TH · Ubon Ratchathani · 15.23°N 104.86°E

ubon ratchathani

Gateway to Pha Taem's ancient cliff paintings and Thailand's first sunrise.

Best time
November to February is cool and dry, and the rock formations at Sam Phan Bok appear when the Mekong runs low, roughly December to May. The Candle Festival is held in July, at the start of Buddhist Lent.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Fly from KL to Bangkok (about 2 hours), then about 1 hour on a domestic flight to Ubon Ratchathani. Overnight trains from Bangkok take about 9–10 hours. Pha Taem is about 2 hours' drive from the city.
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TH · Ubon Ratchathaniubon ratchathani15.23°N 104.86°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Gateway to Pha Taem's ancient cliff paintings and Thailand's first sunrise.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingUbon RatchathaniTH, Ubon Ratchathani
KLubon ratchathani
≈ 1,388 km from KL, as the crow flies
Market in Ubon Ratchathani, Isan, Thailand.

Photo: Maciej (Mat) Radoszewski · CC BY 2.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Ubon is a big, easy-going Isaan city on the Mun River, in the province where Thailand meets Laos and Cambodia. It's known for its forest monasteries and its Candle Festival. It's also the gateway to Pha Taem, Mekong cliffs said to see Thailand's first sunrise.

Makan

  1. Khai kataEggs fried in a small pan with Vietnamese-style sausage and bread, a popular breakfast.Map ↗
  2. Isaan staplesSom tam, grilled chicken and sticky rice, done properly.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Pha Taem National ParkCliffs above the Mekong with prehistoric paintings of people, fish and animals, around 3,000 years old.Map ↗
  2. Sam Phan BokA stretch of pitted rock formations in the Mekong, only visible in the dry season.Map ↗
  3. Khong ChiamWhere the Mun River meets the Mekong, forming a 'two-colour river'.Map ↗
  4. Wat Nong Pah PongA quiet, shaded forest monastery founded by the famous monk Ajahn Chah.Map ↗
  5. Wat Sirindhorn Wararam (Phu Prao)A hilltop temple whose mural of a tree glows in the dark after sunset.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Halal food is harder to find in Isaan than in southern Thailand. Look for halal signs or ask your hotel.
  • Pha Taem and Khong Chiam are a long way from the city. Hiring a car and driver for the day is easiest.
  • Dress modestly and keep your voice down at the forest monasteries.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.