Sam Pan Bok means the 3000 holes. This amazing piece of nature is located 120 km from Ubon Ratchathani, near the Laotian border. It is also called the Grand Canyon of Siam and it is true that the smaller rock formations can remind you of its American counterpart. It is small rocky desert with holes, probably 3000 but I must admit, we have not recounted, often with water inside. And two arms of a river.
You will notice some curiosities like a hole with the shape of heart, another with the shape of Mickey Mouse's head or a rock that looks like a dog's head, for instance. The game is to find them. It is better, if possible, to visit Sam Pan Bok at the beginning or at the end of the day when the heat is bearable because there is no tree and therefore no shadow. You can take a longtail ride on the river for 300 baht, but what is really interesting here are the holes and small cracks which are only accessible by feet. Photograpphy enthusiasts will probably enjoy the place a lot, others may be a little less excited. Just before arriving, two kilometers before Sam Pan Bok, the road splits in two parts, one with a paved path on the right and a wide dirt road on the left. The most interesting part is the one at the end of the dirt road. But the only restaurant there is very expensive. Prefer the restaurants at the end of the paved road. Here is also the only resort from where you can go to Sam Pan Bok by feet.
Note that according to our information, a dam project will drown the place under water within 5 years so if you want to discover Sam Pan Bok hurry up!