CM to Ubon Ratchathani - Travel Options?

[sante]

I'm thinking about exploring the eastern Thai cities, specifically Ubon Ratchathani and surrounding area, when the rainy season has ended. I'll be taking public transportation. Although Ubon has an airport, it looks as if the only flight connections are to Bangkok, which I'd like to avoid. Also, flying is expensive but am not looking forward to a long bus ride.

Anyone made this trip? If so, how long is the bus ride? Any other tips on transportation or accommodation? I'll probably stay for a week or more so am looking for guest house/hotel that's NOT deluxe but quiet and clean.

Thanks

[khwaibah]

Chiang Mai to Surin 15 hours. Ubon another 3 hours. CM to Surin Gold Class (first) 960 baht.

http://www.nakhonchaiair.com/about_en.php

http://primia.net/thaibus/

I do this trip on a regular bases either by bus (NCA) or I drive myself.

Bus or driving are the only two sensible options. Flying or train are totally out of whack as options.

Edited October 23, 2013 by khwaibah

[eyecatcher]

Done the trip a few times, two bus companies that go there direct are nakornchai and phetprasert.

We favour the latter as its a quicker trip about 13hr,and goes via khon kaen and roi et

nakorn takes you further south via korat and a couple hours longer.

Price circa 800bt one way.

Night travel is ok,roads quieter and don't have the sun burning you up.

Both companies have a better reputation than most , though I will never come to terms with why they all allow drivers to drive over 8hrs before swapping over.

Sent via tin can and string after pigeon shot

[khwaibah]

Done the trip a few times, two bus companies that go there direct are nakornchai and phetprasert.

We favour the latter as its a quicker trip about 13hr,and goes via khon kaen and roi et

nakorn takes you further south via korat and a couple hours longer.

Price circa 800bt one way.

Night travel is ok,roads quieter and don't have the sun burning you up.

Both companies have a better reputation than most , though I will never come to terms with why they all allow drivers to drive over 8hrs before swapping over.

Sent via tin can and string after pigeon shot

NCA on its trip will use up to 4 drivers and I have never seen them drive over 6 hours.

[Fookhaht]

I would suggest that Surin is considerably out of the way for someone coming from a northwesterly direction such as Chiang Mai (look at a map). Notice how Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Yasathorn, Ubon is a much more direct route. (The map below is a bit oversimplified. My suggested route does swing through Phitsanulok, as probably does the second poster's route).

I've done the route in two legs: Chiang Mai - Khon Kaen (12 hours), and Khon Kaen to Ubon (4 hours). Do the math.

Edited October 23, 2013 by Fookhaht

[khwaibah]

I would suggest that Surin is considerably out of the way for someone coming from a northwesterly direction such as Chiang Mai (look at a map). Notice how Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Yasathorn, Ubon is a much more direct route. (The map below is a bit oversimplified. My suggested route does swing through Phitsanulok, as probably does the second poster's route).

I've done the route in two legs: Chiang Mai - Khon Kaen (12 hours), and Khon Kaen to Ubon (4 hours). Do the math.

Screen_Shot_2013-10-23_at_5.54.59_PM.jpeg

You need to back to school. NCA goes threw Chaiyaphum-Bua Yai-Buriram-Surin -Ubon not even close to Korat.

According to the NCA schedule they do this trip to Ubon in 17 hours.

Edited October 23, 2013 by khwaibah

[Fookhaht]

I would suggest that Surin is considerably out of the way for someone coming from a northwesterly direction such as Chiang Mai (look at a map). Notice how Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Yasathorn, Ubon is a much more direct route. (The map below is a bit oversimplified. My suggested route does swing through Phitsanulok, as probably does the second poster's route).

I've done the route in two legs: Chiang Mai - Khon Kaen (12 hours), and Khon Kaen to Ubon (4 hours). Do the math.

Screen_Shot_2013-10-23_at_5.54.59_PM.jpeg

You need to back to school. NCA goes threw Chaiyaphum-Bua Yai-Buriram-Surin -Ubon not even close to Korat.

Ah yes, now we have the rest of the story...which continues to confirm why the CM->Surin->Ubon route is still 2 hours longer. Isn't that really where the rubber meets the road, ah, so to speak? To help put our TV poster back into a friendlier state of mind, we have revised the map. It seems that his suggested route still dips considerably to the south, thus adding on those two hours. Maybe our OP has all the time in the world, and he really doesn't care!

As a concession to Khwalbah, I would rather spend 18 hours on NCA than 16 hours on any other bus company. The Phitsanulok-->KK route is a pretty treacherous one at night, with a bad record of bus accidents (by other companies who DON'T change drivers). I've personally watched a driver doze off multiple times on this route (which, of course woke me right up!).

Edited October 23, 2013 by Fookhaht

[khwaibah]

I would suggest that Surin is considerably out of the way for someone coming from a northwesterly direction such as Chiang Mai (look at a map). Notice how Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Yasathorn, Ubon is a much more direct route. (The map below is a bit oversimplified. My suggested route does swing through Phitsanulok, as probably does the second poster's route).

I've done the route in two legs: Chiang Mai - Khon Kaen (12 hours), and Khon Kaen to Ubon (4 hours). Do the math.

Screen_Shot_2013-10-23_at_5.54.59_PM.jpeg

You need to back to school. NCA goes threw Chaiyaphum-Bua Yai-Buriram-Surin -Ubon not even close to Korat.

Ah yes, now we have the rest of the story...which continues to confirm why the CM->Surin->Ubon route is still 2 hours longer. Isn't that really where the rubber meets the road, ah, so to speak?

You might say so but that is why I stay with NCA. I'm not saying their perfect but I have not seen them in an accident all the other I have. BTW when I drive and next month I will it is usually 12 hours CM to Surin 880 km and the wife drive a fair amount of that.

[Fookhaht]

I would suggest that Surin is considerably out of the way for someone coming from a northwesterly direction such as Chiang Mai (look at a map). Notice how Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Yasathorn, Ubon is a much more direct route. (The map below is a bit oversimplified. My suggested route does swing through Phitsanulok, as probably does the second poster's route).

I've done the route in two legs: Chiang Mai - Khon Kaen (12 hours), and Khon Kaen to Ubon (4 hours). Do the math.

Screen_Shot_2013-10-23_at_5.54.59_PM.jpeg

You need to back to school. NCA goes threw Chaiyaphum-Bua Yai-Buriram-Surin -Ubon not even close to Korat.

Ah yes, now we have the rest of the story...which continues to confirm why the CM->Surin->Ubon route is still 2 hours longer. Isn't that really where the rubber meets the road, ah, so to speak?

You might say so but that is why I stay with NCA. I'm not saying their perfect but I have not seen them in an accident all the other I have. BTW when I drive and next month I will it is usually 12 hours CM to Surin 880 km and the wife drive a fair amount of that.

Only seen one banged-up NCA bus in 10 years here--believe it was a Buriram accident, ironically. Guess no one's perfect.

Reference made to it here.... http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g293916-i3687-k5963287-VIP_Bus_are_safer-Bangkok.html

[sante]

Thanks for the responses. I figured the bus ride would be long but not that long. A 14 plus hour ride, involving nighttime driving, isn't something I look forward to. I noticed Nok Air has a CM to Udon Thani flight. It's more than I want to spend but maybe I can fly one way and ride the bus back to CM. Anyone know how long the bus ride takes from Udon Thani to Ubon?

[SantiSuk]

Quiet and relatively cheap. Outside Inn would be my recommendation. Young (to most of us) American owner and Thai wife, Mexican food. 600 to 900 baht depending on room size and including breakfast (i think that's the sort of range). Google "Thaivisa.com Outside Inn" for more discussion by Ubonites. Some restaurants/bars walkable within 10 mins as are baht bus stops to most parts of Ubon (check out weloveubon.com for naht bus routes). Meter taxis in Ubon relatively cheap.

Cheaper than that? Plenty of slightly out of centre Mansions (usually basic but clean, some English channels on LED tvs, new or newish and outstanding value, but limited English spoken in most). Eg Fundee Mansion, 400 baht (no breakfast). Chatsuree and Phadaeng Mansions also - at 500 baht and more central. Trouble with mansions is walls are thin and passageways tiled, so can be noisy early morning as people clatter their way to breakfast/work/college: take earplugs.

If driving, take the northern route between Phitsanulok and Khon Kaen - lovely hills and national parks traversed. For real scenery take 3 days oneway and follow the Mekong right the way round. If busing I would explore feasibility of breaking the journey somewhere interesting like Loei unless you have an iron clad @rse

Use Agoda for best discounts and useful reviews.

i have no conflicts of interest or axes to grind in commenting btw

Edited October 23, 2013 by SantiSuk

[Fookhaht]

Udon --> Ubon: 6+ hours

Edited October 23, 2013 by Fookhaht

[Dellboy218]

Air Asia have flown direct between Chiang Mai and Ubon at odd times. May be worth asking them if they are likely to in the future. The odd time the family visit here they have travelled NCA which has taken 17-18 hours. I have been driving that route for over 20 years and on average it has taken me 12-13 hours to travel the 1000+ a bit Km to a town 50km the other side of Ubon, that is without pushing hard. The roads have improved a lot so it is a more relaxing (boring?) drive than it used to be.

[chuenyongman]

Please could the poster who stated that my wife and I could drive from Surin (Home town) to Chaing Mai in 12 hours and only travel 880 kilometers please inform me of the particulars of the route etc. as my wife and I wish to visit Chaing Mai in December. Thank you in advance for the information.

[chuenyongman]

To the administrator. If I cannot obtain the information I requested by asking a question . Is it possible for you to find out the particulars for me and pass them on. If I knew the poster it would help . Chuenyongman

[khwaibah]

Kap Choeng to Surin.

Kap Choeng Immigration

Unknown road

1. Head north toward Route 214

140 m

2. Turn left onto Route 214

27.1 km

3. Turn left onto Route 24

191 km

4. Continue onto Route 201

15.7 km

5. Turn left toward Route 2256

25.6 km

6. Turn left onto Route 2256

16.6 km

7. Turn right onto Route 2247

16.3 km

8. Turn left onto Suranarai Rd

22.5 km

9. Turn right onto Route 2129

1.4 km

10. Turn right onto ถนน คชเสนีย์

73.7 km

11. Turn left onto Route 225

46.1 km

12. Turn right onto Route 11

113 km

13. Turn left onto Route 12

7.6 km

14. Slight right toward Route 11

2.3 km

15. Take the ramp

270 m

16. Continue straight

220 m

17. Turn right onto Route 11

143 km

18. Turn left onto Route 101/Route 11

Continue to follow Route 11

82.2 km

19. Turn left onto ถนน ทิพวัลย์

400 m

20. Continue onto Route 11

97.0 km

21. Slight left onto ทางคู่ขนานถนน ซูเปอร์ไฮเวย์/ทางคู่ขนานถนน สาย เชียงใหม่-ลำปาง

2.7 km

22. Turn left onto ถนน เจริญเมือง

2.6 km

23. Continue onto ถนน ท่าแพ

900 m

24. Turn left onto ถนน คชสาร

Destination will be on the left

I'm driving this route tomorrow night starting about 1 am Tuesday morning from Kap Choeng approximately 880 km. Normally 2 stops for fuel two extra stops for potty, The wife also drives. I have done this in 11.5 hours

Edited November 17, 2013 by khwaibah

[elektrified]

Why would anyone want to "explore" Ubon Ratchathani? For what? And 18 hours by bus? Come on... Hop on a plane to Phuket, Koh Chang, Krabi, Koh Samui, etc. and be someplace beautiful in a couple of hours.

[khwaibah]

Why would anyone want to "explore" Ubon Ratchathani? For what? And 18 hours by bus? Come on... Hop on a plane to Phuket, Koh Chang, Krabi, Koh Samui, etc. and be someplace beautiful in a couple of hours.

Because some people still like to explore and not stay in a retirement home.

[kjhbigv]

Flew to Ubon beginning of year before Air Asia stopped their flights.....to be honest, I found the place as dull as dishwater!

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[khwaibah]

Flew to Ubon beginning of year before Air Asia stopped their flights.....to be honest, I found the place as dull as dishwater!

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Depends on what your looking for.

[sante]

I picked Ubon because I felt like traveling to a new place but because of high season, wanted to avoid crowds of tourists. But the 18 hour bus ride and high temperatures dissuaded me. I don't think I can stand hotter weather than here in CM unless an ocean is nearby.

[elektrified]

Ubon Ratchathani would be at the absolute bottom of the list of places I would ever want to visit in Thailand. As far as Isaan is concerned, been to Udon Thani, Nong Khai, and Loei. Loei was surprisingly very beautiful but the other two were horrible places.

[khwaibah]

Ubon Ratchathani would be at the absolute bottom of the list of places I would ever want to visit in Thailand. As far as Isaan is concerned, been to Udon Thani, Nong Khai, and Loei. Loei was surprisingly very beautiful but the other two were horrible places.

I' sure those in the above feel the same about Chiang Mai and your sunny descriptions.