Four days, three nights

Start this trip from Si Sa Ket town and make your first stop at Khunampai Panich Building on Ubon Road. Adorned with elaborate Chinese stuccoworks, this beautiful building belongs to Si Sa Ket nobleman Khunampai Panich (In Naga-siharat). As this structure was constructed in 1925, the Fine Arts Department has now registered it as an ancient building.

From there, head towards Si Sa Ket Hospital (0-4561-1503). Take a left turn after the hospital and go along a traffic circle. When you go past Si Sa Ket Technical College, the Somdet Phra Si Nakharin Park will be in sight. Located inside the Si Sa Ket Agricultural College’s compound, this park is full of White Cheesewood or “Lamduan” in Thai. This is one of the best spots to relax or gather botanical knowledge.

The full bloom of yellow Lamduan flowers lasts between February and March every year. Because Si Sa Ket was formerly known as “Si Nakhon Lamduan”, the Lamduan tree is the symbol of this northeastern province today. Featuring a green, shady area, this Somdet Phra Si Nakharin Park also has a large pond for visitors to enjoy various recreational activities including boat rowing. This attraction is open from 6am to 7pm every day.

When you leave this park, make a left turn and drive straight. Drive across a railway line before finding an intersection where you should turn left. Cross Khao Bridge into highway No226. At 8 km you will reach Thep Prasat Temple, Sa Kampaeng Noi.

Thep Prasat Temple or Wat Thep Prasat is made of laterite and its gate was formerly adorned with a lintel. Featuring the Bapuan arts, this lintel features three swans carrying the God of Rain. It is believed that this structure was built around the 16th century because it also bears the Bayon influence. The overall characteristics of the temple’s building suggest that this place used to be an ancient hospital or Arogayasala.

From the temple, turn left to visit Phra That Rueang Rong. To reach this destination, travel along highway No 2373 for about 6 km before you turn right. After this turn, you will find a rugged road but from there, a two-km drive will bring you right to a unique pagoda. Phra That Rueang Rong features a stunning blend of Lao, Khmer, Suai, and Yoe arts. After paying respect to Lord Buddha’s relics on the fourth storey of this pagoda, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the local scenery too. From up there, you will see villages lying across golden paddy fields during winter.

When you leave Phra That Rueang Rong, make a left turn. But when you find a three-pronged junction ahead, turn right so that you will be on highway No 2373. Follow this route for Yasothon. At a spot between 15-16 km, you will cross a bridge that stretches over Mool River. Go further until you see a junction where the Kho Wang District Office of Yasothon is located. Also in sight are Kho Wang Police Station and a branch of the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives.

At this junction, make a left turn to enter highway No 2351. Around 10 km, you are entering the Maha Chana Chai district and will see a sign saying “Ban Hua Don”. At the sight of this sign, you should be reaching a curve. From there, turn right to Yor Sor 4010 Local Road and look for a sign saying “10 km to Maha Chana Chai district” (This is a shortcut). Follow its instruction. Along this local road lie paddy fields. At the end of this road, you will find a junction where you must turn right into highway No 2083. Around 60 km, you will enter Kham Khuean Kaeo district. When you reach the end of this highway, turn right. Then, stay on the left lane and turn into the first soi. From there the Ban Si Than is just 10 km away and the Kham Khuean Kaeo Hospital (0-4579-1133) is nearby.

Ban Si Than is a village where typical Khit-patterned pillows are handmade. In this village, most farmers weave fabrics and make traditional pillows during non-farming seasons. A visit to this village not only educates you how such handicrafts are made, but you can also buy the items at a very good price. The Khit-patterned pillows are the second biggest income-earning activity for local people. The No 1 earning activity is farming.

From Ban Si Than, follow the Yor Sor 2002 local road until it meets at highway No202. At that junction, make a left turn so that you can head into Muang Yasothon district. When you reach the Ban Sadao, turn left into a soi next to the Ban Sadao School.

Drive for 3 km and you will find Phra That Kong Khao Noi. Located at Phra That Kong Khao Noi Temple, this ancient Khmer-style pagoda bears a distinctive shape and looks very much like a meal box used centuries ago. While its middle part has designs of arched gates on all four sides, its upper part is tapered. Behind Phra That Kong Khao Noi is enshrined a sacred brick Buddha image. Local people treat this Buddha image as the holy item of their province. In the fifth month of every year, they come to sprinkle water and place gold leaves on this Buddha image. Locals believe that if they fail to do this, their province will be doomed to drought.

From Phra That Kong Khao Noi, you have to drive straight along the soi until it meets highway No 23. At that three-pronged junction, turn right to Muang Yasothon district. About 7 km down you will see Yasothon Hospital (0-4571-2580). When you are around there, pay a visit to the nearby Maha That Temple where Phra That Anon Phra Phut Bussararat is enshrined. The Yasothon Police Station (0-4571-1683-4) is located nearby.

Take highway No 23 and head towards Ubon Ratchathani. When you reach the inner town of the province, look for a place to stay overnight.

Recommended: Si Isan Hotel (0-4526-1011); rate – Bt600 per night. It is located near a market

Nevada Grand Hotel (0-4528-0999); rate – Bt1,000-Bt1,200 per night In the morning, you should pay respects to the City Pillar Shrine and the statue of Ubon founder Phra Pathum Worarat Suriyawongse (Chao Kham Phong). The shrine is opposite the Ubon Ratchathani Municipal Court. In the same neighbourhood lies the Ubon Ratchathani National Museum. It is open between 9am and 4pm from Wednesday to Sunday. Right next to it is a public park called “Thung Si Muang”. A number of locals show up at this park both in the morning and in the evening to do workout. Ubonrak Hospital (0-4526-6300) and Central Memoral Hospital (0-4525-4721) are nearby.

On your way out of the Ubon Ratchathani town, don’t forget to visit Thung Si Muang Temple to seek blessings. After that, take highway No 217 and cross the Rattanakosin 200th Anniversary Bridge. Stretching over Mool River, this large bridge will lead you to a smooth national highway. When you hit this route, you will be around the 2 km mark and will see the Kai Supasit Prasong Hospital (0-4532-1173). From there, you can take a straight route into Warin Chamrap district. Along this highway, you will go past the Sawang Weerawong Police Station at a spot between 24-27 km. At 41 km, you will find Phu Khao Kaeo Temple in Phibun Mangsahan district. Located about 44 km away from the nearest town, this temple boasts an outstanding Ubosot (temple hall). Elaborately adorned with porcelain pieces, this structure has a golden castle-like top. Featuring Thai arts, its gable has delicate Kankhot patterns that fit nicely with its Indian-style pillars.

Near the Phu Khao Kaeo Temple are many snack stalls. All of them sell Chinese stuffed bun and dumplings at almost the same price.

From the temple, go straight until you find a three-pronged junction at the end of the highway. Make a left turn and stop by the Kaeng Saphue. Ranked as one of the most beautiful islets in Ubon Ratchathani, it clearly reveals natural rocks in the middle of Mool River during the first four months of each year. This site is both a lovely spot to take photos and a great dining zone.

After you leave Kaeng Saphue, take highway No 217 and head towards Chong Mek. However, it is worth visiting a new tourist area, Little Pattaya, at around 62 km. This area has a 1.4-km-long sandy beach and lines of coconut trees, which can easily remind its visitors of the famous seaside Pattaya. Shops, public baths and parking lots are available, and sport lovers can even enjoy water skiing and boat riding at Little Pattaya. At around 68-69 km, you will see the Sirindhorn Police Station and the Sirindhorn Hospital (0-4326-7172-3).

At the 70 km, you will reach Sirindhorn Dam. Here, you can find eateries, accommodation and a golf course.

At the end of highway No 217, you are right in front of the Chong Mek Pass. Get a temporary border pass from here and you can easily cross the border to visit neighbouring Laos. When you arrive at Chong Mek, you would have already driven 337.8 km.

For your next stop, you should head towards the Khong Chiam district. At 76 km turn right into highway No 2173. Drive further until you reach the end of this highway. There, you will find the entrance to Kaeng Tana National Park. This tourist site features a giant sandstone rock, which looks very much like a small islet in the middle of Mool River. This national park is south of Don Tana. Tourist season here is between November and June. Thailand’s longest suspended pedestrian bridge across a river is inside this national park. A stroll along this bridge promises a wonderful experience and definitely a fantastic view of local scenery above the Kaeng Tana. Moreover, many other attractions such as Phra Cave and Lan Pha Pheung are located right inside this vast national park.

After you leave the Kaeng Tana National Park, take the previous route back to the junction that can take you to Khong Chiam district. At that junction, make a left turn and drive for 8 km for Pha Taem National Park. You will need to cross a bridge across Mool River here too.

Recommended: There are many fresh-fish shops here for you to choose. You could take the fish uphill and cook it there. You can stay overnight inside the Pha Taem National Park.

Highway No 2173 actually ends in front of the Pha Taem National Park. Once you drive inside, you are on highway No 2112 or the strategic route between Khong Chiam and Khemarat. Drive for some 19 km before making a right turn into highway No 2368. From there, a 5-km drive will bring you to the Office of Pha Taem National Park.

Admission fees for Thai visitors are Bt20 per child, and Bt40 per adult. For foreign visitors, admission fees are Bt100 per child, and Bt200 per adult.

From the admission-fee collection spot, you need to drive for just one km to reach Sao Chaliang. The effects of the weather, including water erosion, have left this area a natural wonder. Rising from the Sao Chaliang area are many mushroom-like stone slabs.

Another highlight of this national park is the Pha Taem Viewpoint or Phu Pha Kham. From up here, you can see the flowing Mekong River down below. Around the viewpoint are also numerous prehistoric paintings, which date back some 3,000 years ago, and are right over the cliff surface. It is a marvellous place to enjoy the scenic sunrise and sunset.  Stay overnight around the viewpoint.

To see the sunrise earlier than anyone else in Thailand, you should get up in the early hours of the day and reserve a spot over the Phu Pha Kham. The scenery of the rising sun is beautiful beyond description because the water in Mekong River will be glittering gold. After you capture the lovely scenery in your camera and your memory, it’s time go down the mountain. Then, make a right turn into highway No 2112 and drive further for about 20 km. Turn right into a rugged road. Although there are many holes on this road, a 14-km drive along this route will lead to Soi Sawan Waterfall. Surrounded by wild flowers, the waterfall provides a great spot for you to dip into water in the natural, exquisite environment. The vast field of flowers is a riot of colours. Soi Suwan (yellow) flowers, Tipkesorn (pale-pink) flowers, Dusita (purple) flowers, Manee Tewa (white) flowers, Jok Bo Wai (red) flowers are just parts of the field.

Tips: Wild flowers on this field usually bloom between October and January.

About 20 km away from here, a right turn out of highway No 2112 will lead to Saeng Chan Waterfall or Namtok Ru. As the water from Tha Long Stream is pouring down via a crescent hole over a local cliff, it forms this small but unique waterfall. When you look at the water surface here, you will see the picture of a heart.

Giant Creeping Plants is a nearby interesting attraction. If you take the highway No 2112, you will find this attraction around four kilometres before you reach the Saeng Chan Waterfall.

When leaving the waterfall, you should turn right into highway No 2112. Drive for about 300 metres before you make a left turn into highway No 2135. A road sign will inform you that the Si Muang Mai district is 32 km away.

However, when you reach km 19, you need to turn left to go to Trakan Phuet Phon district. Drive straight and you will be on highway No 2134. After 30 km you will see an intersection where Toyota’s office in Ubon Ratchathani is located. At that intersection, turn right into the Amnat Charoen-Khemarat route. Once you are on this route, you must turn left at the first intersection. If you have time, you may check out Khulu Scripture Chapel.

Now, it’s time to head along highway No 2134 until you reach 31 km. When you reach Amnat Charoen, start looking for a three-pronged junction. At the first junction you see here, turn left towards Lueamnart district. When you see the next three-pronged junction, drive straight into Phana district. A three-km drive from there will bring you to Phra Lao Thep Nimit Temple.

Enshrined at this temple is the sacred “Phra Lao Thep Nimit”. Considered the holy item of Amnat Charoen, this Buddha image mirrors Laotian art style from Vientiane.

After a visit to this temple, go back to the three-pronged intersection and turn left for Lueamnart district. From 19 km here, the Phuttha Utthayan ofamnat Charoen is just 40 km away.

However, along the way, you can drop in at Banamnat Temple to pay respects to Phra Chao Yai Lue Chai, too. After leaving this temple, just go straight and turn right into highway No 212. On this highway, you will go past Sawang Mongkhon intersection and the City Pillar Shrine before reaching Phuttha Utthayan of Amnat Charoen at around 78 km.

Enshrined at this sacred place is the holy item of Amnat Charoen, Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang or Phra Yai. On Makha Bucha Day (which falls on the full moon of the third month of Thai lunar calendar), a big religious festival takes place here every year. During the festival, Buddhists from both Amnat Charoen and nearby provinces pay homage to the Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang. Amnat Charoen Police Station (0-4551-2007 and Amnat Charoen Hospital (0-4551-1940-8) are nearby.

Highway No 212 can lead you to Mukdahan. However, you need to be extra careful while driving at 160 km because it has a dangerous curve around there. Drive straight along this highway and you will enter the Muang Mukdahan district. Turn left into highway No 2034. After you go past the Mukdahan International Hospital (0-4263-3301-9), it’s time to visit Ho Kaeo Mukdahan Chalerm Phrakiart. Standing 65 metres high, this giant tower has a modern look. On its sixth storey, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Mukdahan town, Mekong River, and Laos’ Sawannakhet. In the same neighbourhood are the Mukdahan Police Station (0-4263-3533) and the Mukdahan Hospital (0-4261-2977).

Drive further along highway No 2034. At 15 km make a right turn for the Mukdahan National Park or Phu Pha Thoep. The national park boasts an amazing complex of giant, peculiar-shaped sandstone slabs. If you make a visit during the tourist season that usually lasts between September and December, a beautiful flower field will also be waiting for you here. Inside the national park are various facilities, including accommodation, camping ground and shops (0-4260-1753). Admission fees are Bt20 per Thai visitor, Bt200 per foreign child and Bt400 per foreign adult. Admission fee for each vehicle is Bt30.

From Muang Mukdahan town, you can drive along the Mekong River for about 3 km on the Samran Chai Kong Nua Road to reach the Second International Mekong Bridge viewpoint. A night visit is bound to impress you as the lighting along the riverside road and the bridge adds to the lovely scenery. Also, there are many riverside restaurants on the Samran Chai Kong Nua Road. Drive along this road and go under the international bridge to enter highway No 212. Then, it’s time to check into a hotel or a resort.

Recommended: SC Residence Hotel on Soi Anurak 2 (0-4261-5252-3); Rate – Bt800-Bt1,000 per night. Rooms are clean and the hotel has Internet services.

River City Hotel (0-4261-5444-7); Rate – Bt700 per night

Kimcheksin Hotel (0-4263 1041); Rate – Bt400 per night

Enjoy your breakfast at Im-Aroi food shop. Serving Vietnamese pasta soup, this shop is next to Huanam Hotel and is very close to the Tha Kham Indochina Market Pass.

From the town, drive along highway No 212 until you reach 170 km and turn right for the Second Mekong International Bridge. At the bridge, you can get a temporary border pass to visit Laos.

After that, go back along highway No 212. At around 187 km, turn right into Wan Yai district. Drive further for 9 km and you will see a junction showing how to get to Kaeng Krabao. This long islet in the Mekong River is an outstanding attraction in Mukdahan. Famous local dish is barbecued sucking pig.

Dining places

Indochin on Sanphasit Road near Chaeng Temple, Ubon Ratchathani; Tel 0-4525-4126

Kufad Food Shop behind Muang Mukdahan Police Station; Tel 0-4261-2252

Krua Saigon on Samutsakdarak, Mukdahan; Tel 0-4261-2621

Souvenirs

Ubon Moo Yor on Khuen Thani Road, Muang Ubon Ratchathani District, Ubon Ratchathani;Tel 0-4525-4951

Wattanasilp Krueang Ngern on Ratchabut Road, Muang Ubon Ratchathani, Ubon Ratchathani; Tel 0-4525-5661

Sai Krok Nualprang on Palochai Road, near central Hospital, Ubon Ratchathani; Tel 0-4525-5356

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