Daytrips - Isan Explorer

Khon Kaen’s most famous attractions amongst both Thais and foreigners alike are dinosaurs, king cobras, and silk; and these all make easy, fascinating outings. And in a single day we can also take you to many other interesting places in and around Khon Kaen province like the Khmer ruins of Phimai, the Ban Chiang burial site and museum, and a variety of handicraft villages. Also, one of our birdwatching tours to Nam Nao National Park is a daytrip.

We don’t rush on any of these tours, but we do try to balance the slow travel approach with letting you see as much as possible in one day so that your tour offers good value for your money.

Ban Chiang / Full-Day

See the ancient art and archeology of this UNESCO World Heritage site, including its world-famous pottery. Also visit several craft villages and meet urban monkeys.

Cooking Class / Half-Day or Full-Day

Gather ingredients at a local market and from your teacher’s garden and then head to the kitchen to cook it all up. You can choose to cook Thai or Isan food, or some of both.

Dinosaur Daytrip / Full-Day

Visit an excellent dinosaur museum and also an excavation site with real dinosaur fossils still embedded in the rock. We’ll also take in an amazing 360-degree mountain vista and visit some craft-making groups.

Forest Food / Full-Day

Head out to a typical Isan village for a foraging adventure in the nearby forest. The ingredients you collect, such as insects, leaves, flowers, mushrooms, rattan, snails, and crabs, will be used to cook lunch.

Handicrafts / Full-Day

Most of our tours visit handicraft villages, but this tour takes you to the most. During your day in and around Khon Kaen you’ll get to see people weaving silk, making Buddha statues, pounding pots, and much more.

Khok Pia Village Visit / Full-Day

This is a daytrip version of our homestay tour. Join your friendly, English-speaking host Nina at her home deep in the countryside outside Khon Kaen city for a fully authentic local experience in a typical Isan village.

Khon Kaen City Tour / Full-Day

Khon Kaen’s host of unique attractions include the lovely must-see Wat Nong Wang and the cleverly artistic Wat Po. We’ll also take you to Khon Kaen’s biggest fresh market and a temple with old Isan-style paintings.

King Cobras & Temples / Full-Day

Besides meeting Khon Kaen’s fearless snake handlers, you’ll see old Isan-style temple paintings, explore an ancient Khmer ruin, look out over Ubonrat Lake from a giant hilltop Buddha image, and visit some handicraft villages.

Largest & Bizarrest / Full-Day

The highlight of this trip through Mahasarakham and Roi Et provinces is Wat Pa Non Sawan, a temple full of giant bizarre statuary. We’ll also see one of the tallest Buddha statues, visit some craft villages, and meet monkeys.

Phimai & Ban Prasat / Full-Day

Visit these two interesting ancient sites in Nakhon Ratchasima province: an ancient Khmer ruin and a much older excavated burial site with bones and pottery from a lost culture displayed in situ.

Silk & Stone / Full-Day

Visit one of Thailand’s most famous silk towns to see the entire process of making silk fabric. Then visit the largest Khmer ruin in the region and see historic temple paintings.

Silk, Stone & City / Full-Day

A mix of city and country, this tour starts with the city’s most interesting temples and biggest market, and then head out to a silk weaving village, Khmer ruin, and temple with historic Isan-style mural paintings.

Stone & Silk / Full-Day

Visit the amazing Khmer ruins of Phimai and then visit a silk weaving village. This tour focuses more of the Khmer ruins and less on the silk than our similar Silk & Stone tour.

Taste of Isan Food Tour / Full-Day

This tour is a culinary adventure through authentic Isan food and culture. Starting at a market and ending up in a village, you’ll eat feasts for both lunch and dinner and learn what Isan cuisine is really all about.