Things to Do in Ubon Ratchathani in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
March Weather in Ubon Ratchathani
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
96°F (35°C)
High Temp
73°F (23°C)
Low Temp
1.1 inches (28 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Occasional regional haze from agricultural burning may reduce long-distance visibility and affect air quality for sensitive individuals.
Is March Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + The heat is still manageable, before midday, making it the last comfortable month before the true furnace of April and May sets in.
- + The rice paddies in the surrounding countryside are still a vivid, almost electric green, a perfect backdrop for temple visits and river trips that become a dusty yellow later in the year.
- + Crowds are thin - you'll have the sandstone carvings at Wat Phra That Nong Bua almost to yourself, a luxury impossible during major festivals.
- + The Mun River is at its clearest and most inviting, good for the kind of lazy afternoon boat trips that locals swear by to beat the afternoon heat.
Considerations
- − That 'variable' weather descriptor isn't marketing fluff - you can get a morning of blistering sun followed by a sudden, torrential 30-minute downpour that floods the soi behind Rajabhat University in minutes.
- − The air quality can be surprisingly hazy, not from city pollution. But from the distant, seasonal agricultural burning in the surrounding provinces, which occasionally casts a greyish pall over the skyline.
- − Some of the smaller, family-run eateries in the Warin Chamrap district might be closed for extended periods, as this is a common time for local holidays and family visits upcountry.
Best Activities in March
Top things to do during your visit
Mun River Boat Tours
March is arguably the best month for this. The river level is ideal - not so high that the current is dangerous, not so low that you're scraping sandbars. The water has a clarity you won't see again until next dry season, and the breeze off the surface is the city's natural air conditioning. Sunset tours are memorable, as the light turns the sandstone of Wat Thung Si Muang a deep gold.
Booking Tip: Look for operators with long, traditional wooden boats (reu-a sai) rather than speedboats. These move slower, are more stable, and the captains tend to know the river's history. You can usually arrange a trip directly at the piers near the city's main riverfront parks. See current options in the booking section below for licensed guides.
Countryside Temple Cycling
This is a peak-season activity elsewhere. But in Ubon Ratchathani's March, the backroads are empty and the morning air, while warm, is still fresh. The flat terrain around the city is good for casual cycling, leading to lesser-known gems like Wat Ban Na Muang with its serene frog pond, or the towering Buddha image at Wat Pa Phu Kon. The scent of blooming frangipani trees often hangs heavy in the temple courtyards.
Booking Tip: Aim for a start time no later than 7:30 AM to beat the strongest sun. Many guesthouses rent decent mountain bikes. For guided routes that include temple entry explanations and a proper lunch stop at a local farmhouse, booking a day or two ahead through a licensed tour service is your best bet - check the widget for current offerings.
Local Market & Street Food Walks
The city's famous night markets, like the large Talat Ton Pho, are fully operational but blissfully free of tourist queues. This is when you'll get a seat at the decades-old stalls serving Ubon specialties: kai yang (grilled chicken) with sticky rice that's still warm in the bamboo container, or som tam pla ra (papaya salad with fermented fish sauce) that packs a pungent, savory punch. The sizzle of meats on charcoal grills is the soundtrack.
Booking Tip: No formal booking needed for the market itself. But if you want to navigate the sheer variety and understand the dishes, a local food-focused guide for an evening is a worthwhile investment. They'll know which vendor has perfected their recipe over 30 years. Look for tours that emphasize 'local eats' over 'street food' generally.
Phu Chong Nayoi National Park Day Trips
The park's signature waterfalls, like the multi-tiered Tad Ton and Tad E-Tu, are still flowing strongly from the tail end of the wet season. But the hiking trails are dry underfoot. The humidity under the canopy is high. But the temperature is a good 5-8°C (9-14°F) cooler than in the city. You'll hear the constant chatter of gibbons and the rush of water long before you see the falls.
Booking Tip: This requires a vehicle. Join-in group day trips from Ubon city are the most straightforward option and usually include park entry fees and a basic lunch. Book at least 3-4 days ahead to ensure a seat, as these tours don't run daily in the low season. Verify that your operator provides registered national park guides.
Historical & Cultural Temple Tours
The city's 'Big Three' temples - Wat Nong Bua with its beautiful sandstone reliefs, Wat Thung Si Muang with its museum of local history, and Wat Sri Ubon Rattanaram with its unique Lao-style architecture - are all open-air experiences. March's dry, if hot, conditions mean you can explore their extensive grounds at your own pace without dodging rain. The polished teak floors inside the ordination halls feel cool underfoot.
Booking Tip: While you can visit independently, the nuance is in the details a guide provides: the story behind a particular mural, the reason for a unique architectural feature. Half-day guided tours that combine transport between these spread-out sites are efficient and informative. See the booking section for culturally-focused guided visits.
Where to Stay in Ubon Ratchathani in March
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for March travellers.
March Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Late February or Early March (varies by lunar calendar)
Makha Bucha Day Observances
This nationally important Buddhist holy day (date varies, typically late February/early March) is observed with quiet reverence in Ubon Ratchathani. The real experience isn't in a major spectacle. But in the evening candlelit processions (wian tian) at temples across the city. Wat Sri Ubon Rattanaram is beautiful for this, with hundreds of flickering lights circling the main chedi under the stars. It's solemn, moving, and has a glimpse into living religious practice.
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View Ubon Ratchathani Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
The best iced coffee in Ubon Ratchathani isn't at a fancy cafe; it's from the decades-old stand in the covered section of Talat Kao, the old market. They use a traditional Thai sock filter and sweeten it with palm sugar. The result is smoky, strong, and cuts through the humidity.
Locals escape the peak afternoon heat (2-4 PM) not in their air-conditioned rooms. But in the public library at Rajabhat University or the cool, tiled halls of the Ubon Ratchathani National Museum. Both are quiet, free, and fascinating.
If you see a pickup truck selling grilled bananas (gluay ping) on the roadside, stop. March is when a specific local variety is in season, and they're caramelized over charcoal until the skin is blackened and the inside is soft and fragrant. A perfect roadside snack.
For sunset, skip the obvious riverfront. Instead, head to the top floor of the Central Plaza shopping mall parking garage. It sounds odd. But you get a 360-degree view of the city lighting up against the deep orange sky, with the Mun River a silver ribbon in the distance.
Avoid These Mistakes
Underestimating the sun's strength between 10 AM and 3 PM and scheduling back-to-back outdoor activities. You'll be exhausted by lunch. Temples in the morning, long lunch and a museum in the heat of the day, river or market in the late afternoon is the local rhythm.
Assuming all 'rainy days' are washouts. A 70% chance of rain here in March usually means a brief, violent downpour that clears to a beautiful evening. Don't cancel plans. Just delay them by an hour.
Sticking only to the city center. The soul of Ubon Ratchathani province is in its villages and forests. Not renting a car or joining a tour to see Pha Taem National Park's cliff paintings or the serene Sam Pan Bok rock formations is missing the point.
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