Kalasin Guide: 8 Best Things to Do & More

8 Best Things to Do in Kalasin

1. Visit Phra That Yaku 👍 Must Do

I bet you didn't know this, but Kalasin is home to one of the most ancient temples in the region called Phra That Yaku, which is believed to have been built between the 7th and 11th centuries during the Dvaravati period. The temple features two bases of stupas and one standing stupa with its early Buddhist architectural style.

The architectural style is unique with clear influences from Mon-Dvaravati art, which dominated central and northeastern Thailand before the rise of the Khmer Empire. It is believed to have been built to enshrine relics of the Buddha, a common purpose for chedis during that time.

Around the monument, other archaeological remnants, such as Bai Sema stones or boundary stones that were used to define sacred areas in Buddhist temples, can also be found. The whole area is a very quiet and peaceful place to stroll around.

Right next to the monument, you will also find a replica village of Isaan with old wooden Isaan houses in different styles. The names of each house are from the many districts of Kalasin and you can walk around freely and explore what's inside.

Phra That Yaku is located about 22 km from Kalasin city, so if you are looking for a cool and unique place to visit in Kalasin, be sure to come and check out the site. It is open 24/7, but it's best to visit during daylight hours, and the entry is free.

Where to Stay in Kalasin (Khon Kaen)?

Not gonna lie, Kalasin is so small that there aren’t even enough hotels I can confidently recommend. The few that are available are pretty old and outdated, so it might actually be a better idea to stay in Khon Kaen and visit Kalasin as a day trip. That’s why I’ve decided to recommend hotels in Khon Kaen instead, as listed below:

Budget

Neo Hotel

$ | Double Room

See Availability

👍 Top Pick

Mid-Range

The Terminal Khon Kaen Hotel

$$ | Double Room

See Availability

High-End

Ad Lib Hotel Khon Kaen

$$$ | Double Room

See Availability

View More Hotels

2. Explore Sirindhorn Museum 🏛️ Best Museum

Sirindhorn Museum is arguably one of the best dinosaur museums in Thailand, even more so than the one in Khon Kaen, thanks to its impressive setting, a vast collection of dinosaur fossils, and a layout reminiscent of museums you often find in Europe or the US, with wide hallways, an easy-to-follow route, and more.

Known as the most comprehensive dinosaur museum in Thailand, the museum is built directly above the Phu Kum Khao dig site, where fossils of sauropod dinosaurs like Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae were discovered. Inside, you will find a vast collection that includes fossils, life-size dinosaur skeletons and reconstructions, and interactive displays covering paleontology, geology, and evolution.

The museum has about 8 exhibitions beginning with the origin of the Earth and the rise of the dinosaurs, all the way through to their extinction and the excavation process that brought these discoveries to light. Each section is extremely detailed and impressively presented throughout.

As soon as you enter, you’ll find yourself in a large circular hall with several massive life-size dinosaur skeletons at the center, surrounded by display cases and information boards, a layout commonly seen in Western-style museums. From there, simply follow the marked route, and the exhibitions will unfold in chronological order, making the experience easy and intuitive to follow.

I was thoroughly impressed by the museum, even after having visited the Phu Wiang Dinosaur Museum in Khon Kaen just a few days earlier. One section in particular stood out to me, which is an area where you can observe the ongoing preservation process, similar to art museums in Italy that showcase how they restore old masterpieces.

I thought that was really cool. More museums in Thailand should adopt this approach to spark curiosity in kids and potentially inspire them to pursue careers in science. The museum is open from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM every day except on Mondays, and the entry fee is 150 THB per person. Well worth a visit if you are passing through Kalasin. Expect to spend at least 1 hour here.

3. Admire the scale of Wat Phuttha Nimit

I happened to stumble upon Wat Phuttha Nimit by chance while driving through Kalasin. A massive pagoda caught my eye from the road, and curiosity got the better of me, so I drove up the hill to check it out.

As it turned out, this is one of the most beautiful temples I have seen in the province, and it feels even more massive when you stand at its base looking up than it appears from the road. There are several structures to explore, as well as a lovely viewpoint to enjoy.

Right from the get-go, you will find yourself at the base of a massive pagoda painted in muted pink, featuring beautiful carvings on the walls and some of the most intricate and massive wooden doors I’ve ever seen. Surrounding the pagoda, there is also a Buddhist garden with many lovely stone sculptures and other sights for you to explore.

Once inside, you’ll enter a vast hallway with an intricately carved wooden shrine housing a golden Bodhi tree relief enclosed in glass, right at the heart of the temple. It is surrounded by rows of Buddha statues set into multi-niched walls. It’s truly a sight to behold!

There is also a massive Buddha statue behind the pagoda where you can enjoy the view from the mountain top, so be sure not to miss it. The temple is open from 6 AM to 8 PM daily and the entry is free. It is very close to Sirindhorn Museum, so if you are visiting the museum, do not forget to drop by here and check out the temple!

4. Witness the real Dinosaur Footprints 💎 Hidden Gem

No, we’re not done with dinosaurs yet. In Khon Kaen, you can hike to see dinosaur footprints, but many people were often left disappointed because of how small the footprints are due to the fact that they were left by a smaller type of dinosaur. If you want to see real dinosaur footprints, such as those left by Carnotaurus, the meat-eating dinosaurs, then you should check out the Dinosaur Footprints at Phu Faek Forest Park in Kalasin.

The story behind the discovery of these footprints is fascinating. In 1992, two children aged 10 and 11 were playing near a waterfall when one of the girls noticed the footprints. They reminded her of those she had seen in old dinosaur movies. She alerted the adults, which led to the discovery of about 12 Carnotaurus footprints.

The primary trail includes seven footprints, each about 45 cm long and 40 cm wide, with three prominent toe impressions. These were likely made by a carnivorous dinosaur (Carnosaur) walking on two legs. Additional trails include one with two footprints and another with three, all showing the classic three-toe pattern. These traces are embedded in the sandstone layer of the Phra Wiharn formation, dating back approximately 140 million years.

The footprints are located right on the riverbed by the waterfalls, so you can also swim in the nearby pools or search for more footprints. Only a few are visible when the water level is high. I visited during the rainy season, and about four prints were clearly visible while the others remained submerged along the riverbed.

To get here, you’ll need to drive along a winding road until you reach the forest park’s parking lot. From there, it’s about a 200-meter walk to the waterfall where the footprints are found. A ranger will accompany you and guide you all the way to the footprints.

It’s a really awesome and unique thing to do in Kalasin, so if you’re passing by, be sure to check out the dinosaur footprints at Phu Faek Forest Park. There’s also a collection of petrified wood on site, so don’t miss that! The park is open daily from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and entry is free.

5. Check Out Wat Wang Kham

One of the most beautiful and unique temples you can visit in Kalasin is Wat Wang Kham located in Ban Nathawi on the far east of the province. What's unique about this sacred temple is its architectural style that drew from traditional Lan Xang architecture and modeled after the famous Wat Xieng Thong in Laos. It is one of its kind in Thailand, and definitely worth a visit if you are passing through here.

When you arrive, the centerpiece of the temple immediately draws your attention - the stunning ordination hall, a scaled-down replica of Wat Xieng Thong in Luang Prabang, Laos. It features low-sloping, triple-tiered roofs and elegant gilded patterns set against a dark background.

As you explore the courtyard, you’ll be surrounded by rows of Buddha images with the magnificent ordination hall at the center. Inside, you’ll find a beautiful red-colored room with massive pillars, intricate murals, and a Lan Xang–style principal Buddha image, a rare sight to see in Thailand.

The temple itself is only open on weekends and public holidays. If you visit outside those times, you can still admire the temple from the outside, but you won’t be able to go inside, as I did, since I assume access is reserved for the local community. Still, just walking around the temple grounds to see other wonderful architectural features like the pagodas and the wall murals of the ordination hall is well worth the visit.

I visited on a Friday, which happened to be a public holiday, and local people kindly offered me traditional Phu Thai attire to wear before entering the temple, which I thought was pretty cool. The temple is open from 9 AM to 5 PM on weekends and public holidays, and entry is free. The entire temple is decorated with stunning details, so be sure to spend some time walking around and appreciating the artistry while you’re there.

6. Drop By Kalasin Museum

If you're passing through Kalasin City and wondering what to do, consider visiting the Kalasin Museum. This small local museum in the heart of the city features a wonderful collection of contemporary artworks by local artists, alongside exhibitions that explore Kalasin's history, display old artifacts, and much more.

Although the description of most things here is in Thai, the highlight here is definitely the contemporary artworks that showcase the talents of local artists. It's definitely a welcome change from all the dinosaur and history museums you find in many parts of Isaan.

The museum is open from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM every day except Mondays, and entry is free. If you are passing through Kalasin City, be sure to drop by and check out some of Isaan's finest contemporary artworks at Kalasin Museum.

7. Enjoy the Water at Dok Kate Beach

Kalasin may not have as many tourist attractions or epic landscapes as other provinces in Thailand, but the locals definitely know how to have fun. One of the most popular spots for Kalasin residents in the evenings and on weekends is Dok Kate Beach. Although it is not a beach in the traditional sense since Kalasin is landlocked, it is a recreational area by the bank of a reservoir where people can swim and relax to unwind after the day.

You won't find any sandy strips here or the facilities you might expect from the highly westernized and commercialized beaches of Southern Thailand. But if you want to see how locals really enjoy beaches in Thailand, this is the place to visit.

There are lakeside restaurants where families order seafood to eat and sunbeds that are not in the sun but under roof tarps. This is as local as it gets. It might not be a spot most foreigners would enjoy, but it sure as hell was interesting to see. Plus, the view is lovely, so there is no harm in visiting Dok Kate Beach. The area is open 24 hours a day and entry is free.

8. Explore Some of Roi Et's Attractions

Last but not least, if you are visiting Kalasin, you might want to check out some of Roi Et’s attractions like Waterfall Cave Soda and Phra Maha Chedi Chai Mongkhon. These spots are so close to the border between the two provinces that it would be a shame to drive past without seeing them.

In fact, these two attractions are actually closer to Kalasin City than to Roi Et City, making them easier to visit from here, especially if you are already exploring places like Wat Wang Kham nearby or are on your way to Mukdahan after Kalasin.

Waterfall Cave Soda is a beautiful cave located inside a temple where several shrines are built alongside a massive rock cliff. The main shrine is situated behind a waterfall you can hike to. It is very scenic and peaceful, especially during the rainy season when the water flow is strongest.

From the main shrine, you can enjoy stunning views of Roi Et's mountainous landscape. You can also hike further down the waterfall to see more Buddha images. The hike takes you through lush green forest and is especially tranquil when it rains. The temple is open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM, and entry is free.

Phra Maha Chedi Chai Mongkhon on the other hand, is a gigantic temple built on a mountain opposite Waterfall Cave Soda. You can even see the spire of its pagoda from the Waterfall Cave Soda parking lot, which shows just how large the temple is. It is about a 25-minute drive from Waterfall Cave Soda.

Phra Maha Chedi Chai Mongkhon is impressive in every sense. As you enter, you will find a stunningly decorated garden that resembles a European-style garden but with a Buddhist decor twist. At the center stands a massive pagoda flanked by four smaller pagodas. You can climb the main pagoda to the balcony for an incredible mountaintop view.

This temple is truly a sight to behold, and it would be a shame to travel all over Kalasin without visiting this nearby gem. The temple is open daily from 6 AM to 6 PM, and entry is free. If you are planning to drive east of Kalasin, be sure to drop by these two places in Roi Et!

For more things to do in Roi Et, check out:Explore Roi Et: 12 Amazing Things to Do & More

How to Get to Kalasin?

By Flight: The fastest way to get to Kalasin is to fly from Bangkok to Khon Kaen Airport operated by AirAsia, and it should take about one hour. You can browse more flights via Skyscanner.

Once you arrive, you can rent a car from the airport and drive to Kalasin, taking about 1.5 hours. There are many car rental places at the exit terminal of the airport so you can pick one from there, or you can rent a car through DiscoverCars.

By Bus: You can also take a bus from Bangkok to Kalasin. The bus typically leaves from Morchit Bus Terminal and will drop you off at Kalasin Bus Station in about 7.5 hours. The price is about 500 - 600 THB and you can find the schedule and book online here.

That said, it will be quite difficult to find a place to rent a vehicle in Kalasin, as the province is relatively small. Your best bet is to take a bus to Khon Kaen instead and rent a car from there. You'll find more options and much more reliable service. You can check the schedule and book tickets to Khon Kaen online here.

By Car: If you have a car or are renting one, you can also drive from Bangkok to Kalasin. The journey should take about 7 hours depending on the traffic. A bit faster than the bus and you can stop at any places along the way. You can rent a car through DiscoverCars.

How to Get Around Kalasin?

By Motorbike: The cheapest way to get around Kalasin is by renting a motorbike from Khon Kaen and driving to and around the province. You can rent one from Happy Motorbike Rental in Khon Kaen. They are headquartered in Udon Thani and they should also have a shop in Khon Kaen. You just have to contact them via LINE and organize a pick-up location and you are good to go. A scooter should cost 300 THB per day.

By Car: The most convenient way to get around Kalasin is by renting a car from Khon Kaen and driving to and around Kalasin. You can rent a car at Khon Kaen Airport or at Khon Kaen City, depending on how you arrive. You can also rent one straight from Bangkok’s airports and drive up here. It’s a long journey, but if you have the time, there’s plenty to see along the way. You can book a rental through DiscoverCars.