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Surin–Sisaket in 3 Days
Khmer Temples + Pha Mo I Daeng

Surin and Sisaket sit right on the same line — both the railway and Highway 226 run from Surin through Sikhoraphum straight into Sisaket, so a cross-province Khmer-temple trip slots together easily. You can pick up the five-tower brick sanctuary at Sikhoraphum, the beautifully carved lintels at Ban Phluang, the thousand-year-old hospital temple at Sa Kamphaeng Noi, all the way to the Pha Mo I Daeng viewpoint on the rim above Khao Phra Wihan. This is an unhurried 3-day, 2-night plan with the times, entry fees, and real prices already checked. And one honest heads-up first: right now the border zone around Pha Mo I Daeng–Khao Phra Wihan is still closed, so check the situation before you go. There's a backup plan included too.

🏯 Khmer temples, two provinces🚆 Railway–Highway 226 line⛰️ Pha Mo I Daeng viewpoint
Surin–Sisaket in 3 Days Khmer Temples + Pha Mo I Daeng

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

These two provinces are the heart of Khmer-era lower Isan. Surin is known for its elephants and silk, but what a lot of people skip are the thousand-year-old stone temples scattered along the way. Sisaket has both a temple that once served as a community hospital under King Jayavarman VII and the Phanom Dong Rak escarpment that looks out toward Khao Phra Wihan. This plan is laid out to travel in one direction without backtracking — start in Surin town and work your way east through the temples until you reach Sisaket.

Check before you set off

Right now (updated mid-2026) the Thai–Cambodian border situation is still tense. Khao Phra Wihan National Park and the Pha Mo I Daeng viewpoint are closed indefinitely. On the Surin side, Prasat Ta Muen Thom sits in a sensitive zone right on the border, with opening and closing decided day by day. Before you fix Day 3, always call the park office or TAT Surin/Sisaket and check the Second Army Area announcements first. That's why this plan keeps Day 3 flexible, with options in Sisaket town as a fallback.

How to get around

From Bangkok there are lower-Isan trains and intercity coaches into Surin every day. Surin and Sisaket are about 100 km apart, and an intercity train between them takes a little over an hour, with fares from a few tens of baht up to around 90 THB. But most of the temples are outside the towns, so the easiest way is to rent a car or drive your own, since the sites are spread along Highways 226 and 24. If you don't have a car, hiring one with a driver for the day works well too — agree on the price before you set off.

Day 1: Start the temple run on the Surin side

Day 1

Surin town → Prasat Ban Phluang → Prasat Sikhoraphum

08:00
Breakfast in Surin town before heading outStop at Wang Hainanese Chicken Rice (the town's first Singapore-style chicken rice), open roughly 07:30–14:30, or Phon Suwan Vietnamese guay jab on Suriyakan Road — rich broth, chewy noodles, opens later around 09:45, bowls in the fifties to nearly a hundred baht. Fuel up before the temple run.
09:30
Drive south to Prasat Ban Phluang, Prasat districtA single white-sandstone tower on a laterite base. What people come to see are the lintel and pediment carved with floral motifs and deities, still very crisp. Open daily 07:00–18:00, free entry, about 30 km from town. The morning sun is still soft, so photos come out nicely.
11:30
Loop back north toward Sikhoraphum, find lunch along the wayThe route runs back through Mueang district and onto Highway 226. Along the way there are Isan eateries and local noodle shops to stop at — order som tam, grilled chicken, and laap to line your stomach before the next temple.
13:30
Prasat Sikhoraphum, the highlight of the Surin sideFive brick towers on a single laterite base, moat on three sides. The central tower has an apsara lintel and some of the finest carving in lower Isan. Open 07:00–18:00, 10 THB for Thais, 50 THB for foreigners. About 36 km from Surin town along Highway 226.
15:30
Relax at a café in Sikhoraphum town or head back to SurinIf you're staying the night in Surin, the drive back into town is about 40 minutes — rest before dinner. But if you'd rather edge closer to Sisaket, you can stay around Sikhoraphum or push on to Sisaket town, depending on where you booked.
18:00
Dinner in Surin — try mu kratha or Isan foodSurin town has plenty of mu kratha and Isan restaurants at friendly prices. If you're not sick of noodles yet, there are several Vietnamese guay jab spots open in the evening too. Save your energy for the cross-province day tomorrow.
🎟️

Book the activities in your Surin 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 SurinHighlights, guided Klook 🎟️ Surin attractions & ticketsSkip-the-line entry tickets Klook 🚐 Day trips from SurinOut and back in a day Klook 🌎 Surin activities (GetYourGuide)Global tour marketplace GetYourGuide
🎟️ See all Surin tours & activities (Klook)

Day 2: Cross into Sisaket for the hospital temple

Today is the cross-province day — drive or take the train from the Surin side into Sisaket. Highway 226 runs straight into Sisaket town, passing through Uthumphon Phisai district along the way, where the province's largest Khmer temple makes a perfect stop.

Day 2

Prasat Sa Kamphaeng Yai → Sa Kamphaeng Noi → Sisaket town

09:00
Leave Surin, head for Uthumphon Phisai, SisaketDriving, take Highway 226 straight through — about an hour and change to Uthumphon Phisai. By train, get off at Uthumphon Phisai station and grab onward transport to the temple. Leave room for a coffee stop along the way.
10:30
Prasat Sa Kamphaeng Yai, Sisaket's largest Khmer templeInside Wat Sa Kamphaeng Yai, over a thousand years old — several towers in a row on one base, with lintels and carved reliefs to see at a number of spots. The temple sits within the wat grounds, so entry is free. An easy hour-or-so wander.
12:00
Find lunch in Uthumphon Phisai or drive into townAround the district there are made-to-order and Isan spots to choose from. If you're not in a rush, you can drive into Sisaket town first and eat there — it's about 25 km from Uthumphon Phisai into town.
14:00
Stop at Prasat Sa Kamphaeng Noi, a thousand-year-old hospital templeA laterite temple that once served as a community hospital under King Jayavarman VII, with an ancient sacred pond and a surrounding wall. It sits right beside Highway 226 before town — a quick stop to hop out and take photos. Free entry.
15:30
Into Sisaket town, drop your bags at the hotelSisaket town isn't big and is easy to drive around. You'll find both hotels and guesthouses at reasonable prices. Rest and freshen up before heading out for dinner.
18:00
Dinner in Sisaket — plenty of styles to pick fromFor a chill atmosphere with live music, try BARCO Café & Eatery. For Japanese there's Kokoi; for Korean fried chicken there's Machid Neul Tong Tak; or for a long café session into the night, Cafe De Tree has Italian food and a rooftop.

Day 3: Pha Mo I Daeng (check first) or a backup plan in town

Read this before planning the day

Pha Mo I Daeng and the climb up to Khao Phra Wihan sit within Khao Phra Wihan National Park, right on the border. It's currently closed indefinitely for safety. If the situation has eased by the time you go and the park has reopened, use Plan A below. If it's still closed, skip straight to Plan B — you won't lose the trip.

Day 3 · Plan A

If the park is open — Pha Mo I Daeng, viewpoint on the Phanom Dong Rak rim

06:00
Leave before dawn for Kantharalak to catch the sea of mistPha Mo I Daeng is in Kantharalak district, a fair drive from Sisaket town. In the late-rainy to early-cool season there's a chance of mist in the early morning, so heading out to catch the cool air early beats arriving late.
08:00
Head up to the Pha Mo I Daeng viewpointA cliff that looks out over forest and the land on the Cambodian side, with a bas-relief carving along the cliff edge that's over 1,500 years old. The park opens roughly 05:00–19:00, entry around 40 THB per person plus 30 THB per car (double-check on the day you go).
10:30
Come down from the cliff, stop at a viewpoint or waterfall in the parkThere are walking trails and rest stops within the park grounds. If staff are letting people in as usual, take a stroll and some photos before heading back to town.
13:00
Return to Sisaket town, find lunchIt's a long drive, so leave time for it. Have lunch in town, then head home or catch your train.
Day 3 · Plan B

If the border is still closed — an easy day around Sisaket town

08:00
A Sisaket-style breakfastStop at Jiao Kee, an old breakfast spot in the middle of town near the Mae Si roundabout. Open from 6am, with kai krata (pan-fried eggs), congee, dumplings, baozi, pa thong ko, and rice soup — all in one place.
09:30
Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew (the Temple of a Million Bottles)A temple whose walls and outer walls are made from a million glass bottles — an unusual check-in spot in Sisaket. Walk around for photos and make a merit offering as you wish.
11:30
Somdet Phra Srinagarindra Park, SisaketA public park of over a thousand rai in the middle of town, with shady trees and a lake. A good spot to stroll or sit and escape the heat for a while.
13:00
Lunch, then browse for souvenirsSisaket is known for shallots, garlic, and volcanic-soil durian in season. Pick up a little something before you head home.
15:00
Head home, or catch the trainSisaket station has several trains a day back to Surin and Bangkok — check the timetable ahead, as evenings get crowded.

Roadside eats across both provinces

1

Wang Singapore Chicken Rice (Surin)

In Surin town · open roughly 07:30–14:30

Surin town's first Singapore-style chicken rice — tender, juicy chicken and a punchy dipping sauce, with both the Singapore version and Thai chicken rice on offer. A breakfast-to-lunch spot that's perfect for starting the trip before you head out to the temples.

chicken ricebreakfast
From ฿50–70
2

Phon Suwan Vietnamese Guay Jab (Surin)

Suriyakan Road, in Surin town · opens later, around 09:45–15:00

Vietnamese guay jab with chewy noodles in a rich broth, loaded with mu yo, braised pork, chicken drumstick, and quail eggs. A lower-Isan staple that Surin locals actually eat.

Vietnamese guay jablocal dish
From ฿50–80
3

Thip Rot (Surin)

Thanasan Road, in Surin town

A long-running old-school spot in the middle of town. The standouts are red barbecue pork rice, crispy pork rice, and pork blood soup (kao lao) — familiar flavors in the original Thai-Chinese style.

red pork riceold-school
From ฿50–80
4

Jiao Kee (Sisaket)

Central Sisaket town · opens early, around 06:00

An old breakfast institution in Sisaket near the Mae Si roundabout, open from 6am — pan-fried eggs, congee, dumplings, baozi, pa thong ko, and rice soup, easy to order a spread across the whole table.

breakfastold-school
From ฿40–80
5

BARCO Café & Eatery (Sisaket)

In Sisaket town · lunch–dinner

An industrial-meets-café spot serving Thai-Western food — crispy pork with fish sauce, squid-ink spaghetti, deep-fried sea bass with fish sauce. Live music in the evenings makes it good for a relaxed dinner.

good vibesdinner
฿120–300 per dish
6

Machid Neul Tong Tak (Sisaket)

In Sisaket town

A Korean restaurant in town with over 40 dishes — Korean fried chicken, tteokbokki, japchae, jajangmyeon, and grilled BBQ buffet. A good change of pace from Isan food.

Korean foodfried chicken
฿120–250 per dish · buffet per promotion
7

Kokoi (Sisaket)

In Sisaket town

A well-reviewed Japanese restaurant in Sisaket town — sushi, rice bowls, and Japanese sets, the kind of thing that's not easy to find in a small town.

Japanese food
฿100–250 per dish
8

Cafe De Tree (Sisaket)

In Sisaket town · open roughly 07:00–00:00

A café-restaurant open late into the night, with a café zone, Italian food, a bar, and a rooftop. Good for working during the day or settling in for a long evening.

caféopen late
Drinks ฿60–120 · food ฿120–280

Rough budget per person

  • 2 nights' lodging — guesthouses from around 400–700 THB/night, town hotels 800–1,500 THB/night. Staying 1 night in Surin and 1 in Sisaket works out nicely.
  • Temple entry — Sikhoraphum is 10 THB for Thais; Ban Phluang, Sa Kamphaeng Yai, and Sa Kamphaeng Noi are all free. The whole trip comes to under 50 THB.
  • Pha Mo I Daeng (if open) — park entry around 40 THB/person plus 30 THB/car.
  • Transport — driving yourself, fuel across both provinces runs about 600–1,000 THB; the intercity train starts from a few tens of baht up to around 90 THB; a hired car with driver is negotiated by the day.
  • Food, 3 days — eating at local spots and cafés, about 600–1,000 THB.

When's the best time to go

Lower Isan is sunny for most of the year, and walking the open-air temples is most comfortable in the early morning and late afternoon — avoid 12:00–15:00 if you can. The cool season (Nov–Feb) has the nicest weather, and if Pha Mo I Daeng is open you've got a shot at the sea of mist in the late-rainy to early-cool stretch. In the rainy season (Jun–Oct) the temples are lush and green but pack an umbrella — and don't forget that Day 3 depends on the border situation, so always check first.

You can fold in a Buriram leg too

If you can't get enough Khmer temples, Surin borders Buriram, home to Phanom Rung and Prasat Mueang Tam — among the very top temples in Thailand. It's easy to extend the trip to that side for a full lower-Isan temple run.

Want a well-located place to stay in Surin? See the options real reviewers rate.

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FAQ

Is Pha Mo I Daeng open to visitors right now?

Right now (mid-2026), Khao Phra Wihan National Park and the Pha Mo I Daeng viewpoint are closed indefinitely, since they sit right on the still-tense Thai–Cambodian border. Before you plan to go, always call the park office or TAT and check the Second Army Area announcements first. That's why this plan also includes a fallback day around Sisaket town.

Can you do Surin and Sisaket together in 3 days?

Easily. The two provinces sit on the same line by both railway and Highway 226, about 100 km apart. This plan travels in one direction — Day 1 picks up the Surin-side temples, Day 2 crosses into Sisaket, and Day 3 covers either the Kantharalak side or the town, with no backtracking.

Which temples in the two provinces shouldn't you miss?

On the Surin side it's Prasat Sikhoraphum, the five-tower brick sanctuary with one of the finest apsara lintels in lower Isan, plus Prasat Ban Phluang with its crisp lintel carving. In Sisaket it's Prasat Sa Kamphaeng Yai, the province's largest Khmer temple, and Sa Kamphaeng Noi, which once served as a thousand-year-old hospital temple.

What time does Prasat Sikhoraphum open, and how much is entry?

Open daily 07:00–18:00, with entry 10 THB for Thais and 50 THB for foreigners. It's in Sikhoraphum district, about 36 km from Surin town along Highway 226 — right on the way to Sisaket, so no detour needed.

Can you do this trip without your own car?

Yes, but it takes a bit of planning. Between the towns you can take the lower-Isan train, with fares from a few tens of baht up to around 90 THB, but the temples are outside the towns, so you'll need to connect by songthaew or motorbike taxi to reach them. The smoother way is to hire a car with a driver for the day — agree on the price before you set off.

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