Southern Isaan

Southern Isaan is a region of Thailand. Geographically it is part of the Mun River Basin.

Cities

• Buriram
• Chong Mek
• Kantharalak — gateway to Preah Vihear
• Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) — the largest city of Isaan
• Nang Rong — the Khmer ruins of Phanom Rung and Muang Tam
• Pak Chong
• Phimai — the site of historical Khmer ruins
• Si Saket
• Surin — the annual Elephant Roundup in November
• Ubon Ratchathani

Other destinations

• Khao Yai National Park — Thailand's first national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Sam Phan Bok —

Understand

Get in

• Ubon Ratchathani International Airport (IATA: UBP)
• 6 trains per day each way connect Bangkok with Ubon Ratchathani, at the end of the line in the far east of the Southern Isaan region. This journey takes 8-10 hours. Other towns in Southern Isaan accessible on this train line are Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buriram, Surin, and Si Saket.

Get around

See

• Phanom Rung Historical Park atmospheric Khmer temples on top of an extinct volcano

Do

Eat

Drink

Stay safe

Go next

• Preah Vihear — a Khmer temple in Cambodia. Access from Thailand depends on diplomacy between the two countries, whose governments occasionally think it wise to expend bullets and lives over the ruins.