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15 Best Things to Do in Udon Thani
- Ride a boat among a sea of red lotus blooms
- Visit the sacred Naga shrine in Kham Chanot
- See the peculiar rock formations in Phu Phra Bat Historical Park
- Check out Wat Pa Phu Kon's 20-meter reclining Buddha image
- Spend the day doing recreational activities at Nong Prajak Park
- Browse the Thai fabrics sold at Ban Na Kha Silk Market
- Go on a shopping spree at the UD Town Night Market
- Set up camp at the flower-filled Phu Foi Lom National Park
- Look at the artifacts displayed at Ban Chiang National Museum
- Stroll around the White Lotus Temple (Wat Santi Wanaram)
- Tour the temple complex in Wat Pothisomphon
- Admire Chinese-style structures at Chao Pu Chao Ya Shrine
- Stop by the Huai Luang Dam
- Head to the salt farms in Ban Dung
- Experience the traditional Isan life at the Khiri Wongkot Village
While Udon Thani may not be as widely popular as a tourist destination as Phuket or Bangkok, it’s still filled to the brim with wonderful places to visit. It’s a hotspot for archaeological wonders and natural attractions—minus the crowd.
From seeing artifacts at dig sites and hitting up flower-rich lakes and parks, what follows are the unique things you can do in Udon Thani.
We have a good feeling you’d wish you’d known the place earlier and visited sooner so read on and start your journey ASAP!
Ride a boat among a sea of red lotus blooms
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Address: บ้านเชียงแหว, Tambon Chiang Wae, Chiang Haeo, Kumphawapi District, Udon Thani 41110, Thailand
Operating Hours: 6 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Daily)
Contact Number: +66 80 189 7223
Website: https://www.facebook.com/kumphawapilotus
Admission Costs: Free
The Red Lotus Lake in Chiang Haeo is one of the most beautiful places in Thailand, and it’s definitely worth the 40-minute drive from Udon Thani City. From December to February, the blooming lotus flowers will provide you with a scenic view.
If your goal is to take stunning Instagram photos, you must visit this lake in these months. Plus, riding a boat in the red lake becomes the most popular thing to do in Udon Thani during this time.
That makes it ideal for romantic boat rides with your boo, especially during the sunset. A small two-seater boat will cost you 300 baht while a larger one with more capacity can cost between 500 and 600 baht for a 40 to 90-minute ride.
Visit the sacred Naga shrine in Kham Chanot
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Address: 64, Ban Muang, Ban Dung District, Udon Thani 41190, Thailand
Operating Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Daily)
Contact Number: +66 65 885 9065
Website: https://www.facebook.com/KhamchanodOfficial
Admission Costs: Free
Visiting the sacred Naga shrine within the thickets of taraw palm trees in Kham Chanot is a must-do in Udon Thani. Since it’s dedicated to the Great Serpent “Naga,” expect to see numerous serpent images and structures within the temple grounds.
It’s popular among locals and pilgrims, so be sure to be respectful to the visitors who are here to pay homage or pray. In fact, many people come here to pray at the temple’s sacred pond and ask for good fortune.
That’s also why you’ll see numerous lottery ticket vendors in the area. Aside from that, you can enjoy exploring Kham Chanot’s surrounding forest using the wooden walkways scattered around the temple.
See the peculiar rock formations in Phu Phra Bat Historical Park
Address: 194 Mueang Phan, Ban Phue District, Udon Thani 41160, Thailand
Operating Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Daily)
Contact Number: +66 42 219 837
Website: https://www.facebook.com/phuphrabathistoricalpark
Admission Costs: 100 baht
Our team’s history buffs say this park is a great place for tourists who have a great fascination for prehistoric rock formations and cave paintings. It’s a World Heritage Site, so expect to see numerous landmarks with great historical and cultural significance.
This includes the famous Buddha footprints, various temple ruins, and rock carvings within the park’s borders. Phu Phra Bat Historical Park is approximately 4.9 square kilometers, so be sure to prepare for up to two hours of hiking during your visit.
Otherwise, you can rent electric carts at the park’s entrance if you want to explore it faster. We recommend this for groups with elders since some of the nature trails inside the park are steep.
Check out Wat Pa Phu Kon’s 20-meter reclining Buddha image
Address: หมู่ที่ 6 99 Ban Kong, Na Yung District, Udon Thani 41380, Thailand
Operating Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 52 p.m. (Daily)
Contact Number: +66 82 835 0668
Website: http://www.watpaphukon.org/
Admission Costs: Free
Wat Pa Phu Kon is one of the most popular temples to visit in Udon Thani. Its 20-meter reclining Buddha image, in particular, is well-known among tourists who frequent Bang Kong.
This one-of-a-kind white marble statue’s posture represents ultimate nirvana because it’s lying on its right side with its head resting on a cushion. Aside from the reclining Buddha image, the temple’s beautiful architecture is worth a look.
Its turquoise multi-layer roofs are gorgeous and unique among the temples in the province. Plus, there are numerous statues and carvings within the temple which gives you plenty of things to see during your visit.
Spend the day doing recreational activities at Nong Prajak Park
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Address: Tambon Ban Lueam, Mueang Udon Thani District, Udon Thani 41000, Thailand
Operating Hours: 4 a.m. – 8 p.m. (Daily)
Contact Number: +66 4232 5406
Admission Costs: Free
There are a lot of recreational activities you can do in Udon Thani’s Nong Prajak Park. This public lakeside park has a small garden, fountain, playground, clock tower, and stunning bridge, so there are plenty of things to keep you busy.
That makes it ideal for family picnics and outings during the weekends. The paved road along the lake is also perfect for morning and afternoon jogs, so expect to see some locals during these times.
There are also duck boats in the park which you can rent to explore the lake. For a relaxing experience, we recommend visiting the numerous massage shops at the park’s southern portion so you can rest your weary bones.
Browse the Thai fabrics sold at Ban Na Kha Silk Market
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Address: Mueang Udon Thani, Mueang Udon Thani District, Udon Thani 41000, Thailand
Operating Hours: 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Daily)
Contact Number: +66 4232 5406
Website: www.panakha.com
Admission Costs: Free
This market is the place to be if you fancy Thai textiles and fabrics. Here, you’ll see lines of shops selling traditional and modern clothes with unique and intricate woven patterns and designs.
It’s also a great place to shop for silk textiles and clothes. Though most of the items sold here are for women, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding clothes for men as well.
Aside from textiles and fabrics, you’ll find plenty of shops selling all kinds of items at Ban Na Kha Silk Market. That means you’re covered for food, souvenirs, handicrafts, accessories, fresh produce, and many more.
Go on a shopping spree at the UD Town Night Market
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Address: 45, 5 Thongyai Road, ตำบล หมากเเข้ง, Mueang Udon Thani District, Udon Thani 41000, Thailand
Operating Hours: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. (Daily)
Contact Number: +66 42 932 999
Website: https://www.facebook.com/UDTOWN/
Admission Costs: Free
UD Town is a bustling shopping complex which makes it a great place to do your shopping in Udon Thani. It opens in the morning, but most of the shops are active in the evening, so it’s best to visit later in the day.
Here, you can find vendors selling street food, fashion items, accessories, and household items. You’ll even find bars, restaurants, and entertainment hubs at night which makes it a solid hangout spot to visit with friends.
UD Town also has some Western fast food chains like McDonald’s, Burger King, and Pizza Hut, so you have plenty of food options here.
Set up camp at the flower-filled Phu Foi Lom National Park
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Address: Thap Kung, Nong Saeng District, Udon Thani 41340, Thailand
Operating Hours: 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. (Daily)
Contact Number: +66 4225 0207
Website: http://www.facebook.com/PHUFOILOM
Admission Costs: Free
If you love camping, Phu Foi Lom National Park is a great place to surround yourself with nature. This park is tranquil, so it’s one of the best locations to visit when you want to escape the bustling cities in Udon Thani.
Our team particularly enjoyed walking around the eco-tourism park near the campsite. It has numerous sculpted shrubs and flowerbeds with local flora and some rare plants which are perfect backdrops and subjects for Instagram photos.
The park also has a nature trail, so you can do a lot of hiking during the day. Tents are available at the park’s visitors center, but you can also bring your camping gear.
Look at the artifacts displayed at Ban Chiang National Museum
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Address: หมู่ที่ 13 ถนน สุทธิพงษ์ Ban Chiang, Nong Han District, Udon Thani 41320, Thailand
Operating Hours: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Wednesday – Sunday)
Contact Number: +66 42 235 040
Website: http://www.virtualmuseum.finearts.go.th/banchiang/index.php/th/
Admission Costs: 150 baht
For history buffs, a visit to the Ban Chiang National Museum is one of the best things to do in Udon Thani. This place is home to various prehistoric earthenware and tools uncovered in the area.
It’s a World Heritage Site for a reason — aside from seeing 5,000-year-old potteries here, you’ll also learn more about humanity’s cultural and technological advancements.
After all, this site contains the earliest evidence of metal use in Southeast Asia.
That’s why the Ban Chiang National Museum is one of the most important historical sites in the region. Moreover, going here gives you a chance to learn how archaeologists dig up these ancient artifacts.
Stroll around the White Lotus Temple (Wat Santi Wanaram)
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Address: หมู่ 11, ตําบลบ้านเชียง อําเภอหนองหาน จังหวัดอุดรธานี, 41320 41320, Thailand
Operating Hours: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Daily)
Contact Number: +66 90 894 8660
Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007224466913
Admission Costs: Free
The White Lotus Temple in Wat Santi Wanaram is one of the most beautiful architecture you’ll ever see in Udon Thani. This temple is in the middle of a lake, so you can only reach it via a bridge with Naga sculptures.
This bridge adds so much charm to the temple which is why it’s one of the most Instagrammable spots in the province. Despite that, Wat Santi Wanaram is an underrated attraction, so expect to see only a handful of people when you visit.
That makes it the ideal spot for relaxing lakeside strolls. It even works as a romantic hideaway when you visit during the sunset.
Tour the temple complex in Wat Pothisomphon
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Address: Ban Lueam, Mueang Udon Thani District, Udon Thani 41000, Thailand
Operating Hours: 6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Daily)
Contact Number: +66 42 245 086
Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067152187816
Admission Costs: Free
A visit to Udon Thani isn’t complete without stopping by to see Wat Pothisomphon’s elegant temple complex. This sacred place is famous for its gorgeous structures: golden chedi, Naga statues, ubosot, and prayer hall.
Its most spectacular structure is the golden chedi with a sweeping Naga staircase. In fact, we recommend using this staircase as a foreground to take stunning photos of the golden chedi.
Aside from that, this temple also enshrines holy relics like the Lord Buddha’s 200-year-old footprints. Wat Pothisomphon is an active temple with resident monks, so you must dress appropriately when visiting.
Admire Chinese-style structures at Chao Pu Chao Ya Shrine
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Operating Hours: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Daily)
Contact Number: +66 42 247 291
Website: https://www.facebook.com/puyaudon
Admission Costs: Free
Temple-hopping is a popular thing to do in Udon Thani but it can easily get repetitive when you only go for Buddhist temples and shrines. That’s why you should consider going to Chao Pu Chao Ya Shrine.
It’s a Chinese temple, so expect to see Chinese-style structures and lanterns during your visit. There’s also a neighboring Thai-Chinese Cultural Center which makes this the best place to learn about Udon Thani’s local Thai-Chinese community.
This temple is along a lake, so it’s also great for afternoon strolls with your boo. At night, the temple’s colorful lanterns even give it a romantic atmosphere.
Stop by the Huai Luang Dam
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Huai Luang Dam is a massive reservoir along the national road in Udon Thani, so you’ll pass it by multiple times during your vacation here. It’s surprisingly one of the calmest locations in the province.
That’s why it’s popular among motorists. Here, you’ll find people sitting on the side of the road just to watch the beautiful sunset in the dam.
Head to the salt farms in Ban Dung
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Going to the salt farms in Ban Dung is one of the more unique experiences you’ll have in Udon Thani. The town has plenty of traditional salt farmers, so you’ll have the chance to witness how they make this essential condiment using traditional methods.
Otherwise, you can just buy from the salt vendors along the highway if you don’t have time to spare. The rock salt produced here will make an excellent gift for your loved ones back home.
Experience the traditional Isan life at the Khiri Wongkot Village
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The place to go if you want to learn about the traditional life of the Isan people. You’ll see how the villagers spend their day and you can explore the rich nature in Udon Thani, so it’s like hitting two birds with one stone.
If you love hiking, there are also nature trails here that you can explore. Aside from that, you can visit the nearby Huai Chang Plai Waterfall.
You can reach this cascade by riding the makeshift carts that the villagers use to get around.
