Nong Khai Nature Trip Plan
Wat Pha Tak Suea–Wat Hin Mak Peng–The Mekong at Sangkhom

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Nong Khai's nature side lies west of town, running from Tha Bo and Si Chiang Mai districts and ending up in Sangkhom district. The main road is Highway 211, which hugs the Mekong for almost its entire length: a beautiful drive the whole way, in exchange for getting fairly far out of town. Wat Pha Tak Suea is the farthest out, in Sangkhom district, about 80 km from the city center, roughly an hour and a half of driving. Wat Hin Mak Peng is closer, in Si Chiang Mai district around kilometer marker 64, about 75 km from town. The two temples sit on the same road and you can do both in a single day if you time it well. We've ordered this plan so you drive in one direction without doubling back.

The plan at a glance — pick by how many days you have

The nature route takes more driving time than the in-town riverfront route, so set aside at least one full day for the drive up to Sangkhom. With two days and one night, spend the first day getting settled in town and the second day fully on the nature route. With three days, add a slow day to catch the waterfall and the spots you didn't get to.

Day 1 — get settled in town and rest before heading up to Sangkhom

No rush on the first day. Use it to get settled in the riverside town and save your energy for the long drive on day two. Check the car, fill up the tank, take an easy stroll along the river, then turn in early so you can leave at dawn the next morning.

Day 2 — drive the Mekong up to Sangkhom: Wat Pha Tak Suea Skywalk & Wat Hin Mak Peng

Today is the heart of the trip. Leave town early, drive along the Mekong on Highway 211 through Si Chiang Mai and into Sangkhom, walk the Wat Pha Tak Suea Skywalk while the sun is still gentle, then work your way back down with a stop at riverside Wat Hin Mak Peng. Timing it this way lets you drive in one direction without doubling back.

Day 3 — slow Sangkhom: Than Thong Waterfall and a mountain-view café

If you have three days and felt day two was a bit rushed, use the last day to pick up what's left without hurrying. If you stayed near Sangkhom you're off easily; if you went back into town, drive up again about halfway to stop at Than Thong Waterfall and the mountain-view café you missed yesterday.

Wat Pha Tak Suea Skywalk — know before you go

Wat Pha Tak Suea sits on a mountaintop in Sangkhom district, the farthest point on the nature route. What people come for is the Skywalk, a U-shaped glass platform jutting from the cliff. Stand on it and the Mekong winds beneath your feet with the mountains of Laos beyond — one of the standout Mekong viewpoints in all of Nong Khai.

• Opening hours — the temple is open roughly 06:00–18:00 daily. Go up early when it's quieter and the sun is still gentle.
• Skywalk fee — about 20 THB per person; general temple entry is free.
• Shoe covers required — before walking on the glass you put on shoe covers so the glass doesn't get scratched. The temple provides them.
• Distance and route — about 80 km from town, driving along the Mekong on Highway 211, roughly an hour and a half. The last stretch is a steep climb.
• Gamble on the sea of fog — late rainy season into early winter, some mornings have fog drifting over the river. To see it you need to go up before the sky is light.

Wat Hin Mak Peng — a forest temple by the Mekong

Wat Hin Mak Peng is in Si Chiang Mai district, right on Highway 211 around kilometer marker 64, before you reach Sangkhom. It's a meditation temple where Luang Pu Thet Thetrangsi once stayed for the rains retreat. The feel is different from a typical tourist temple: shady, peaceful, with a wide stretch of grounds along the Mekong bank. It suits people who want quiet more than a photo stop.

• Opening hours — roughly 08:30–16:30. It's a meditation temple, not an attraction, so dress modestly and stay respectful.
• Points of interest — the mondop and memorial museum of Luang Pu Thet Thetrangsi, the chedi, and the riverside spots looking across to Laos.
• About 75 km from town — it's on the same road as Wat Pha Tak Suea, so it fits perfectly as a stop on the way there or back.
• Practitioner lodging available — the temple has lodging for those coming to practice meditation. Contact the temple in advance if interested.

The drive — the Mekong road to Sangkhom

The main artery of the nature route is Highway 211, which runs along the Mekong from Nong Khai city through Tha Bo and Si Chiang Mai districts and ends in Sangkhom district. The views are beautiful for almost the whole stretch. Going out from town the key stops line up as Wat Hin Mak Peng first, then Wat Pha Tak Suea and Than Thong Waterfall farther on. On the way out, drive all the way to Pha Tak Suea first; on the way back, stop at the spots closer to town so you don't double back.

• Have your own car or a rental — public transport to Sangkhom is inconvenient. Rental cars are available in town and at Udon Thani airport.
• Fill up before leaving town — gas stations around Sangkhom are spread out, so fill the tank before you go.
• Use low gear on the climbs — the road up to Wat Pha Tak Suea is steep; control your speed and use low gear.
• Get back before dark — some stretches of the Mekong road are dimly lit and winding. Plan to reach town before nightfall.

What to prepare and the best time to go

• Clothes for walking hills — comfortable non-slip walking shoes, a hat, and drinking water. At Wat Pha Tak Suea you have to walk up and the viewing decks are hot.
• Dress modestly for the temples — both are working temples, so bring a shoulder cover or sarong just in case.
• Build in extra time and stay relaxed — the round-trip drive is several hours. Don't pack the schedule too tight; leave time to sit by the river.
• Check café closing days out of town — many mountain-view cafés around Sangkhom close early or close on Mondays. Check their page before you head out.