Largest & Bizarrest Tour

closeup of rahu's face
reclining Buddha inside the mouth of a god

Duration
Full-Day

Start/Finish
Khon Kaen to Khon Kaen

Highlights
• See how sitting mats are woven
• See pottery made using ancient methods
• The incredible sculpture at Wat Pa Non Sawan
• Rare, historic Isan-style temple paintings
• The giant Buddha statue at Wat Burapha Phiram
• Meeting monkeys

Description
The highlight of this tour is Wat Pa Non Sawan, whose grounds are full of bizarre, colorful sculptures, while the “largest” in the name references Wat Burapha Phiram temple, home to one of the world’s tallest statues. But, this is a well-rounded trip and we’ll also see handicrafts being made, well-preserved historic Isan-style temple murals, and a troop of monkeys living in a shady park.

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

woman feeding a monkey

The tour begins with a visit to a village where most residents make reed mats (suea), which are used across the nation for sitting on the ground. Next we’ll see pottery made using the ancient paddle and anvil method. Then it’s time to be astonished and bewildered at Wat Pa Non Sawan, one of the most interesting and unusual Buddhist temples in Thailand. The temple’s multitude of brightly colored sculptures range from dragons to polar bears to gruesome scenes of the Buddhist version of Hell to a who’s who of celestial deities. Most were built to impart messages to temple goers while others are simply meant to be fun and make people feel welcome.

After lunch we’ll stop at a batik workshop and see some very rare Isan-style mural paintings. Then in Roi Et city you’ll gaze up at the 59.2-meter (194 feet) tall Phra Phuttha Ratana Mongkon Mahamuni, a standing Buddha image that is one of the world’s tallest statues. Our last stop before returning to Khon Kaen is a park full of relatively tame monkeys who eagerly await handouts.

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 6,150 3,100 2,400 1,850 1,500 1,300 1,150 1,000 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.