Around 40 kilometres from Nakhon Ratchasima city lies Khon Buri, a small rural district where farmland, forests, mountains and water meet. Once rarely considered a tourist destination, Khon Buri is gradually revealing its quiet beauty to travellers searching for meaningful experiences beyond the usual routes.

Although the district has grown over time, it has retained its unhurried rural character. Cassava fields stretch towards forested hills, local communities continue to live closely with the land and water, and many places still feel wonderfully untouched.

Among Khon Buri’s emerging hidden gems, two natural attractions stand out: Pha Sam Kloe, a dramatic viewpoint surrounded by forest, and Mun Bon Reservoir, home to an extraordinary landscape of traditional fishing lift nets.

Pha Sam Kloe, locally known as Pha Mae Plod, is located on Khao Makha within the Khon Buri National Reserved Forest, near the boundary between Ban Mai and Khok Krachai subdistricts.

Part of the experience lies in the journey itself. The final section leaves the main road and continues along a narrow, unpaved route through cassava plantations. Conditions can vary considerably, especially during the rainy season, so the journey should be planned carefully and preferably made with someone familiar with the local area.

At the end of the road, three distinctive rock formations project naturally from the mountainside. Together, they form the viewpoint known as Pha Sam Kloe, or the “Three Companions Cliff.”

From the viewpoint, the landscape opens into a wide panorama of green rice fields, lines of eucalyptus trees, distant hills and a shimmering body of water on the horizon. Forest surrounds the cliff, creating a peaceful place to slow down, listen to the wind and appreciate Khon Buri from above.

Local residents often say the view is most beautiful at sunset, when the final light disappears behind the horizon. However, because the access road is narrow and unlit, visiting in the morning or early afternoon may be a safer and more comfortable choice, particularly for first-time visitors.

Pha Sam Kloe remains a natural area rather than a developed attraction. Travellers should keep a safe distance from the cliff edge, avoid climbing onto unstable rocks and take all rubbish away. Visiting in small groups also helps reduce pressure on the surrounding forest.

Mun Bon Reservoir was created to store water for agriculture and has become an important resource for communities throughout Khon Buri. Its vast waters support farming, fishing and local livelihoods, while also creating several scenic places to visit.

The better-known side of the reservoir includes the dam, small shops and sandy waterfront areas. Yet one of its most fascinating sights is hidden further upstream, where the water becomes part of a working fishing landscape.

Across this section of the reservoir stand more than 100 traditional fishing devices known in Thai as yor—large square nets attached to wooden or metal frames and raised from the water by hand or pulley. Seen together across the lake, they create such a distinctive scene that local people have named the area Talay Yor, or the “Sea of Lift Nets.”

From the rainy season through the beginning of the cool season, the reservoir is often at its most atmospheric. In the early morning, mist drifts across the water and wraps around the surrounding mountains, while silhouettes of the fishing nets rise quietly through the haze.

Local boat services now offer visitors an opportunity to travel closer to the lift nets and observe the fishermen at work. This is more than a sightseeing excursion—it is a window into a way of life shaped by water, seasonal rhythms and knowledge passed through generations.

Because Talay Yor is also a working fishing area, visitors should avoid disturbing the equipment or interrupting local activities. Choosing community-operated boats, following local guidance and purchasing products or services directly from residents are simple ways to ensure that tourism contributes positively to the people who care for this landscape.

Travellers with additional time can continue exploring Khon Buri with visits to the 100-Year-Old Wooden Bridge in Khok Krachai and Wat Nong Khok Phrom Nimit in Tabaek Ban. Together, these places add elements of local history, community life and spiritual heritage to a nature-focused journey.

Khon Buri’s charm lies in the fact that many of its attractions remain closely connected to forests, farmland and local livelihoods. Responsible travel is therefore essential.

Visitors are encouraged to travel in small groups, stay on existing routes, avoid leaving waste, respect wildlife and farming areas, and use local guides or community services whenever possible. Access conditions and boat operations may change according to weather and water levels, particularly during the rainy season, so checking local conditions before travelling is recommended.

Khon Buri may no longer be completely unknown, but it still offers something increasingly rare: the chance to experience nature without separating it from the people and traditions that belong to the landscape.

For travellers seeking a quieter side of Khorat, Pha Sam Kloe and the Sea of Lift Nets reveal a destination where natural beauty and local life exist side by side.

Pacific Leisure can create a privately guided, conservation-minded journey to Khon Buri, with carefully planned transportation, local coordination and experiences that support the surrounding communities.

Let us take you beyond the familiar routes—and introduce you to a hidden side of Thailand worth travelling gently to discover.

Editor in Chief : Nampetch Siramanon
Editor: Pacific Leisure (Thailand)
Content Creator : Mr. Saroj Na Ayutthaya