Home Destinations Amnat Charoen 🧭 Plan Your Trip 🔎 Search About

Home › Thailand › Amnat Charoen › Amnat Charoen → Ubon Ratchathani Southern Isan Road Trip, 3 Days 2 Nights

🛣️ Two-province plan · Southern Isan

Amnat Charoen → Ubon Ratchathani
Southern Isan Road Trip, 3 Days 2 Nights

Amnat Charoen and Ubon Ratchathani sit only about 75 km apart, an hour's drive, so pairing them in one trip is easy. The idea is to use Amnat Charoen as your opening day, a small, quiet town for temples and local food, then move on to Ubon, where the eating and the Mekong scenery are richer. This plan is built from real distances and places that are actually open. We'll tell you straight which stops need a car and which ones you can skip if you're short on time.

🚗 Self-drive🙏 Temples + nature🍜 Eating along the way

Amnat Charoen → Ubon Ratchathani Southern Isan Road Trip, 3 Days 2 Nights

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

The main route is Highway 212, which runs straight between Amnat Charoen town and Ubon city, around 75 km, taking about an hour if traffic is light. It's four lanes most of the way and an easy drive, good for anyone who wants an unhurried southern Isan trip. Spend the first day slowly in Amnat Charoen, then give the last two days to Ubon, where the sights spread far out, all the way to the Mekong around Khong Chiam.

Before you set off

This trip pretty much requires your own car or a rental, especially the day you head down to Khong Chiam, Pha Taem and Sam Phan Bok, since public transport barely reaches those areas and the sights are tens of kilometres apart. If you don't have a car, rent one in Ubon city, where there are more options.

Day 1 — Amnat Charoen, a small temple town

Amnat Charoen is a small province, with the main sights clustered around town, so there's no rush on day one. Tick off a couple of important temples and some local food, then spend the night in town before moving to Ubon tomorrow.

Day 1

Amnat Charoen town

08:30

Leave your in-town stay and find an Isan breakfastKhao jee (grilled sticky rice), sticky rice with grilled pork skewers, or kuay jub, all easy to find at the morning markets in town.

09:30

Phra Mongkhon Ming Muang on Khao Dan Phra BatA large seated Buddha in the bhumisparsha pose, about 11 m wide at the lap, set in a leafy Buddhist park. It's the town's signature landmark.

11:00

Wat Tham Saeng Phet, Nong Maso subdistrictA forest temple on a hill with a shrine hall at the top and a cave housing a Buddha image. Open roughly 07:30–17:00.

12:30

Lunch, Isan food in townSom tam, grilled chicken, laab at down-to-earth local shops, around 40–80 THB a plate.

14:30

Wat Phra Lao Thep Nimit, Phana districtAn old principal Buddha image considered one of Isan's most beautiful, about 40 km outside town. Skip it if you're short on time.

17:30

Head back into town for dinner and souvenirsMoo yor (Vietnamese pork sausage), Isan sausage, local dried goods. Stock up to snack on during tomorrow's drive.

Where to stay in Amnat Charoen

Most places to stay in Amnat Charoen town are mid-size hotels and guesthouses at easy-on-the-wallet prices. Pick somewhere near the town centre and finding dinner is simplest. See the options on our hotel roundup page.

🎟️

Book the activities in your Amnat Charoen trip ahead

Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.

🎟️ Top tours in Amnat CharoenHighlights, guided Klook 🎟️ Amnat Charoen attractions & ticketsSkip-the-line entry tickets Klook 🚐 Day trips from Amnat CharoenOut and back in a day Klook 🌎 Amnat Charoen activities (GetYourGuide)Global tour marketplace GetYourGuide

🎟️ See all Amnat Charoen tours & activities (Klook)

Day 2 — Move on to Ubon and dig into the food

On the morning of day two, leave Amnat Charoen and run Highway 212 into Ubon city in about an hour. Today is about in-town food and central temples, which is where Ubon is strongest. The Vietnamese food here has been famous for a long time, especially Vietnamese kuay jub and moo yor.

Day 2

Amnat Charoen → Ubon city

09:00

Leave Amnat Charoen on Highway 212 toward UbonAround 75 km, roughly an hour's drive.

10:30

Into Ubon city for a late-morning Vietnamese kuay jubUbon Ocha, or the Vietnamese kuay jub shops along Bencha Ma Road, loaded toppings, fragrant fried garlic, starting around 50 THB.

12:30

Wat Thung Si Muang, central UbonSee the wooden scripture hall over the water and the old murals, an easy stroll in town.

14:00

Thung Si Muang, the central city parkA green space in the middle of town, with a model of a carved Candle Festival sculpture to photograph.

16:00

Wat Sirindhorn Wararam Phu Prao (the Glowing Temple), Sirindhorn districtAbout 70 km outside town. A glowing green wishing-tree mural stands out after dark, so go in the evening and wait for nightfall to see it clearly.

18:30

Dinner, Vietnamese or Isan food in townBaan Dang on Phrom Rat Road is a Vietnamese restaurant that once earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Open roughly 10:00–20:00.

Timing the Glowing Temple

Phu Prao looks its best as the sky starts to darken, when the glowing tree mural really comes alive. Go during the day and you'll only see a plain mosaic outline. Plan to arrive at dusk, and allow about another hour to drive back into town.

Day 3 — The Mekong at Khong Chiam, Pha Taem, Sam Phan Bok

Save the last day for the Mekong nature on Thailand's far eastern edge, the highlight most people come to Ubon for. The sights are fairly spread out, so set off early and have your car ready.

Day 3

Ubon → Khong Chiam → back

06:30

Leave Ubon city toward Khong ChiamAround 80 km. Leave early to dodge the heat and have time for several stops.

08:30

Pha Taem National Park, ancient rock paintingsPrehistoric rock paintings around 3,000–4,000 years old on the cliffs above the Mekong. The park is open roughly 06:00–18:00, with standard national park admission.

10:30

Two-Colour River viewpoint, Khong Chiam districtWhere the Mun River meets the Mekong, the colours clearly differ in the dry season, the Mekong a muddy grey, the Mun a deep blue.

12:00

Lunch by the MekongRiverside restaurants around Khong Chiam have fresh river fish. Try the fried fish or tom yum fish.

13:30

Sam Phan Bok, the Mekong's Grand Canyon, Pho Sai districtRock rapids carved by the water into thousands of basins, at their best above water in the dry season, around January to May. In flood season they're submerged.

16:00

Pick up souvenirs and head homeUbon moo yor, Chinese sausage, dried goods, bought before heading back into town or to Ubon airport.

Food along the way you shouldn't miss

On this route the food on the Ubon side is clearly the stronger draw, especially the Vietnamese food that's been rooted in the city for ages. Here's what to seek out along the way.

1

Ubon Vietnamese kuay jub

Breakfast–late morning · from ฿50

Ubon's signature dish, round noodles in a clear broth with loaded toppings and fragrant fried garlic, eaten with pa tong go (fried dough). Ubon Ocha and the shops along Bencha Ma Road are easy starting points.

Vietnamese foodUbon specialty

2

Ubon moo yor

Souvenir/side dish

Pork sausage packed with seasoning, springy and peppery, both a side dish and a popular souvenir. Moo Yor Dao Thong has several recipes to take home.

SouvenirUbon specialty

3

Vietnamese food at Baan Dang

Lunch–dinner

A Vietnamese spot on Phrom Rat Road that once earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand, with nam neuang and fresh spring rolls at affordable prices. Open roughly 10:00–20:00.

Vietnamese foodMichelin

4

River fish on the Mekong at Khong Chiam

Day 3 lunch

Riverside restaurants around Khong Chiam serve fresh river fish, with fried fish, tom yum and fish laab eaten beside the Two-Colour River for the setting.

Riverside diningRiver fish

5

Amnat Charoen local food

Throughout day 1

The Amnat Charoen side leans into homestyle Isan food, som tam, laab, koi, khao jee in the morning, plus moo yor and sausage souvenirs from the town markets.

Isan foodSouvenir

6

Khao jee, a breakfast for the road

Breakfast · a few baht apiece

Sticky rice formed into a patty, brushed with egg and grilled over the fire, found at morning markets in both Amnat Charoen and Ubon. A cheap snack worth grabbing for the car.

Isan foodSnack

Adjust the plan to the time you have

Only 2 days — combine days 1 and 2 into a shorter run: do Phra Mongkhon Ming Muang and Wat Tham Saeng Phet in the morning, then drive to Ubon for lunch, leaving a full day for Khong Chiam and Pha Taem the next day.
Temples only — drop Sam Phan Bok and add more temples in Ubon city plus Wat Phra Lao Thep Nimit in Amnat Charoen instead.
Travelling with kids — skip Sam Phan Bok, which means walking on rock rapids in the sun, and focus on Thung Si Muang, the Glowing Temple in the evening, and the Two-Colour River viewpoint, which is an easier walk.
No car — focus only on Ubon city, where you can walk and hail a ride, and for Khong Chiam and Pha Taem hire a private car or take a day tour from the city.

The right time to go

Sam Phan Bok is beautiful and walkable only in the dry season, around January to May. During the floods the rock rapids are completely submerged. If you're set on seeing this spot, plan for the dry season above all.

Want a full Amnat Charoen plan before continuing to Ubon

See the Amnat Charoen travel guide →

FAQ

How far is Amnat Charoen from Ubon Ratchathani, and how long does it take?

About 75 km along Highway 212, roughly an hour's drive. It's four lanes for almost the whole route and an easy drive, so pairing the two provinces in one trip is no trouble.

Do I need my own car for this trip?

We recommend having a car, especially the day you head down to Khong Chiam, Pha Taem and Sam Phan Bok, since the sights are tens of kilometres apart and public transport barely reaches them. Without a car, focus on Ubon city and hire a private car for the Mekong day.

Which province should I visit first, Amnat Charoen or Ubon?

This plan suggests starting with Amnat Charoen, since it's a small town with fewer sights, good for a slow opening day, then spending the rest of your time on Ubon, where the food and Mekong nature are richer.

Can I visit Sam Phan Bok in any season?

No. Sam Phan Bok is only good to walk in the dry season, around January to May, when the water drops enough for the rock rapids to emerge. In the rainy season the floods cover the rapids and you can't walk on them.

When should I visit the Glowing Temple at Phu Prao?

Go in the evening near dusk and wait until the sky goes dark, when the glowing green wishing-tree mural behind the ordination hall comes into full view. Go during the day and you'll only see a plain mosaic pattern.

Copyright & Image Takedown Policy

Thailandaddict is created to review and share travel experiences. Where an image is sourced from elsewhere, we credit the source. If you are the copyright owner and prefer that your image not appear on this site, please contact us and we will gladly remove the image or correct the information.