Khon Kaen has two very different faces. In the west is Phu Pha Man, sheer limestone cliffs above rice fields, often called Thailand's Guilin; in the other direction is Ubolratana reservoir, lawns by the water for watching the sun go down. We list 14 grounds, about two thirds of them viewpoints.
Fees are lower than in many provinces: ฿30 per person in the national parks, ฿50–150 per person per night at most private camps. Seven in ten have electricity and showers, and about two thirds rent gear.
Counted across the 14 campsites shown on this page, ordered by how many list each one.
Phu Pha Man has the national park ground and several private camps beneath the cliffs: some watch the evening stream of bats leaving their cave, some have bamboo huts or activities such as ATVs, and there is a lodge on Huai Muang reservoir with kayaking. On Ubolratana reservoir are Lan Nap Dao in Nam Phong National Park and private lakeside camps where you park beside the tent. Phu Wiang has the Tat Fa ground in its national park, and if you would rather not drive far, there is a camp in the city and a rice-field one about 20 minutes out.
Phu Pha Man is at its best from late rains into winter, roughly October to January: green paddies against the rock, and morning mist. The bats fly out every evening, all year. The Ubolratana lakeside suits winter, with a cool breeze and clear skies. The hot season is very hot — choose a waterside ground with shade.
Phu Pha Man is more than a hundred kilometres from Khon Kaen city, closer to Phetchabun and Loei, so treat it as a trip of its own. Nights below the limestone are colder than expected in winter, and the lakeside grounds are windy — peg down well. Khon Kaen has an airport and a railway station, so you can come without driving, and rental gear is easy to find at the camps.
฿30 per person in the national parks; ฿50–150 per person per night at most private camps.
Yes — about two thirds of the grounds rent tents or gear, and some have huts.
Every evening before sunset, when they leave the cave in a long stream — all year round.
