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In Northeast Thailand, we came across an otherworldly attraction that combined the beauty of a tropical flower garden and the serenity of a lake. This spectacular site is home to millions of lotus flowers and appropriately named the Red Lotus Sea or Talay Bua Daeng. We’d like to share this beautiful natural attraction in honor of the upcoming Valentine’s Day holiday.
Sights of the Red Lotus Sea (Talay Bua Daeng)
As we approached the water’s edge where small pontoon boats are docked, it was not immediately obvious that this was home to a million pink lotus flowers. The magic happened only after we hopped into a pontoon boat and took a ride towards the lake’s center.
The trek began among lake grasses, lily pads, and murky water, but gradually changed. Bright pink bulbs began appearing, hovering a hand’s length above the water’s surface. The murky water became clear and offered a view of the tangled dark green stalks and tiny fish below.
After ten minutes of humming along in our pontoon boat, our surroundings were transformed, as promised, into the Red Lotus Sea. Millions of lotus flowers stretch across the 600 square acre lake in every direction.
In some areas, lake grasses sprouted through the lotus flowers, sending streaks of bright green through the hot pink horizon. There were well-traveled boat routes among the flowers, giving the illusion of paved roads that snaked and shimmered their way across the water.
There are a few small islands on the lake, home to Buddha statues, shrines, and pagodas. The islands and their structures look as though they are floating among the lotus flowers. Other picturesque moments include birds flying by and local fishermen gliding by on their longboats.
A soft fresh breeze played across the lake and our pontoon’s canopy offered us shade from the late morning sun. The lake is quiet, apart from the low humming of other boats’ motors here and there. We had a peaceful stay on the water, but we can imagine that it would have been made complete if we had brought along food and drink for a picnic while enjoying the scenery.
When is the best time to visit the Red Lotus Sea?
The Red Lotus Sea showcases its beauty during Thailand’s cool season, but the peak blooms occur from the beginning of December to the end of February. The best time of day to see the lotus blossoms is between 6 am until 11 am or 12 pm.
This natural attraction is the perfect place to visit during Valentine’s Day weekend. The Red Lotus Sea Festival is also held in mid-January every year at the nearby Wat Bandiem (วัดบ้านเดียม), which is alternatively referred to as Wat Mahathat Thep Chinda.
Pontoon boats offer rides onto the lake for 45 minutes or 90 minutes. These trips cost 300 and 500 baht, respectively. The pontoon boats have wide seats covered in straw mats and a canopy for shade and can accommodate up to ten passengers. Life vests are also provided. Although boat rides are available all day, the blooms begin to close against the afternoon heat.
Where to Stay
We visited this attraction during a day trip to Udon Thani, but if we were going to spend more time there we would have booked a stay at The Pannarai Hotel. It’s in the heart of the city and goes for less than 50 USD per night.
We’ve also had friends rave about their stay at the Gecko Villa. This is perfect for larger groups so if we had several friends going on a trip we’d splurge and go to that hotel in Udon Thani instead. The added bonus is that it’s not far from the lake!
Where is the Red Lotus Sea?
View Sea of Red Lotuses in a larger map
This attraction is located in Kumphawapi district of the Udon Thani province. Signs for the Red Lotus Sea written in Thai (ทะเลบัวแดง) can be seen as you drive on Route 2 (Mittraphap Road) between Udon Thani and Khon Kaen. Turn at road marker 28 km and follow the signs across the railroad tracks, making several turns before arriving at the lake.
The drive is roughly 50 km or one hour from the Udon Thani Airport and taxis cost around 1,000 baht from the airport. Better yet, rent a car from the airport and drive there yourself.
The access point to the Red Lotus Sea is on the northeast side of the lake and is shown in the map above. In addition to the docked boats, there is a restaurant on-site near the water’s edge and a large dirt parking lot.
The restaurant features about a dozen different dishes including a lotus stem coconut curry and a spicy lotus stem som tam. There are also clean Thai-styled restrooms but we recommend bringing your own tissue and soap or hand sanitizer.
If you find yourself in Udon Thani in the cooler months or plan on taking a trip there with a special someone, make sure to visit the Red Lotus Sea. The only thing better than seeing pictures of it is getting the chance to see it in person!
For more information about the Red Lotus Sea or to arrange a trip for large groups send an email to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) or give them a call at (042) 325-4067 or (042) 334-446.
Hi,can you tell me please , I can see something at the beginning of March ? Thanks
Yes, you should be able to see the blooms at the beginning of March but they may not be as robust as the coolest time of the year (Dec-Feb). Have a great trip!
Hi, enjoyed your blog on the red lotus. When is the festival for 2019? I understand it’s in mid January but what are the dates? 15-17??? I checked the TAT but found nothing. Need to know how to plan since we have limited time. Thank you.
Have you tried emailing the TAT rep for Udon Thani? We are unsure ourselves.
Hello! I’m around december 1st and december 2nd, do you think i could see something considering it’s very early december?? Thank you!!
Yup. “When is the best time to visit the Red Lotus Sea? The Red Lotus Sea showcases its beauty during Thailand’s cool season, but the peak blooms occur from beginning of December to the end of February. The best time of day to see the lotus blossoms is between 6 am until 11 am or 12 pm.” Have a great trip!
Hi there.
not sure someone will reply but i’m going to try anyway.
okay so my parents are visiting in Oct and my mother really wants to see the lotus flowers, but being in Thailand over a year now and knowing its the “hot season” in Oct will it be worth it to go?
thanks in advance
Nita
Thanks for commenting :) October is our favorite month. It starts to cool down a bit (to most foreigners, it is still “hot” though, but we think it feels nice) and the rains how slowed down a lot. The lotus flowers are a cool-weather plant and we were told that they open during very specific months. In fact, the peak blooms occur from beginning of December to the end of February. If you come in October, we can’t guarantee that they will be worth visiting. :/
I actually think the lotus are more correctly called night flowering tropical water lilies than lotus. Lotus are a different species (Nelumbo nucifera) and have rounded leaves which they hold out of the water.. The red ‘lotus’ species probably originated in South America.
You’re right, but the official translation of “bua (บัว)” is “lotus” :) Woops!
This place was magical – but amazingly it was the Green Gecko that took us there, our tour company had never heard of it, and our travel book didn’t even mention it. It is quite simply one of the most spectacular sights, an endless sea of blooms, absolutely stunning. Drifting in a small boat between those lotuses is something I still carry with me.
I don’t think you should be advertising it, too many tourists would spoil it!
Thanks for your comment and kudos to you for visiting the area. Most tourists never even consider visiting Isaan during their short vacations. No need to worry.
Do you think going around this time in March would not be worth it?
The short answer is yes, go, if you really want to go. However, it’s too close to give a definitive answer. We were told that the blossoms are good until the end of February, but what’s another two weeks? (They are close up for the hot season, which has just started). As far as the smoky season rolling in and taking away from the beautiful skyline, it’s been relatively clear in Chiang Mai (where we live) but we have no idea what it’s like in Udon Thani. Or better yet, contact a business (like a hotel) in that area that… Read more »
We are delighted that you enjoyed your trip to the red lotus sea!
You mention our pool villa Gecko Villa which is very close to the lake. Just to be clear, Green Gecko is in fact a separate property. Whilst both offer a private pool and free transfers to the lake, Gecko Villa offers 3 bedrooms and Green Gecko has two bedrooms – although both may be rented for larger groups looking for a full board property while visiting the lake.
Thanks, we’ve updated the information accordingly.
hi there,
whats the best way to go there from udon thani airport?
Hm, ‘best’ is relative, but why not rent a car at the airport and drive yourself there. Have a great trip!
Hi Chris and Angela,
January month is it good see red lotus lake? when is the good season to see red lotus lake?I’m planning to see red lotus see mid of January 2017.Is it good time to see red lotus lake.
Yup! January is a great time to visit the Red Lotus Lake. It will be beautiful. Have a great time!
Reply is late sorry, but I would avoid the stressful marathon you suggest when you would probably miss the blossoms at their best if you are there much before December. The blooms are best seen as soon after sunrise as possible as it can get uncomfortably hot later and the blooms close against the harsh sunshine in any case. Chaing Mai province is huge and despite numerous visits there I’ve never failed to find new things to do and see.
Thanks for the input :) To be safe, go earlier. We were there in mid January in the middle of the day (12-2pm) with a great display of open blooms, but you never know!
I’ve been there during January and it is definitely one of the most beautiful places in Thailand. I would recommend visiting it early in the morning to experience how lotus flowers wake up to life touched by the rising sun. Short video from Red Lotus Flowers: http://bit.ly/2RedLotusLake
Thanks for sharing :)
Hi it is possible to visit the Red Lotus Sea from Chiang mai taken the flight that leaves at 9:35 and arrives 10:35 to Udom Thani and go directily to the lake? What do you think? Thanks in advance Julio
We were told that the blooms are open in the morning when it’s cool/sunny and best conditions are good up until 12pm. They will begin closing in the late afternoon and are completely closed at night. Realistically, you’d probably arrive at the lake around 12:30pm and be on the water by 1pm. Even at that time, we think the flowers will be a wonderful sight – just make sure you go during the cool season (Dec – Feb). Have a great time!
Just discovered this beautiful place and plan to visit next month. Do you know anything about what happens during the festival…is there something special not to be missed, or is it just as wonderful an experience to go at another time, maybe to avoid the crowds? Appreciate your advice!
Contacting the TAT (information at bottom of post) will give you the most up-to-date answers about specific events centered around the flowers. Otherwise if you can make the trip sometime between December to the end of February, that’s when the blooms are the best. Beat the crowds by going early (6am!) Have fun!
Compliments on your Website and the Red Lotus Sea article. Great article and stunning photos! I am an American and have lived in Thailand for 28 years! The advice you give about living abroad is spot on. Best wishes to you both.
Thank you, Brian! We appreciate your kind words, especially coming from a seasoned expat. It’s great to have support from people who’ve been here longer than us :)
Love the photos…They are gorgeous;a real encouragement to visit.
Thanks! Those bajillion pink lotuses were a sight to see!
Good post. We’ll be in Nong Khai for Dec – Feb and will make sure to go check it out.
Frank (bbqboy)
The Red Lotus Sea is gorgeous. You won’t be sorry! We highly recommend making a picnic day out of it and pack a nice meal and drinks to enjoy during your time on the boat.
The Lotus Sea is indeed very pretty. Went there with my friends in February 2014. We arrived early in the morning and it was pretty cold. The restaurant there is run by a British man and his Thai wife. They serve great food too !
We’ve been told this winter was unseasonably cold, but hopefully by you getting there early you had the lake mostly to yourself. We were intrigued by the lotus curry at the onsite Thai restaurant!
Wow, this is stunning! I’ve never seen anything like it! Amazing!
It’s well worth that trip if you are visiting either Udon Thani or Khon Kaen. Pictures can’t do it justice!
wow! I am speechless. I have read a lot of blogs about Thailand, but have never seen anything like this one. Good job on taking a such beautiful pictures. I enjoyed it a lot.
Thanks so much, Young! We really try hard and appreciate the kind words :)
How beautiful! I’m sorry I missed this while in Thailand.
There is always next time, Karisa :)
Wow, this place looks absolutely gorgeous!
It was a nice surprise. We’re glad you like it :)
Cool! Never heard of this either – nice find!
Thanks :)
Guys, this is so gorgeous and I can’t believe I had never heard of it before! Just when I think I’ve seen pretty much everything Thailand has to offer, it goes and surprises me all over again! (I guess that’s what we love about it though, right?)
We hadn’t heard of it either. We have a feeling that Isaan may be overlooked and that there is probably many other amazing things hidden there. Glad that you liked the post, Steph :)
Are the prices per person or per boat? If per person, do they wait until there is a full boat to depart? This looks like anawesome place to visit. Thanks.
It was definitely a cool experience. Prices are per boat. You can wait for a full boat if you want to split up the price, or you can just go as a couple :)
Hi! Thanks for the informations. Does this Red Lotus Lake have any Entry Fee?
Are you tour operator or travel agent? Please let me know. Thanks again for the infos.
As far as we are aware, there is no entrance fee to the Red Lotus Sea, but you do need to pay for a boat if you want to see the flowers (they are in the center of the huge lake and cannot be seen from the shoreline). We are not a tour operator or travel agent.