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🦜 Chai Nat Trip Plan

Chai Nat in 2 Days, 1 Night
Bird Park, Dam & Sankhaburi Old Town

Chai Nat is a small town on the Chao Phraya River, just over two hours' drive from Bangkok, which makes it a good unhurried weekend trip. Day one is the bird park and Chao Phraya Dam; on day two you wake up to pray on the hill at Wat Thammamun, then walk the old town of Sankhaburi with its ancient pre-Ayutthaya temples. Here's a 2-day, 1-night plan paced so you can take it easy and not wear yourself out.

🦜 Chai Nat Bird Park🌊 Chao Phraya Dam🏛️ Sankhaburi Old Town
Chai Nat in 2 Days, 1 Night Bird Park, Dam & Sankhaburi Old Town

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Chai Nat is the kind of place people usually drive straight through on the way to Nakhon Sawan or Kamphaeng Phet. But stop and actually look around and you'll find just about the right amount to fill a one-night trip. The highlights are a bird park that was once billed as the largest in Asia, the Chao Phraya Dam that's become the symbol of the town, and a cluster of ancient temples around Sankhaburi that are older than many of the temples in Ayutthaya. This plan is written for people driving their own car, but if you arrive by intercity bus into town you can rent a car or hire a local taxi to get around.

The 2-day, 1-night plan at a glance

  • Day 1 — leave Bangkok in the morning, reach Chai Nat around noon · afternoon at the Chai Nat Bird Park · evening at Chao Phraya Dam with a riverside dinner
  • Day 2 — morning prayers to Luang Pho Thammachak at Wat Thammamun · late morning in Sankhaburi old town, Wat Phra Kaeo and Wat Mahathat · afternoon to pick up souvenirs and head home
  • Where to stay — one night in central Chai Nat, sitting in the middle of all the sights so nothing is a long drive away
  • Getting around — a private car is easiest, since the sights are spread out and public transport in town is thin

Before you set off

The Chai Nat Bird Park is closed every Monday. A Saturday–Sunday trip is no problem, but if your trip straddles a Monday, do the bird park on the Sunday and save the temples and old town for the Monday instead.

Day 1

Chai Nat Bird Park + Chao Phraya Dam

09:00
Leave Bangkok and head for Chai Nat along the Asia Highway (Route 32)It's about 190 km and takes roughly 2.5 hours. You can stop for a break at a service station in Sing Buri or Ang Thong.
11:30
Arrive in central Chai Nat; check in or drop your bags firstIf you can't check in yet, most places will hold your bags while you wait.
12:00
Lunch in townThere are plenty of rice-and-curry shops and noodle places in central Chai Nat. Pick one near the bird park to save time.
13:30
Walk the Chai Nat Bird Park: birds in the huge aviary, a small zoo, and a freshwater fish museumEntry is 30 THB for Thai adults, 15 THB for children, and 100 THB for foreign adults; Chai Nat residents enter free with an ID card. Plan on 2–3 relaxed hours.
16:30
Drive to Chao Phraya Dam (Route 311) to see the dam and take photos by the riverChao Phraya Dam was Thailand's first large diversion dam. Late afternoon is shaded and breezy, good for a riverside stroll.
18:00
Dinner at a restaurant on the Chao Phraya RiverThere are several riverside spots upstream of the dam, such as Samrap Kap Khao and Baan Lek Thi 79 around Thanon Wat Sing, known for river fish and nam phrik.
20:00
Back to the hotel to restCentral Chai Nat is quiet in the evening, so it's a good night to turn in early and save your energy for the morning temples.
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Why the Chai Nat Bird Park is worth the entry fee

The Chai Nat Bird Park has a walk-in aviary that was once called the largest in Asia, with hundreds of birds flying around you inside. Beyond the bird zone there's a small zoo, a freshwater fish tunnel, and a water-park area for kids that only opens at certain times. It works well as a family outing because the walking is gentle, with plenty of shade and places to sit.

  • The large aviary — walk in and watch the birds circling around you, from waterbirds to forest birds to non-native species
  • Fish tunnel and freshwater fish museum — many of the Chao Phraya River's fish species in one place; kids love it
  • Space water park — a water-park zone to cool off, open on certain days at certain times for a small extra fee; bring swimwear if you've got kids with you

Tips for the bird park

Chai Nat gets very hot in the middle of the day, so the bird park is more comfortable in the late afternoon. Bring drinking water and a hat, and allow about an hour each for the fish zone and the bird zone.

Day 2

Wat Thammamun + Sankhaburi Old Town

08:00
Breakfast, then check outStart a little early to dodge the heat on the hill climb and around the open-air temples.
08:45
Visit Wat Thammamun Worawihan to pray to Luang Pho Thammachak, the revered Buddha image of Chai NatThe temple sits at the foot of Thammamun hill by the Chao Phraya River, about 8 km from town. Luang Pho Thammachak is a standing Buddha in the 'forbidding relatives' pose, in a mixed Chiang Saen–Sukhothai–Ayutthaya style.
09:30
If you're up for it, climb the 565-step stairway up the hill to the Luang Pho Nak shrine at the topThe steps run along the ridge, and from the top you get views of the river and the town. If it's too much, praying at the temple below is plenty.
10:30
Drive to Sankhaburi district and start the old-town walk at Wat Phra KaeoSankhaburi is the former town of Phraek Si Racha, an ancient settlement that predates Ayutthaya. Wat Phra Kaeo stands out for its square-based Lavo-style chedi, considered a rare beauty.
11:30
Walk on to Wat Mahathat, Sankhaburi, to see the chedi and ruins of the old Phraek townWat Mahathat, originally Wat Phra That, was built before the founding of Ayutthaya and was the principal temple of the old town. It's also in Phraek Si Racha sub-district, within walking distance of Wat Phra Kaeo.
12:30
Lunch in Sankhaburi district or back in townSankhaburi has noodle shops and local rice-and-curry places at easygoing prices.
14:00
Pick up Chai Nat souvenirs, such as pomelo, processed river fish, and local sweetsChai Nat pomelo is well known; you'll find it at markets and roadside stalls.
15:00
Head back to BangkokYou'll reach Bangkok in the early evening before the heavy traffic; allow extra time around Ayutthaya.

What's worth walking in Sankhaburi old town

A lot of people don't realize Sankhaburi is a very old town. It was originally called Phraek Si Racha and served as a frontier town from before the Ayutthaya period. Today there are still clusters of ancient temples scattered around Phraek Si Racha sub-district, and you can happily spend a single morning looking at the old chedis and ruins.

Standout chedi

Wat Phra Kaeo

The highlight is the square-based Lavo-style chedi with fine stucco work, regarded as one of the more beautiful chedis in central Thailand. There's also the Luang Pho Chai image to pay respects to.

Town's main temple

Wat Mahathat, Sankhaburi

The principal temple of the old Phraek town, built before the Ayutthaya period, with a group of chedis and ruins to walk among in a quiet setting.

Walking the old temples comfortably

The temples in Sankhaburi are open-air ruins and the sun is strong, so it's best to walk in the late morning before noon. Wear shoes that slip off easily, since you'll need to remove them in places, and dress respectfully inside temple grounds.

Where to stay and a rough budget

  • Accommodation — hotels and resorts in central Chai Nat run about 600–1,200 THB a night; pick one near the center so it's easy to drive to the sights
  • Bird park entry — 30 THB for Thai adults, 15 THB for children, with a small extra charge for the water park
  • Food — local shops run about 60–150 THB per person per meal; the riverside spots by the Chao Phraya Dam are a touch pricier but still easy on the wallet
  • All temples — free to enter; give a donation as you see fit

Want a shortlist of well-reviewed Chai Nat hotels that are easy to choose from?

See the Top 10 Chai Nat hotels →

FAQ

Is 2 days and 1 night enough for Chai Nat?

It's just right. Chai Nat is a small town, and the main sights — the bird park, Chao Phraya Dam, Wat Thammamun, and Sankhaburi old town — all fit comfortably into 2 days and 1 night without rushing. If you have more time, add a temple or a riverside café.

What days is the Chai Nat Bird Park open, and how much is entry?

The Chai Nat Bird Park is closed every Monday and open Tuesday to Sunday. Entry is 30 THB for Thai adults, 15 THB for children, and 100 THB for foreign adults; Chai Nat residents enter free with an ID card. The water-park zone has a separate extra charge.

Do you need a private car to visit Chai Nat?

It's much easier with a car, because the bird park, the dam, Wat Thammamun, and Sankhaburi are in different directions and public transport in town is thin. If you arrive by intercity bus, it's best to rent a car or hire a local driver by the day.

Is Sankhaburi old town far from central Chai Nat?

Sankhaburi district is about 20-some kilometers from central Chai Nat, roughly half an hour's drive. Wat Phra Kaeo and Wat Mahathat are close together in Phraek Si Racha sub-district, within walking distance of each other.

How long does it take to drive from Bangkok to Chai Nat?

It's about 190 km along the Asia Highway (Route 32) and takes roughly 2.5 hours. Leave early to avoid the traffic and you'll arrive just before noon.

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