🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Nakhon Sawan is around 240 km from Bangkok and acts as the junction of the lower north — nearly every northern train passes through here. Whether you're coming just for Nakhon Sawan or stopping off on the way up to Chiang Mai, both work fine. The main town is called Pak Nam Pho, the point where the Ping and Nan rivers meet to form the source of the Chao Phraya. The food, the hotels, and the train station are all clustered around here.
How to get to Nakhon Sawan from Bangkok
There are three main ways: train, bus, or driving yourself. It's close enough to do as a day trip if you time things well, but if you want to see both Bueng Boraphet and Khao No properly, staying one night is a lot more relaxed.
Northern Line train
Departs from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station (Bang Sue) and drops you at Nakhon Sawan station in Pak Nam Pho. Rapid and special-express trains run several times a day and take around 3.5–4.5 hours depending on the service. It's comfortable, you get rice-field views, and there's no traffic. Third-class fan seats start in the low hundreds; second-class air-con costs a bit more.
Coach / minivan from Mo Chit 2
Leaves from Chatuchak Bus Terminal (Mo Chit 2), with both air-con coaches and minivans. Frequent departures all day, taking around 4–5 hours depending on traffic. You're dropped at Nakhon Sawan bus terminal, which isn't far from town. Good if you want flexible departure times.
Driving yourself
Take Highway 32 (the Asia Highway) — a long, easy straight run of around 3–3.5 hours with no traffic. The big plus is that you can head straight out to Bueng Boraphet and Khao No, both outside town, without arranging onward transport. Great for families or groups of friends.
Which one to pick
If you're not driving yourself, the train is more comfortable and more reliable than the bus during rush hour. But if your plan centres on Bueng Boraphet and Khao No, both outside the city, having your own car or a rental pays off far more — public transport doesn't reach these spots directly.
Getting around Pak Nam Pho town
Distances within Pak Nam Pho are short — you can easily walk to the Chao Phraya riverfront, Pak Nam Pho market, and the Chao Pho Thepharak shrine. For anywhere further out, there are a few transport options.
- Songthaew (shared pickup) — runs around town and links the markets, cheap at a few baht to a few tens of baht, but no fixed schedule. Fine if you're not in a hurry.
- Motorbike taxi — found around the markets and train station, good for short hops in town. Agree the fare before you get on.
- Ride-hailing app / taxi — available in town, but there are fewer cars than in big cities, so late at night you may wait a while.
- Motorbike rental — shops in town rent them out, handy for getting around the city and riverfront, but not ideal for the longer run out to Khao No.
Renting a car in Nakhon Sawan
Because several of the highlights are spread out beyond the city, renting a car is what a lot of people choose when travelling as a group. There are both self-drive and with-driver options.
Self-drive rental
A small sedan starts at around ฿800–1,200 per day depending on the model and season. You can pick the car up in town. Good if you're a confident driver and want to control your own schedule — bring your driving licence and a credit card for the deposit.
Car with driver / private van charter
Charter by the day or by the route. The driver knows the way to Bueng Boraphet, Khao No, and the sights around town — good for families or groups who'd rather not drive. Price depends on distance and hours; agree the route and fare before you set off.
Good to know
Rental prices climb during festivals and long holidays, especially the Pak Nam Pho Chinese New Year when the town gets packed. If you're coming then, book your car ahead.
How to get to Bueng Boraphet
Bueng Boraphet is the largest freshwater lake in Thailand, spanning several districts. The spot tourists head for is the waterbird park and the aquarium (fish tunnel) on the Mueang district side, around 10-plus kilometres from Pak Nam Pho town.
- How to get there — driving or renting a car is easiest, around 20–30 minutes from town. There's no public bus straight to the boat-tour point, so without your own car, charter one or hail a ride from town.
- Boat tour for birds and lotus — charter a boat for around ฿600, seating about 10–15 people, for roughly 1–2 hours. Some community-run spots charge per person in the low hundreds.
- Aquarium (fish tunnel) — open around 09:30–16:30. Entry is about ฿49 for adults and ฿19 for children; small children free.
- Best time for birds — birds feed in the morning around 06:00–09:30 and fly back to roost in the evening around 16:30–18:00. Come at these times to see far more birds than midday.
Insider tip
The red lotus fields bloom beautifully in late rainy season into early cool season, roughly November to February. If you're coming specifically for the lotus, check news on when the season opens, since the bloom timing shifts from year to year.
How to get to Khao No-Khao Kaeo
Khao No-Khao Kaeo is a cluster of oddly shaped limestone hills with a temple at the foot, a large troop of monkeys, and a bat cave where, come evening, bats stream out in a long ribbon. It's in Banphot Phisai district, around 45 km from town.
- How to get there — from town take Highway 1, the Nakhon Sawan–Kamphaeng Phet road; the hill is on your right. It's about a 45-minute to 1-hour drive, and your own car or a rental is easiest.
- Opening hours — open around 08:00–16:00. If you're climbing, go in the morning before it gets too hot.
- Watch the monkeys — there are lots of them and they're used to people, so keep food and valuables out of sight and don't walk around holding a plastic bag.
- Watch the bats leave the cave — near dusk the bats fly out in a long stream, a sight many people come specifically to wait for.
Doing both in one day
Khao No is in the opposite direction to Bueng Boraphet, so to fit both in one day you'll want your own car and an early start. Do Khao No mid-morning, then double back to Bueng Boraphet in the evening in time to watch the birds return to roost.
Sample 2-day, 1-night plan without your own car
If you arrive by train or bus and then charter a car for the local sights, you can put together something like this.
Into town + Pak Nam Pho riverfront
Charter a car to Bueng Boraphet + head back
Find well-located places to stay in Pak Nam Pho, near the station and riverfront
See the Top 10 Nakhon Sawan hotels →