King Cobras & Temples Tour

man kissing a cobra
man in front of a cobra

Duration
Full-Day

Start/Finish
Khon Kaen to Khon Kaen

Highlights
• Rare, historic Isan-style temple murals
• Incredibly eroded rock formations
• Locals weaving bamboo and reeds
• Dangerous thrills during the cobra show
• A photo of you holding a cobra

Description
Although the king cobras are the main attraction for many people, others find the mix of historic and modern temples to be this tour’s highlight. We’ll see rare, historic Isan-style temple paintings before taking a beautiful drive between Ubonrat Lake and the mountains to meet a giant Buddha sitting atop a tall peak. We’ll then explore some beautifully eroded rocks and visit two craft villages before arriving at Khon Kaen’s King Cobra Village, which is known nationwide since the snake handlers here defy death daily by getting up close with king cobras that have not been devenomated. We’ll finish the day with an ancient Khmer ruin and a local evening market.

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

woman weaving bamboo

The day begins at Wat Chai Si, which is one of just a few temples in Thailand that still have old Isan-style mural paintings. We’ll then drive up the eastern shore of Ubonrat Lake, one of the largest lakes in Thailand, which is flanked the whole way by a stretch of the Phu Phan mountains. We’ll go up one of the peaks to meet Luang Pho Yai, a giant Buddha image, and take in a vast view of the lake and (when the skies are clear) the Phu Wiang mountains beyond the far shore. We’ll then explore an area of ancient rock that has been eroded into many small caves and natural bridges before heading to a bamboo weaving village that specializes in making sticky rice steamers, an essential utensil in every Isan kitchen.

We’ll also see people weaving reed sitting mats before heading to Ban Khok Sa-Nga, best known as the King Cobra Village, where most families keep king cobras in wooden boxes at their homes. We’ll see the snake show where local men demonstrate their bravery and keen sense of king cobra behavior by touching and even kissing king cobras. This is no fake snake charmer show such as is done in India – the snakes here still have their fangs and venom, as the handlers’ many missing fingers will show. Then, on the way back to Khon Kaen, we’ll visit Ku Pra Phachai, a restored ancient Khmer temple ruin, and stroll a village evening market.

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 5,700 2,950 2,300 1,800 1,500 1,300 1,150 1,050 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.