Things to Do in Ubon Ratchathani in May
May weather, activities, events & insider tips
May Weather in Ubon Ratchathani
Is May Right for You?
Advantages
- Lush countryside at peak green - the rice paddies around Sam Phan Bok and Pha Taem are brilliant emerald after early rains, making photography spectacular before monsoon clouds arrive
- Fewer tourists than cool season - accommodation prices drop 30-40% from December-February rates, and you'll have Wat Nong Bua and Wat Supattanaram Worawihan practically to yourself on weekdays
- Mango season peaks - local markets overflow with Nam Dok Mai and Khieo Sawoei varieties at ฿40-60/kg, and street vendors sell fresh-cut mango with sticky rice for ฿30-50 instead of the ฿60-80 you'd pay in high season
- Visakha Bucha Day usually falls in May - this major Buddhist holiday brings candlelit processions at temples citywide, with the most impressive ceremony at Wat Thung Si Mueang where thousands of locals participate after sunset when temperatures finally drop
Considerations
- Heat is genuinely challenging - 34°C (93°F) with 70% humidity means outdoor activities between 11am-3pm are miserable, and you'll sweat through clothes within 20 minutes of leaving air conditioning
- Afternoon storms disrupt plans - rain typically hits between 2pm-5pm on about 10 days throughout the month, and while it cools things down, it can strand you at temples or markets without covered walkways for 30-45 minutes
- Mekong River levels unpredictable - water flow varies wildly in May as upstream dams adjust for rainy season, sometimes making boat trips to Sam Phan Bok impossible or limiting access to the rock formations you came to see
Best Activities in May
Pha Taem National Park sunrise visits
May mornings offer the clearest views before monsoon season fully arrives in June. The 4,000-year-old cliff paintings are best photographed in soft early light, and you'll avoid the brutal midday heat entirely. Temperatures at 6am hover around 23°C (73°F) versus the 34°C (93°F) you'd face later. The Mekong River valley stretches into Laos below, and on clear May mornings visibility can reach 30 km (18.6 miles). Park opens at 6am, and you want to arrive by 6:30am for optimal light on the rock art.
Thung Si Mueang Park evening activities
This central park becomes Ubon's social hub after 5pm when temperatures drop to tolerable levels. Locals gather for aerobics classes, jogging around the 1.2 km (0.75 mile) perimeter path, and street food from vendors who set up along the southern edge. May evenings are actually pleasant here - around 28°C (82°F) with occasional breezes off the small lake. The park hosts occasional cultural performances on weekends, and you'll see more authentic local life in 30 minutes here than at any tourist attraction.
Wat Pa Nanachat temple stays
This international forest monastery accepts visitors year-round, but May's heat actually makes the experience more authentic to traditional monastic life. The daily schedule runs 3am-9pm with meditation, chanting, and one meal at 8am. You'll sleep in simple huts, follow eight precepts, and experience how monks manage Thailand's climate through routine rather than air conditioning. The forest canopy provides natural cooling, though you'll still feel the 70% humidity. This is genuinely challenging but transformative for those interested in Buddhist practice beyond tourist temple visits.
Nong Bua Market morning food tours
May brings peak season for tropical fruits that define Isan cuisine - mangoes, rambutans, longans, and the pungent durian that locals actually prefer in hot weather for its cooling properties according to traditional Thai medicine. The market runs 5am-9am daily, with the best selection between 6am-7:30am when it's still relatively cool at 25-26°C (77-79°F). You'll find prepared dishes like som tam (papaya salad), gai yang (grilled chicken), and sticky rice for ฿30-50, plus seasonal specialties like mango with sweet fish sauce that tourists rarely try.
Sam Phan Bok geological formations
The Grand Canyon of Thailand becomes accessible in May as water levels drop before monsoon flooding. These 3,000 eroded holes in the Mekong riverbed create an otherworldly landscape, but timing is critical - water must be low enough to expose the formations but not so low that boat access is impossible. May sits in this sweet spot most years, though you'll want to check current conditions. The site is 120 km (74.5 miles) east of Ubon and requires a full day trip. Morning visits are essential both for light and heat management.
Wat Nong Bua temple complex exploration
This replica of India's Mahabodhi Temple offers the most impressive architecture in Ubon without the crowds of more famous temples. The white chedi rises 50 m (164 ft) and the surrounding galleries feature detailed murals depicting Buddhist cosmology. May's low tourist season means you'll often have entire sections to yourself, though the heat reflecting off white stone surfaces is intense between 10am-3pm. Early morning visits around 7am-9am or late afternoon after 4pm are vastly more comfortable and offer better photography light on the ornate details.
May Events & Festivals
Visakha Bucha Day
Commemorating Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death, this falls on the full moon of the sixth lunar month, usually in May. Temples throughout Ubon hold candlelit processions called wien tien where devotees circle the main hall three times clockwise holding flowers, incense, and candles. Wat Thung Si Mueang in the city center draws the largest crowds with processions starting around 7pm after sunset. Alcohol sales are prohibited nationwide, and government offices close. It's worth experiencing for the atmosphere, though expect temples to be genuinely crowded with local worshippers rather than tourists.