Location & Access


Gecko Villa is situated in the Northeast of Thailand,  close to the north shore of Nong Han lake, approximately 20 kilometers southeast of  Udon Thani. Depending on your travel plans, we will be pleased to help you plan your trip and of course to pick you up from Udorn Thani (25 minutes away).

A map showing Gecko Villa's position relative to Udon Thani and a general map of Thailand are available here. A clickable / zoomable map of this rice growing may be viewed  here.

By air:
Thai International Airways have three daily flights (50 minutes) from Bangkok on Airbus or Boeing aircraft. Air Asia and Nok Air have low cost flights from Bangkok to Udon Thani, and Nok Air also operates daily flights from Chiang Mai.  (More complete details on flights, airports and airlines may be found on our FAQ page.) 

By train:
Several daily trains from Bangkok each with three classes (approximately 9 hours). A first class compartment for two can be a novel alternative to flying, although you will need to book in advance (see FAQ).

By road:
From Bangkok, a fascinating fly-drive via Khao Yai National Park & Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat).  Alternatively, drive straight to Gecko Villa from Nong Khai if arriving from Vientiane, the capital of Laos.

Car Hire:
Book a car for your stay in Udon, in Thailand or elsewhere directly by clicking here. (This service is provided by CarTrawler of Ireland, and allows you to book at the best available rate, comparing brands such as Avis, Budget, Hertz etc.)

Activities

Learn to cook Thai food
We will be happy to show you how to cook Thai food, concocting sumptuous dishes you can later recreate at home. Try your hand at Isaan specialities such as Spicy Beef Salad with Mint (Laap Neua), and Green Papaya Salad (Som Tam), or try traditional central Thai dishes such as Spicy Prawn Soup (Tom Yam Kung), Grilled King Prawns with Chili, Lime and Coriander  (Kung Pao) etc. There is no charge for this!

Find out more about Thai food here.  

Explore the surroundings
Go walking (or take our bicycles) and explore the surroundings, rich in temples & villages, lakes & farms, and the listed wetlands of Nong Harn. Participate in the giving of alms to monks, or enjoy a local "Puk Xieow" ceremony.  Or fish at the large nearby lake and photograph original scenes & characters. (Further details on photography at and around Gecko Villa is available here.) Should you wish to visit the local school with your children, please do not hesitate to ask!

For some basic Thai phrases & an introduction to the language, click here.

Join the rice planting or harvesting!
Help us plant or harvest the green or golden rice fields - some local rice whisky may help you along. Perhaps you would like to try your hand behind the plough, or even try to ride a water buffalo.

Find out more about rice in Thailand here.

Rockets, Dancing, Drinking...
Watch the rocket festival;  join in local festivals and experience the rhythms of Mor Lam dancing. And if learning our language and culinary secrets gets tiring, enjoy our food and rice whisky and listen by your pool as cicadas take the pulse of the night...

Thai Massage
Relax by the pool and indulge in an hour or two of traditional Thai massage. The local village practitioners will be happy to massage away your aches and pains (approx THB300 / hour.)

Muay Thai
Should you be interested in Thai boxing, we will be happy to arrange for a retired championship boxer to put you through your moves, and show you a few new ones... 

Fireworks & Field Mice!
For special occasions, we will be happy to organize a firework display for you or arrange for a late night session of field-mouse hunting with muskets, accompanied by the local champion! If you dare not eat your catch, you can always enjoy a rice whisky instead! 

Ban Chiang & its Museum
The National Museum & Dig Site displays antiques, including earthenware pots from 4,000 to 7,500 years old. "The most important prehistoric settlement so far discovered in SE Asia" (UNESCO). For more details, click here.

Na Kha Village is famous for its hand woven cloth, and Na Yoong Nam Som Park for its 30 metre waterfall. At Phu Phra Bat Park see pre-historic paintings over cliff faces; caves, caverns & relics.

Nong Khai lies on the banks of the mighty Mekong River, opposite the Lao capital, Vientiane. Catch the spectacular Longboat Races if you can!

The Road to Loei: an adventurous trip by bicycle or car follows the Mekong river along the Lao border to the town of Loei, with dramatic hilly terrain, jungle views & waterfalls.

Golf in Udon Thani: There are five golf courses near Udon Thani: 
Victory Park near Nong Khai (18 holes - 4 x par 3, 10 x par 4, 4 x par 5) 
Sri Thani (9 holes - 2 x par 3, 5 x par 4, 2 x par 5) 
Udon Golf Club (At KM18  to Nong Bua Lamphu) (9 holes - 2 x par 3, 5 x par 4, 2 x par 5) 
Airforce (Lions Military) (9 holes - 2 x par 3, 5 x par 4, 2 x par 5) 
Army (Nong Samrong) (9 holes - 5 x par 3, 2 x par 4, 2 x par 5)