Sisaket

Sisaket's Khao Phra Wihan (Preah Vihear) dispute with Cambodia made international headlines, but the main Khmer temple is across the border. What Sisaket does have is Prasat Hin Wat Sa Kamphaeng Yai — a beautifully carved 11th-century Khmer sanctuary that rivals the more famous ruins at Phimai and Phanom Rung, without the visitor numbers. The intricate lintels and pediments are among the finest Angkorian carvings in Thailand.

The province is deep, rural Isan with strong Khmer cultural roots — many locals speak Khmer alongside Thai and Lao. The garlic capital of Thailand is in Sisaket's Uthumphon Phisai district, and the annual garlic festival is exactly what it sounds like. Pha Mo E Daeng cliff offers views into Cambodia, and the surrounding Khao Phra Wihan National Park has forest trails and waterfalls. Sisaket city has a good morning market and the distinctive local dish of som tam with pickled fish. It's off the tourist radar entirely, but Khmer temple enthusiasts will find it rewarding.