Home Destinations Nakhon Sawan 🧭 Plan Your Trip 🔎 Search About
Home › Thailand › Nakhon Sawan › Nakhon Sawan to Lopburi Monkey Town Meets Old City
🐒 Cross-province plan

Nakhon Sawan to Lopburi
Monkey Town Meets Old City

Nakhon Sawan and Lopburi sit about 130 km apart. Drive south on Highway 1, then Highway 11, and you're there in roughly 2 hours — close enough to string together into one relaxed road trip. Nakhon Sawan gives you Thailand's largest freshwater lake and the source of the Chao Phraya River, while Lopburi is an old Khmer-to-Ayutthaya town where monkeys really do roam the streets. We've built this as a 3-day, 2-night plan running north to south, with a day-by-day timeline so you can see exactly what to do each day and where to stop and eat.

🐒 Lopburi monkey town🏯 Old Khmer-era city🦆 Bueng Boraphet
Nakhon Sawan to Lopburi Monkey Town Meets Old City

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

This route suits anyone with their own car or a rental, because spots like Bueng Boraphet and Pa Sak Jolasid Dam sit outside town and are awkward to reach by public transport. If you only want Lopburi's old town, though, the historic sites are all within walking distance — hop off the train and you can cover them on foot. The main route is dead simple: take Highway 1 from Nakhon Sawan, then turn onto Highway 11 around the Tak Fa–Khok Samrong stretch into Lopburi town. The drive runs through flat plains and rice fields, easy going, with gas stations and roadside coffee stops along the way.

Route overview and how to plan your days

The idea behind the plan is to use Nakhon Sawan as your starting point, knocking out Pak Nam Pho and Bueng Boraphet first since the highlights are scattered around the city. Once those are done, you shift down to Lopburi, the historical highlight of the trip. Lopburi's old-town sites are clustered close together and walkable, so you can cover them comfortably in a single day. That leaves the last day open for Pa Sak Jolasid Dam, or the sunflower fields if you come in the cool season. The driving legs between stages aren't long — the longest drive is the day you move from Nakhon Sawan down to Lopburi.

  • Day 1 — Pak Nam Pho, the Pasan landmark at the source of the Chao Phraya, then Bueng Boraphet in the afternoon, overnight in Nakhon Sawan
  • Day 2 — drive down to Lopburi in the morning, walk the old town: Phra Prang Sam Yot, San Phra Kan, King Narai's Palace, overnight in Lopburi
  • Day 3 — Pa Sak Jolasid Dam or the sunflower fields (cool season) before heading home

Rough distances

Nakhon Sawan to Lopburi is about 130 km on Highway 1 (Phahonyothin) via Tak Fa, around 2 hours. From Lopburi town to Pa Sak Jolasid Dam (Phatthana Nikhom district) is roughly 50 km — budget half a day there and back.

🎟️

Book the activities in your Nakhon Sawan 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.

🎟️ Top tours in Nakhon SawanHighlights, guided Klook 🎟️ Nakhon Sawan attractions & ticketsSkip-the-line entry tickets Klook 🚐 Day trips from Nakhon SawanOut and back in a day Klook 🌎 Nakhon Sawan activities (GetYourGuide)Global tour marketplace GetYourGuide
🎟️ See all Nakhon Sawan tours & activities (Klook)

Day 1 — Pak Nam Pho + Bueng Boraphet

Day 1

Source of the Chao Phraya, then out to Thailand's biggest lake

09:00
Start at Pasan, the landmark marking the source of the Chao Phraya River, out on the Ko Yom headland at Pak Nam Pho, where the Ping and Nan rivers meetThe white riverside architecture photographs beautifully, and in the early morning the sun is still soft and the walk is pleasant
10:30
Walk old Pak Nam Pho, taking in the old shophouses and the Chao Pho–Chao Mae Pak Nam Pho shrine, the city's old Chinese communityNakhon Sawan has deep Chinese-community roots, which you can see in its shrines and its food
11:30
Lunch around Pak Nam Pho — try a famous spot for fish-ball noodles made with clown knifefishPak Nam Pho is known for bouncy, freshly made clown knifefish balls, with long-running shops that have been open for decades
13:30
Drive out to Bueng Boraphet, the largest freshwater lake in the countryAbout 10 km from town, with several viewpoints and boat piers along the lake's edge
14:30
Visit the Bueng Boraphet Aquarium, walking the long fish tunnel and seeing over a hundred species of freshwater fishOpen roughly 09:00–17:00. Good with kids and a nice way to dodge the afternoon heat
16:00
Take a boat out on the lake to see the waterbirds in the evening light — arrange a boat at the lakeside pierBoat fares are charged per boat or per person depending on the spot, so ask the price before you board
18:00
Head back into town for dinner at a riverside market or a freshwater-fish restaurantEvenings along the Chao Phraya have breezy riverside spots with an easy, relaxed mood

Bird-watching season at Bueng Boraphet

November to February is migratory-bird season. Come at dawn or in the evening to catch the most waterbirds. If you're serious about birding, swap in a boat trip on the morning of Day 1 instead.

Day 2 — Down to Lopburi, walking the monkey old town

This is the highlight of the trip. Drive from Nakhon Sawan down to Lopburi in the morning, then walk the cluster of historic sites in the town center, which are close enough to cover on foot. Lopburi is a town where crab-eating macaques really do live right in the center, especially around Phra Prang Sam Yot and San Phra Kan. It's part of the town's charm, but you'll want to keep a bit of an eye on whatever's in your hands and your bag.

Day 2

Khmer-to-Ayutthaya history downtown, plus the resident monkeys

08:00
Leave Nakhon Sawan on Highway 1 (Phahonyothin) via Tak Fa into Lopburi townAbout 130 km, roughly 2 hours, with room to stop for roadside coffee
10:30
Check in to a place in Lopburi's old town, then walk over to Phra Prang Sam Yot, three Khmer towers in a row in the Bayon styleOpen roughly 08:30–18:00, with admission in the tens to fifty baht. This is a monkey hotspot, so mind what's in your hands
11:30
Cross to San Phra Kan opposite — an old shrine on a Khmer-era laterite base, with monkeys living densely around hereSan Phra Kan and Phra Prang Sam Yot are home turf for the town's monkeys and the image most people have of Lopburi
12:30
Lunch in town — try a famous bowl of Lopburi tom yum noodlesTom yum noodles are a local specialty, and the long-running shops are in the old-town area
14:00
Walk Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, opposite Lopburi train station, with an old central prang and ruined halls from several erasAnother standout historic site blending Khmer and Ayutthaya styles, walkable from the train station
15:30
Enter King Narai's Palace (Phra Narai Ratchaniwet), a palace from King Narai's reign with a museum insideOpen roughly 08:30–16:00, closed Monday–Tuesday, with admission in the tens of baht for Thais. Check the day before you go
17:00
Stop by Ban Vichayen (the Ambassador's Residence), the ruins of a building from King Narai's reign nearbyNot far from King Narai's Palace, a short walk or quick drive away, and it closes in the evening too
18:30
Dinner in town at an evening market or a riverside spot in LopburiIf you're into river prawns and river fish, there are riverside restaurants outside town to choose from as well

Mind the monkeys a little

Around Phra Prang Sam Yot and San Phra Kan the monkeys are plentiful and used to people. Don't carry food bags, drinks, or loose glasses or hats in your hands. Tuck valuables into a zipped bag and you'll have a fun visit with no drama.

Day 3 — Pa Sak Dam or the sunflower fields

Pick the last day to suit the season. If you come in the cool season (November to February), the Phatthana Nikhom district has big sunflower fields in bloom. Out of season, head to Pa Sak Jolasid Dam, a large earthfill reservoir whose floating railway over the water at Khok Salung is a highlight. Both spots are out toward Phatthana Nikhom district, not far from Lopburi town.

Day 3

Closing the trip with the dam's natural side

08:00
Leave Lopburi town heading toward Phatthana Nikhom district for Pa Sak Jolasid DamAbout 50 km, easy driving on an out-of-town road with rice fields on both sides
09:30
See Pa Sak Jolasid Dam, the dam-crest viewpoint and the Pa Sak Basin MuseumA large earthfill reservoir, wide-open and breezy
11:00
Look out for the floating railway at Khok Salung, where the train line runs across the reservoirThe floating tourist train usually runs around November to January — check the railway schedule first
12:00
Lunch at a restaurant by the dam, with freshwater fish from the reservoir on the menuThere are local restaurants around the dam — try grilled fish or tom yum fish
13:30
In the cool season, stop at the sunflower fields on the Phatthana Nikhom side for photos of the yellow blooms before heading homeSunflowers bloom around November to February. Skip this stop if you're out of season
15:00
Pick up some Lopburi souvenirs, then start the journey homeIf you're looping back to Bangkok, continue on Highway 1 down to Saraburi onto Highway 1 or the motorway

Where to base yourself

This plan has you sleeping 2 nights. We'd suggest the first night in Nakhon Sawan around Pak Nam Pho — a big town with plenty of hotels and food, close to Bueng Boraphet. For the second night, stay in Lopburi town: pick the old-town area to walk to the historic sites easily, or the train-station area, which has hotels and a market nearby.

Night 1

Stay in Pak Nam Pho, Nakhon Sawan (Night 1)

City center, lots of restaurants, close to Bueng Boraphet and Pasan — easy to get out and about

Night 2

Stay in Lopburi old town (Night 2)

Walk to Phra Prang Sam Yot, San Phra Kan and King Narai's Palace — sightsee in the morning without driving

Eats you shouldn't miss along the way

1

Pak Nam Pho clown knifefish-ball noodles

Pak Nam Pho, Nakhon Sawan

A Nakhon Sawan signature — bouncy, freshly made clown knifefish balls. The famous shops around Pak Nam Pho have been open for decades, and some also do tod mun and fried snacks. Good for breakfast or lunch before you head out.

Nakhon SawanMust try
฿50–80
2

Lopburi tom yum noodles

Lopburi old town

Lopburi's signature dish — a punchy, sour-and-spicy tom yum broth with pork or mixed seafood. Several long-running shops sit in the old-town area, making it a lunch that pairs well with walking the historic sites.

LopburiMust try
฿50–80
3

Lopburi plain noodle soup

In Lopburi town

A clear, well-rounded noodle soup with a choice of pork or beef and various noodle types. Some shops also do steak at night. This is where Lopburi locals actually eat.

LopburiLocal
฿45–70
4

River prawns and river fish by the water in Lopburi

Riverside, Lopburi

Riverside restaurants outside Lopburi serve fresh river prawns and river fish. Try grilled prawns or salt-crusted grilled snakehead — a long, lingering dinner soaking up the riverside mood.

LopburiDinner
By menu
5

Pak Nam Pho congee and rice soup

Breakfast, Pak Nam Pho

Pak Nam Pho is a Chinese-community area, so breakfast staples like minced-pork congee and rice soup are easy to find all over the neighborhood. Ideal for a morning meal before heading to Bueng Boraphet.

Nakhon SawanBreakfast
฿40–70
6

Freshwater fish by Pa Sak Dam

By the dam, Phatthana Nikhom

Around Pa Sak Jolasid Dam, local restaurants cook freshwater fish straight from the reservoir. Try grilled fish or tom yum fish — a lunch that pairs nicely with the dam views.

LopburiLocal
By menu
7

Nakhon Sawan riverside market

Evening–night, riverside

Evening and night eats from riverside stalls, from made-to-order dishes to rad na, fried oysters and desserts. Easy on the wallet.

Nakhon SawanMarket
฿30–80

Tips to make the trip smoother

  • King Narai's Palace closes Mon–Tue — schedule Day 2 to land on Wed–Sun if you mean to go in, and always check the day beforehand
  • Mind the monkeys in Lopburi — don't carry food bags or loose items around Phra Prang Sam Yot and San Phra Kan
  • Sunflower season, Nov–Feb — come now and you get both the sunflower fields and migratory-bird season at Bueng Boraphet, the best fit overall
  • Start early — both Bueng Boraphet and Lopburi's old town are cooler in the morning and less crowded

Check out the full Nakhon Sawan travel guide to make trip planning easier

See the Nakhon Sawan guide →

FAQ

Is Nakhon Sawan far from Lopburi? How many hours to drive?

About 130 km on Highway 1 (Phahonyothin) via Tak Fa, roughly 2 hours of driving. The route runs across flat plains and is easy going, with gas stations and roadside coffee stops along the way.

How many days does this trip need?

This plan is built for 3 days and 2 nights, which fits nicely — you get Pak Nam Pho and Bueng Boraphet on the Nakhon Sawan side, plus Lopburi's old town and Pa Sak Dam. If you're short on time, drop the last day and squeeze it into 2 days by covering Lopburi town in a single day.

Are the Lopburi monkeys aggressive? Is it dangerous?

The monkeys around Phra Prang Sam Yot and San Phra Kan are used to people and like to grab food. As long as you don't carry food bags or loose items in your hands and keep valuables in a zipped bag, it's a safe visit — and it's a charm of the town you won't find elsewhere.

Can you do this route without your own car?

Lopburi's old town is easy to do by train and on foot, since the historic sites are near the train station. But Bueng Boraphet and Pa Sak Dam are out of town and awkward by public transport. If you want to cover the whole route, renting a car or having your own is the smoother option.

What month do Lopburi's sunflowers bloom?

Lopburi's sunflowers bloom around November to February each year. The Phatthana Nikhom side near Pa Sak Dam plants big fields, and this window is the best fit for the trip since you get both the flower fields and migratory-bird season at Bueng Boraphet.

Related

🗺️ Nakhon Sawan travel guide🏨 Top 10 hotels in Nakhon Sawan🦆 Visiting Bueng Boraphet

Copyright & Image Takedown Policy

Thailandaddict is created to review and share travel experiences. Where an image is sourced from elsewhere, we credit the source. If you are the copyright owner and prefer that your image not appear on this site, please contact us and we will gladly remove the image or correct the information.