🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
This trip suits anyone who wants to get out of Bangkok to make merit, see an old town, and sit by the river at an easy pace. Chai Nat is about 200 km from Bangkok — roughly 2–3 hours up Highway 32 (the Asia Highway) — and Sing Buri falls right along the way, so you can stop on the way up or the way back. We chose to do Chai Nat first on day one because it's farther out, then work our way back down to Sing Buri on day two.
Before you set off
We'd recommend driving your own car or renting one, since the sights are spread out and public transport between districts is thin. Most temples are free to enter, but bring cash for merit-making and for the bird park entry fee.
Day 1 — Chai Nat: riverside temples, the bird park, and the Chao Phraya Dam
Day one focuses on Chai Nat's highlights in and around the town district. They're all within an easy radius, so you can drive a loop in a single day without rushing.
Chai Nat — a town on the Chao Phraya
If you have extra time on day one
You could swing by Wat Thammamun Worawihan, built on a hillside above the Chao Phraya (about 8 km from town along the old Chai Nat–Nakhon Sawan road). It's home to Luang Pho Thammachak, the province's revered Buddha image, and the river view from the hill is gorgeous.
Book the activities in your Chai Nat trip ahead
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
Day 2 — old Sankhaburi, then across to Sing Buri
Day two starts in Chai Nat's Sankhaburi district, a Dvaravati-era ancient town that many people have never heard of, then heads south across into Sing Buri to close out the trip with a giant reclining Buddha and the land of the Bang Rachan heroes before the drive back to Bangkok.
Sankhaburi → Sing Buri
Riverside temples worth stopping for on this route
The charm of a Chai Nat–Sing Buri trip is the old temples clinging to the banks of the Chao Phraya and the Noi River. If you only have time for the standouts, here's our shortlist.
Wat Phra Borommathat Worawihan (Chai Nat)
A royal temple on the Chao Phraya with a U-Thong-style chedi enshrining relics of the Buddha. There's a relic celebration around the full moon of the sixth lunar month.
Wat Phra Non Chakkrasi Worawihan (Sing Buri)
A reclining Buddha over 47 metres long, one of the largest in Thailand, at a royal temple that's a landmark of Sing Buri.
Wat Phra Kaeo, Sankhaburi (Chai Nat)
A square Lavo-style chedi in the old town of Sankhaburi, lovely enough that many call it a standout of central Thailand. Pay respects to Luang Pho Chai.
Wat Thammamun Worawihan (Chai Nat)
A temple on a hillside above the Chao Phraya, home to Luang Pho Thammachak, the province's revered Buddha image, with a gorgeous river view from the hill.
Wat Mahathat, Sankhaburi (Chai Nat)
A historic site with an old chedi and Buddha images cared for by the Fine Arts Department — quiet, with traces of the Dvaravati-era town to wander.
Wat Phikun Thong (Luang Pho Phae · Sing Buri)
A well-known temple on the Noi River, best known for its large standing Buddha in the boon-granting pose. A steady stream of visitors comes to pay respects.
The route and real drive times
- Bangkok → Chai Nat — about 200 km, 2–3 hours' drive on Highway 32 (the Asia Highway)
- Within Chai Nat town — Wat Phra Borommathat, the bird park, and the Chao Phraya Dam are all within a 15 km radius, an easy loop
- Chai Nat town → Sankhaburi — about 23 km, roughly 30 min
- Chai Nat → Sing Buri — about 50 km, roughly 1 hour along the river
- Sing Buri → Bangkok — about 150 km, 2–2.5 hours' drive back on Highway 32
You can do it as a day trip too
If you only have one day, take Chai Nat in the morning (Wat Phra Borommathat + the bird park), then head down to Sing Buri in the afternoon (Wat Phra Non Chakkrasi + Bang Rachan) before heading home. You'll hit the main highlights without staying overnight — just leave a little earlier.
Where to stay
For this trip we'd recommend staying overnight in Chai Nat town, since day one ends in Chai Nat anyway and the second morning you work your way south through Sankhaburi into Sing Buri without backtracking. Chai Nat town has accommodation across several price ranges, from in-town hotels to riverside resorts. You can stay in Sing Buri instead if you prefer, but you'll need to shuffle the order of the sights a little.
See a ranked list of recommended hotels in Chai Nat
See the Top 10 Chai Nat hotels →