Khon Kaen City Tour

stupa alongside lake
tall stupa

Duration
Full-Day

Start/Finish
Khon Kaen to Khon Kaen

Highlights
• Paintings of Isan culture at Wat Nong Wang
• The view from atop Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon
• The whimsical sculptures at Wat Pho Nontan
• Exotic foods in Banglamphu market
• Rare, historic Isan-style temple murals at Wat Chai Si

Description
We spend the morning at Khon Kaen’s city-center lake, Bueng Kaen Nakhon, which is surrounded by pleasant parkland and a delightful mix of old and new shrines and Buddhist temples, including the must-see Wat Nong Wang. After lunch, we’ll explore a local fresh market and then head to a nearby village to see some incredible old Isan-style mural paintings. We finish by watching worshipers make prayers and offerings at the very holy City Pillar Shrine and then stop at one of Isan’s largest and best handicraft shops.

Add-Ons
Make the most of your trip with our special add-on activities before, during, or after your tour.

Ganesh statues

We’ll begin our circuit around Bueng Kaen Nakhon lake at Wat That Buddhist temple, with its commanding stupa and towering ubosot, and then take a look at the nearby Mahesak Shrine, dedicated to the Hindu God Indra, which has an unexpected nuevo-Khmer design. Next we’ll explore Wat Nong Wang, Khon Kaen’s most famous and beautiful temple. Its distinctive stupa, Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon, features a museum of local culture, a repository of rare Buddha images, and a 9th-floor observation deck with wonderful views. Across the lake, Khon Kaen’s Vietnamese community has built a replica of Hanoi’s One Pillar Pagoda. The last two temples are two of Khon Kaen’s most colorful: Wat Pho Nontan features a unique concrete ‘jungle’ incorporated into one of its meditation hall and San Jao Bueng Tao Gong Ma is the city’s largest Chinese temple.

After lunch we will take a wander through the side-by-side Bobae and Banglamphu markets to see the many foods you surely won’t find at your supermarket back home. Then we will head out to a nearby village to see some very strange historical mural paintings at Wat Chai Si. Back in the city we’ll join the steady stream of devotees making wishes and giving thanks for those that are granted at the very holy City Pillar Shrine (San Jao Lak Muang). The day ends with a handicrafts shopping stop, which can be quite rewarding even if you aren’t interested in buying since there is a good variety of items available.

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

Prices valid until March 2023.

Group Size 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9+
Price Per Person 5,400 2,750 2,150 1,600 1,350 1,150 1000 900 Ask

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.