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🏞️ Nong Bua Lamphu itinerary

Nong Bua Lamphu in 2 Days
Town · Wat Tham Klong Phen · The Lake

Nong Bua Lamphu is a small province most people drive straight through on the way to Udon Thani, without ever stopping. That's a shame, because it's an easy place to travel — quiet, uncrowded, and with a bit of everything: a forest temple tucked into the hills, viewpoints over a dam, and a laid-back provincial town you can wander on foot. 2 days, 1 night is just right if you start from Udon Thani (only about a 45-minute drive). This is a plan built to keep things unhurried — real rest, properly spicy Isan food, and you'll still catch the sunset behind the hills.

⛩️ Wat Tham Klong Phen🌅 Dam views at golden hour🚗 45 min from Udon Thani
Nong Bua Lamphu in 2 Days Town · Wat Tham Klong Phen · The Lake

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

This plan suits anyone flying into Udon Thani who wants to tack on a quieter neighbouring province, or Isan locals looking for a close, uncrowded weekend break. Driving yourself is by far the easiest way to do the whole trip, since some of the sights sit outside town — but the distances are short, never more than about 30 kilometres from the centre for nearly every stop.

The 2-day, 1-night trip at a glance

  • Day 1 — Arrive in town, visit Wat Tham Klong Phen in the late morning before it gets hot, eat lunch in town, then in the afternoon pay respects at the King Naresuan shrine and stroll by the lake in the centre. Wind down at a café out by the fields in the evening.
  • Day 2 — Early start to the reservoir and the Phu Phan Kham viewpoint over Ubolratana Dam, shooting the mountain-and-lake scenery, then loop back into town for souvenirs before heading on.
  • Getting around — A private car or a rental from Udon Thani is recommended, since public transport within the province is sparse and won't get you to the out-of-town viewpoints easily.

When to go

The cool season (November–February) is when the weather is at its best. The dry dipterocarp forest around Phu Kao–Phu Phan Kham starts turning colour around November, and the dam views in the early morning and evening are the prettiest. In the rainy season the roads up to the viewpoints can get slippery, so drive carefully.

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Day 1 — Into town + Wat Tham Klong Phen

Day 1

A forest temple in the hills, then a wander through town

08:30
Leave Udon Thani, head for Nong Bua LamphuTake Highway 210 through Nong Wua So district, roughly 46 km, an easy 45–55 minute drive. If you've just flown in, you can rent a car right at Udon Thani airport.
09:30
Arrive at Wat Tham Klong PhenA very large forest temple in the Mueang district — you can drive in. It's shaded by forest and oddly shaped boulders. The highlight is a cave holding an ancient two-headed drum, and a walking-pose Buddha image carved into the rock.
10:30
See the Luang Pu Khao Analayo museumThis temple was once the meditation retreat of Luang Pu Khao, a monk in the Luang Pu Mun lineage. Inside is a museum holding his monastic belongings and a wax figure of him. A quiet, peaceful place to walk through.
12:00
Back into town for lunchTry Krua Parinya & Restaurant, a roomy, airy spot in town serving Thai and Isan food. The dish people recommend is the miang kham lamphu, or you could find one of the many som tam–laap shops in town for properly spicy, real-deal Isan food.
14:00
Pay respects at the King Naresuan shrineIt sits on Naresuan field in front of the district office, right in the centre of town. It's a landmark the people of Nong Bua Lamphu hold in high regard, built to commemorate King Naresuan's march and encampment here.
15:00
Stroll along Nong Bua lakeThe lake in the middle of town that gave the province its name. There's a waterside path, and in the evening locals come out to exercise — a simple, small-town atmosphere.
16:30
Café by the fields / check inThe Chato Cafe is open long hours, 07:30–20:00, with wide field views, plenty of cakes, and gentle prices. Or Belief Cafe' & Garden, which goes all out with a flower garden and hot fresh-baked croissants — good for evening photos.
18:30
Dinner in townNong Bua Lamphu is a small town, and it's strongest on Isan food and the casual late-night spots along the roads around the centre. Order laap, koi, tom saeb with hot sticky rice and call it an easy day.

What to wear at the temple

Wat Tham Klong Phen is a forest meditation temple, so dress modestly — skip sleeveless tops and shorts above the knee. Parts of the ground are rock and sand, so comfortable walking shoes are the better call.

Day 2 — The reservoir + dam viewpoints

Day 2

Lake, mountains, and the morning light

07:30
Early start, coffee before you set offDon Phu Chon Fresh Coffee opens 08:00–17:00, with rich, fragrant hot coffee and a big slice of fresh-milk cake. It's a morning spot locals go to — or grab a coffee to go and sip it at the viewpoint.
08:30
Drive up to Phu Kao–Phu Phan Kham National ParkThe park office sits beside the lake above Ubolratana Dam — a wide, far-reaching viewpoint where you can see ranges of hills interlocking with the water. In the morning the sky is clear and the air is cool and pleasant.
09:30
Stop at the Chong Khao Khat viewpointIt's about 100 metres before the park entrance, a spot where people like to pull over for photos, looking out over an open valley. It's one of the province's best sunset viewpoints (if you have time, you could come back again in the evening).
10:30
Huai Nam Bong reservoir (Tat Hai)A calm reservoir, clear water ringed by hills — good for sitting around, taking photos, or laying out a mat to relax. It's not crowded, so you get a real sense of nature.
12:00
Lunch by the water / back into townAround the reservoir and along the dam there are made-to-order shops and homey grilled-fish places. Order grilled fish and tom yum, eat with a water view, then loop back into the town centre.
14:00
Souvenir shopping in townNong Bua Lamphu is known for its local handwoven textiles and dried Isan foods like naem and Isan sausage. Look for them in the town markets and the souvenir shops along the main road.
15:30
Head homeIf you're flying back from Udon Thani, allow an hour to reach the airport comfortably. Or if you want to keep travelling, Loei, Udon Thani and Khon Kaen are all close — easy to extend the trip.

Real places to eat in Nong Bua Lamphu town

Nong Bua Lamphu is a small town, so there aren't as many places as in a big city — but the ones there are tend to be good quality at local prices. These are the spots reviewers mention often and that are still open.

1

Krua Parinya & Restaurant

Thai–Isan food · in town

A roomy, airy restaurant in town serving Thai, Isan and international food. The dish people point you to is the miang kham lamphu. Great for groups or families.

Main mealComfortable
THB 80–250 per dish
2

The Chato Cafe

Café · open 07:30–20:00 daily

A café out of town with wide field views, plenty of tea, coffee and cakes to choose from, and prices that aren't steep. Open from morning till evening — good for resting up or shooting photos at golden hour.

CaféField view
Drinks THB 45–90
3

Belief Cafe' & Garden

Café + food · has a garden

A flower-garden café that gets shared a lot, packed with ornamental plants. The menu ranges from local Isan dishes to international food and hot fresh-baked croissants.

CaféPhoto spot
Drinks THB 50–100
4

Don Phu Chon Fresh Coffee

Coffee shop · open 08:00–17:00 daily

A morning coffee shop that's all about being clean with a fresh feel. What people order is the rich, fragrant hot coffee with a big slice of fresh-milk cake — a place locals drop by before the day starts.

Morning coffee
Coffee THB 40–70
5

Thung Na at 9Dee Cafe

Café + food · rice-field view

A field-view spot with food, desserts, bingsu and fresh coffee. The recommended dishes are the tom yum sea bass and the herb-fried mullet. You can come for a proper meal or just to hang out.

Field viewProper meal
THB 80–200 per dish

Straight talk

Most places in Nong Bua Lamphu are local spots whose opening hours can shift day to day, especially the out-of-town cafés. It's worth checking the shop's page or calling ahead before driving a long way out — that's the safer bet.

Where to stay and what to know

  • Where to stay — Most hotels and resorts are in town and along the main roads, with friendly prices. It's a good base for a single night before driving out to the surrounding sights.
  • Cash — Many small shops and markets still mostly take cash, so keep some on you.
  • Fuel — Fill up before heading to the viewpoints, since there are few petrol stations out by the park.
  • Extending the trip — Nong Bua Lamphu sits midway between Udon Thani, Loei and Khon Kaen, so it's easy to carry on to a neighbouring province.

Want a full provincial plan — where to stay and eat, all in one place?

See the Nong Bua Lamphu travel guide →

FAQ

Is 2 days, 1 night enough for Nong Bua Lamphu?

It's just right. It's a small province — the main sights aren't many but they're spread out, so 2 days, 1 night fits well. Spend the first day at Wat Tham Klong Phen and in town, and the second at the reservoir and the dam viewpoints, with no need to rush.

Is Nong Bua Lamphu far from Udon Thani?

Not far at all — about 46 kilometres. Drive Highway 210 and you'll be there in roughly 45–55 minutes. There are vans and buses from Udon Thani too, but if you want to reach the out-of-town viewpoints, a private car is by far the easiest.

What's worth seeing at Wat Tham Klong Phen?

It's a large forest temple in the Mueang district, with an ancient two-headed drum cave, a walking-pose Buddha image carved into the rock, oddly shaped rock gardens, and the Luang Pu Khao Analayo museum holding his monastic belongings and wax figure. The atmosphere is shaded, quiet and peaceful.

Where's a good place to watch the sunset in Nong Bua Lamphu?

The Chong Khao Khat viewpoint and the area around Phu Kao–Phu Phan Kham National Park, by the lake above Ubolratana Dam, where the view opens up over hills and water. It's lovely both in the morning and at sunset.

When is the best time to visit Nong Bua Lamphu?

The cool season, roughly November to February, when the weather is at its best. The dry dipterocarp forest around Phu Kao–Phu Phan Kham starts turning colour in November, and the dam views in the early morning and evening are the prettiest. In the rainy season the roads up to the viewpoints can get slippery, so drive carefully.

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