Prasat Mueang Tham means the castle of the southern city. The pilasters, lintels and pediments, richly decorated in the styles of Khleang and Baphûon with their mythical animals (naga and kala), their garlands and their floral motifs, demonstrate the mastery of the Khmer craftsmen. This temple was erected in the 11th century to serve as a residence for the Khmer governor.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Ban Tha Sawang Silk Weaving Village, Ban Tha Sawang, Tambon Tha Sawang, Surin Thailand
On the road to Surin. Visit of a silk weaving center in Ban Tha Sawang. The silk weaving center at Ban Tasawang is a project sponsored by the Royal House Office and Her Majesty's Queen's Foundation.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Save Elephant Foundation - Surin Project, Ban taklang Moo 13 Tambon Krapho, Tha Tum 32120 Thailand
Visit of an elephant camp in the Surin province. In this elephant camp in Surin you can observe the elephants in their daily lives and their sacred moment of the bath.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Lunch in a typical restaurant.
• Dinner: Dinner in a typical restaurant.
Accommodation included: Night at a typical hotel.

Day 3: Culture, crafts and history

Stop At: Prasat Hin Wat Sa Khampaeng Yai, Sa Kamphaeng Yai Subdistrict, Uthumphon Phisai 33120 Thailand
On the road to Si Saket.

Wat Sa Kamphaeng Yai, is the largest and most perfectly preserved of the Khmer ruins of the province. It includes three stupas located on the same base, oriented north-south and facing east. The temple were built in the eleventh century in the Khmer Baphuri style and served as a sanctuary for God Shiva before becoming a temple of Mahayana Buddhism in the thirteenth century.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Wat Thep Prasat Sa Kamphaeng Noi, Khayung, Uthumphon Phisai 33120 Thailand
Visit of the Wat Thep Prasat Sa Kamphaeng Noi. The Prasat Sa Kamphaeng Noi is an old hospital chapel built by Jayavarman VII, located west of the town of Si Saket. The building is in laterite, with doors, windows and lintels of sandstone. According to an inscription discovered at Ta Prom, King Jayavarman VII built a hundred and two hospitals spread throughout the empire along the main roads. Near each hospital was a chapel. It is thought that the hospitals themselves were built of wood. This place is very nice and quiet.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Ban Pa Ao, Nong Khon Subdistrict, Ubon Ratchathani 34000 Thailand
On the road to Ubon Ratchathani.

The village of Ban Pa Ao is one of the oldest villages of Ubon Ratchathani. The villagers emigrated from Vientiane, Laos, during the reign of King Siri Bun San. The village has more than two hundred years and a particular identity and its inhabitants have a know-how that has been handed down from generation to generation by their ancestors, as for the manufacture of bronzes and silk weaving.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Wat Ban Kan Lueang, Mak Khiap, Mueang Si Sa Ket District, Si Sa Ket 33000, Thailand
Discovery of the Ban Kan Lueang archaeological site in Wat Ban Kan Lueang.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: OTOP โขงเจียม, Khong Chiam, Khong Chiam District, Ubon Ratchathani 34220, Thailand
Discovery of the OTOP craft center of Ubon Ratchathani. The OTOP craft center of Ubon Ratchathani is located outside the city. It sells products from the One Tambon One Product Project (OTOP) which is a fair trade project offering specific products for each municipality.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Wat Thung Sri Muang, 95 Luang Rd., Ubon Ratchathani Thailand
Wat Thung Si Muang discovery. Wat Thung Si Muang in Ubon Ratchathani it houses one of Isan's most unusual buildings, its library is built in a mix of Burmese, Laotian and Thai styles.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Lunch at a typical restaurant.
• Dinner: Dinner in a typical restaurant.
Accommodation included: Night at a typical hotel.

Day 4: Story of men and river

Stop At: Chong Mek Market, Chong Mek Thailand
Visit of Chong Mek market, Laos border. The Chong Mek border market is one of Esan's most famous markets, with clothes, antiques and much more. It is on the border with Laos.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Pha Taem National Park, Ban Huai Phai Thailand
Visit the Pha Taem National Park to see the prehistoric paintings. The prehistoric paintings of Pha Taem National Park are between five and seven thousand years old. A conference on paintings, their discovery and their origin is proposed by the Department of Fine Arts.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Wat Maha Wanaram, Ubon Ratchathani Thailand
Wat Maha Wanaram is more commonly known as Wat Phra Yai (or Wat Pha Yai which means the temple of the Big Buddha) and it is true that the golden seated Buddha statue, the Phra Chao Yai In Paeng, that it hosts is great and beautiful. According to a found inscription, it dates from 1807. Of Laotian style, it is probably the most beautiful of Ubon Ratchathani.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Mekong River, 263 Wisit Si, Tambon Khemmarat, Amphoe Khemmarat, Chang Wat Ubon Ratchathani 34170, Thailand
Boat on the Mekong river to go to Khong Chiam.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Kaeng Tana National Park, Khong Chiam Thailand
Discovery of Kaeng Tana, the largest cataract of the Mun River.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Two-Color River View Point, Khong Chiam, Khong Chiam District, Ubon Ratchathani 34220, Thailand
Stopover at Maenam Song Si (two colors river). It is the confluence of a blue river, the Mun and a brown river, the Mekong.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Wat Tham Khuha Sawan, Khong Chiam, Khong Chiam District, Ubon Ratchathani 34220, Thailand
Visit of the Tham Khuha Sawan temple. Tham Khuha Sawan temple. This ancient temple was built during the Ayutthaya period and was later restored to become the first royal temple in the province. Inside the temple cave is a large reclining Buddha statue and another sitting Buddha statue. The walls and entrance to the cave are filled with the initials of many kings and members of the royal family who visited the temple. This temple is located at the foot of a mountain called Khao Khuha Sawan.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Lunch in a typical restaurant.
• Dinner: Dinner in a typical restaurant.
Accommodation included: Night at a typical hotel.

Day 5: Typical villages, Indochinese market and famous temples

Stop At: Prasat Ku Phanna (Arokayasala 17), บ้านพันนา ต Phan Na, Amphoe Sawang Daen Din, Chang Wat Sakon Nakhon 47240, Thailand
On the raod to Ban Phan Na. Ban Phan Na (บ้านพันนา) is an Esan typical town.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Market Mukdahan, 4 Yuttapat, Amphoe Mueang Mukdahan, Chang Wat Mukdahan 49000, Thailand
Walk through the Indochinese market. Walk through the Indo chinese market. There are products from the countries bordering the Mekong (China, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam). Beautiful relaxation while walking along the Mekong market.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Ban Nong Hoi Yai Tambon Health Promotion Hospital, 19, Moo 4 Ban Nong Hoi Yai, Tambon Si Chomphu, Amphoe Na Kae, Nakhon Phanom, 48130, ตำบล สีชมพู อำเภอ นาแก นครพนม 48130, Thailand
Ban Nong Hoi Yai. Meet the rural Thailand. Walking through the village you will discover how villagers weave silk mat-mee (knotted silk) by hands. Their way of life is traditional but in harmony with the modern world.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Wat Phra That Phanom, 183/13 Chayankun Road That Phanom Subdistrict, That Phanom 48110 Thailand
Wat Phra That Phanom is the sacred enclosure of the Jedi Phra That Phanom, located in That Phanom District, in the southern part of Nakhon Phanom province. It was built in the 16th century by the Laotian King Setthathirath of Lan Xang. Each year, a festival takes place at That Phanom. This festival lasts a week. Thousands of people make the pilgrimage to honor the sanctuary. It collapsed following torrential rains in 1975 and was rebuilt with funds raised through public subscription.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Wat Phra That Phanom, 183 13 Chayangkun Rd, Tambon That Phanom, Amphoe That Phanom, Chang Wat Nakhon Phanom 48110, Thailand
Visit of the Phra That Phanom jedi museum. Visit of the museum which shelters many ancient objects preserved inside the jedi.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Lunch at a typical restaurant.
• Dinner: Dinner in a typical restaurant.
Accommodation included: Night at a typical hotel.

Day 6: The house of Ho Chi Minh and a wonderful archeological site

Stop At: Ho Chi Minh House, Nakhon Phanom_Sakon Nakhon Rd., Nakhon Phanom 48000 Thailand
The house of Ho Chi Minh during his stay in Siam, in the group of Vietnamese villages of Ban Nachok (หมู่บ้าน นา จอก) a few kilometers west of Nakhon Phanom (นครพนม) in Nongyat (หนอง ยั ต) ) and the Muang Amphoe (ตำบล หนอง ญาติ อำเภอ เมือง) become the site of the friendship celebration between Thailand and Vietnam.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Nakhon Phanom Walking Street, Chayangkun Rd, Tambon Nai Mueang, Amphoe Mueang Nakhon Phanom, Chang Wat Nakhon Phanom 48000, Thailand
Discover life and local customs.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Wat Phra That Choeng Chum Worawihan Temple, Sakon Nakhon Thailand
Visit of the Phra That Choeng Chum in Sakon Nakhon. Phra That Choeng Chum has a remarkable Chiang-Saen-style Buddha statue.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Ban Chiang Museum, Ban Chiang, Nong Han District, Udon Thani Thailand
The archaeological site of Ban Chiang is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ban Chiang is still a refuge for many ancient artefacts and testimonials from the past, including charcoal, beautiful pottery and bones. A very nice museum tells the story of this site.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Lunch in a typical restaurant.
• Dinner: Dinner in a typical restaurant.
Accommodation included: Night at a typical hotel.

Day 7: A little step to the sources of Buddhism

Stop At: Wat Phra Phutthabat Bua Bok, Mueang Phan Subdistrict Thailand
Visit of Phra Phutthabat Bua Bok. The site, located on a hill at the foot of the Phupan mountain, contains the footprint of the Bua Bok Buddha discovered in 1920, about one and a half meters long, which dates back to 900 or 1,000 A.D. . 60 kilometers northwest from Udon Thani and 50 kilometers southwest from Nong Khai. This little known but fascinating sacred hill of Phra Bat Holy take place long time before the arrival of Buddhism, the slightly wooded hill is dotted with large rocks and small caves. Prehistoric paintings of wild animals and cryptic symbols still adorn those caves, silently testifying of shamans and mystics activities who sought communion with the spirit world. Memories of the pagan past linger deep in the forests of this mysterious hill.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Chiang Khan Walking Street, Chiang Khan 42110 Thailand
Visit of the typical evening walking street in the city of Chiang Khan.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Lunch in a typical restaurant.
• Dinner: Dinner in a typical restaurant.
Accommodation included: Night at a typical hotel.

Day 8: Discovery of Chiang Khan city

Stop At: Chiang Khan Walking Street, Chiang Khan 42110 Thailand
This small town is located along the Mekong River. The people here are descendants of Laotians who left Luang Phrabang to settle in Chiang Khan. And so this extension of the city of Loei is full of laotian architecture and culture. Visitors can't miss the opportunity to visit these beautiful guest houses, its cute pedestrian street, and will be impressed by the magnificent view offered by the Mekong river banks.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Muang Udon Thani Museum, Rachinuthit Building, Pho Si Rd., Udon Thani 41000 Thailand
A lond road to Udon Thani and beautiful landscape...
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Lunch in a typical restaurant.
• Dinner: Dinner in a typical restaurant.
Accommodation included: Night at a typical hotel.

Day 9: Craft and night market

Stop At: Na Kha Market, Na Kha, Udon Thani 41000 Thailand
Visit of the Na Kha tissue and silk market. The Ban Nakha Silk Market is located about 14 km from Udon Thani City on the Udon-Nong Khai Highway. The market is a paradise for silk, cotton and khits woven products. This is not the kind of tourist attraction that will attract everyone, but this beautiful market deserves to be seen. The Ban Na Kha Thevi temple is next to the market and is a catchy and interesting temple to see if the weather allows it.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Wat Kham Chanot, Ban Muang, Ban Dung District, Udon Thani 41190, Thailand
Visit of Wat Kham Chanot on Wang Nakin in Ban Dung. Wat Kham Chanot is a Buddhist temple located near Ban Kham Chanot, Ban Dung district, Udon Thani province, in northeastern Thailand. It is located in the Wang Nakhin area, on the edge of a lake where the Naga, a great mythical snake, is supposed to live. A dozen of monks live there permanently. It is believed that the Naga snake has taken refuge on the island. It is connected to the other buildings of the temple by a bridge. A small zoo with turtles has been added to the monastery. In front of the main temple building you can find a permanent (rural) market.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Office of the Village Headman-Moo 10 Ban Chiang, Ban Chiang, Phakdi Chumphon, Chaiyaphum, ตำบล บ้านเจียง อำเภอ ภักดีชุมพล ชัยภูมิ 36260, Thailand
Esan style lunch cooked and served by the Thai Puan Women Group association.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Ban Chiang Museum, Ban Chiang, Nong Han District, Udon Thani Thailand
Visit of the Ban Chiang national museum. This museum holds the pottery and tools of humanity from 5,000 years ago, under the patronage of UNESCO, it has been on the World Heritage List of Thai culture since 1992. Ban Chiang is considered the largest prehistoric settlement ever discovered in Southeast Asia. It is an important step in the cultural, social and technological evolution of humanity. The site presents the oldest evidence of agriculture in the region, the manufacture and use of metals.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Office of the Village Headman-Moo 10 Ban Chiang, Ban Chiang, Phakdi Chumphon, Chaiyaphum, ตำบล บ้านเจียง อำเภอ ภักดีชุมพล ชัยภูมิ 36260, Thailand
Visit of the Thai Puan village, Ban Chiang. Thai Puan is a group of people who immigrated from southern Laos from Chieng Kwang City to Ban Chiang. The current inhabitants of Ban Chiang are mostly descendants of this group.

Initiation to pottery.

Discovery of silk weaving.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Esan style lunch cooked and served by the Thai Puan Women Group association.
• Dinner: Dinner in a typical restaurant.
Accommodation included: Night at a typical hotel.

Day 10: Spirituality, discovery, and dinosaurs

Stop At: Khon Kaen Airport, 5 ถนนมะลิวัลย์ Ban Ped Sub-district, Amphoe Mueang Khon Kaen, Chang Wat Khon Kaen 40000, Thailand
Visit to a temple and offerings. Early in the morning, you will have the opportunity to go to a temple to make a food offering to the monks and continue by exploring the local morning market. You will be able to observe the way of life of the inhabitants.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Sirindhorn Museum and Phu Kum Khao Dinosaur Excavation Site, Highway for 25 kilometers. The museum is around 2 kilometers before you reach Sahatsakhan., Kalasin Thailand
Visit of the Sirindhorn museum in Kalasin. This archaeological museum, closed on Monday, is located on the foothills of Kum Khao Mountain in Sahat Sakhan District, about twenty-eight kilometers from the city of Kalasin. The museum was baptized and inaugurated by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The Sirindorn Museum is the first dinosaur fossil museum in Thailand, established for study and research purposes, preserving fossils as a reference and making geological tourism. The museum consists of a research building on fossils of dinosaurs and other vertebrates, as well as an exhibition building. It has the largest fossil collecting rooms in Southeast Asia.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Sirindhorn Museum and Phu Kum Khao Dinosaur Excavation Site, Highway for 25 kilometers. The museum is around 2 kilometers before you reach Sahatsakhan., Kalasin Thailand
Discovery of the excavation site of Phu Kum Khao dinosaur remains. Phu Kum Khao is the site that has the most remains of herbivorous dinosaurs in Thailand. Bones from almost the entire body of dinosaurs are stacked there. It is 200 meters high on the west and about 240 meters high on the east. The building above the excavation hole covers an area of approximately 700 square meters, while the hole under the building is about 280 square kilometers.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Khon Kaen's Day & Night Markets, Walking Street, Nai Mueang, Khon Kaen 40000 Thailand
Tuk-tuk ride in Khon Kaen.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon, 593 City Center, Khon Kaen 40000 Thailand
Discovery of Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon. At Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon, in Nong Waeng Temple, you will climb the stairs to the ninth floor for enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the city and Kaen Nakhon Lake.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Lunch in a typical restaurant.
• Dinner: Dinner in a typical restaurant.
Accommodation included: Night at a typical hotel.

Day 11: The town of Khon Kaen and towards Pak Chong ...

Stop At: Khon Kaen City Clock Tower, Nai Mueang, Mueang Khon Kaen District, Khon Kaen 40000, Thailand
Discovery of Khon Kaen city. Khon Kaen is a commercial city and hosts the largest university in northeastern Thailand, we will take a tour of the city of Khon Kaen and a walk around Lake Bueng Kaen Nakhon to observe the local peoples lifestyle and activities .
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Khon Kaen's Day & Night Markets, Walking Street, Nai Mueang, Khon Kaen 40000 Thailand
Visit of Banglamphu, an exotic fruit market. In Banglamphu market, you will see and taste a lot of tropical fruits.

Go back to hotel and departure for Pak chong.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Pak Chong market, 78 Bypass Road, Pak Chong Thailand
On the way to Pak Chong. About one hour thirty minutes from Korat, this city is located on a major road. It is not very attractive in itself, but above all it makes the way more easy to get to the {{Khao Yai}} national park.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Lunch at a typical restaurant.
• Dinner: Dinner at a typical restaurant.
Accommodation included: Night at a typical hotel.

Day 12: The famous national park of Khao Yai

Stop At: Khao Yai National Park, Pak Phli Thailand
Visit of the Khao Yai National Park and a magnificent viewpoint at km 30. Exploration of the Khao Yai Nature Park.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Pha Kluai Mai Waterfall View Point, Mu Si, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30130, Thailand
Crocodile watching at the Pha Kluai Mai waterfall.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Heo Narok Waterfall, Khao Yai National Park, Pak Phli 26130 Thailand
Visit of the Heo Narok waterfall. The Heo Narok Waterfall (Hell Valley waterfall) is the largest in Khao Yai Park. We will go search for éléphants passage traces , especially where they come to lick mineral salts, if we are lucky we will perhaps meet one of them ...
Duration: 3 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.