Top 5 best scooter rentals in Ubon Ratchathani

Picture riding along the Mekong with the river on one side and rice fields on the other, the road empty enough that you can stop whenever a view catches your eye. That's what a morning on two wheels around Ubon Ratchathani feels like — whether you're climbing toward the cliffside paintings at Pha Taem National Park or chasing sunset light over the wind-carved rocks at Sao Chaliang. This is a corner of Thailand built for slow discovery, and a scooter is the easiest way to have it.

Ubon's best sights sit well outside town — often 60 to 100 km out along the Mekong toward Khong Chiam — and there's no bus route that gets you there without hours of waiting or an expensive chartered taxi. The city centre itself is refreshingly easy to ride, with none of the gridlock you'd fight in Bangkok or Chiang Mai, and the highways out to the river cliffs and the dam are smooth, well-marked and scenic enough to be part of the trip. If you want to **rent a scooter in Ubon Ratchathani**, this is exactly the kind of place where it pays off.

Top 10 things to see in Ubon Ratchathani by scooter

1. Pha Taem National Park — cliffside prehistoric rock paintings and a sunrise viewpoint looking straight across the Mekong into Laos.
2. Sao Chaliang — surreal, wind-eroded mushroom-shaped rock formations near the river, usually visited on the same loop as Pha Taem.
3. Wat Sirindhorn Wararam (Wat Phu Prao) — a hilltop temple known for its glow-in-the-dark "Dhamma tree" mural, best seen at dusk.
4. Wat Phra That Nong Bua — a striking white chedi modelled on India's Bodh Gaya stupa, an easy short hop from the centre.
5. Thung Si Mueang Park — the city's central park and home of the candle-sculpture displays, a natural spot to start or end a ride.
6. Sirindhorn Dam (Lam Dom Noi) — a broad reservoir with lookout points and a floating market, good for a longer loop east of town.
7. Kaeng Tana National Park — rapids on the Mun River with riverside trails, a favourite weekend destination for locals on scooters.
8. Sam Phan Boke — thousands of small rock potholes exposed in the dry-season Mekong riverbed, one of the region's most photographed sights.
9. Wat Nong Bua — one of the province's most recognisable temples, close enough for a quick run into town.
10. The Two Colour River viewpoint near Khong Chiam — where the muddy Mun meets the clearer Mekong, a classic finish to any riverside route.

What do you need to rent a scooter in Ubon Ratchathani?

Thai law requires a motorcycle-category licence to ride a scooter — either a Thai licence, or your home licence paired with an International Driving Permit that carries a motorcycle entitlement. Some shops will hand over the keys without checking, but police checkpoints do check, and without the right licence your insurance is void if anything goes wrong. Most rentals set a minimum age around 18, and you should expect to leave a deposit; it's better to offer cash or a photocopy of your passport rather than the document itself.

How much does it cost to rent a scooter in Ubon Ratchathani?

A basic automatic scooter runs around 200 THB per day in low season, rising to roughly 250–300 THB during high season. Larger or newer 125–150cc automatics typically cost 350–500 THB per day.

• Prices climb from November to February, Thailand's cool, high-tourist season.
• There's also a local spike in July, around the Candle Festival (Khao Phansa), when visitor numbers to Ubon jump.
• Rates drop through the hot, rainy months from April to September.

When to book a rental scooter in Ubon Ratchathani?

November through February is both the most comfortable riding weather and the busiest, so booking a few days ahead is worth it if you want your pick of bikes. The low season runs May to October, with the rainy southwest monsoon bringing lower prices and easier availability — just watch for sudden downpours. If your trip lands in July, book early: the Candle Festival draws crowds and pushes rates up briefly even though it falls in the low season.

Local traffic rules in Ubon Ratchathani

Thailand drives on the left, so keep to the left and overtake on the right. Helmets are compulsory for both rider and passenger, and police do issue on-the-spot fines for riding without one. Speed limits sit around 60 km/h in town and up to 90 km/h on rural highways. The blood-alcohol limit is 0.05%, and checkpoints for licences and documents are common, especially around holidays — always carry your licence, IDP and rental papers with you. Ride carefully after sudden rain, when road markings turn slippery, and watch for motorbikes using the shoulder or riding against traffic in town.

Types of scooters available

On our website you can rent the following types of scooters: classic scooter, Vespa, moped, motoroller, motoscooter, with a sidecar, with automatic or manual gears, three-wheeled scooters, large, maxi-scooter, touring, scooters with a windscreen and a roof, underbones, electric scooters.

Models of scooters available

On our website you can hire scooters from the following manufacturers: Adly, Aeon, Aprilia, Piaggio, Bajaj, Benelli, Beta, BMW, Derbi, Gilera, Honda, Kawasaki, Kymco, LML, Malaguti, Peugeot, PGO, Suzuki, SYM, TVS, Vespa, Yamaha.

Which insurance is provided with my rental scooter?

Usually basic third-party insurance is included in the rental price. If you wish to have more protection you can purchase additional CDW insurance, which limits your risk to the amount of your deposit. If you wish to rent a scooter without a deposit and with zero risk, you will need to add full insurance to your reservation.

Extra services available

When you make an online scooter reservation you can also order the following extra services and equipment: integral helmet, GPS navigation, intercom, unlimited mileage, top case, side cases, boots, jacket, gloves, individual guide or tour, map, full insurance, one-way rental, delivery to your hotel, delivery to your address, delivery to the arrival point of your choice.

Why use BikesBooking.com?

• Find the best deals for scooter hire;
• Compare prices of scooter rental companies;
• Read reviews of previous customers;
• Reserve a scooter online with the Best Price Guarantee!

Most of our local moped rental companies have many years of experience and will provide you with a well-kept scooter, helmet, lock, top case, GPS, insurance and friendly service. The number of companies we work with is increasing every day, so if you want to rent a scooter, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!