Nong Bua Lamphu

Nong Bua Lamphu is a small Isan province with an outsized claim to fame: Erawan Cave (Tham Erawan), a dramatic cavern containing a naturally formed stalagmite that uncannily resembles the three-headed elephant Erawan from Hindu-Buddhist mythology. The surrounding Phu Kao-Phu Phan Kham National Park has sandstone formations, cliff viewpoints, and forest trails that see almost zero foreign visitors.

The provincial capital is a quiet town with a pleasant lakeside park (the "Nong Bua" lake that gives the province its name) and a modest night market. Wat Tham Klong Pen, a forest monastery in a limestone cave system, draws meditation retreats. The province borders the Mekong region and shares Isan's trademark cuisine — the local markets serve excellent sticky rice, som tam, and grilled meats. Nong Bua Lamphu is not a destination in its own right, but Erawan Cave alone is worth a stop if you're in the Udon Thani-Loei corridor.