Understand
[edit]Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]The nearest airports in Thailand are Sakon Nakhon (SNO IATA) 180 km south, and Udon Thani (UTH IATA, 195 km south-west. The Laotian airport in Vientiane is closer, however it is not the most convenient way to get in as border crossings can get complicated.
By bus
[edit]In addition, Bueng Kan can mainly be reached by long-distance buses. The state-owned company Transport Co., operates a direct service from Bangkok's northern Mo Chit bus station once a day. The bus leaves Bangkok at 19:00, takes 12.25 hours, and a ticket costs 517 baht. The same connection is also offered by private companies such as Sawadee Esan and 407 Pattana. The travel time may be a little shorter, while the prices only slightly higher. Most connections are night buses, and only one trip is travels during the day (departing at 06:45).
Phetprasert operates a daily bus service from Chiang Mai via Phitsanulok and Udon Thani to Bueng Kan. Driving from Chiang Mai takes over 15 hrs, from Phitsanulok 10 hrs, from Udon Thani 3 hrs 40 mins.
By car
[edit]The main road connections to Bueng Kan are National Road 212 from Nong Khai and Nakhon Phanom and 222 from Sakon Nakhon.
Get around
[edit]
See
[edit]- 1 Phu Thok (ทอก, and sometimes Phu Tok). A 359 m hill which is a sandstone mountain containing two peaks and on top of which is Wat Phu Thok, an important Buddhist temple inside a cave. Access is via a wooden walkway.
- 2 Bueng Khong Long.
- 3 Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary. A hilly 186.5-km2 wildlife sanctuary protecting elephants, tigers, leopards, bears, pheasants, monkeys, and gibbons.
- 4 Nam Tok Chet Si (Chet Si Waterfall). One of the province's prime waterfalls, located inside Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary.
- 5 Wat Sawang Arom. A Buddhist temple erected in 1882 by a Laotian who wanted to settle by the Mekong River. Today, it's one of the most architecturally impressive temples in the province.
- 6 Three Whale Rock (Hin Sam Wan). A rock formation, from certain angles looking like whales. The "mother" and "father" can be walked on, the smallest "baby" is unreachable.
Do
[edit]- 1 Naka Cave (Naga Cave) (Lat/Lon given here is for the trail head. Searching 'Naka Cave' in Google Maps will find the cave on the hilltop and the hiking path is shown.). Hilltop caves where the rock has weathered into the texture of snake scales, said to resemble (in various locations) the head and body of the Naka. Also views, and a pagoda on the rocky bald summit. Climb more than 300 m up through the jungle (Phu Langka National Park) on steel stairs to access the caves. Booking is required. A guide is also required. The guides are paid only by your donation, expect it to cost around 800 baht, in addition to the ticket. They are allowed to do one trip each day, each. You may also be asked to buy water and gloves ahead of the climb. Bookings through the QueQ app.