Northeast Thailand (Isan) · Nakhon Ratchasima

Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) travel guide: gateway to Isan and Khao Yai

Nakhon Ratchasima, known to everyone as Korat, is the gateway to Isan, Thailand's north-east. The city itself is a busy provincial centre rather than a sight, but it sits between two of the region's highlights: Khao Yai, Thailand's first national park, to the south-west, and the Khmer temple of Phimai to the north-east. A night or two here makes both easy.

AsiaVela editorial teamUpdated 1 October 20263 min read

The bronze statue of Thao Suranari on a tall plinth with worshippers making offerings below — The Thao Suranari Monument in central Korat.

Suggested time: 2–3 days
Where to stay: Korat city centre, or Pak Chong for Khao Yai
Season and timing: November to February is coolest; waterfalls in Khao Yai are fullest late in the rainy season.

The short answer

Use Korat as a base for two or three days. Pay respects at the Thao Suranari Monument and Wat Sala Loi in town, take a day trip north-east to Phimai Historical Park (about 60 kilometres), and spend a day — or better a night nearby — in Khao Yai National Park, where entry tickets must now be bought in advance through the QueQ app.

Thao Suranari Monument

In the city centre, the Thao Suranari Monument honours the heroine known locally as Ya Mo, who, as the Ministry of Tourism and Sports' directory recounts, rallied the people of Korat against an invading army from Vientiane. The monument was built in 1934; the bronze figure stands holding a sword and faces west towards Bangkok, and her ashes are kept inside.

Local people pass by constantly to make offerings. It is open around the clock and especially lively in the evening; be respectful when taking photographs.

Advertising · affiliate links · Stay22

Choose a stay that fits this visit

A well-placed room in Korat city centre / Pak Chong leaves more time for the neighbourhoods and meals described here. Compare the actual journey from the hotel to your first stop, rather than choosing by price alone.

Korat city centre — near the monument, markets and bus stations.
Pak Chong — for Khao Yai National Park.

These are example bases: choose the area that fits your own route before searching.

Compare stays: Korat city centre ↗Compare stays: Pak Chong ↗

Enter your dates and compare the map, total price, cancellation terms and room details. Search results are not verified hotel recommendations.

Affiliate links via Stay22. AsiaVela may earn a commission from eligible bookings.

Wat Sala Loi

Wat Sala Loi, founded by Ya Mo, has an old chapel more than a century old and a modern one built in 1967 in the shape of a Chinese junk, decorated with clay tiles from Dan Kwian, according to the directory. A small stupa holds part of her ashes.

It is a short ride from the centre and makes a good second stop after the monument.

Haew Narok waterfall plunging over a red rock cliff into a forested gorge — Haew Narok waterfall, Khao Yai National Park.

Make time for the local food

What to eat and where to look

Som tam and grilled chicken

Isan's classic trio of green papaya salad, grilled chicken (kai yang) and sticky rice, as TAT describes the region's bold, spicy food.

Where to look: Local restaurants and markets in Korat.
Fit it into your day: Lunch or dinner in town.

Very spicy; may contain fermented fish sauce (pla ra) — ask for it without if you prefer.

Larb

A spicy minced-meat salad with herbs, lime and toasted rice.

Where to look: Isan restaurants across the city.
Fit it into your day: Share with sticky rice.

Ask about chilli; some versions use raw meat.

Night market snacks

Grilled skewers, sticky rice and sweets from evening stalls.

Where to look: Night markets in the city centre.
Fit it into your day: A casual dinner after the monument.

Stalls vary by day.

Khao Yai National Park

Established in 1962, Khao Yai was Thailand's first national park and covers more than 2,100 square kilometres across four provinces, as TAT notes, with habitat for over 350 rare and endangered species. Waterfalls such as Haew Narok and Haew Suwat are the classic stops.

Since July 2023, foreign visitors must buy their entry ticket in advance through the QueQ app; TAT gave the fee as 200 baht for adults and 100 baht for children at the time. Check current fees and rules before you go, keep to trails and never feed wildlife.

Open tropical grassland with scattered trees and forested hills at Khao Yai — Grassland in Khao Yai National Park.

Advertising · affiliate links · Viator

An experience to consider for this trip

AsiaVela may earn a commission if you book through these links, at no additional cost to you. Bookings are handled by Viator.

Khao Yai National Park; departs from Bangkok

Khao Yai National Park private day tour from Bangkok

A guided day in the park for travellers without a car. Check whether park fees are included.

Check the experience on Viator ↗

Khao Yai National Park

Khao Yai National Park: tours

A collection of Khao Yai tours, including multi-day options. Compare pick-up points and durations.

Browse options on Viator ↗

Check dates, the final price, meeting point, guide language, inclusions, accessibility and cancellation conditions on Viator. The language of this website is not the language of the guide.

Day trip to Phimai

Phimai Historical Park, about 60 kilometres from Korat, is the region's great Khmer temple. The directory describes buses from Korat's second bus station that drop you in front of the temple.

See our Phimai guide for the full visit; it can be done as a day trip, though an overnight stay lets you see it at a quieter hour.

A white-rumped shama with a long tail perched on a branch — A white-rumped shama, one of Khao Yai's many birds.

Getting there

Korat is on the main road and railway from Bangkok into Isan, and buses and trains link it with the capital and with Khon Kaen and Ubon Ratchathani. For Khao Yai, many visitors base themselves near Pak Chong, on the same corridor.

Most international travellers fly into Bangkok and continue by road or rail.