Isan Trails North Express Tour

Day 1 – Khao Yai
After leaving Bangkok, departing early to beat the worst of the morning rush hour, we’ll sample some exotic flavors in a giant fruit market and explore a small but beautiful cave with a natural skylight and climb up above it to see a giant boulder balanced precariously on the edge of a cliff. Then we’ll check out the vivid blue waters of a natural spring, where you can swim if you want. In the afternoon we’ll head to Khao Yai National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the biggest and best national parks in Thailand, for some easy walking and waterfall-viewing. Then we’ll join the park’s night safari where there’s a good chance of encountering elephants, plus many other smaller critters including civet, marten, porcupine, and slow loris.

Overnight in Khao Yai

Day 2 – Wang Nam Khiao & Dan Kwian
Today we take a scenic rural drive following the edge of Khao Yai’s long mountain range. There are many small farms along this route so we can stop and sample local products (grapes, cashews, dragon fruits, flowers, etc.) as you like. Just before leaving the mountains behind, we’ll stop to see various foods collected in the forest (like mushrooms, bamboo, and insects) on sale in a jungle market. Then we’ll visit some families who make brooms from bamboo leaves and also handbags using old wrappers from coffee, laundry detergent, and other products – a brilliant exercise in recycling. After winding through a wide swath of rice paddies we’ll go to a workshop that forges brass Buddhas and then visit Dan Kwian, which has been producing pottery for hundreds of years. Some original rough, rust colored products are still made, along with a great variety of vibrant modern designs. We’ll visit one of the seemingly timeless workshops with its giant wood-fired kilns and hit a few stores to see the finished products before arriving in Nakhon Ratchasima (aka Khorat). Though it’s a bustling modern city, the moat and city fortifications are reminders of its long history and for the day’s final stop we will join devotees at the very holy Thao Suranari Memorial. It was built in honor of a woman who, according to legend, devised and led a prisoner rebellion against the invading Lao army (One version says that the women seduced the soldiers and then the men launched a surprise attack.) in 1826, thus saving the city. Performers do a local folk dance throughout the day to thank “Grandma Mo” for wishes people think she has answered.

Overnight in Khorat

Day 3 – Phimai & Khon Kaen
Built beginning in the late 10th century AD, the impressive and beautifully restored Khmer temple at Phimai, which is centered on a 28-meter (62 feet) tall prang and features many excellent carvings, predates Angkor Wat; and may have even been its inspiration. We’ll also take a quick look at what’s left of the city gate and see Sai Ngam, Thailand’s largest banyan tree, covering an island just outside of town. Then, we’ll visit a village to see how silk worms are raised, silk thread is made, and silk fabric is woven. If you want, you can sit at a loom and try it yourself. Then we’ll stop to admire a historic little temple building featuring original Isan-style murals, which are now very rare, before arriving in the modern city of Khon Kaen.

If our itinerary doesn’t fit your exact needs and desires, please let us know. With advance notice we can usually modify things.