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🛶 Cross-Province Plan: Nong Bua Lamphu–Khon Kaen

Cross-Province Plan:
Nong Bua Lamphu–Khon Kaen

Nong Bua Lamphu and Khon Kaen are neighbors in a way most people don't realize, because Ubolratana Dam — which everyone thinks of as Khon Kaen's — actually has a reservoir that stretches all the way into Non Sang district of Nong Bua Lamphu. That makes this trip click together really nicely: start in Nong Bua Lamphu town, drive south through Non Sang to eat freshwater fish by the reservoir, then cross over to sleep in Khon Kaen city, catching Bueng Kaen Nakhon and Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon before you head back. It's an easy 2-day, 1-night plan — no exhausting drives, and proper Isan food on both sides.

🛶 Ubolratana Dam🐟 Freshwater fish by the water🌶️ Two Isan cities
Cross-Province Plan: Nong Bua Lamphu–Khon Kaen

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Before you set off, let's get the distances straight. From Nong Bua Lamphu town to Non Sang district is about 40 km on Highway 2146 (the Nong Bua Lamphu–Non Sang road), then another 7 km or so along the Ubolratana Dam road brings you to the reservoir on the Non Sang side. Khon Kaen city sits on the other side of the dam, roughly 50 km away. All told you'll drive no more than 130–150 km for the whole trip — ideal for your own car or a rental, since public transport across these spots is pretty awkward.

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

The heart of this plan is using Nong Bua Lamphu as your starting point, making the Non Sang side of Ubolratana Dam your day-one lunch highlight, then drifting on into Khon Kaen city to sleep. Day two is an easy wander around town, eating well-known Isan dishes around Bueng Kaen Nakhon before driving home. If you only have a single day, drop the overnight and make it a leave-early, return-evening trip instead — but staying one night adds a relaxed evening by the reservoir plus a Khon Kaen night market.

  • Day 1 — Nong Bua Lamphu town → Non Sang → Ubolratana Dam (lunch by the water) → into Khon Kaen city, overnight
  • Day 2 — Bueng Kaen Nakhon → Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon → Isan lunch around the lake → drive back to Nong Bua Lamphu
  • Best time to go — November–February: cool weather, the reservoir is full, and the waterside is at its prettiest
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Day 1 — Nong Bua Lamphu down through Non Sang to Ubolratana Dam

Day 1

Out of town, down to the reservoir on the Non Sang side

08:00
Start at the King Naresuan the Great Shrine in the center of Nong Bua Lamphu townIt sits beside the lake in the city's central park. Locals often come to pay respects and ask for a safe journey before setting out — take a little while to stroll and catch the morning breeze.
08:45
Grab an Isan breakfast in town before hitting the roadKhao ji (grilled sticky rice), sticky rice with grilled pork, or khao piak sen — all easy to find at the morning markets in town. Fuel up before the long drive.
09:30
Head out on Highway 2146 down to Non Sang district (~40 km)This stretch is an easy run past rice fields and villages, about 45 min to 1 hour.
10:45
Reach Ubolratana Dam on the Non Sang side; stroll along the reservoir and shoot photos of the mountains over the waterThe Non Sang side is quieter than the main dam side — you'll see fishermen's lives and waterside villages.
12:00
Lunch at a fish restaurant by the reservoir — order salt-crusted grilled tilapia, steamed red tilapia, or tom yum fishThere are both waterside restaurants and floating food rafts. The fish is freshwater straight from the reservoir; order it alongside som tam and sticky rice for a full Isan spread.
14:00
Choose between lingering by the water or stopping by Phu Kao–Phu Phan Kham National ParkThe park is on the Non Sang side right by the reservoir, with a high viewpoint looking out over the dam — good for late-afternoon photos. Skip this if you don't feel like a longer walk.
15:30
Drive over to the main dam side and stop at the dam crest and main viewpointThis side is the EGAT dam, with a garden and viewpoint that are free to enter — a nice spot to stretch your legs in the cooler air.
17:00
Leave the dam for Khon Kaen city (~50 km) and check inAbout an hour's drive, getting you into town right before dark. Khon Kaen city has hotels across a range of price points.
19:00
Isan dinner in Khon Kaen city, or a walk through Ton Tan MarketTon Tan Market is a popular evening market with locals, packed with snacks and street food.

The honest heads-up

A lot of the fish restaurants by the reservoir are local spots that open mainly on weekends and busy stretches. On weekdays some may be closed or have a limited menu, so if you're going midweek, call ahead to check or keep a backup plan. The floating food rafts tend to be livelier on Saturdays and Sundays.

What to eat by Ubolratana Dam

The star on the dam side is fresh freshwater fish straight from the reservoir. Most restaurants build their menus around fish, served with home-style Isan dishes and that breezy waterside seating. Here are the dishes you'll run into most and that people order again and again.

1

Salt-crusted grilled tilapia

Lunch · freshwater fish

A big tilapia stuffed with lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves, grilled in a salt crust until the skin turns crisp, with sweet, tender flesh inside. Dip it in Isan-style seafood sauce — pretty much every reservoir restaurant has this.

Must tryGrilled fish
from ฿150–250/fish
2

Steamed red tilapia — soy sauce / lime

Mid course · steamed

Fresh red tilapia, either steamed in sweet-fragrant soy sauce or steamed with lime and fresh chili for a sharp, sour kick. Take your pick — firm flesh, no fishy smell.

SteamedFamily
from ฿200–300/fish
3

Tom yum fish / tom saep pla kang

Bold soup

A clear, sharp-flavored tom yum loaded with big chunks of catfish or snakehead. Sip it hot — it cuts the richness of the grilled fish nicely and is a signature of the waterside restaurants.

Bold flavorSip hot
from ฿150–250
4

Sour curry with snakehead fish

Curry · side dish

An Isan-style sour curry with snakehead fish and seasonal vegetables, eaten with hot steamed rice. A homely dish that fits a waterside meal perfectly.

Home-style
from ฿120–200
5

Som tam + grilled chicken + sticky rice

Table staple

The classic Isan trio you have to order to balance the fish dishes — tam thad or tam pu pla ra with that punchy flavor, crispy-skinned grilled chicken, the whole works in one go.

Real IsanEssential
from ฿60–120
6

Blanched catfish with dipping sauce

Nibble · blanched

Chewy catfish blanched just until cooked, dipped in a sharp jaew sauce. Good to pick at while you wait for the mains — a favorite when you come as a group.

Big group
from ฿150–250

Day 2 — Around Khon Kaen city, Bueng Kaen Nakhon and the Mahathat

Day 2

An easy run around Khon Kaen before heading home

08:00
Breakfast in Khon Kaen city — go for khao piak sen or a morning coffee shopKhon Kaen has plenty of coffee shops and breakfast spots; just pick one near your hotel.
09:00
Stroll around Bueng Kaen Nakhon, the city's green lungKhon Kaen locals come to run, cycle, and sit by the lake in the breeze. The morning weather is just right and the photos come out great.
10:00
Climb Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon (Wat Nong Waeng) for a city view from the topOpen daily 07:00–17:00. The top floor looks out over Bueng Kaen Nakhon and the whole of Khon Kaen, and inside there are beautiful mural paintings.
12:00
Lunch at an Isan restaurant around Bueng Kaen NakhonThe lake is ringed with legendary Isan spots, from old-school duck larb places to waterside Isan restaurants — pick whichever has the shortest queue.
13:30
Stop at a lakeside cafe to rest before heading back, or pick up Khon Kaen souvenirsPopular Khon Kaen souvenirs include kun chiang (Chinese sausage), mu yo (pork roll), and silk — easy to grab on your way out.
15:00
Set off back to Nong Bua LamphuDrive back the way you came or take the direct Khon Kaen–Nong Bua Lamphu route, about 1.5–2 hours, getting you home before dark.

Two Isan cities — how they differ

The charm of this trip is getting to compare two styles of Isan in one plan. The Nong Bua Lamphu and Non Sang side is quiet, rural Isan — fish by the reservoir and the rhythm of fishing life. Khon Kaen, on the other hand, is one of Isan's big cities, with more variety in its food, from the legendary places around the lake to a newer generation of restaurants. If you love calm surroundings you'll fall for the dam side; if you like a bit of buzz, you'll have fun in Khon Kaen city.

Calm, waterside

The Nong Bua Lamphu–Non Sang side

Fresh freshwater fish by the reservoir, a quiet setting, fishing-village life, home-style food at friendly prices — perfect for settling in for a long, breezy meal.

Lively, in town

The Khon Kaen city side

A big city, legendary Isan restaurants around Bueng Kaen Nakhon, cafes, a night market, and plenty of souvenirs — great if you like to eat and wander.

Before you go

  • Transport — this plan really suits your own car or a rental, since the sights are out of town and public transport across them is hard.
  • Timing — November–February is best: cool weather, a full reservoir, a pretty waterside.
  • Cash — many fish restaurants by the reservoir and local spots take mainly cash, so bring enough.
  • Sun protection — midday by the reservoir is hot with little shade, so pack a hat and sunglasses.
  • Have a backup plan — if you go midweek, check the reservoir restaurants ahead of time, as some only open on busier days.

Want the full Nong Bua Lamphu travel plan? Check out the city guide.

See the Nong Bua Lamphu guide →

FAQ

Which province is Ubolratana Dam in, and why does this plan count as a Nong Bua Lamphu trip?

The dam itself and the dam crest are in Ubolratana district, Khon Kaen province, but the reservoir spreads wide enough to reach Non Sang district in Nong Bua Lamphu. So the Non Sang side is a reservoir-side spot that belongs to Nong Bua Lamphu locals, which makes it easy to set out for from Nong Bua Lamphu.

How far is Ubolratana Dam from Nong Bua Lamphu town?

From Nong Bua Lamphu town to Non Sang district is about 40 km on Highway 2146, then another 7 km or so on the dam road brings you to the reservoir on the Non Sang side — roughly 1 hour in total.

Can this be done as a single-day, leave-early return-evening trip?

Yes. Drop the overnight and focus mainly on the Non Sang side of Ubolratana Dam, have your fish lunch by the water, then stop into Khon Kaen city in the afternoon before driving back. But staying one night lets you take in Bueng Kaen Nakhon and Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon without rushing.

Do I need my own car, or can I take public transport?

Your own car or a rental is the better bet, since the sights are out of town and spread out. Taking public transport from Nong Bua Lamphu to the reservoir and then on to Khon Kaen is pretty awkward and time-consuming.

What time of year is best for visiting Ubolratana Dam?

November through February is best — pleasantly cool weather, a high water level in the reservoir, and a waterside at its prettiest, great for both eating fish by the water and shooting the view.

Related

🗺️ Nong Bua Lamphu Travel Guide🏨 Top 10 Hotels in Nong Bua Lamphu🛶 Ubolratana Dam–Phu Phan Kham

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