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3 Days 2 Nights

From Bangkok, take the East Outer Ring Road (Bang Na- Bang Pa In highway No 9) to Saraburi. Take the Saraburi flyover, which turns right into highway No 2. Around 193-194 km, you can relax at the rest area of the Department of Highways’ Northeastern region-Lam Takhong. Head towards Muang district and pay respects to Thao Suranari (Ya Mo) monument.

Take the road to Khon Kaen. About 300 metres from the junction, you will see an LPG gas station next to St Mary Hospital (0-4426-1261). Go straight until you reach 49 km. At the junction, turn right and drive 10 km to Phimai district on highway No 206, passing Phimai Hospital (0-4447-1288, 0-4447-1511). Cross the bridge and visit the Phimai Historical Park 100 metres away. There, you can appreciate the Naga Bridge, Gopura (porch) and the outer wall of the sanctuary as well as the gate and the inner wall (gallery) of the sanctuary. You can also look at the main pagoda (prang), which was made of white sandstone, as well as Prang Phra Brahmadat in front of the main pagoda and Prang Hin Daeng. The site is open daily from 7.30am to 6pm. Admission fee is Bt 10 for Thais and Bt40 for foreigners.

Visitors to Phimai Historical Park also visit Sai Ngam on the bank of Mun River near Phimai Dam. Cross Tha Songkran Bridge into the town and drive 2km on a diversion to the dam.  Nearby are souvenir shops and several restaurants. The most popular dish for tourists is Phimai noodles or Khorat noodles with paste so soft and delicious, no less than the famous Chanthaburi noodle.

From Sai Ngam, take highway No 226 to Buri Ram province. Follow the sign to Phanom Rung. At Lam Plai Mat junction around 91 km, take the right turn to highway No 2073, heading for Chamni district. The road condition is good. Go straight past Chamni Hospital (0-4460-9054-8) until you find a large swamp and a lotus swamp where you can take pictures. After that, turn left into highway No 24 at the junction. You will see Bangkok Bank and TMB Bank. After about 500 metres, you will be passing Nang Rong Police Station (0-4463-2014) while Surachet Hospital (0-4463-1187) is on the opposite side.

Around 84 km, you turn right into highway No 2117 and go straight for 12 km. You will see a sign pointing left to highway No 2221. Go straight for six km, passing Chaloem Phra Kiat Hospital. From there, the road will be uphill and you must turn to lower gear. The Phanom Rung Historical Park is located on an extinct volcano.

If you visit the place in November-December, you will see the golden paddy fields along both sides of the road while farmers are harvesting their crops.

On every full moon day in March, April, September and October, the first light of daybreak will shine through the 15 doorways of the Phanom Rung sanctuary, giving a wonderful view. You should try taking photos of the scene. Phanom Rung Historical Park is open from 6am to 6pm daily. Admission fee is Bt10 for Thais and Bt40 for foreigners.

About 3 km back from Phanom Rung, turn right for about 4 km past a large swamp excavated by ancient people manually. This place is located at the Mueang Tam Stone Sanctuary (Prasat Mueang Tam) of Buri Ram province. The main characteristic of the sanctuary is the five brick pagodas built on the same foundation and enclosed by two walls. The sanctuary is open from 6am to 6pm. Admission fee is Bt10 for Thais and Bt30 for foreign tourists. Buri Ram Police Station can be contacted on Tel 0-4461-1234 or 0-4451-3555.

From there, take highway No 24 heading for Prasat district of Surin province. At around 131-132 km, turn left into highway No 214 past Prasat Hospital (0-4455-1295). Go straight to Surin town, where you can find accommodation.

Recommended: Rung Tawan Resort on the way to Si Khoraphum district, about 5 km away from Muang Surin district. Room rate: Bt350-500 per night. New rooms with television set, water heater and refrigerator are available with parking space for 30 cars.

Accommodation in Surin

Le Bien Resort on Surin-Buri Ram Road; Tel 0-4472-5559, 08-1732-4615; Rate – Bt800

Kasem Garden Hotel on by-pass road around the city (Prasat district-Sangkha district); Tel 0-4471-3485-6; Rate – Bt450

The next morning, take highway No 226 until you find a junction from Surin’s Sangkha district to Roi Et province. Take highway No 214 to Chom Phra district. Notice the Surin highway district as marker. Starting from 1 km inbound, take the asphalt road to the world’s largest elephant village or Elephant Studies Centre. Around 36 km, notice a sign on your left pointing to Elephant Studies Centre. Turn left into rural road Sor Ror 3027 for 22 km. The road is asphalted but a little rugged in some parts.

Go straight until the end of the road in front of Pho Thong Temple, then turn right for another 4 km to reach the world’s largest elephant village.

You can study the lives of human beings and elephants as well as their relationship from birth to death. This is the unique characteristic of the community.

Activities at the Elephant Studies Centre include sight-seeing on elephant back, seeing elephants bathe at Wang Thalu, where Mun and Chi rivers meet. Elephant shows are at 10am and 2pm. You can also buy elephant-made One-Tambon-One-Product (OTOP) souvenirs here.

Travel back on the same route, which will meet highway No 214. Turn right until 15 km, then turn left for 4 km to Ban Khawao Sinnarin, the Silverware and Silk Village. The place is famous for its OTOP silver handicrafts as well as silk and local fabric. Famous silver and golden beads are suitable and popular as ladies’ accessories.

Follow rural road Sor Ror 3036 past Ban Khawao Sinnarin Police Station. Cross the junction to Sor Ror 3020 rural road. The road is flanked by paddy fields. When you meet the three-pronged junction, you will see a sign to Si Khoraphum Sanctuary. Cross the railway line and then turn right. At the three-pronged junction around the Muang Tee Tambon Administration Organisation’s office, turn left into highway No 226 heading for Si Khoraphum district.

At 34 km, cross the junction and prepare to turn left. After 200 metres, you will be at the Si Khoraphum Sanctuary (Prasat Si Khoraphum). It comprises five pagodas on the same elevated foundation, three sides surrounded with reservoirs. The pagoda at the centre is the main pagoda while the other four at the corners are satellite pagodas. The sanctuary is open from 7.30am to 6pm daily. Admission fee is Bt10.

Recommended: Taste the Boon Mee Vietnamese pasta soup, which is famous for its taste and reasonable price. The restaurant is next to Bangkok Bank. Government Savings Bank and Krung Thai Bank are nearby.

From Si Khoraphum district market, turn left into highway No 226 for 300 metres. Turn left into highway No 2371, heading to Sangkha district. For about 40km towards the district, you will find paddy fields on both sides.

Before entering Sangkha district, you will see a sign indicating the end of the highway. Turn left at the three-pronged junction past Sangkha Police Station and you will find a sign at Sangkha junction. Turn left into highway No 24. At 211 km, you are at the end of Surin boundary and entering Si Sa Ket province’s boundary. Follow highway No 24 until the Karn Chang Junction at 267 km. Turn right, following highway No 221, heading to Katharalak district from 55 km. You will then pass Kantharalak Provincial Court. In the same area you will find a large swamp where you can take beautiful pictures.

Go straight to Katharalak city. Look out for the Katharalak City Pillar Shrine. Find accommodation for the night.

Recommended: SB Hotel (0-4566-3103) on Anata Phakdi Road; Rate – Bt300-500

In the morning, visit Kantharalak market for a delicious breakfast. Many local dishes are available. This is a must-visit place for tourists who enjoy shopping in the market and observing local people’s lifestyles. From there, you can take highway No 221 for about 44 km. You will find an office collecting admission fee for Khao Phra Wihan (Preah Vihear) National Park. The fee is Bt20 for Thais, Bt10 for students and free of charge for those over 60 years old. The fee for foreigners is Bt400 and Bt30 for a vehicle. Four km from the office is a Khao Phra Wihan National Park tourist service centre.

Visit a viewpoint at “Pha Mo I Daeng”. It is a natural stone plateau on a high cliff on the Thai-Cambodian border. A sanctuary located to its south under the cliff houses a Nak Prok Buddha image (a Buddha image protected by Naga) and the oldest Khmer-style bas-relief in Thailand from the 15th Buddhist Century. Take a walk to the Prasat Khao Phra Wihan (Khao Phra Wihan Sanctuary), a gigantic complex comprising a four-layered castle with different levels. Interesting artifacts include Naga Bridge or Larn Nakarat and Maha Prasat or the main pagoda. You can have a clear view of Cambodia below.

You would have to pay the fee for a pass of Bt5 to Kantharalak district at the Thai border and Bt50 for Thais and Bt200 foreigners to the Cambodian authorities at the Cambodian border.

After returning from Khao Phra Wihan, take highway No 2235, which will meet highway No 2127, past Namtok Samrong Kiat (Samrongkiat Waterfall). There, you can relax with cold and fresh water falling from the 8-metre-high cliff along the rock plateau. The place is splendid in rainy season.

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Accommodation:

MK Hotel on Anata Phakdi Road, Kantaralak district, Si Sa Ket; Tel 0-4566-1171; Rate – Bt250- 400

Kantharalak Palace on Sinpradit Road, Kantharalak, Si Sa Ket; Tel 0-4563-5157; Rate – Bt230-550

Dining places

Racha Khao Tom (Raja Boiled Rice) on Sinpradit Road, Kantharalak, Si Sa Ket; Tel 0-4566-1619

Santi Pochana on Khao Phra Wihan Road, Si Sa Ket; Tel 0-4566-1238

Suan Pa Resort on Surin-Prasat Road; Tel 0-4452-1411-2

Hospitals

Surin Hospital: 0-4451-1757, 0-4451-4646

Surin Ruam Phaet Hospital: 0-4451-1523

Police Station

Si Sa Ket Police Station: 0-4561-2732

Si Sa Ket Tourists Centre: 0-4561-1574