Our Tours
Ban Chiang Tour
Overview
Itinerary
Prices
Duration
Full-Day
Start/Finish
Khon Kaen to Khon Kaen
Highlights
- Meeting the urban monkeys of Kumphawapi
- See mut-mee fabric being woven
- The treasure trove of artifacts in the Ban Chiang National Museum
- The excavated burial ground at Ban Chiang
- Seeing pottery being made
Description
Discovered by accident in 1966, UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ban Chiang is one of Southeast Asia's most important archaeological sites. The myriad artifacts unearthed here rewrote the history books and today can be seen both inside an excellent museum and in situ in a burial ground excavation site. We'll also visit several craft communities, including one village where they still make large pots using the same methods the ancient Ban Chiang people used, and a city center park where many semi-tame monkeys live alongside the town's human residents.
From around November to February, we can adjust the itinerary so you can take a boat ride through the vast spread of pink water lilies in Tale Bua Dang, the "Red Lotus Lake."
Add-Ons
Make the most of your trip with our special add-on activities before, during, or after your tour.
Admire and shop for the famous pottery.
On the way north from Khon Kaen we will stop
to meet the urban monkeys that live in Kumphawapi's town center and then visit a weaving village to see the long complicated process of making indigo mut-mee fabric. Then it's off to the excellent Ban Chiang National Museum which holds a treasure trove of pottery, jewelry, and tools. The ancient Ban Chiang civilization dates back to 3600 BC and began working bronze about 2000 BC (before any other location in East Asia) but it's the iconic burnt ochre swirl pottery that has brought fame to this quiet corner of Isan. It was so important to them that people were laid to rest with pots and we'll see this at the burial ground excavation pit where pottery and skeletons lie in situ.
Modern pottery is done not only in the same style, but using essentially the same methods and we'll visit a village where locals turn out large hand-made pots without a potter's wheel. We'll also see how sticky rice baskets are woven, and on the return journey to Khon Kaen make a final stop at a shrine full of tens of thousands of elephant statues.
If our itinerary doesn't fit your exact needs and desires, please let us know.
With advance notice we can usually modify things.
See pottery made with no potter's wheel.
Prices valid until 30 April 2019
Price Includes
All sightseeing and activities as specified in the itinerary with English-speaking local guides, entrance fees, transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, hotel transfers, snacks and cold water in the vehicle, accident insurance, taxes, and pre-departure travel consultation.
Price Does Not Include
Meals and drinks, travel and medical insurance, personal expenses (such as souvenirs, snacks, etc.), tips/gratuities, and any additional expenses incurred due to airline schedule changes, natural disasters, political actions, or other factors beyond our control.
Booking/Cancellation Policies
- For tours longer than one day, a non-refundable deposit of 30% is required as soon as possible after making your reservation.
- The full payment is due before the tour begins. This can be done after you arrive in Thailand, as long as you have access to sufficient funds before you depart on your tour.
- International payments are best done by bank transfer, and the cheapest, fastest, and easiest way is with TransferWise. Credit/debit cards can be used through TransferWise or other online wire transfer services. For people inside Thailand, we accept payment via cash (Thai baht, US dollars, British pounds, and euros), ATM transfer, and counter deposit to Siam Commercial Bank.
- If local taxes and/or fuel prices increase significantly, we reserve the right to add comparable surcharges.
Click here to read our full tour Terms & Conditions.
| Group Size | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9+ |
| Price Per Person | 6,500 | 3,400 | 2,550 | 1,950 | 1,650 | 1,450 | 1,300 | 1,200 | Ask |
Isan Explorer is a family-run Khon Kaen, Thailand-based tour company offering tours in Northeastern Thailand, known as Isan (sometimes spelled Isaan, Issan, Isarn, Esan, E-San, Esaan, E-Saan, Esarn, and E-sarn). We offer pre-designed and custom Thailand tours for individuals and groups and cater for travelers on any budget, from luxury to backpacker. We embrace slow travel and all our tours focus on culture and/or nature.
Copyright © 2011-2018 Isan Explorer, Khon Kaen, Thailand. All Rights Reserved.
Tourism Authority
of Thailand
License No. 54/00028
