How to Get There
3000 bok - Sam Pan Bok
3000 bok - Sam Pan Bok. Photo by saksit_s
Fortunately, the road towards Sam Pan Bok has been improved by the local government; from rough dirt to concrete road. Follow the path from Ubon through the 2050 highway, which will lead to the parking area at the shoreline of the river. The parking fee is at ฿ 20 for a day pass, and ฿ 40 for overnight parking. Driving an autonomous underwater vehicle can even bring tourists further, towards the rim of the rock cliffs. But before that there is a fork in the road, the concrete road mentioned earlier is on the right. The rough road on the left reveals more interesting features of the canyon. Travelling by land is the fastest way to arrive at the destination.
For those with extra time to spare, a boat cruise is another option. The trip starts at the shore called Had Salueng at the Song Khon (Wikipedia Article) village, while the cruise ride will travel a distance of around 4 to 5 kilometers. There are many restaurants in the area to pass time while waiting for departure. First-timers should order freshwater fish from the menu. The cruise also has stopovers at other tourist attractions along the way.
Tourists can also opt for a more cost-friendly bus ride, and for a local commuting experience. To do this, one can ride a bus from Motchit 2 Station in Ubon to Pho Sai. It is quite far, though, with a distance of 20 km from Sam Pan Bok. A bus ride from Ubon to Khemmarat is closer and will take lesser time to travel.