Travel advisory · ThailandIsan is in or near an area where governments advise against all travel: 50 km strip along the Cambodian border, Thailand-Cambodia border region (entire length), 20 km strip along the Cambodian border.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- 50 km strip along the Cambodian border · avoid all travel · Canada, France, New Zealand
- Narathiwat · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, UK
- Pattani · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, UK
- Southern Songkhla (Chana, Na Thawi, Thepha and Saba Yoi districts) · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, UK
- Thailand-Cambodia border region (entire length) · avoid all travel · Spain, Ireland, Italy
- Yala · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, UK
- 20 km strip along the Cambodian border · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, UK
Also named by one government: Border zones of Buriram province (Spain), Border zones of Sisaket province (Spain), Border zones of Surin province (Spain), Border zones of Ubon Ratchathani province (Spain), East of Highways 408 and 4113, including Sakom (Canada), Entire Myanmar border (except Mae Sot) (France), Hat Yai city (Canada), Areas near the Thai-Malaysia border (Ireland), Hat Yai to Padang Besar train line (UK), Myanmar border in Mae Hong Son and Tak provinces (Italy), Myanmar border in Tak and Chiang Mai provinces (Spain), Phatthalung province (France), Preah Vihear Temple zone (Sisaket) (Italy), Satun province (France)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | No advice against the whole country (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Exercise Normal Precautions | Jul 7, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Exercise a high degree of caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | No advice against the whole country; partial warnings for border and southern areas (regional advisories) | Oct 26, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Exercise increased caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Ireland (Department of Foreign Affairs) | Normal Precautions (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | Increased vigilance across the country (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Isan
Thailand's northeast, where Mekong river towns face Laos, national parks range from Khao Yai to Phu Kradueng, and village mor lam music fills festival nights.
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Isan is Thailand's northeastern region and its largest, with 20 provinces on the Khorat Plateau and about one-third of the country's land area. The Mekong forms the border with Laos to the north and east, and Cambodia lies to the south. Most people speak Isan, a Lao variety, and Thai is widely understood, especially in cities. Sticky rice is eaten at almost every meal, and many dishes can be very hot and sour.
Visitors come for Khmer-era sanctuaries at Phimai, Bronze Age sites at Ban Chiang, Lao-style temples and mor lam music at village festivals. Plan four to five days for one or two bases, such as Nong Khai and Udon Thani, and a week or more for a loop of the region. The cool season, October to February, is the most comfortable time to go. The hot season peaks in April, and rain falls from May to October, usually in the late afternoon or at night.
Isan in five
- Get data before the national parksMobile coverage is good across Isan but weak in sparsely populated mountain areas and large national parks. Download offline maps before you leave the cities.Phones and eSIM
- Take a night bus or fly from Don MueangAir-conditioned buses run from Bangkok to every provincial city, with at least one nightly route to each district town. Most domestic flights use Don Mueang, while Thai Airways flies from Suvarnabhumi.Getting around
- Ride songthaews and samlors with the fare agreedSongthaews are shared pick-up trucks that link towns and villages, and samlors are the three-wheeled taxis of big cities. Agree the fare before you get in.
- Slow down for water buffalo at dawn and duskSome minor roads have potholes, and remote villages may have unpaved roads. Water buffalo are often walked along roads at dawn and dusk, so drive slowly then.
- Remove shoes and dress modestly at templesWat temples are the center of village life and festivals, so cover shoulders and knees and take off shoes before you go in.
Neighborhoods
Nong Khai
- Price band: $
Udon Thani
- Price band: $
Ubon Ratchathani
- Price band: $
Khao Yai National Park
Waterfalls, gibbons and wild elephants in a World Heritage forest about three hours from Bangkok.
Things to do in Isan
See all attractions in Isan
Need to know
- Currency
- Baht (THB)
- Entry
- Visa-free short stays for many passports; check the current rules on the Immigration Bureau site Read more
- Emergency
- Ask your hotel for the local emergency number
- Tipping
- Not expected; rounding up or leaving small change is appreciated
- Time
- UTC+7, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryClear2 rainy daysHigh30°Low19°Cool, dryJanuaryClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 8 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, dry
- FebruaryClear3 rainy daysHigh32°Low21°Cool, dryFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 18 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, dry
- MarchClear8 rainy daysHigh35°Low24°Hot, dryMarchClear
Mixed
- High
- 35°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh36°Low27°Peak heatAprilPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 36°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 69 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak heat
- MayRain20 rainy daysHigh34°Low27°Rains startMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 202 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains start
- JuneRain19 rainy daysHigh33°Low26°Rainy, greenJuneRain
Mixed
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 149 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy, green
- JulyRain23 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Candle FestivalJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 244 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Candle Festival
- AugustRain23 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Rainy, greenAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 227 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy, green
- SeptemberRain26 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Rainy, greenSeptemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 340 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy, green
- OctoberRain17 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Cooling, drierOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 183 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cooling, drier
- NovemberPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh30°Low21°Cool, dryNovemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, dry
- DecemberClear1 rainy dayHigh29°Low19°Cool, dryDecemberClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 4 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, dry
Average daily high and low in Udon Thani, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Isan
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
25
- Feels like
- 28°
- Humidity
- 79%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 40%
Isan
04:57 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today32°24°40%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 40%.
- Wed32°24°76%Wednesday: Rain. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 76%.
- Thu32°23°74%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 32°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 74%.
- Fri32°23°53%Friday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 53%.
- Sat31°23°39%Saturday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 39%.
- Sun31°22°24%Sunday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 24%.
Updated 02:57 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 33.76 THB
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Vientiane, LaosAbout 25 km from Nong KhaiThe capital of Laos, across the Friendship Bridge from Nong Khai, about 25 km away.
- Khao Yai National ParkStart from Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat)A park in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, where the Mun River rises.Read the guide
- Phimai Historical ParkStart from Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat)One of the most important Khmer-era sanctuaries in Isan.
Before you go to Isan
Rules for Isan, checked
- Many passports enter Thailand visa-free for short stays. Check the current entry and arrival-card rules on the Immigration Bureau site before you fly.Source
- Siamese rosewood is poached from national parks, often by armed groups, so do not buy it or other wildlife products.
- Remove shoes before entering temple halls and dress modestly, following Thai Buddhist custom.
- Slow down on village roads, where water buffalo are sometimes walked at dawn and dusk.
- Crossing into Laos needs its own entry rules; check the Lao visa requirements for your passport before you cross at Nong Khai.
Plan around Isan
Regions, entry rules and transport for a Thailand trip
Read the guideVisas and entryWho can enter visa-free and what to check before you fly
Read the guideGetting around IsanTrains, buses, songthaew and rental cars compared
Read the guideMoney and costsCash, card and typical prices across Isan
Read the guideWhere to stayWhere to base yourself across Isan
Read the guideNong Khai and the MekongFriendship Bridge crossings and riverfront stays
Read the guideIsan FAQ
Where is Isan and what is it?
Isan is the northeast of Thailand, the country's largest region, with 20 provinces on the Khorat Plateau. It runs along the Mekong, which forms the border with Laos, and is bordered by Cambodia to the south.
Is Isan worth visiting?
Yes if you want national parks, Khmer sanctuaries, Mekong river towns and village festivals. Pick two or three bases instead of trying to cover the whole region.
How do you get around Isan?
Air-conditioned buses run from Bangkok to all provincial cities, and trains link Khorat, Ubon, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani and Nong Khai. Songthaew shared pick-up trucks connect towns and villages, and samlor three-wheeled taxis run in big cities.
How many days do you need in Isan?
Four to five days covers one or two bases, such as Udon Thani and Nong Khai. A loop of the whole region needs at least a week.
When is the best time to visit Isan?
October to February is the cool season, the most comfortable time for walking and parks. The rainy season runs May to October, with heavy showers usually in the late afternoon or at night, and the heat peaks in April.
Can I ask for less spicy food in Isan?
Yes. Isan food is often very hot and sour, so say mai phet to ask for less chili. Some dishes, such as pla raa, are strongly fermented, and grasshoppers and crickets are sold as snacks.