🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Ubon is a province that's "easy to reach but needs a car to explore." The city itself has an airport, a train station and a bus terminal, all easy to access — but the best sights sit out in Khong Chiam, Pho Sai and Sirindhorn districts, tens of kilometres away with little public transport. This guide splits cleanly into two parts: getting to and from Bangkok, and getting around the province. Pick what fits your budget and travel style.
How to get to Ubon from Bangkok
Bangkok to Ubon is roughly 575 kilometres. Overland it eats up most of a day, whether by train or bus, while a flight gets you there in just over an hour. There are three main options, each suited to a different kind of traveller — we've ordered them by popularity and value.
Flight — fastest and best value for this distance
Fly direct from Don Muang or Suvarnabhumi into Ubon Ratchathani Airport (UBP) in about 1 hour 5 minutes. Airlines on this route include Thai VietJet, Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, and Thai Smile/Thai Airways on some flights. One-way fares start around 1,130 THB if you book ahead. During the Candle Festival in July, prices spike and seats fill fast, so booking early pays off. The airport is only 3-4 kilometres from the city centre — a taxi or Grab into town takes about 10 minutes.
Train — the relaxed, overnight option
Board at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, ending at Ubon Ratchathani Station (which is actually in Warin Chamrap district, across the Mun River). It's about 575 kilometres and takes 7-11 hours depending on the service — the special express trains 21/22 are fastest at around 7 hours. Fares come in tiers: 3rd-class fan seats start around 158-205 THB, 2nd-class air-conditioned seats and sleepers run about 770-979 THB, and 1st-class sleeper cabins are around 1,089-2,317 THB. If you love sleeping on the train and waking up just as you arrive, this is a treat. Book through the D-Ticket app or dticket.railway.co.th.
Bus — cheapest, with plenty of departures
Catch one at Mo Chit 2 (Northern Bus Terminal). Both Transport Co. (999) and several private operators run the Bangkok-Ubon route, taking about 9-10 hours, mostly overnight departures that arrive in the morning. The Class 4b (VIP) coaches have wider seats and are more comfortable for sleeping. You'll arrive at Ubon Ratchathani Bus Terminal in the city. It's a good fit if you're on a budget and don't want to lose a daytime flight. You can book online ahead of time.
How to choose what's worth it
If your leave days are limited, flying wins easily — it saves you the better part of a day compared with the train or bus, which both eat close to 10 hours. But if flights are pricey during your dates, or you just want the experience of an overnight train, a 2nd-class sleeper is the middle ground a lot of people love: you sleep, wake up, and you're there — no lost travel day.
Once you're in Ubon, how do you get around?
This is the heart of an Ubon trip. The headline spots are spread out — Pha Taem is about 95 kilometres from the city, Sam Phan Bok around 100-120 kilometres, and the Glowing Temple roughly 70-90 kilometres — each in a different direction and hard to reach by public transport. So to actually enjoy Ubon, you need a vehicle: either rent a car or hire one with a driver. Here's how the options compare by group size and convenience.
Self-drive car hire — the most freedom for the outer sights
This is the best fit for Ubon, since the sights are spread out and far apart. You can pick up a car right at the airport, with rates starting around 500-700 THB per day for an Eco/Compact. Many companies throw in free airport pickup and full first-class insurance. Local outfits travellers use often include UB Car Rent Ubon, Ek Car Rent Ubon, and Banana Rent a Car (daily deals have been seen around 1,498 THB including insurance). Bring your driving licence and a credit card or deposit, and always photograph the car's condition before you drive off.
Hired van with driver — for groups, no driving yourself
If you're travelling as a group or don't fancy long-distance driving, hiring a van with a driver is the easier call. Local drivers know the routes to Pha Taem and Sam Phan Bok well. Prices start around 1,800 THB per day (fuel not included). Operators people mention include Ubon TT (ubontt), which runs VIP vans with airport transfers. You ride in comfort, and split between everyone the per-head cost isn't steep — ideal for families or groups of 6-9.
City taxi/Grab + day tours
In central Ubon there are metered taxis and enough Grab cars for short hops around town — Thung Si Mueang park, Wat Thung Si Mueang, museums or restaurants. But if you want to head out to the Mekong, fares climb and getting a ride back is hard. The alternative is buying a Pha Taem-Sam Phan Bok day tour with hotel pickup; several operators run these in the city and on online booking platforms. It's a good fit if you have no car and don't want to drive.
The mistake a lot of people make
Don't plan on relying on songthaews or local buses to reach Pha Taem or Sam Phan Bok — there are very few and they don't run to schedule. Plenty of people have ended up stranded halfway with no way back to the city. If you're not renting or hiring a car, book a tour with door-to-door pickup from your accommodation — it's far more reliable.
Distances to the top sights (from central Ubon)
The three spots people ask about most are in different directions, so plan well to avoid backtracking. Pha Taem and the Glowing Temple sit in the east and southeast (Khong Chiam-Sirindhorn), while Sam Phan Bok is up north (Pho Sai). You can split them across separate days or loop them along the Mekong.
- Wat Sirindhorn Wararam Phu Prao (the Glowing Temple) — Sirindhorn district, near the Chong Mek border, about 70-90 km from the city, roughly 1.5 hours' drive. Open 06:00-21:00. The shower-tree mural behind the ordination hall glows green at dusk — the best window is 18:00-20:00.
- Pha Taem National Park — Khong Chiam district, about 95 km from the city, roughly 2-2.5 hours' drive via Khong Chiam along Highway 2112 then 2368. It's the spot that catches the first sunrise in Thailand, with prehistoric cliff paintings along the rock face.
- Sam Phan Bok — Pho Sai district, about 100-120 km north of the city. Over 3,000 basin-shaped potholes carved into the rock midstream in the Mekong, visible only in the dry season when the water drops, roughly October to May. Park at the lot, then take a villager's songthaew down to the viewpoint, around 200 THB round trip.
- Give yourself enough time — to cover all three in one trip, plan at least 2 days and 1 night. Stay in Khong Chiam or central Ubon and split the days by zone, so you're not worn out or stuck driving at night.
Sample itineraries by style (2 days, 1 night)
Fly into Ubon, pick up the car, tackle the Khong Chiam-Sirindhorn zone
The northern zone, Sam Phan Bok, then loop back to the city
Travel tips worth knowing
- Sam Phan Bok is seasonal — the rock potholes only emerge in the dry season when the water drops, roughly October to May. Come in the rainy season and the rocks are flooded, with nothing to see. Check the water level before you plan.
- Fuel up before leaving the city — petrol stations are far apart in the Khong Chiam-Pho Sai zone, so fill up before you set off and don't let the tank run low on quiet stretches of road.
- The Candle Festival is busy — the July Candle Festival is Ubon's high season, with flights and accommodation filling up fast and getting pricier. Book several weeks ahead.
- The Glowing Temple needs darkness — the shower-tree mural glows clearly after dark, roughly 18:00-20:00. Go during the day and you'll see no glow at all, so plan this as your last stop of the day.
- Respect the sites — Pha Taem has prehistoric cliff paintings: don't touch them and don't write on the rock. And always dress modestly when entering temples.
Plan a full Ubon trip — see what to do, eat and where to stay
See the Ubon Ratchathani travel guide →