Route · About a week
Khmer Temple Trail
Ancient temples and rice country in Isan
Most trips skip this part of Thailand, and that's why we like it. You'll follow the old Khmer sites east into rice country, and it ends in Buriram, where Mike's Thai family farms and where he visits often.
Good for: Second-time visitors, anyone with Thai family in Isan, and people who want Khmer temples without the crowds.
Stop by stop
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Bangkok Leave in the morning, or spend a night here first. Train About 4 to 6 hours to Korat, depending on the train.
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Korat (Nakhon Ratchasima) Isan's largest city, and the jumping-off point for Phimai. Road Local bus. About 60 km, 70 to 90 minutes. Buses stop about 300 meters from the park.
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Phimai Historical Park A huge Khmer temple in the middle of a small town. Phanom Wan is back toward Korat. Train Bus and train. Go back to Korat, then take the northeastern line to Buriram.
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Buriram Your base for the temples and the farm country around them. Road Car, taxi or tour. Drive, hire a taxi or join a tour. Muang Tam is close by, so see both on the same day.
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Phanom Rung Historical Park A day trip from Buriram, to the temple on the rim of an extinct volcano.
Getting home: From Buriram, trains take about 5.5 hours back to Bangkok, and flights take about an hour.
Our advice: Plan your Buriram days around the Phanom Rung sun alignments if your dates line up. Four times a year the sun shines through all 15 doorways.
Nights are our suggestion. Transport comes from Wikivoyage and our Thailand by Train guide, checked November 2026. Schedules change, so check before you book.
When to go
Isan: best Nov to Jan.