It’s that time of the year: Udon Thani’s Red Lotus Sea is blooming

Bangkok, 30 November, 2020 – Each year from November to February, what’s known as the ‘Red Lotus Sea’ or Talay Bua Daeng appears in the Northeastern province of Udon Thani.

As the name suggests, this is when millions of pink water lilies come into bloom on Nong Han Lake, about 40 km from Udon Thani city. It’s a sight the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) says shouldn’t be missed by flower-lovers and anyone who appreciates a colourful photo opportunity.

The best time to see the Red Lotus Sea is in the morning from around 06.00 – 11.00 Hrs. before the sun becomes too strong and the flowers begin to close up.

Nothing much can really be seen from the shore of the lake, and a boat must be hired to take visitors out to the blooming flowers in all their glory. There are varying sizes of boat and trip length, but this usually ranges from around 45 – 90 minutes. The larger boats can accommodate about eight people while there are smaller ones suitable for singles or a couple.

The boat will typically stop during the trip among the flowers for passengers to pose for photos, and the smaller boats are able to go further into the blooms. The lake itself is shallow and in most places is only around two or three feet deep.