🚗Freedom trip through the heart of Isan – Between royal remains, high plateaus and forgotten traditions

This morning, meet at the car rental agency to collect your vehicle at 8:00 am.

Start the day with a visit to the Royal Palace of Bang Pa-In, built in the 17th century and later restored and expanded by King Rama IV in the 19th century. This vast estate, with its eclectic architecture blending Thai pavilions, European-style towers, and landscaped gardens, served as the royal family’s summer residence.

You then continue to Ayutthaya and embark on a traditional boat to circle the historic island.

Along the way, admire the graceful silhouettes of temples, stilt houses, and everyday life scenes, all immersed in the timeless atmosphere of the former capital.

Dive into the glorious past of the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Siam, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Visit Wat Mahathat, famous for the Buddha’s head entwined in tree roots

• Continue to Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, the iconic royal temple of the city

• End the day at Wat Chai Watthanaram, a majestic riverside temple, perfect for enjoying the sunset over the ruins

Night at the Baan Tye Wang hotel.

Start the day with a visit to Vin de Ray Vineyard, a charming estate nestled in nature that cultivates grape varieties specially dedicated to wine production. From the entrance, you’ll see the rows of vines stretching along the hillside in a beautiful natural setting. The estate, open to visitors, invites you to take a stroll through the vineyards and breathe in the fresh Khao Yai air. You can also enjoy delicious grape pies, fresh grape juice, and local wine — perfect to taste on-site or take home as souvenirs.

Next, head to Muak Lek, a nearby village renowned for its high-quality dairy production.

Take part in a guided tour of the processing workshops and discover how milk, cheese, and yogurt are made. Tastings and direct sales are available in local markets, an authentic immersion in the world of local agriculture.

End the day with a visit to Wat Phra Phutthachai, a temple perched on a hill, famous for its Buddha’s footprint carved into the rock. Admire the panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and the ancient wall paintings of this spiritual site.

Overnight at Ioon Resort, in a Superior Room.

After breakfast, head towards Lopburi, an emblematic city where Khmer influences, Buddhist heritage, and royal architecture intertwine.

Begin your morning with a visit to the King Narai National Museum, located inside the former royal palace. It offers a fascinating overview of Lopburi’s history, from the Dvâravatî period to the Ayutthaya era.
🏛️ King Narai National Museum

📍 GPS coordinates : 14.800622476506568, 100.61166597023482 | Google Maps

• Entrance fee: 200 THB / person

• Opening hours: 08:30–16:00 (closed Mondays and Tuesdays)

Continue with the city’s main temples, rich in symbolism and architectural diversity:

• Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat: majestic ruins and striking sculptures

• Wat Nakhon Kosa: Khmer-style architecture with refined motifs

• Phra Kala Shrine: a sacred site in the heart of town

• Phra Prang Sam Yod: Lopburi’s iconic landmark, famous for its three prangs and free-roaming monkeys

Continue your journey to Si Thep Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a fascinating testimony to the Dvâravatî civilization, which flourished between the 6th and 10th centuries.

Highlights not to miss:

• The ritual moats surrounding the city

• The massive and impressive Khao Klang Nok stupa

• The Khao Thamorrat cave, decorated with bas-relief carvings

Overnight at Feungfah Litz, in a Superior Double Room.

After breakfast, take the road for a day filled with spirituality, nature, and Thai heritage.

Start with a visit to Wat Phra That Pha Sorn Kaew , perched on a hill in Thang Daeng, Phetchabun province.

Founded in 2004, this modern temple impresses with both its serenity and its bold architecture, blending colorful mosaics, jade Buddha statues, and a sacred courtyard with Bodhi trees.

The main stupa, adorned with gemstones and glazed tiles, is one of the most photogenic in the region.

Then, head to the neighboring province of Loei to explore the Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary, a vast mountain plateau rising to 1,571 meters above sea level.
Established in 1974, this protected area shelters an exceptional mixed forest (pines, savanna, tropical forest), as well as unique biodiversity typical of the Luang Prabang ecozone.
Enjoy a guided walk along the marked trails, through wild orchids, giant ferns, and breathtaking panoramic views of the northeastern mountains.

Overnight at Phurua Resort, Deluxe room.

This morning, drive to the majestic Wat Pa Phu Kon, a Buddhist temple perched in the mountains of Udon Thani.

The atmosphere here is filled with calm and spirituality.

Admire the giant reclining white marble Buddha and enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding forest.

Continue your journey with a stop at Wat Pha Tak Suea Skywalk, famous for its impressive glass walkway suspended over the cliffs, offering breathtaking views of the Mekong River with Laos as a backdrop.

Next, head to Tha Sadet Market, located along the Mekong in downtown Nong Khai. Once the governor’s residence, it has become a lively market where Indochinese and Eastern European products mix: local specialties, clothes, jewelry, and much more.

Stroll along the riverside promenade or bike path, both offering superb views of the Mekong.

Just 1 km away, stop at Larn Phaya Nak Ku, a cultural esplanade adorned with two giant Naga statues spouting water, an iconic symbol of Nong Khai and a perfect spot for photos.

End your day with a visit to an artisanal rum distillery, renowned for its spirits crafted from locally grown sugarcane.

Discover the production process, from fermentation to bottling, and enjoy an exclusive tasting.

This eco-conscious company blends traditional know-how with modern techniques to produce high-quality rum.

Overnight in Nong Khai at Pimali Resort, Deluxe villa.

After breakfast, set off to explore the Phu Phra Bat Historical Park, one of the most fascinating sites in northeastern Thailand.

This remarkable place is known for its spectacular rock formations, once used as natural shelters and later transformed into worship halls.
Dating from 1500 to 3000 BC, the site preserves ochre and red cave paintings, witnesses of the presence of the first human communities in the region. Do not miss the small sanctuaries carved into the stone dating from the Dvâravatî period, which enrich the spiritual dimension of the place.

At the end of the morning, enjoy a boat trip of about 90 minutes on the magnificent Kumphawapi Lake whose surface is covered with lotus flowers, creating a dreamlike landscape conducive to contemplation.

In the afternoon, drive to Khon Kaen, one of the main cities of Isan.

Upon arrival, visit the Nong Wang Muang Temple, a majestic nine-story building, built in a style inspired by traditional Lao architecture.

From its summit, you will enjoy a panoramic view of the city and its surroundings.

Accomodation at Manomon residence, in deluxe room.

Start your day with a walk on the Kae Dam Bridge, an impressive wooden bridge nearly one kilometer long, connecting the villages of Ban Kae Dam and Ban Hua Khua. This picturesque passage crosses a peaceful marsh covered with lotus and aquatic plants.

Next, head to Surin Province, home of the Kui people, renowned for their millennia-old relationship with elephants.

At the Elephant Study Center, discover the traditions of the mahouts, the training techniques passed down through generations, and observe elephants in their daily environment.

In the afternoon, discover the village of Ban Tha Sawang, a major center of traditional yok thong silk weaving with sophisticated golden patterns. Classified as an “APEC weaving village” since 2003, this village has gained national recognition for providing the outfits of heads of state during international summits.

Attend a weaving demonstration, meet the artisans, and explore a tradition still alive and proudly passed down.

Check-in Bamboo Conservation Farm, in a standard bungalow.

This morning, visit Prasat Sikhoraphum, a Khmer temple built in the 16ᵗʰ–17ᵗʰ century of the Buddhist era. Initially Hindu and dedicated to Shiva, it was later converted to Theravāda Buddhism.

The complex includes five brick sanctuaries on a single platform, with the main sanctuary at the center. Highlights include the sandstone lintel depicting Shiva Nataraja, wall carvings of apsaras and dvarapalas, as well as lintels illustrating the Krishna-avatar, now preserved in the Phimai National Museum. A sandstone summit element sculpted in the form of a large blooming lotus, once crowning the sanctuary, was also discovered. It is currently displayed at the foot of the sacred fig tree in front of the temple.

In Sikhoraphum, take the time to taste Kalamae, a typical sweet from the region. Nothing better than savoring it in front of Prasat Sikhoraphum, at one of the small stalls set up by the temple.

Next, drive to the Khmer temple of Prasat Muang Tham, remarkable for its architecture blending the Baphuon and Khleang styles (15ᵗʰ–17ᵗʰ Buddhist centuries). Built as a Hindu sanctuary, it is composed of five brick towers placed on the same laterite base, of which only the foundations of the main tower remain.

Here you’ll find superb carved lintels depicting Indra on the elephant Erawan, deities above the demon Kala, and female figures in procession. Stucco fragments attest to the original decorative richness.

The ensemble also includes two brick viharns, a sandstone cloister, and a double enclosure. At the four corners, basins lined with steps are adorned with five-headed nāgas, giving the place a sacred and majestic atmosphere.

Continue to the majestic Prasat Phnom Rung, one of the most impressive Khmer sanctuaries in Thailand. Built between the 11ᵗʰ and 13ᵗʰ centuries on the summit of an extinct volcano (350 m altitude), its Khmer name means “the great mountain.”
Dedicated to Shiva, the temple symbolizes Mount Kailash, the god’s abode and center of the universe. The site is structured as a sacred progression: monumental stairways, colonnaded avenues, and three naga bridges symbolizing the passage to the divine world.
At the heart of the complex, the main prasat in pink sandstone once housed Shiva’s sacred linga. Its beautifully carved pediments and lintels , such as Shiva Nataraja or Vishnu asleep on Ananta; rank among the masterpieces of Khmer art in Isan.
classified as a historical park, Phnom Rung offers a grandiose atmosphere where history, architecture, and spirituality meet in a stunning natural setting.

In the afternoon, drive to Phimai, your last stop of the day.

Check-in at Moon River Resort, in a deluxe bungalow.

This morning, don’t miss Phimai Morning Market. It’s the perfect place to experience local life, taste freshly prepared Thai specialties, and observe the bustling atmosphere of the market.

After breakfast, we head to Prasat Hin Phimai, one of the largest and most impressive Khmer sanctuaries in Thailand. The name Phimai likely derives from Vimaya or Vimayapura, mentioned in several Khmer inscriptions found at the site.

This temple stands out for its southward orientation, exceptional in Khmer architecture, probably to align with the ancient road linking Phimai to the Khmer capital, Sothorapura.

Inscriptions and architectural style indicate initial construction in the 11ᵗʰ century, under the reign of Sūryavarman I, in the Baphuon style, later enriched with Angkor Wat elements. In the 12ᵗʰ century, under Jayavarman VII, the site was expanded and consecrated to Mahāyāna Buddhism, the religion of both sovereigns.

🌸 Highlights include:

• the Naga Bridge and successive galleries leading to the sanctuary,

• the main white sandstone tower, spiritual center of the complex,

• the Prang Brahmatat, linked to local stories,

• the Prang Hin Daeng, decorated with bas-reliefs inspired by the Mahābhārata,

• the twin libraries and corner ponds.

Outside the enclosure, you can still see the city gates, including the majestic south gate aligned with the temple axis, and the Arokayasala, a hermitage in the style of Jayavarman VII, testifying to Phimai’s role as a spiritual and cultural crossroads of the Khmer empire.

Not far from Prasat Hin Phimai, stop at Sai Ngam Park, a public area remarkable for its centuries-old banyan trees. Some of these trees, over 350 years old, have developed numerous secondary trunks and complex aerial roots, forming natural porticoes.

The park, covering about 2,322 m², became famous after the visit of Her Majesty Queen Sri Patcharintra, wife of King Rama V, in 1911, who gave it the name Sai Ngam (“the majestic banyan”). It is the ideal place for a stroll and to admire this ancient and majestic nature.

We then continue our journey to Ban Prasat, an archaeological site located in the village of Ban Than Prasat (Than Prasat sub-district, Buriram). Excavated since 1983, the site has revealed continuous human occupation from 1,500 to 3,000 years ago, from prehistory through the Dvaravati and early Khmer cultures. Rice cultivation, livestock farming, and bronze usage were already practiced here.

Discoveries include ancient human skeletons, ceramics, and bronze tools, found at depths of 1.5 to 5 meters. Three excavation pits, prepared for visitors, are accessible in the village, with the Ban Prasat Museum at the entrance as a focal point.

We then head towards downtown Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat).

In the evening, stroll through the Saveone Night Market to discover local crafts and taste Thai specialties in a relaxed evening atmosphere.

Overnight at Centara Korat, in a deluxe room.

This morning, head towards Khao Yai National Park, with a first stop at Ban Tha Chang Spring, a true hidden gem only 9 km from the park’s northern entrance.

Here, the crystal-clear turquoise waters, shaded by dense vegetation, form a natural pool perfect for swimming or relaxing.

2 nights at Lala Mukha tented resort in a Savannah Deluxe tent.

Embark on a day of exploration at the heart of Khao Yai National Park, one of Thailand’s oldest and most famous, where lush jungle, spectacular waterfalls, and unforgettable encounters with wildlife come together.

The morning begins with a gentle drive through meadows and forests, a perfect time to observe animals awakening with the sun. Soon, the vehicle stops at the first hiking point and the adventure continues on foot, beneath the towering canopy of giant trees. In this humid tropical forest setting, every step invites you to discover animal tracks, listen to birdsong, and feel the raw power of untouched nature.

After a well-deserved lunch break, the journey resumes towards the majestic Haew Suwat waterfall, made famous by the movie The Beach. The waters plunging into a natural pool create a scene both striking and soothing. Depending on time and group interest, the discovery may extend to one of the park’s most beautiful viewpoints, offering a breathtaking panorama over the jungle.

At dusk, the experience takes on a new dimension with the night safari. In the darkness, the forest comes alive differently: deer, civets, porcupines, and owls appear in the beam of headlights, while the luckiest may glimpse a wild elephant or a gaur. This unique moment captures the mysterious essence of nocturnal life and allows for rare photographic opportunities of wildlife in its natural habitat.

This itinerary remains flexible: it can easily be adapted to weather conditions, activity duration, and participant preferences.

Included activity booked with the hotel.