Air Asia to launch Phuket – Ubon Ratchathani direct route
The view from the Preah Vihear temple complex is huge - if the complex is not ringed by Thai and Cambodian soldiers pointing guns at one another.
AirAsia is to start direct flights three times a week between Phuket and Ubon Ratchathani. The new service, starting on October 12, will be available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Ubon, as the city is generally known, is tucked into the southeast corner of Isan, with Cambodia just to the south and Laos to the east.
Considering that it was founded 230 years ago, Ubon Ratchathani – the name means Royal City of the Lotus - is surprisingly lacking in attractions. WikiTravel remarks, “Ubon is a little short on must-see sights, although there are a few mildly interesting temples.”
Not far from Ubon, the Second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge links Mukdahan in Thailand with Savannakhet in Laos, across the Mekong. Photo by Premica Pata.
It is, however, close to the Mekong River, a truly majestic sight when in flood. A little to the north of Ubon is Mukhdahan, which is linked to Laos by a bridge across the Mekong. Visa-free entry into Laos for limited visits is possible across this bridge.
An hour or so to the southwest of Ubon is the ancient Khmer temple complex of Preah Vihear (Khao Phra Viharn is Thai). It’s been the centre of tensions between Thailand and Cambodia for the past year or so, and is therefore closed to the public.
However, when it is eventually reopened, it is well worth visiting, not only for the pre-Angkor ruins – which are still in pretty good condition despite being a battleground several times in the past 40 years – but also for the huge views of Cambodia from the top of the complex. (For more details and updates, try here.)
Wat Pah Nanachart. Photo courtesy of picasaweb.google.com/watnongpahpong
Also close to Ubon is Wat Pa Nananchart (the International Forest Wat), well known among the spiritually inclined for its meditation courses for foreigners.
As usual, AirAsia will kick-start the new Phuket-Ubon route with low fares, starting at 690 baht each way. Travelers can book online between August 25 and September 5 for travel between October 12 and September 11, 2011.
In addition, AirAsiaGo, the airline’s travel portal, will also offer a related four-day-three-night accommodation-and-tour package starting from 2,779 baht per person in both Phuket and Ubon Ratchathani. Details do not appear to be online yet.
AirAsia made Phuket a regional hub in November last year. In addition to Ubon, the airline now has direct services linking the island to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Udon Thani, Hong Kong, Singapore, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh and Kuala Lumpur.
[...] for example the new route from Phuket to Ubon Ratchathani. If you were quick enough to buy a ticket on that route before September 5, or before they all sold [...]