6 DAYS OVERLAND NORTHEAST THAILAND AND PAKSE, SOUTH LAOS

Leave Bangkok in the early morning and drive approx. one hour to the east of Bangkok. Visit the ancient market of Thailand known as “the 100 years market” touching the atmosphere of rural Thai way of life and see many local ancient shops opened for more than 100 years. Then drive to Chachoengsao, the province located on Bangprakong river bank . It is an important venue for agricultural products in the Central Region, with mango as the most popular fruit of the province. Proceed to Wat Pho Bang Khla, 23 kilometers from Chachoengsao where there are many bats on trees during the day and fly out to search for food during the night.

Then continue to Wat Chin Prachasamoson or Wat Leng Hok Yi. The interesting points in the temple are Chinese warrior sculptures and the ceremonial hall (viharn) with Chinese arts. It is also a popular site for Chinese religious ceremonies. Then visit Wat Sothon, built in late Ayutthaya Period style where you find the sacred Phra Phutthasothon or Luang Pho Sothon, an important Buddha image in the attitude of meditation with a width of 1.65 meters and a height of 1.48 meters. According to the legend, this Buddha image had been floating along the river before being placed here at this temple.

The original image was a beautiful Buddha image, but later was placed on cement to prevent from burglary. Worshippers from all ways of life come to pay respect to this most reputed image by pasting gold leaves on the image. Drive further to Aranyaprathet where you can visit “Rong Klue” border market, a very well-known border market among Thai and Cambodian people. The market is a major business centre in trading goods from Cambodia and Vietnam such as clothes, brassware, ceramics, Russian electrical appliances, dried fish, etc. Overnight in Aranyaprathet at ARAN MERMAID HOTEL or similar.

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Prasat Sadokkokthom , a Khmer sanctuary from the 9th century. Then further to La Lu, a large area about 800 acres with many earth pillars in various shapes. They are indeed an amazingly beautiful site of nature. Continue to Burium province to visit Phanom Rung Historical Park, a grand and majestic Khmer site over a thousand years old. Built on an extinct volcano, it is originally a Hindu religious site and later became a Buddhist one. During the 15th-18th Buddhist century, several additions were made. Afterwards visit Muang Tam Sanctuary (Prasat Hin Mueng Tam). The beauty of this Khmer site is only exceeded by the beauty of Phnom rung Depart for Surin province for overnight at THONG TARIN HOTEL or similar.

After breakfast at the hotel visit Ban Ta Sawang Silk Weaving Village, an ancient brocade silk weaving factory. They dye very small silk thread called “Mai Noi” and weave it to many ancient designs such as Thep Phanom, Hing Hoi Chomsuan, Kankod Thepram, Krut Yud Nark,etc. The famous and beautiful golden brocade silk fabric is made of pure silver thread being woven with silk thread. It takes 2-3 months for each design and 1-3 months for the weaving of each fabric. There must be at least 4 weavers for one loom and they can weave only 5-7 centimeters a day. This weaving project is under the support and promotion of the Bureau of the Royal Household and Her Majesty The Queen’s Foundation. Then proceed to Ban Ta Klang Elephant Village. The locals here are called the “Suai” people.

They are skilled in capturing, training and raising elephants. An elephant museum here displays a complete elephant skeleton, its organs, tools used to capture elephants, elephant-raising techniques, and the history and development of Surin elephants. After that, visit Wat Pa Maha Chedi Keaw , known as “Wat Lan Kuad” which means “The Temple of Million Bottles”. All the temple premises such as the Chedi, the crematorium, surrounding shelters and even the toilets are made of more than 1 million recycled glass bottles which was donated by the people. Bottle caps are also integrated as decorative mosaic murals. The construction started in 1984, when the monks used the donated bottles to decorate their shelters. Go on to Ubon Ratchathani and overnight at TOHSANG KONGJIAM RESORT or similar.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Khong Jium district to see Maenam Song Si or the Bi-colored River or the Mun Rivers alluvium. It is the place where two rivers join: the brown Mekong River and the blue Mun River. Then continue to Pha Taem National Park covering an area of 140 square kilometers, where plateaus and hills dominate the parks landscape. There are sheer cliffs, which resulted from earthquakes.

Most trees are of the deciduous dipterocarp forest. Irregular shaped sandstone is found scattered throughout the area. Beautiful flowering plants grow among the rocky ground. On the cliffs surface are numerous prehistoric cave paintings dating back 3,000-4,000 years ago that offer insight into the way of life that existed during the pre-historic days and reflect the ancient lifestyle of the people who once lived in the area. These painting depict scenes of fishing, rice farming, some figures of people, animals, hands and geometric designs. It should be noted that the most extensive site for cave paintings in the country is that of Pha Taem. Further you visit Sao Chaliang, a place that is scattered with natural mushroom-like piles of stone slabs with a large amount of shells embedded in their surface.

The area is believed by geologists to be a long dried up seabed (over a million years ago). Then visit Namtok Saeng Chan or Namtok Long Ru , a very beautiful waterfall with a special characteristic of its own. The small stream of water cascades down the face of the cliff through an opening in the rock resembling a hole. Visitors viewing the waterfall at noon when the sunlight shines through the hole will be presented with a view of the cascading water similar to that of the full moon shining onto the world. After that, transfer to Chong Mek Border, the boundary between Thailand and Laos. Meet your local Laos guide at the border. Transfer to Pakse. Overnight in Pakse at CHAMPASAK PALACE or similar.

Breakfast at the hotel and enjoy a Pakse city tour. Visit Wat Luang and the local market. Then drive to visit Wat Phou Champasak, the pre-Angkor Wat before proceeding to Don Khong Island. Overnight at AUBERGE SALA DON KHONG or similar.

Breakfast at the hotel. Take a boat to Li Phi Waterfall, visit the first French ship port. Continue to Ban Piengdee village to visit Khon Phapheng waterfall, the widest fall in Southeast Asia. Drive back to Pakse for lunch. After lunch transfer to Ubon Ratchathani Airport.