Isan & Northeast

Thailand's undiscovered heartland — Isan is the largest, poorest, and most authentic region of the country. A third of all Thais live here, yet hardly any tourists venture this way. The result: the real Thailand without filters. Ancient Khmer temples in the jungle, the oldest Bronze Age heritage in Southeast Asia, the mighty Mekong as the border with Laos, and the best cuisine in the entire country — spicy, sour, funky, and incomparable.