Things to Do in Ubon Ratchathani in August
August weather, activities, events & insider tips
August Weather in Ubon Ratchathani
Is August Right for You?
Advantages
- Green season photography is spectacular - the countryside around Ubon is lush and vibrant in August, with rice paddies at peak green and waterfalls running strong at Pha Taem National Park and Sam Pan Bok. The Mekong River runs full, creating dramatic scenery that's impossible to capture during dry season.
- Fewer international tourists mean authentic local experiences - August falls outside peak tourist season, so temple visits feel genuinely peaceful, restaurants cater primarily to locals with full Thai menus and better prices, and you'll actually interact with Ubon residents rather than other travelers.
- Candle Festival preparation season offers unique cultural access - while the main Asahna Bucha festival typically falls in July, August brings the aftermath and preparation for upcoming merit-making ceremonies. You'll see wax carving workshops still operating, temple decorations being crafted, and locals practicing traditional arts without the festival crowds.
- Hotel rates drop 30-40% compared to cool season - accommodation costs in August are genuinely lower, with mid-range hotels around ฿800-1,200 per night versus ฿1,500-2,000 in November-February. You can upgrade your stay significantly for the same budget or save substantially on identical rooms.
Considerations
- Afternoon rain disrupts outdoor plans about 10 days of the month - those 70% humidity levels tend to build into downpours between 2pm-5pm. Not every day, but enough that you need backup indoor plans and shouldn't schedule critical outdoor activities during afternoon hours without flexibility.
- Heat and humidity make midday temple visits genuinely uncomfortable - with UV index at 8 and that 70% humidity, walking around outdoor temple complexes between 11am-3pm feels exhausting. You'll sweat through clothing quickly, and the experience becomes more about enduring heat than enjoying architecture.
- Some Mekong riverbank activities get canceled during high water - when the river runs full in August, certain sandbank picnic spots and low-lying riverside restaurants around Khong Chiam might be partially submerged or inaccessible. This varies year to year based on upstream rainfall in Laos and China.
Best Activities in August
Pha Taem National Park sunrise and cliff walks
August mornings at Pha Taem are actually perfect - the air is clear after overnight rain, temperatures sit around comfortable levels before 9am, and the Mekong River below runs dramatically full. The 4,000-year-old rock paintings along the cliff face are best photographed in soft morning light, and you'll have the viewpoints largely to yourself. The trails can get slippery after rain, so decent footwear matters, but the greenery is at peak lushness. Plan to arrive before 6am for sunrise, finish walking by 10am before heat builds.
Ubon Ratchathani city temple cycling routes
Early morning temple cycling works brilliantly in August - start at 6:30am when it's genuinely pleasant, visit Wat Thung Si Muang and Wat Nong Bua before 9am, then retreat indoors before midday heat. The rain actually helps because streets are cleaner, there's less dust in the air, and fewer motorbikes clog the roads during morning hours. You'll see monks on alms rounds, local markets setting up, and temple grounds being tended without tourist groups. Afternoon rain means you should finish cycling by 1pm.
Mekong River sunset viewing at Khong Chiam
The two-color river phenomenon at Khong Chiam where the Mun River meets the Mekong is more dramatic in August when both rivers run full and fast. The color contrast between muddy Mun and clearer Mekong shows up better with higher water volume. Late afternoon timing around 5:30-6:30pm works perfectly - you miss midday heat, often catch post-rain golden light, and the riverside restaurants are setting up for dinner service. The 80 km (50 mile) drive from Ubon makes a good half-day trip.
Traditional wax carving and handicraft workshop visits
August is actually ideal for seeing traditional wax carving because artisans work year-round preparing for various merit-making ceremonies, not just the July Candle Festival. The indoor workshops provide perfect rainy-day activities, and you'll get genuine one-on-one time with craftspeople rather than fighting festival crowds. Ban Pa Ao village, about 15 km (9 miles) north of Ubon, has several family workshops where you can watch carving, try basic techniques, and purchase directly from makers at better prices than festival stalls.
Sam Pan Bok Grand Canyon viewpoint during high water
The Mekong's Grand Canyon at Sam Pan Bok transforms in August when the river rises to cover many of the rock holes that give it the name. While you lose some of the dramatic rock formations visible in dry season, you gain a completely different landscape - powerful water flows, dramatic currents, and the sense of the Mekong's real force. The 120 km (75 mile) journey from Ubon through rural Isaan countryside is scenic in green season. Morning visits before 11am avoid the worst heat.
Ubon night market food exploration
Evening markets are genuinely better in August because you're eating when locals eat, not when tour groups eat. The night markets around Thung Si Mueang area and the weekend walking street operate 5pm-10pm, perfectly timed after afternoon rains clear. You'll find seasonal fruits at peak ripeness, grilled Mekong fish, and Isaan specialties like som tam and larb at authentic prices of ฿40-80 per dish. The post-rain evening air is actually pleasant, and the crowds are almost entirely Thai families.
August Events & Festivals
Seasonal merit-making ceremonies at major temples
August falls during Buddhist Rains Retreat when monks stay in their temples for intensive study. While not a tourist event, you'll witness weekly merit-making ceremonies at temples like Wat Thung Si Muang and Wat Supattanaram where locals bring food offerings and participate in chanting. These happen most commonly on wan phra (Buddhist holy days based on lunar calendar). Visitors are welcome to observe respectfully from the sides - it's genuine religious practice, not performance.