🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Let's be upfront: this plan suits people who already have Ubon as their base and want a second province without a long drive. Amnat Charoen used to be part of Ubon and only split off to become Thailand's 75th province in 1993, so the two sit very close together. The town centres are about 75 kilometres apart — a straight shot up Highway 212 (Chayangkun Road) that takes roughly an hour. The road is good and easy to drive, perfect for a cross-province temple trip you can do as a day return, or stay a night in Amnat Charoen if you prefer.
The 2-day plan at a glance
We've set it up so day one covers the merit-making highlights in and around Amnat Charoen town — the centrepiece being Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang — and day two moves out to the older temples and the Mekong scenery in the north of the province. If you only have one day, just trim it down to day one; the best of it is clustered near the town centre anyway.
- Day 1 — Drive over from Ubon to Amnat Charoen: Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang (Khao Dan Phra Bat Buddha park) → Wat Amnat (Phra Chao Yai Lue Chai) → lunch in town → Phra Lao Thep Nimit, Phana district
- Day 2 — Forest temples + the Mekong: Wat Tham Saeng Phet → Phu Sing–Phu Pha Phueng → drive north to Kaeng Khan Sung, Chanuman district, on the Mekong River
- If you only have one day — Just do day one: pay respects at Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang in the morning, lunch in Amnat Charoen town, stop by Phra Lao Thep Nimit in the afternoon, then drive back to Ubon before nightfall
Book the activities in your Ubon Ratchathani 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.
Driving from Ubon to Amnat Charoen — what to know before you go
The main route is Highway 212 heading north from central Ubon, passing through Muang Sam Sip district before crossing into Amnat Charoen — about 75 kilometres, an hour's drive. It's a main road, four lanes in stretches alternating with two, and not hard to drive. Filling up in Ubon before you leave gives you peace of mind, since the big petrol stations along the way are a bit spread out.
- Own car / rental — The easiest, and you control your own timing, which suits a cross-province plan like this
- Van / coach — There are services running Ubon–Amnat Charoen from the bus terminal, but once you reach Amnat Charoen many of the temples are out of town, so you'll need onward transport
- Chartered car with driver — The most comfortable option if you're in a group; no driving yourself. Ask at your accommodation or a car-rental shop in Ubon
On when to set off
If you want good light on Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang without it being too hot, leave Ubon around 7am and you'll reach the Buddha park before 9, while the sun is still gentle. The image sits out in the open on a rise, and from late morning into the afternoon the sun gets fierce — bring a hat and water.
Day 1 — Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang and the temples in town
Day one is the highlight day. Leave Ubon early, get to Amnat Charoen before mid-morning, and head straight for the Khao Dan Phra Bat Buddha park — it's the place everyone comes for. After that you can work through the temples in town and shift over to Phana district in the afternoon.
Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang + temples in town
On dressing for the temples
Many temples in Amnat Charoen are old and revered by locals, so dress modestly — skip the shorts and singlets. Women may want to bring a shawl. Take your shoes off before entering the hall, and keep your voice down in the meditation areas.
Day 2 — Forest temples, Phu Sing, then a Mekong finish
Day two leans into nature mixed with forest temples. If you stayed in Amnat Charoen town you can start at a relaxed pace, take in Wat Tham Saeng Phet and Phu Sing in the late morning, then drive north to Chanuman district to finish at Kaeng Khan Sung on the Mekong River. Come in the hot season when the Mekong drops and you'll see the rock rapids emerge nicely.
Wat Tham Saeng Phet → Phu Sing → Kaeng Khan Sung
The best time to visit Kaeng Khan Sung
Kaeng Khan Sung is at its best in the dry season, roughly February to May, when the Mekong drops enough to expose the rock rapids and sandbanks and you can wade in. Come in the rainy season (June–October) and the water rises high enough to cover the rapids, so you'll see a wide river instead. Check the water level with accommodation around Chanuman before you go to be sure.
Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang — know this before you go so you can take it all in
Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang is the major Buddha image of Amnat Charoen province, enshrined as the centrepiece of the Buddha park on Khao Dan Phra Bat — a wide rock terrace that was once a meditation ground. The image is a large one in the Maravijaya posture, 11 metres wide at the lap and 20 metres tall from the base to the tip of the flame finial, drawing on the Pala style of northern India. It stands out from a distance beside Highway 212.
- Location — Khao Dan Phra Bat Buddha park, Bung subdistrict, beside Highway 212 (the Amnat Charoen–Yasothon route), about 3 km from Amnat Charoen town
- Opening times — Open for worship daily; morning or evening is best to avoid the harsh sun, since the image is out in the open
- For blessing-seekers — The grounds have silver and gold rooster statues, elephants and horses for asking blessings around power and influence, fitting the province's name
- Entry fee — No entry fee; there's a stand for flowers, incense and candles and a donation box for those who wish to give
- Good to know — It's an open-air rock terrace, and some patches get hot under a strong sun. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water
Honestly, Amnat Charoen isn't a province that gets packed like the big tourist towns. The upside is that on a weekday there's hardly anyone around — you can pay your respects and stroll in peace. The downside is the facilities nearby are still thin; there aren't many cafes or restaurants close to the Buddha park, so it's better to plan your meals around the town.
More temples if you've still got the energy
Amnat Charoen is known for merit-making, with a nine-temple pilgrimage route across the province to work through. If you've got time to spare, try adding these temples to your plan.
Wat Phra Lao Thep Nimit
Phana district, enshrining Phra Lao Thep Nimit, Lao Vientiane school of craftsmanship, made in 1720 — beautifully formed
Wat Tham Saeng Phet
A forest temple on a hill, a branch of Wat Nong Pa Phong, with a hilltop hall and a Buddha cave; calm, and best entered with composure
Wat Amnat
In the municipal area, paying respects to Phra Chao Yai Lue Chai, an old Lan Xang–style image that Amnat Charoen locals hold dear
Where to stay — Ubon or Amnat Charoen
Straight up: if you want more variety in accommodation and good food, use Ubon as your base — it has far more options, both city hotels and Isan eats — then drive over to Amnat Charoen as a day return. But if you're pushing all the way up to Kaeng Khan Sung in the north, a night in Amnat Charoen town cuts a lot of driving time.
- Use Ubon as your base — Plenty of choice in hotels and food; good for a day trip or just doing day one
- Stay in Amnat Charoen town — There are a fair few hotels and resorts in town; good if you're carrying on to Chanuman on day two
- Stay around Chanuman — There are riverside resorts near Kaeng Khan Sung on the Mekong; good if you want to wake up to a river view
No car — how to do the cross-province trip
This plan is designed mainly for people with a car, since the sights in Amnat Charoen are spread out and public transport within the province is limited. If you don't have your own car, what you can do is take a coach from Ubon to Amnat Charoen town, then charter a car or hire a motorcycle taxi to Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang, which is close to town. For the out-of-town temples and Kaeng Khan Sung you'll really want a chartered car to get around easily.
- Rent a car and drive yourself — The easiest and best value for a cross-province plan like this; rentals are available in Ubon
- Chartered car with driver — Good for groups, paid by the day; sort out the route with the driver clearly beforehand
- Coach + local charter — Take a coach to Amnat Charoen town, then charter a car just for that day's sightseeing
Want a well-located hotel in Ubon as your base before crossing over to Amnat Charoen
See the Top 10 hotels in Ubon →