เลือกหน้า

The Painted Landscape and the Hidden Heritage: A Visit to The Three Corners of Isan’s Culture

ก.ค. 1, 2025

H
Back to Study Trips

The Painted Landscape and the Hidden Heritage: A Visit to The Three Corners of Isan’s Culture

The Northeastern region of Thailand, widely known as Isan, is home to a rich and diverse cultural heritage, ranging from archaeological and historical treasures to ethnographic and natural wonders. Despite this wealth, many remarkable sites remain relatively unknown and rarely receive public attention. Among these are prehistoric rock art sites and stunning natural spring landscapes, hidden for decades in remote yet breathtaking areas.

This journey is designed to offer participants a memorable experience filled with discovery, enjoyment, and cultural insight. Highlights include pristine natural springs nestled among golden paddy fields and rows of betel nut trees, as well as prehistoric rock paintings on limestone cave walls and dramatic cliff faces scattered across striking hill formations. Participants will also have the chance to enjoy a boat ride along the Thai-Lao riverbanks and gain a deeper understanding of the traditional way of life of the Tai Dam people.

The Siam Society, under the leadership of Associate Professor Dr Thanik Lertcharnrit, is pleased to invite you to join a study trip to explore the natural springs, rock art sites and Tai Dam Cultural Centre in Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, and Loei Provinces from Friday, 24 to Sunday, 26 October 2025.

When

Friday, 24 to Sunday, 26 October 2025

Leader

with Associate Professor Dr Thanik Lertcharnrit

International Program in Architectural Heritage, Creative Industries, and Tourism Management,

Faculty of Architecture, Silpakorn University

Booking

See information below

Or contact Khun Thun

studytrips@thesiamsociety.org

 

The tentative programme will be as follows:

Day 1: Friday, 24 October: Bangkok – Khon Kaen – Chaiyaphum – Khon Kaen
– Meet at Don Mueang International Airport, AirAsia boarding gate.
10:15 Depart Bangkok for Khon Kaen by AirAsia flight FD3254.
11:20 Arrive at Khon Kaen Province and proceed to the restaurant.
Noon: Lunch at a local restaurant.
Afternoon: Proceed to Khon San District, Chaiyaphum Province.
– Visit two spring water sites at Nam Phut Thap Lao and Baan Pha Biat. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of crystal-clear springs nestled among dramatic limestone mountains.
– Experience the mesmerising scene of millions of bats soaring into the evening sky from Tham Khangkhao (Bat Cave). Inside the cave is the habitat of millions of bats and every evening, around 6 pm, these bats will leave the cave in line, over 10 kilometres long. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes until the last bat leaves the cave.
Evening: Dinner at a local restaurant.
  Overnight at Vinewood, Phu Pha Man District, Khon Kaen Province.
   
Day 2: Saturday, 25 October: Khon Kaen – Loei
– Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning: Check out of the hotel and proceed to the limestone karst landscape of Si Chhomphu District.
– Hike at three rock art sites, starting with a short and easy hike of approximately 200 metres to reach Tham Chang (Elephant Cave). Then proceed to the second site, Pha Taem (Painted Cliff), which involves a hike of around 650 metres from the starting point to the viewing area.
Noon: Lunch at a local restaurant.
– Hike to the last site, which is Pha Khanthong, approximately 800-metre hike.
– Proceed to Chiang Khan District in Loei Province.
Evening: Dinner at a local restaurant.
  Overnight at River Tree Resort, Chiang Khan District, Loei Province.
   
Day 3: Sunday, 26 October: Loei – Bangkok
– Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning: Check out of the hotel and proceed to the pier for a boat ride along the Thai-Lao riverbank.
– Then proceed to Tai Dam Cultural Centre (Ethnographic Museum of the Black Tai). Enjoy the cultural performance of Tai Dam.
Noon: Late lunch at a local restaurant.
Afternoon: Proceed to Loei Airport.
17:30 Depart Loei for Bangkok by AirAsia flight FD3549.
18:30 Arrive at Don Mueang International Airport.
   
The Siam Society reserves the right to change the programme as necessary.

Important notes:

– Please be informed that accommodation at Vinewood in Phu Pha Man District is limited to only 8 rooms. In the event that all rooms are fully booked, alternative arrangements will be made at a nearby resort. This may result in some participants being accommodated separately from the main group.

Should this situation arise, the group leader will remain at Vinewood, while The Siam Society’s staff will accompany the remaining participants to the alternative resort. Kindly note that this arrangement may be subject to additional charges or a corresponding deduction from the hotel cost. Our staff will inform you of this issue and the cost when the rooms are fully booked.

– The Siam Society may utilise photos taken from study trips, lectures, performances, and other activities as part of its public relations and marketing campaign. These photos, which may sometimes contain image(s) of activity participants, can also be featured on The Society’s website and other online social media channels.

– As part of our effort to address the issue of global warming, The Siam Society strongly supports the reduction of plastic waste. We kindly recommend bringing your own water flask during the trip, if possible.

Booking:

Contribution of THB 26,500 (THB 28,500 for non-members), single room surcharge of THB 3,400, will cover transportation, air ticket, meals as mentioned in the programme, gratuities and other costs incurred to make this trip possible. In addition, basic travel insurance is included. A photocopy of the identification page on your passport must accompany the booking. Your reservation will be confirmed as soon as the payment has been made. There is a 4% surcharge for credit/debit card payments to cover bank charges. Please pay by cash or cheque payable to “The Siam Society Under Royal Patronage”. Transfer can also be made to The Siam Society travel account at TMBThanachart Bank (ttb), saving account no. 053-2-18000-7, swift code: TMBKTHBK or by scanning the QR code on your right. Once payment has been made, please email the proof of payment to us.

For further information and bookings, please contact Khun Thun at 02-661-6470-3 ext 205, or studytrips@thesiamsociety.org. The Society’s office is open from 09:00 to 17:00, Tuesday to Saturday.

More upcoming study trips