Northeast Thailand: The Best Things to See and Do in Isaan
Sample the local specialities
It can be tempting while travelling to play it safe when it comes to food but, delicious though it may be, there’s more to Thai cuisine than just pad Thai. Isaan is home to another of Thailand’s most famous dishes – som tam, or papaya salad. A fresh dish that’s made right in front of you in a pestle and mortar, som tam is fiercely spicy – you can ask for the spice level to be reduced, but you’ll be reducing the fun, too! Larb is another well-known dish that shares Isaan and Laotian origins. A meat salad that’s eaten cold, it can also be pretty spicy, but is completely worth it.
Trek through Khao Yai National Park
A vastly huge, expansive national park, Khao Yai is a great place to head to after the hustle and bustle of a city like Bangkok if you want to feel at one with nature. With mile after mile of lush, green forest, calming rivers, inspiring waterfalls and wildlife, from elephants and tigers to porcupines and gibbons to spot, it’s truly a breath of fresh air in a country that can often leave you hyperventilating for both good and bad reasons! A wonderful place to visit and trek through.
Khao Yai national park, Hin Tung, Mueang Nakhon Nayok District, Nakhon Nayok 26000, Thailand
Visit the awe-inspiring Phanom Rung
A stupendous remnant of the Khmer empire and former Hindu temple, Phanom Rung is one of the most beautiful temples in all of South East Asia, and a place you’re unlikely to forget in a hurry. Set on the rim of an extinct volcano, its architectural style is reminiscent of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and features the usual ornate carvings and religious scenes painstakingly etched onto the walls. Under consideration to be a UNESCO World Heritage site, a trip to Isaan without visiting this temple complex is a trip that’s incomplete.
Phanom Rung, Ta Pek, Chaloem Phra Kiat District, Buri Ram 31110, Thailand, +66 44 666 251
Watch a Buriram United soccer game
Thailand isn’t exactly synonymous with soccer, and while the sportspeople’s abilities on the field might not match their European counterparts, their enthusiasm off the field quite often can. One of the most fervently supported and successful teams in the country is Buriram United, and it’s impossible to go to any province in Thailand and not spot a handful of their jerseys being worn with pride. A great way to experience an aspect of Thai life that many don’t see and to interact with locals, there are certainly worse ways to spend an afternoon, even if soccer’s not quite your cup of tea.
Discover Sala Kaew Ku
Sala Kaew Ku is home to some of the most visually striking and impressive statues in Thailand. Traditional icons from Thailand’s Theravada Buddhist religion are prominent through, such as the Buddha and the seven-headed naga serpent that is a popular symbol throughout Thailand, but there are plenty of other scenes on display too – such as an elephant wading through a pack of dogs, teaching us to ignore gossip. Whether it’s to learn more about Thai and Buddhist culture, or simply to gawk at statues that reach as much as 25m tall, it’s an enchanting place that should be on anyone’s travel itinerary.
Sala Kaew Park, Wat That, Mueang Nong Khai District, Nong Khai 43000, Thailand, +66 93 314 6102
Climb the mountain to see Wat Phu Tok
Translating roughly as “temple of the mountain”, that’s exactly what you’ll find at Wat Phu Tok – a temple that’s over a 1,000 feet high. Best visited before the day gets too hot, you can climb the seven levels of the mountain in order to reach the goal, with the number being significant as it symbolises Buddhism’s seven levels of spiritual enlightenment. While the ladders, steps and platforms might not inspire much confidence, it’s not too challenging, and you’re rewarded with good views and interesting temple spaces inside caves along the way.
Join the Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival
Coinciding with Thailand’s Asanha Bucha national holiday is Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival, an event that’s famous throughout the country. Huge, ornately-carved beeswax candles are paraded through the town on their way to the temples and are judged on their beauty and design. The candles really are something else; likely to be the biggest candles you’ll ever see, they’re intricately carved works of art depicting people or scenes from Buddhist mythology. Enjoyed by tourists and locals alike, there’s a real party atmosphere and heaps of cultural shows and market stalls to visit too.
Browse the Save One night market
Korat is home to a few night markets, but none quite as big as the Save One night market. It’s huge in size, with hundreds of tables both indoors and outdoors, and a food court too. You can find practically anything here, from hand-carved crafts to whatever foreign dish you’ve been craving from home, and even pets if you’re planning on being here long term. A great way to sample those dishes you’ve always wanted to try but at a low price, the Save One Night Market is the biggest market in Isaan, and arguably the best.
Save One night market, Ban Mai, Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand
Spend the day at Korat Zoo
Korat Zoo is the largest of its kind in Thailand and a great way to spend a day for both travellers of all ages. Not only are there shows and plenty of animals to see, such as lions and rhinos, there’s also a fun water park with rides and pools to enjoy. With a focus on animal welfare and a mission to research wildlife preservation, you can rest assured you’re visiting one of the more ethically sound animal attractions in Thailand.
Korat Zoo, Amphoe Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima, Chang Wat Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand, +66 44 934 647
Be awed by the Than Thip waterfall
Northeastern Thailand has no shortage of natural beauty, but it could be argued that the Than Thip waterfall takes the gold medal. Located just outside of Isaan near to the Mekong river but more than reachable in a day trip, the Than Thip waterfall is surrounded by the typical thick Thai jungle and is the tallest in its province. Lots of visitors like to take a dip in the water and it makes for some great photos, but expect it to get busier on a weekend or after school’s out.
Than Thip waterfall, Ban Muang, Sangkhom District, Nong Khai 43160, Thailand
Drive around, explore and interact
Isaan is beautiful, but it’s also one of Thailand’s poorest provinces, with a lack of jobs and many young people leaving for brighter shores when they get the chance. Despite that, the people remain warm, welcoming and kind, and there are still plenty of places to visit and things to see. With that in mind, why not get out there and experience it? Drive around and be among it all, follow a road less travelled, eat by the side of the street and enjoy a slice of real Thailand. With the experiences and perspective you’ll gain along the way, you’ll feel better for it.