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🙏 Cross-province plan

Lopburi–Saraburi 2-Day Trip
Temples + Nature

Lopburi and Saraburi sit right next to each other — barely an hour's drive from one to the other — so it's easy to pair them into one cross-province trip. Day one covers Lopburi, from climbing the stairs at Khao Wong Phra Chan to paying respects at Phra Prang Sam Yot in the old town. Day two crosses over to Saraburi to bow at the Buddha's Footprint, cool off at Jet Sao Noi Waterfall, and finish with the wide views at Pa Sak Jolasid Dam. This is a day-by-day plan with the route already laid out for you, plus real opening hours, entry fees and distances — so you're not wasting time driving in circles.

🙏 Temples & merit-making💦 Waterfall & dam🚗 Cross-province drive
Lopburi–Saraburi 2-Day Trip Temples + Nature

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

This trip suits anyone with their own car or a rental, because the sights are spread out beyond the towns and public transport between them is a hassle. The whole loop is roughly 200 km counting from Bangkok — about two and a half hours up to Lopburi, where you spend the first day and stay one night, then work your way down to Saraburi on day two before heading back to Bangkok comfortably in the evening.

If you don't drive, you can still have fun by staying one night in Lopburi town and visiting only the in-town sights (Phra Prang Sam Yot, Narai Ratchaniwet Palace, San Phra Kan). But the natural spots on the Saraburi side, like Jet Sao Noi Waterfall or Pa Sak Dam, are tough to reach without your own vehicle.

The 2-day, 1-night overview

  • Day 1 — Lopburi temples + old town · Khao Wong Phra Chan → Phra Prang Sam Yot → San Phra Kan → Narai Ratchaniwet Palace → overnight in Lopburi town
  • Day 2 — Saraburi temples + nature · Wat Phra Phutthabat → Jet Sao Noi Waterfall → Pa Sak Jolasid Dam → back to Bangkok
  • Where to stay · Sleep in Lopburi town — it sits right between the day-one sights and the route down to Saraburi
  • Rough budget per person · Entry fees across all the sights come to under 200 THB; the rest is fuel, lodging and food
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Day 1 — Lopburi temples + old town

Start the first day fairly early, because the highlight is Khao Wong Phra Chan, where you climb 3,790 steps — the earlier you go, the cooler it is. Then ease into Lopburi's old town in the afternoon, where the sights are close enough to walk between.

Day 1

Lopburi — from Khao Wong Phra Chan to the old town

07:30
Leave your hotel/Bangkok and head for Wat Khao Wong Phra Chan, Khok Samrong districtAbout 30 km from Lopburi town; allow 2.5 hours if you're coming from Bangkok
09:00
Tackle the 3,790 steps up Khao Wong Phra Chan to the Buddha's Footprint at the summitOpen roughly 07:00–17:00, no entry fee. Take it slow — about 1 hour up, with rest points along the way. Carry water
11:30
Come back down and find lunch in Lopburi townLopburi is known for boat noodles, grilled chicken, and sweets like pik pun. Look for a spot in the old-town area
13:30
Wander Phra Prang Sam Yot, a Khmer Bayon-style temple in the middle of townOpen 07:00–17:00, closed Mon–Tue. 10 THB for Thai nationals. Lots of monkeys — mind anything in your hands
14:30
Visit San Phra Kan, the city shrine home to hundreds of monkeysRight across from Lopburi train station, walkable from Phra Prang Sam Yot. No entry fee
15:30
See Phra Narai Ratchaniwet (Narai Palace), the palace of King Narai's eraOpen 08:30–16:00, closed Mon–Tue. The National Museum is inside the palace grounds
17:00
Check in to your hotel in Lopburi town, rest, and find dinnerStaying in town is handy for both the first day and the route down to Saraburi the next morning

About the Lopburi monkeys

The monkeys in Lopburi's old town really are everywhere and really are mischievous. Don't walk around showing off plastic bags, food or drinks, take off and stash your sunglasses, and watch out for open bags — they grab fast.

Day 2 — Saraburi temples + nature

Day two crosses over to the Saraburi side. Start with merit-making at Wat Phra Phutthabat, one of central Thailand's most important temples, then switch gears to splash around at Jet Sao Noi Waterfall in Muak Lek district, and close out with the wide views at Pa Sak Jolasid Dam before the run back to Bangkok.

Day 2

Saraburi — from the Buddha's Footprint to waterfall and dam

08:00
Check out, leave Lopburi town and head for Wat Phra Phutthabat, Phra Phutthabat districtAbout 25–30 km from Lopburi town, roughly a 40-minute drive
09:00
Bow at the Buddha's Footprint inside the golden crown-topped mondop at Wat Phra Phutthabat RatchaworamahawihanOpen roughly 06:00–18:00, no entry fee. Dress modestly. It gets very crowded during the early-year worship festival
10:30
Carry on to Muak Lek districtAbout 50 km, roughly a 1-hour drive. The route passes the Muak Lek dairy farms — stop for fresh milk and steak
11:30
Swim at Jet Sao Noi Waterfall, a 7-tier limestone waterfallOpen 08:00–17:00, entry and parking fees apply. Clear, cool water — bring a change of clothes and non-slip shoes
13:30
Grab lunch around Muak Lek and cool offThe Muak Lek area has grain-fed beef steak houses and fresh-milk ice cream to try
15:00
Take in the view along the crest of Pa Sak Jolasid Dam, Thailand's longest earthen damFree to visit, with photo spots along the dam crest. From Nov–Jan the floating train crosses the reservoir
16:30
Head back to BangkokAbout 150 km from the dam to Bangkok, roughly 2.5 hours — add buffer for evening traffic

Tweak the plan by season

If you come in late rainy to early cool season (Nov–Jan), Jet Sao Noi Waterfall has plenty of water and the floating train runs at Pa Sak Dam. In hot season (Mar–May) the waterfall may run lower, but you can splash around to your heart's content to beat the heat.

Where to stay on this trip

We'd suggest sleeping one night in Lopburi town, since it sits right in the middle. You finish day one in Lopburi and head straight to your hotel, then drive down to Saraburi on day two without doubling back. Hotels in Lopburi town come in a range of tiers, from budget stays near the train station to lakeside places by Pa Sak Dam on the Phatthana Nikhom side.

Most convenient

In Lopburi town

Close to Phra Prang Sam Yot, San Phra Kan and the train station, with the old town walkable. A solid base for a one-night stay.

Nature views

By Pa Sak Dam (Phatthana Nikhom)

Wide reservoir views and a quiet setting — good if you want to focus on relaxing and the scenery, but far from the old town.

See our hand-picked Lopburi hotels, with real prices and reviews

See the Top 10 Lopburi hotels →

Before you go

  • Own car / rental — the sights are spread out beyond the towns and public transport between them is awkward; a car keeps you nimble
  • Start early — Khao Wong Phra Chan takes a while to climb, so going early dodges the midday heat and leaves time for the in-town sights by afternoon
  • Dress modestly — you'll enter temples in both provinces, so skip short shorts, low-rise cuts and spaghetti straps
  • Swimwear + non-slip shoes — for Jet Sao Noi Waterfall; the limestone is slipperier than you'd think
  • Carry cash — temple fees, parking, and some local shops take cash only

FAQ

How many days is ideal for a Lopburi–Saraburi trip?

Two days and one night is just right. Spend day one in Lopburi (Khao Wong Phra Chan, the old town) and stay one night in town, then cross to Saraburi on day two (Wat Phra Phutthabat, Jet Sao Noi Waterfall, Pa Sak Dam) and head home. If you're short on time, you can do it as a day trip to just one province.

Can I do this trip without my own car?

Partly. The in-town Lopburi sights like Phra Prang Sam Yot, San Phra Kan and Narai Palace are walkable from the train station. But the natural spots on the Saraburi side (Jet Sao Noi Waterfall, Pa Sak Dam) and Khao Wong Phra Chan are tough to reach without a car. Renting or chartering a car keeps things much smoother.

Roughly how much are the entry fees on this trip?

Mostly cheap or free. Khao Wong Phra Chan, San Phra Kan, Wat Phra Phutthabat and Pa Sak Dam have no entry fee. Phra Prang Sam Yot is 10 THB for Thai nationals (or a 30 THB combined old-town ticket). Jet Sao Noi Waterfall charges entry and parking. Across the whole trip, entry fees come to under 200 THB per person.

What's the best time of year to go?

Late rainy to early cool season, Nov–Jan, works best. Jet Sao Noi Waterfall has plenty of water for swimming, the floating train runs at Pa Sak Dam, and the weather isn't scorching when you climb Khao Wong Phra Chan. Early in the year also coincides with the Buddha's Footprint worship festival in Saraburi.

Is the climb up Khao Wong Phra Chan hard?

It's 3,790 steps, taking about an hour at a slow pace, with rest points along the way. It isn't brutal if you go steady and carry water. Going in the morning is best to dodge the midday heat.

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