While in Thailand you might be surrounded by crowds most of the time. What if you could avoid the touristy regions to spend a weekend you aren’t going to forget! If you’re planning on seeing Thailand off the beaten path you should definitely add Ubon Ratchathani to your Thailand itinerary.
Visiting Ubon Ratchathani means you’re going to experience Thailand in a very unique and local way. The locals aren’t used to see foreigners around, which means they are curious, super friendly and sometimes even a bit shy! Traveling there is one of the most unique things to do in Thailand because it will allow you to see the countryside, taste amazing Thai food and play around with the kids. This unusual off the beaten track Thailand destination might become one of your favorite travel memories! Trust me!
Ubon Ratchathani Travel Information
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Where’s Ubon Ratchathani?
Ubon Ratchathani is located in the northeast part of Thailand. As it’s quite close to Laos it could be a smart stop on your way there. Ubon Ratchathani is one of the popular cities found in the Isan (Isaan) region of Thailand.
How to get to Ubon Ratchathani from Bangkok?
The fastest way to get to Ubon Ratchathani from Bangkok is by flying. It takes about an hour to get there. You should know that the airport in Ubon Ratchathani is super small, so don’t expect too much from it!
You could also get there by train or by bus but it takes longer. It takes around 10-12 hours by train. It takes around 9-11 hours by bus. You can check the options here.
Unique Thailand Experiences in Isan, Thailand
Ubon Ratchathani Thailand
This Isaan Thailand travel itinerary is offered by TakeMeTour, a tour company that provides local experts to help you make the most of your time in Thailand. We spent the whole day with our guide as well as kids living in the region who wanted to practice their English (super lovely people, by the way!). Learn more about “From Farm to Table in Ubon Ratchathani”.
Visiting a Thai Market
The first thing we did on our Ubon Ratchathani travel itinerary was to visit a huge market. It was actually the biggest I have ever seen in my life. Visiting a market is always a great experience because you get to taste different types of food and you can also connect with the locals at the same time.
Cycling Around the Village in the Isan Countryside
Our next mission was to get to a small village not too far from the city. We hopped on very old school bikes and cycled around the village with the kids. We stopped a few times on our way to the farm to visit a temple, check out the process of drying rice and learned how to make rice noodles – check the video here!
Visiting Temples in Ubon Ratchathani
We visited a local temple and they showed us how they prepare the food for the monks. There was a ceremony on that day so we stayed a few minutes at the back On our way back to the airport we also stopped at another temple, Wat Phra That Nong Bua, which was incredibly beautiful. It was probably one of the most beautiful temples I have ever seen in my life. This temple is also known for its candle festival where you can see huge and very impressive candles.
Harvesting on a Farm
After our short cycling trip, we stopped at the farm where we had to hand-pick fresh vegetables for our Thai cooking class. Thankfully, the kids were there to help me find the right ingredients because I don’t know a lot about exotic ingredients!
Experiencing the Food Culture in Thailand
The food culture in Thailand is pretty popular worldwide. Everyone agrees – Thai food is excellent! We ate a well-deserved lunch which was delicious!
What was on the menu?
- Som Tum Thai (Papaya Salad)
- Mok Gai (Steamed Chicken)
- Gaeng Om Moo (Herb Pork Soup)
- Pumpkin in Coconut Milk (Dessert)
Cooking Class Thailand
After lunch, we learned how to cook 4 dishes with the kids (to be fair they were more experienced than me in terms of cooking and super helpful in the kitchen). I was actually happy to learn the cooking process after eating because I’m pretty sure my picky eater side would have been very scared, especially since now I know their “special ingredients”! Ha!
What are the advantages of booking your local experience in Ubon Ratchathani with TakeMeTour?
- My local expert, Pum, showed me her village, her farm as well as the local temple.
- Pum picked me up at the hotel and dropped me off after the tour at the airport.
- Pum is an English teacher and she invited kids to join us for the day!
- It allowed me to go further than I would have managed on my own and it was a great opportunity to connect with the local community.
- Her husband cooked for us and then she showed me how to cook!
Where to Stay in Ubon Ratchathani?
If you’re planning on staying in Ubon Ratchathani for the weekend you can check out the options here. I personally stayed at Pen Ta Hug Hotel, which is a great budget-friendly option!
Disclaimer: I was invited to Thailand as part of a trip organized by TakeMeTour, Local Table and Tourism Authority of Thailand. As always, all opinions are my own.
