There are places in Thailand where the pace of life seems to slow down, and Khemmarat is one of them.
Located along the Mekong River in Ubon Ratchathani Province, Khemmarat combines a charming riverfront, local restaurants and cafés, traditional culture, and some spectacular scenery along the Mekong. Our visit included a little bit of everything—from relaxing beside the swimming pool to climbing onto dramatic rock formations in the middle of the river. It turned out to be a wonderful little road trip.
Checking Into Laekhong River Resort
After making the drive to Khemmarat, we checked into the Laekhong River Resort.
The hotel provided a comfortable base for exploring the area, but the swimming pool was particularly inviting after the drive. We spent some time relaxing poolside before heading out to explore the riverfront.
Khemmarat’s location directly along the Mekong makes the river the obvious place to head as the afternoon begins to cool.
Sunset Along the Mekong
As the sun began to drop, we took a walk along the river. The Mekong is especially beautiful around sunset, when the light begins to soften and the river takes on a completely different character. There is something wonderfully relaxing about walking along the river with very little agenda other than watching the scenery and enjoying the evening. Eventually, we worked up an appetite.
Dinner Beside the River
We had dinner at Lae Khong Restaurant, located right along the Mekong. Dining beside the river made the meal feel like part of the experience rather than simply a stop for food. With the river nearby and the evening settling in around us, it was a great way to spend our first night in Khemmarat. After dinner, we headed to Laekhong Bar for a few drinks. It was the perfect way to wind down the day—good food, a few drinks, and the Mekong just a few yards away.
An Early Start for Hat Chom Dao
The next morning, we were up early and headed toward Hat Chom Dao. This is where the trip became considerably more adventurous.
We chartered a small boat and headed out onto the Mekong. Rather than simply taking a sightseeing cruise, we were able to stop along the way and climb out onto some of the dramatic rock formations along the river. The scenery was impressive.
The exposed rocks create an almost otherworldly landscape, and being able to actually get out of the boat and walk around on them made the experience much more memorable.
Life on the Mekong
While cruising the river, we also encountered local fishermen. We watched some of them casting their nets into the Mekong, a reminder that this isn’t simply a scenic attraction. The river has been an important part of everyday life for the communities along its banks for generations. Watching the fishermen work while we explored the river provided one of those authentic travel moments that you can’t really schedule. It was simply something we happened to encounter along the way.
An Afternoon at Khemkhong Café
After our time on the Mekong, we headed to Khemkhong Café for some afternoon drinks. After being out on the river in the morning, it was nice to find a comfortable place to sit down and relax. Khemkhong Café provided another opportunity to slow down and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere of Khemmarat before heading out for the evening.
Wat Bung Khi Lek – The White Buddha Temple
One of the most impressive stops on our Khemmarat trip was Wat Bung Khi Lek, also known as the White Buddha Temple or Lan Phra Khao.
The temple is dominated by the enormous Sri Ariya Metrai Chedi, a six-story tower rising about 97 meters into the sky. We were able to take an elevator up the tower, where the higher levels provided wonderful views of the surrounding countryside and the Mekong River. But the real visual surprise was waiting below. Spread across the White Buddha Square were 56 white Buddha statues arranged in neat rows. Seeing so many identical white Buddha images together created an almost surreal scene and made this one of the most memorable temples we’ve encountered in this part of Thailand.
It was a fascinating combination of architecture, religious art, and spectacular views, and definitely a worthwhile stop while exploring the Khemmarat area.
Khemmarat Night Market
As evening arrived, we headed to the local night market. The atmosphere was lively, with vendors selling food and other goods and people filling the streets. But what really caught our attention were several groups dressed in traditional Thai clothing. They were performing traditional Thai dances in the streets, turning the night market into much more than a place to grab dinner.
We wandered through the market, sampling different foods and enjoying the performances. This was one of my favorite parts of the visit because it felt like we were experiencing local culture rather than simply visiting another tourist attraction. After exploring the market and trying a few different foods, we headed back toward the riverfront near our hotel. We finished the evening with a nightcap near the Mekong before calling it a night.
Warichjitra Café and Farm
The following day, it was time to check out and begin making our way onward. Before leaving Khemmarat, however, we made one more stop at Warichjitra Café and Farm. The café and farm offered a completely different atmosphere from the riverfront.
The property is surrounded by landscaped gardens and greenery, creating a peaceful, garden-like setting that encourages you to slow down and stay awhile. After a busy couple of days exploring the Mekong, the café was a relaxing final stop. We enjoyed the surroundings and took some time simply to unwind before continuing our road trip.
Backpack Benji’s Best Bets
If you’re visiting Khemmarat, there are a few things I wouldn’t miss.
- Hat Chom Dao boat trip: This would be my number-one recommendation. Getting out onto the Mekong in a small boat and climbing onto the dramatic rock formations makes for a memorable experience.
- Stay near the river: Khemmarat is all about the Mekong, so staying somewhere within easy walking distance of the riverfront makes it much easier to enjoy the sunsets and evening atmosphere.
- Sunset on the Mekong: Take some time to walk along the river around sunset. You don’t need an organized tour or an expensive attraction—just enjoy the river and the changing light.
- Khemmarat Night Market: Go in the evening and look beyond the food stalls. If traditional performances are taking place, they add a wonderful cultural dimension to the experience.
- Riverfront dinner: Find a restaurant along the Mekong and make dinner part of the sightseeing experience.
- Warichjitra Café and Farm: This is a good choice when you want to slow things down. The landscaped surroundings provide a peaceful change of pace after exploring.
A Relaxing Mekong Escape
Our Khemmarat road trip was a great combination of relaxation, adventure, food, and culture.
We enjoyed the swimming pool at the resort, watched the sunset along the Mekong, had dinner beside the river, explored the river by boat, climbed onto dramatic rock formations, watched fishermen casting their nets, relaxed at cafés, wandered through the night market, sampled local foods, and watched traditional Thai dancing in the streets. Then we finished the trip with a peaceful visit to a garden-like café and farm.
Khemmarat may not be on every tourist’s Thailand itinerary, and that’s part of its appeal. For me, some of the most enjoyable places in Thailand are the ones where you can spend a few days without feeling like you need to rush from one attraction to the next. Khemmarat was exactly that kind of place. The Mekong provided the scenery, the town provided the food and culture, and the relaxed pace provided plenty of time to simply enjoy being there.