Amnat Charoen

Deep in the Isan heartland, Amnat Charoen is one of Thailand's smallest and most overlooked provinces — which means you'll have its highlights almost entirely to yourself. The main draw is Phu Sa Dok Bua, a flat-topped mountain in Phu Pha Yon National Park where fields of rock lotus bloom across sandstone in the cool season. The park's weird mushroom-shaped rock formations and cliff-edge viewpoints rival anything in more famous Isan parks, minus the crowds.

The provincial capital has a relaxed Mekong-influenced feel, with a solid morning market and the revered Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang Buddha. Wat Tham Saeng Phet, a cave temple tucked into a forested hillside, is worth the short drive. Amnat Charoen also sits on the Mekong trail toward Ubon Ratchathani, making it a natural stopover if you're exploring the eastern Isan loop.