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🛶 Cross-province road trip

Nakhon Sawan & Phichit, 2 Days 1 Night
A Nan River Road Trip

Phichit and Nakhon Sawan share the same lifeline: the Nan River, which flows south through the town of Phichit and then joins the Ping, Wang, and Yom rivers at Pak Nam Pho to become the source of the Chao Phraya. So this trip follows the water downstream by car — starting at the big lake in the middle of Phichit, passing old temples along the Nan, and ending at the very spot where the Chao Phraya is born in Nakhon Sawan. Take it easy over 2 days and 1 night.

🛶 Following the Nan River🐊 Phichit, land of Chalawan🌊 Chao Phraya's source at Pak Nam Pho
Nakhon Sawan & Phichit, 2 Days 1 Night A Nan River Road Trip

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

These two provinces sit right next to each other. Driving between the town of Phichit and the town of Nakhon Sawan takes about an hour and a half on Highway 1118 and the back roads that run alongside the Nan River. The route passes rice fields, riverside villages, and several old temples — perfect if you're tired of big-city trips and want a slow second-tier-town feel.

We've set it up to start in Phichit first (it's further upstream) and then drift south with the river to finish in Nakhon Sawan. If you're coming from Bangkok, it's just as fine to hit Nakhon Sawan first and then head up to Phichit — the distance is short either way.

Day 1 — Phichit, the lakeside town of Chalawan

Day 1

Phichit: Bueng Si Fai – Wat Tha Luang – Wat Bang Khlan

08:30
Leave your hotel in central Phichit and start at Bueng Si FaiA big freshwater lake right in the middle of town, covering thousands of rai. The morning air is still cool — great for a walk or a bike ride along the shore.
09:00
Snap a photo of the Phaya Chalawan statue and visit the Bueng Si Fai crocodile pondThe giant crocodile statue is Phichit's symbol (from the legend of Kraithong and Chalawan). The nearby crocodile pond is free to enter, open roughly 09:00–18:00.
10:30
Stroll through Somdet Phra Srinagarindra Park, Phichit, beside Bueng Si FaiA shady public park with lotus ponds and viewing pavilions — a nice spot to rest your legs before lunch.
11:30
Head into town to pay respects to Luang Pho Phet at Wat Tha Luang on the Nan RiverAn old temple central to Phichit's identity, sitting right on the banks of the Nan. Luang Pho Phet is the province's most revered Buddha image.
12:30
Lunch in central PhichitTry a noodle shop or a riverside rice place. Food in Phichit is easy on the wallet, around ฿40–70 a plate.
14:00
Drive south to Pho Thale district to pay respects to Luang Pho Ngern at Wat Bang Khlan (Wat Hiranyaram)A nationally famous temple with a pavilion housing a life-size cast statue of Luang Pho Ngern. It sits on an old riverbank with a calm atmosphere, about 50 km from Phichit town — roughly a 1-hour drive.
16:30
Head back to Phichit town for a walk around the railway station and evening market areaIt's a small town, easy to walk, and simple to find something to eat in the evening.
18:30
Dinner and overnight in central PhichitHotels in Phichit are affordable, starting around ฿500–900/night. Book ahead during long holiday weekends.

Day-one tip

If you'd rather not drive all the way out to Pho Thale, you can skip Wat Bang Khlan and spend that time really soaking up Bueng Si Fai and the old town instead — Wat Bang Khlan is off in a different direction from the route down to Nakhon Sawan, so it's best for those who specifically want to make merit there.

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Day 2 — Drifting south to Nakhon Sawan, source of the Chao Phraya

Day 2

Nakhon Sawan: riverside market – Bueng Boraphet – Pasan

08:00
Check out, leave Phichit, and drive down to Nakhon SawanIt's about an hour and a half from central Phichit to Pak Nam Pho, running south alongside the fields and the Nan River.
09:30
Arrive in Nakhon Sawan and explore the Pak Nam Pho riverside district by the Chao PhrayaAn old Chinese-heritage trading quarter with shrines, old shophouses, and Pak Nam Pho–style Chinese breakfasts.
10:30
Stop by the Chao Pho Thepharak – Chao Mae Thapthim shrine, the heart of Pak Nam Pho's faithThe town's main shrine and the origin of the Pak Nam Pho Chinese New Year festival, famous across the country.
11:30
Lunch on Pak Nam Pho's standout dishesNakhon Sawan is known for its noodles — both beef noodles and steamed rice-flour noodle rolls — plus long-running Chinese restaurants in the market quarter.
13:30
Visit Bueng Boraphet, Thailand's largest freshwater lakeTake a boat to watch birds and aquatic plants. There's a fish exhibition center and lakeside viewpoints, just a short drive out of town.
16:00
Wrap up the trip at Pasan, the landmark marking the source of the Chao Phraya, at the tip of Ko YomThe point where the Ping and Nan rivers merge into the Chao Phraya. Watch the two-colored river and the striking architecture — the light is lovely in the late afternoon.
17:30
Walk and take photos along the Chao Phraya before heading homeYou're ending the trip right where the water from Phichit comes together to form the Chao Phraya — the highlight that ties the whole trip together.

Match the stops to the river theme

The fun of this trip is that the final stop (Pasan) is the destination of the very water you've been following since Bueng Si Fai in Phichit. Tell whoever's with you that the water at Wat Tha Luang yesterday is the same flow you see merging into the Chao Phraya today — it gives the whole riverside trip a real sense of closure.

Must-try food in both riverside towns

1

Nakhon Sawan steamed noodle rolls (kuay teow pak mo)

Morning–midday snack · from ฿30–50

A Pak Nam Pho specialty — thin steamed rice-flour sheets with filling, eaten with dipping sauce. A morning-to-midday snack locals have enjoyed for generations.

Nakhon SawanMust try
2

Pak Nam Pho beef noodles

Lunch · from ฿50–80

This town has beef noodle shops on every corner — rich broth, tender beef. A classic Nakhon Sawan lunch.

Nakhon Sawan
3

Old-school Chinese food in Pak Nam Pho

Dinner · mid-range

The Chinese-heritage trading quarter has plenty of rice-porridge spots, dim sum, and long-established Chinese restaurants — great for a family dinner.

Nakhon SawanChinese food
4

Freshwater fish at Bueng Boraphet

Lunch–dinner · mid-range

Lakeside restaurants serve fresh freshwater fish — fried, steamed, or in tom yum — with lake views while you eat.

Nakhon SawanRiverside
5

Riverside eats along the Nan in Phichit

Any meal · from ฿40–70

Rice and noodle shops in central Phichit, light on the wallet, with a relaxed small-town feel.

PhichitBudget
6

Phichit sweets and local souvenirs

Souvenirs

Pick up local souvenirs around the evening market and the Phichit railway station area before you head off.

PhichitSouvenirs

Getting around and what to prepare

  • Your own car is easiest — public transport between the sights in these two towns is limited, and having a car is far more flexible, especially for the runs out to Bueng Boraphet and Wat Bang Khlan, which sit outside the town centers.
  • Train — the Northern Line passes through both Nakhon Sawan and Phichit, which works well if you only plan to stay within the town centers and hire local rides from there.
  • Main distances — central Phichit to Pak Nam Pho is about 1.5 hours · central Phichit to Wat Bang Khlan is about 1 hour.
  • Best time to go — November to February is cool and comfortable, great for lakeside and riverside walks. In the rainy season the lake views are lush and green, but bring an umbrella.
  • Accommodation — sleep one night in Phichit then drop down to Nakhon Sawan, or flip it and stay in Nakhon Sawan. Rooms in both second-tier towns are affordable.

Rough budget

For a 2-day, 1-night trip with two people self-driving, lodging plus food plus entry fees works out to roughly ฿2,000–3,000 per person (not counting fuel). Many stops — Bueng Si Fai, the crocodile pond, Pasan — are free to enter, which makes this trip easy to keep on budget.

Tailor the plan to you

Faith

Merit-makers

Focus on Wat Tha Luang and Luang Pho Phet, plus Wat Bang Khlan and Luang Pho Ngern, then finish at the Pak Nam Pho shrine.

Nature

Nature and photography

Pour your time into Bueng Si Fai, Bueng Boraphet, and Pasan in the late-afternoon light, and cut the temples that are further out.

Family

With the family

The Bueng Si Fai crocodile pond, the Chalawan statue, and the boat ride on Bueng Boraphet — kids love them, and there's not much walking.

Want a full city itinerary for Nakhon Sawan?

See the Nakhon Sawan travel guide →

FAQ

Which province should I start the Nakhon Sawan–Phichit trip in?

To follow the river theme, we'd suggest starting in Phichit, which is further upstream, then drifting south to finish in Nakhon Sawan — the final stop being Pasan at the source of the Chao Phraya. But if you're coming from Bangkok, you can hit Nakhon Sawan first and then continue to Phichit, since the two towns are right next to each other.

How long does it take to drive between Phichit and Nakhon Sawan?

From central Phichit to Pak Nam Pho in Nakhon Sawan takes about an hour and a half, running south alongside the fields and the Nan River. The distance is short, so a 2-day, 1-night trip is easy to pull off.

Do I need my own car for this trip?

Having a car is far more flexible, since sights like Bueng Boraphet and Wat Bang Khlan are outside the town centers and public transport between stops is limited. But if you only plan to explore within the towns, taking the Northern Line train and hiring local rides from there works fine.

What time of year is best to go?

November through February is cool and comfortable, ideal for lakeside and riverside walks. If you want to see birds at Bueng Boraphet, winter brings plenty of migratory species. In the rainy season the lake views are lush and green, but you should bring an umbrella.

Are there free attractions on this trip?

Several — Bueng Si Fai, the Bueng Si Fai crocodile pond, Somdet Phra Srinagarindra Park in Phichit, and Pasan at the source of the Chao Phraya are all free to enter, which makes this trip easy to keep on budget.

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