Day 5: Isan & Northern Thailand Road Trip: Ancient Ruins, River Origins & Frog Temple

Day 5 of our 30-day road trip through Isan and Northern Thailand

We check out of the Ozone Hotel in Korat and hit the road, sharing real-time commentary as we drive through sugar cane fields, stop at Amazon Café, explore Thai rest-stop gas stations, and show the surprisingly cheap cost of eating local Thai food.

Our first major stop is Si Thep Historical Park, one of Thailand’s most fascinating and lesser-visited ancient sites. We then continue north to Khao Klong Nok, followed by a visit to the birthplace of the Chao Phraya River in Nakhon Sawan — the river that flows through Bangkok and defines much of Thailand.

We finish the day by climbing to the top of Wat Khiriwong (the famous Frog Temple) for panoramic views over Nakhon Sawan.

This video is part of a 30-day slow travel journey showing the real Thailand — history, roadside life, food prices, and places most tourists never see.

📍 Locations in this video:

Korat (Nakhon Ratchasima)
Si Thep Historical Park
Khao Klong Nok
Nakhon Sawan
Chao Phraya River source
Frog Temple viewpoint

👍 If you enjoy long-form travel, road trips, or off-the-beaten-path Thailand, consider subscribing — new videos posted regularly.

00:00 Ozone Hotel checkout
00:40 A Map of Today’s Journey
01:16 Road commentary
06:49 Lunch prices
08:30 Si Thep Historical Park
19:21 Khao Klong Nok UNESCO Site
23:47 Thoughts on Touring Isan
26:23 Nakhon Sawan
28:05 Chao Phraya origin
38:30 Frog Temple