Mekong River & Khmer Kingdoms in Isan & Laos
Code: ISN003

Upon you arrival Ubon Ratchathani, your guide will meet you and drive to Khong Jiam. Check-in at the Tohsaeng Khong Jiam Resort. Relax at your leisure.

In the afternoon, drive to Pha Team Historical Park. Then a 10 minute walk brings us to the paintings in the cooler late afternoon, when the light allows best viewing. Some of the subject matter depicted is easy to discern and interpret (elephant, fish & people). The subject matter in some other paintings is debatable. Listen to what the Fine Arts Department has to say, and then make your own decision! Enjoy lovely views of the Mekong and Laos. Afterwards, walk back to the bus, and drive down to the Mekong, where we will board a local boat (with a roof) for the trip to the resort. This part of the Mekong River is especially interesting because it is narrow, and therefore easy for us to observe life on either side! Enjoy the ambience of the resort before & after dinner.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accom: Tohsaeng Khong Jiam Resort

After breakfast, drive with your guide to the Thai-Lao border crossing at Chong Mek, continue drive to Pakse. Upon your arrival in Pakse your guide will bring you to local pier to embark a traditional boat down the Mekong River to Champasak. Continue excursion by car or Tuk Tuk to visit the ruins of the Khmer temple of Wat Phou Champasak. Afterward continue by car to Ban Khiet Ngong for elephant riding before returning to Thailand in the late afternoon. Cross border at Chong Mek and transfer to Tohsaeng Khong Jiam Resort for dinner and over night.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accom: Tohsaeng Khong Jiam Resort

After breakfast, drive with your guide to Khao Phra Viharn. Khao Phra Viharn Khmer temple complex was started even before Angkor Wat in the heart of Cambodia! Unlike other Khmer Temples in Thailand, this one has not undergone the restoration efforts of the Fine Arts Department. If Indiana Jones were real, he would have found this place! Walk up steps to graded causeways through awesome "gopuras" and arrive at the extensive but dilapidated center, which is on a cliff-top overlooking the virgin Cambodian countryside. On the way back, stop off for a look at Maw-I-Daeng cliff carvings. These carvings exhibit many similarities to some of the Hindu subject matter at Khao Phra Viharn, but experts disagree exactly which site preceded the other.

Have lunch at a local restaurant, then continue the drive back to Ubon Ratchathani. Visit a number of city sites in Ubon including Wat Thung Sri Muang, built in a very unusual mixture of Thai, Lao & Burmese styles. Also see the National Museum # 8 (unless the day is a Tuesday, when the museum is closed). The exhibits here help to put what you have seen over the last days into perspective. This museum is also home to 3 of the most important known inscription stones in Thai history. Your guide will have much local knowledge, so if last minute shopping does not interest you, he/she can take to see a few more cultural attractions before driving to your hotel for overnight and dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accom: Lai Thong Hotel

After breakfast, you are free until your flight time we will transfer you to the airport or train station for your next destination.

 

Meals: Breakfast
Accom: None