20 Provinces of Isaan Thailand in 20 Days – Day 19
North-Eastern Thailand, locally known as Isaan, is the least touristy region of Thailand. There are 20 provinces in this region and I have been exploring them since the last 18 days. I have been to Nakhon Ratchasima, Ubon Ratchathani, Mukdahan, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Loei, Nong Khai, and 12 other neighboring provinces. The last one left is Bueng Kan, located on the north-eastern-most tip of the country. There is nothing much to explore but one of the most adventurous forest temples of Thailand is located here. Hence, I planned to spend the last 2 days here, in Bueng Kan.
Highlights of the Day
- Nong Khai to Bueng Kan
- Little Garden Resort
- Wat Phu Tok
Nong Khai to Bueng Kan
I checked out from Mut Mee Garden Guesthouse in Nong Khai at around 11 AM after having a delicious fruit platter for breakfast by the riverside. A tuk-tuk driver dropped me to the bus station for just ฿30. I got a bus to Bueng Kan, which took around 2 h to reach there. A few meters away from the bus station, I found some vegan place to have lunch.
Little Garden Resort
I had booked in advance a room at the Little Garden Resort, which is located some 25 km away from the city center. One of the resort staff picked me up and brought me to one of the pretty resorts of the province. I checked in and paid ฿350 for 1 night stay.
Wat Phu Tok
The resort staff arranged a car for me to visit Wat Phu Tok – the mountain temple for ฿500 round-trip. It is around 24 km away from the resort. The temple was founded on a mountain in the 60’s. Monk Ajahn Juan began to build wooden stairs and walkways on 7 levels around the mountain. Each level symbolizes each level of Buddhist enlightenment. Since then, the temple monks maintain the spectacular set of wooden stairs and walkways. It is little scary to climb it up, especially if you are afraid of heights. Otherwise, visiting Wat Phu Tok is actually very adventurous.
Note that the stairs are open to the public for free from 6.30 AM to 5 PM (it is closed during Songkran i.e. mid-April). It is best to avoid the place during rainy days as the stairs get very slippery. Also, carry drinking water while visiting the place, or wait to reach the 5th level where you get free access to drinking water.
The first thing I noticed at the bottom of the mountain was a modern marble chedi. It contains relics of Monk Ajahn Juan, a pond, a sanctuary, and a small door from which the staircase to climb to the 7 levels of Wat Phu Tok begins. After walking up the staircases, I reached a junction. At my left, was the easiest path that goes directly to the 5th level where the shrine is located. However, I had heard before that this path is the less interesting one. I was more interested in taking the path on the right side, which is mainly made of wooden walkways hung on the side of the mountain.
Once I reached the 6th level, I got to know that the last level is not recommended to the public because there are snakes. I took almost 2 h to completely browse the area.
Back to the Resort
I did not notice any eateries close to the resort I am staying. Hence, on the way back to the resort, I requested my driver to stop by somewhere so I can take away some food. 7-11 was the only option I got.
20 Provinces of Isaan Thailand in 20 Days – Day 20
Finally, my 20-day journey across the Isaan region of Thailand came to an end. I explored all the 20 provinces of this least-touristy region. It was a wonderful and a very different experience. On the morning of the last day, the owner of Little Garden Resort, Kim, called a taxi to drop me to the bus station, but due to some unfortunate reason, the taxi driver could not show up. Hence, Kim decided to drop me off to the bus station.
Highlights of the Day
- Resort to Bus Station
- Leaving Isaan
On the Way to Bus Station
I was expressing my traveling experience with Kim and telling him how much I love Isaan. He told me that he wanted to take me to a beautiful temple on the way to the bus station. I got super excited.
After visiting the temple, Kim took me to the same vegan restaurant close to the bus station. I was feeling hungry, and I was really hoping to enjoy some Isaan-style food before leaving Isaan. We had some really good food there.
My bus was at noon, back to Phitsanulok. I was really feeling bad to leave Isaan, but I was so happy that now I have more stories to tell about Thailand – especially the untold, the unpopular, the offbeat ones!
This is the list of 20 provinces I traveled in these 20 days:
- Nakhon Ratchasima
- Buriram
- Surin
- Ubon Ratchathani
- Sisaket
- Mukdahan
- Nakhon Phanom
- Sakon Nakhon
- Yasothon
- Amnat Charoen
- Khon Kaen
- Chaiyaphum
- Maha Sarakham
- Roi Et
- Kalasin
- Udon Thani
- Nong Bua Lamphu
- Loei
- Nong Khai
- Bueng Kan
I have been to the popular Chiang Mai and Pai of Northern Thailand, Bangkok and Kanchanaburi of Central Thailand, the beautiful beaches of Southern Thailand, in fact, I have been staying in Phitsanulok for the last 5 years; however, the culture, beauty, and food of North-Eastern Thailand is completely different from the rest of the country. The region is more rural, more real. I would highly recommend every traveler to spend some time of their Thailand vacation here, and bag a whole different kind of experience of a lifetime. Bye-bye Isaan!
NET EXPENSE FOR 1 PERSON (IN THB)
Let us have a look at the expenses of Days 19-20 in Thailand – Bueng Kan.
- Bus from Nong Khai to Bueng Kan: 100
- Stay at Little Garden Resort (1 night): 350
- Round-Trip to Wat Phu Tok: 500
- Food and miscellaneous: 150
Total expense (roughly): 1,100 THB
For a more customized itinerary, whether for solo or couple or group of any number of people, feel free to contact me on Contact Us page.
If you are planning for a much-organized, tastefully-curated, stress-free yet exciting vacation, consider booking your holidays at Travel Love Repeat. It is going to be a treat for sure!
What a fantastic itinerary. Wat Phu Tok looks like an amazing experience and the food – you did it all!
Thanks Derek.
I never even heard of this part of Thailand and now I want to add it to my list. The most interesting thing for me to check out has to be Wat Phu Tok, I never heard of this mountain temple and would love a trip up there. The view from the top looks lush and beautiful. Thank you for putting another idea into my plans 🙂
Hope you visit the place, Danik.
You stayed in some lovely resorts, Wat Phu Tok looks stunning set into the mountain. What an adventure seeing 20 provinces in 20 days, it was a great to see your budget for this trip. Great article!
Thanks Vanessa.
Bueng Kan looks like a beautiful part of Thailand! That vegan food looks absolutely delicious and is making me hungry. I love how adorable the Little Garden Resort is. I love finding charming places like that to stay at. Wat Phu Tok looks incredible. It is beautiful in and of itself, but the fact that you can get an incredible view while visiting it is a great bonus. Walking to the top seems like an adventure and a fun story to share with friends and family.
It was so much of fun, Erica.
With Thailand becoming so popular as a destination these days, it’s nice to know about a less touristy area. The cottages at your resort are so cute! I wasn’t expecting them to have so many amenities like a refrigerator and free wifi. Wat Phu Tok looks so cool! What a fun experience….although I hope I wouldn’t encounter any snakes!
You won’t encounter at the first 6 levels, they’re fine.
The Isaan region is one of the areas of Thailand we’d really like to visit. We spent three weeks there a couple of years ago but did’t make it to this region, and I think we’d really enjoy it. Bueng Kan looks like its well worth the visit to explore Wat Phu Tok, though I’m wondering how I’d cope with my fear of heights!
It’s actually very interesting.
What an amazing 20-day journey you are on! During this region’s adventures, I am obsessed with the Wat Phu Tok and the seven stages of enlightenment. It’s such an interesting concept. Each level reveals new wonders, as you say. Your tips about the best times to visit and weather cautions are very helpful, too. I would like to experience this walk myself one day. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
I hope you visit the place when you go to Thailand, Jackie.
I really enjoy reading your Thailand posts, because I always get to learn about a new place! Bueng Kan looks and sounds really intriguing and clearly with plenty of things to see and do. Wat Phu Tok is stunning, and the views from the 5th level are beautiful. I hope those wooden pathway planks are solid, they seem a little unsturdy!
Thanks Lisa.
Wow! I’ve read so much about Thailand but this is the first time I’ve come across the fantastic North-Eastern side of it! Wat Phu Tok looks like a wonder indeed and the views from the top are incredible. I’ve found a new place to add to my bucket list!
This should surely go to your bucket list.
You have really covered some ground in 20 days!! The views here are so gorgeous, and you really did come back with some great stories to tell. What a fun time!
Thank you for appreciating Jennifer.
Wow! This is such a wonderful experience. Though I was able to catch Day 19 all ready. I am excited to read your previous posts. Wat Phu Tok looks really amazing.
Thanks Clarice, it’s offbeat, yet a must visit I consider.
These are great and unpopular places to visit in Thailand. I have never heard of most of the places and glad to hear not many are filled with tourists. So glad you gave your itinerary, it will be helpful if I ever get to Thailand. 🙂
I hope this helps.
Man, these photos are really stunning. I hope I could one day get back to Thailand and experience Bueng Kan Isaan too. Your photos made me jelly!
Thanks Shayne, glad to know that.
Shreya, your Thailand blogs have been enticing me for some time now and I really plan to visit the country this year along with Vietnam. If you have to choose only one place to visit in Thailand, which one will it be?
Koh Lipe!
It’s really cool and inspiring that you visited so much of Thailand that most tourists never see. I would absolutely love to wind my way through this part of the country some day. Wat Phu Tok is definitely my favorite part of this post. Both the structure of the temple as well as the views it offers from the upper levels are incredible.
The view is amazing, indeed.
Good lord that place, Wat Phu Tok, looks very very impressive! I was also in Thailand for about a month and never saw something similar to this. Thank you for showing me this place and recommend an accomodation for when I definetely will go back.
Yes, you must.
This looks like an amazing area of Thailand to explore! We live in Bangkok and can’t wait to explore more of North-Eastern Thailand. Wat Phu Tok looks amazing but I am not sure I would like those narrow wooden pathways! The resort looks cute too!
Those pathways are actually a bit risky.
This sounds like a lovely trip! I’ve only ever visited the more touristic parts of Thailand, so it’s interesting the read about the parts where few people go. That mountain sounds really interesting, I love the idea of each level corresponding with a higher level of consciousness. And the food! I love Thai food and these dishes look especially delicious. And it’s great that it’s so easy to find tasty vegan food.
Yes, I loved the food.
Great post!! Your journey to Bueng Kan isaan looks just amazing. I haven’t been much to the North-Eatsern part of the Thailand while traveling I was traveling there. I would love to check it out by myself. Wat Phu Tok seems like a great place to explore the nature and get some good walking too.
Great to know that you liked Myanmar.
wow it is great and really love your post and every time it making me crazy after read your post thanks shareya
Welcome, James.