FAQs
It is one of Thailand's most spectacular festivals, held each year around the start of Buddhist Lent, usually in July. Giant, intricately carved wax sculptures are displayed at Thung Si Muang Park and paraded through the city centre.
Thung Si Muang is the leafy park at the heart of the city. It is the centre of the Candle Festival and a pleasant spot for an evening stroll.
Wat Phra That Nong Bua is one of Ubon's best-known temples, famous for its striking white chedi. It is an easy visit from the hotel.
Wat Pah Nanachat is an international forest monastery in the Thai forest tradition, where monks from around the world practise. Visitors are welcome to experience its peaceful setting. Please dress modestly.
Often called the glowing temple, Wat Sirindhorn Wararam is known for its mural that appears to shimmer at night. It also has sweeping views towards the Mekong.
Pha Taem National Park sits on sandstone cliffs above the Mekong. It is celebrated as one of the first places in Thailand to see the sunrise and it is home to rock paintings around 3,000 years old.
Sam Phan Bok, often called Thailand's Grand Canyon, is a dramatic rock formation in the Mekong riverbed. It is best visited from December to May, when the water is low and the formations are exposed.
At Khong Chiam, the reddish-brown Mekong meets the blue-green Mun River, creating a visible line between the two. The contrast is often sharpest from around August to October.
Must-try local dishes in Ubon Ratchathani include Guay Jub Yuan (Vietnamese-style noodle soup), Moo Yor (pork sausage), Som Tum (papaya salad), Larb, grilled chicken, Jaew Hon (Isan-style hot pot), and Kem Bak Nat (fermented fish with pineapple), reflecting the region’s rich culinary heritage.