Home Destinations Prachinburi 🧭 Plan Your Trip 🔎 Search About
Home › Thailand › Prachinburi › Prachinburi in 2 Days Herbs, Ancient Ruins & the Edge of Khao Yai
🌿 Prachinburi Itinerary

Prachinburi in 2 Days
Herbs, Ancient Ruins & the Edge of Khao Yai

Plenty of people drive straight through Prachinburi on the way to Khao Yai without ever stopping, which is a shame because the province has real character. There's the century-old yellow Abhaibhubejhr building, a herb garden you can actually eat your way through, a 1,500-year-old Dvaravati city, and the Kaeng Hin Phoeng rapids that are a blast to raft in the rainy season. We've put together a 2-day, 1-night plan that flows without backtracking: day one covers the herbal and historical sights in town, day two shifts out toward Na Di and Kabin Buri at the foot of Khao Yai.

🌿 Abhaibhubejhr Herbs🏛️ Ancient City of Si Mahosot🚣 Kaeng Hin Phoeng Rafting
Prachinburi in 2 Days Herbs, Ancient Ruins & the Edge of Khao Yai

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Prachinburi sits about 130 km from Bangkok, an easy drive of roughly two and a half hours via Motorway 7 onto Highway 359. It's a great weekend trip if you want both culture and nature in one province. This plan assumes you're driving yourself (by far the easiest option), but if you don't have a car you can take a Bangkok–Prachinburi van from Mo Chit and then rent a motorbike or charter a van once you're in the province.

The 2-Day, 1-Night Trip at a Glance

  • Day 1 — Herbs + history The Abhaibhubejhr building, the herb garden and the Thai Traditional Medicine Museum, then out to the ancient city of Si Mahosot, Sa Morakot and the old Sri Maha Pho Bodhi tree.
  • Day 2 — The Prachinburi side of Khao Yai Move out toward Na Di and Kabin Buri, raft the Kaeng Hin Phoeng rapids (if you come in the rainy season) or visit waterfalls and a hillside cafe before heading home.
  • Where to stay Sleep in Prachinburi town for an easy start the next morning, or shift over to the Kabin Buri / Na Di area if you're set on early-morning rafting on day two.

Match the season to the activity

If your heart is set on rafting the Kaeng Hin Phoeng rapids, come between July and October, when the water is strong enough to run. Outside that window the water is too low to raft, so swap in waterfalls and cafes instead. The herbal sights and ancient ruins, on the other hand, are good year-round.

🎟️

Book the activities in your Prachinburi 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 PrachinburiHighlights, guided Klook 🎟️ Prachinburi attractions & ticketsSkip-the-line entry tickets Klook 🚐 Day trips from PrachinburiOut and back in a day Klook 🌎 Prachinburi activities (GetYourGuide)Global tour marketplace GetYourGuide
🎟️ See all Prachinburi tours & activities (Klook)

Day 1 — Abhaibhubejhr Herbs + the Ancient City

Day 1

Prachinburi Town + Si Mahosot District

08:30
Leave Bangkok and head for PrachinburiMotorway 7 onto Highway 359, about two and a half hours. There are gas stations along the way for a restroom break.
11:00
The Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr building, inside Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr HospitalA yellow Baroque-style building put up in 1909 (over a century old). Wander around to photograph the old architecture, then head upstairs to the Abhaibhubejhr Thai Traditional Medicine Museum. Free entry.
12:15
A healthy lunch inside the hospital groundsThere's the Abhaibhubejhr Day Spa cafe serving herbal dishes, plus a self-serve vegetarian spot at around 35–40 THB a plate. If you want a proper sit-down meal, head out to a herbal restaurant in town.
13:30
Walk the Abhaibhubejhr herb garden + souvenir shoppingThe garden labels each herb with its name and uses, and the shop sells genuine Abhaibhubejhr herbal products — inhalers, creams, soaps, herbal teas — at fair prices. The province's standout souvenir.
15:00
The ancient city of Si Mahosot (Si Mahosot district)A Dvaravati city around 1,500 years old, an egg-shaped settlement covering more than 740 rai with over a hundred scattered ruins, mounds and ponds. You can drive around to take it in. Afternoons get hot, so bring a hat and water.
16:15
Sa Morakot ruins + the twin Buddha footprintsAn ancient Dvaravati pond whose highlight is a pair of Buddha footprints carved into laterite, believed to be the oldest in Thailand. Quiet and calm — a good spot to pay respects and soak up the atmosphere.
17:00
The Sri Maha Pho Bodhi tree at Wat Ton Pho Si Maha PhoThe oldest Bodhi tree in Thailand, around 30 metres tall, believed to be a shoot from the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya. The evening light makes for lovely photos.
18:30
Check in to your hotel in town + dinnerHead back into Prachinburi town and find boat noodles or a simple local spot. Rest up and save your energy for day two.

Opening hours

The Thai Traditional Medicine Museum and most shops inside the hospital keep office hours and close in the late afternoon, so do the herbal sights in the morning and early afternoon first, then save the open-air ruins for late afternoon.

Day 2 — The Prachinburi Side of Khao Yai

Day 2

Na Di–Kabin Buri Districts (the foot of Khao Yai)

07:30
Breakfast and check outIf you're set on rafting, it's worth sleeping the first night on the Kabin Buri / Na Di side so you can get an early start without rushing out from town.
09:00
Raft the Kaeng Hin Phoeng rapids (July–October only)This is inside Khao Yai National Park on the Na Di side, reached via Highway 304 on the Kabin Buri–Korat route. The run passes 6 rapids over roughly 2.5 km. Book through one of the nearby resorts that offer rafting packages — life jackets and a guide are included.
09:00
Off-season alternative — visit a waterfallWhen the water is low and rafting isn't possible, swap in a waterfall on the Prachinburi side of Khao Yai. A short forest walk to a waterfall, with cooler air than in town.
12:00
Lunch + shower and a change of clothesRafting leaves you soaked from head to toe, and the resorts near the rapids have showers. Eat at a riverside spot or at the resort before moving on.
13:30
A hillside cafe around Noen Hom–Kabin BuriPrachinburi has plenty of cafes set in nature. The Noen Hom area and the foothills have spots with field and mountain views — a nice place to sit with a coffee and take photos before heading back.
15:00
Stop for souvenirs to take homePrachinburi santol fruit (in season, around mid-year) and genuine Abhaibhubejhr herbal products are the favourites people pick up to bring home.
16:00
Drive back to BangkokLeaving before evening helps you dodge the worst of the evening traffic on the way back, putting you in Bangkok around nightfall.

Where to Stay for This Trip

Pick your base around the plan. If you're focused on the town sights and ancient ruins, sleeping in Prachinburi town is easiest. But if you're set on early-morning rafting on day two, shifting over to the Kabin Buri–Na Di side makes the early start much simpler.

In town

Hotels in Prachinburi town

Close to Abhaibhubejhr Hospital and the restaurants — good for the first night before carrying on in the morning, with Si Mahosot reachable in about half an hour.

Foot of Khao Yai

Resorts around Kabin Buri–Na Di

Near the access point for Kaeng Hin Phoeng rapids and the Prachinburi side of Khao Yai. Many offer rafting packages with meals included — ideal if you're here for the nature.

See our hand-picked Prachinburi hotels

Top 10 Prachinburi Hotels →

Food Worth Stopping For

1

Abhaibhubejhr herbal dishes

In town · from 35–40 THB (self-serve) up to a few hundred at sit-down spots

Dishes built around herbs from the hospital's own garden and growers around the province. Mild rather than spicy and on the healthy side — a natural pairing with a herb-focused day out.

HealthyLocal favourite
2

Prachinburi boat noodles

In town · 15–25 THB per bowl

Prachinburi has several boat-noodle shops with rich broth and soft noodles. Order the little bowls and have several — an easy meal to grab along the way.

LocalEasy eats
3

Prachinburi santol

Seasonal (around mid-year)

A seasonal specialty around mid-year — fluffy flesh that's sweet and a little tart, eaten fresh or made into santol in syrup. Easy to buy as a gift to take home.

FruitSouvenir
4

Hillside cafes in Noen Hom

Outskirts · coffee around 60–90 THB

Coffee shops with field and mountain views around Noen Hom and the foothills of Khao Yai. Open and airy — a good place to stop for a coffee and photos before the drive back.

CafeMountain view

Tips to Get the Most Out of It

  • Check the rafting season before you plan — Kaeng Hin Phoeng only runs from July to October. Come outside that window and switch to waterfalls and cafes.
  • Bring your own car — the sights are spread across several districts and public transport within the province is sparse, so driving or chartering a van is far more convenient.
  • Do the herbal sights in the morning and early afternoon — the museum and hospital shops close in the late afternoon, so cover those first and save the open-air ruins for late in the day.
  • Pack sun protection — the ancient city of Si Mahosot is all outdoors and the afternoons get hot, so bring a hat, water and sunscreen.

Plan your full Prachinburi trip

See the Prachinburi guide →

FAQ

Do I need my own car for a 2-day Prachinburi trip?

It's easiest if you have one, because the sights are spread across several districts — from the town centre to Si Mahosot district and out to Na Di–Kabin Buri. Public transport within the province is limited, so if you don't have a car you can take a van from Bangkok and then charter a van or rent a motorbike once you're there.

When can you raft the Kaeng Hin Phoeng rapids?

You can raft from July to October, the rainy season when the water is strong enough. Outside that window the water is too low to run, so if you come at another time we'd suggest swapping in waterfalls on the Prachinburi side of Khao Yai and a hillside cafe instead.

Is there an entry fee for the Abhaibhubejhr building?

The Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr building is inside Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital, and you can walk around the architecture and the Thai Traditional Medicine Museum upstairs free of charge. It mainly keeps office hours, so morning to early afternoon is best.

What souvenirs should I buy in Prachinburi?

Genuine Abhaibhubejhr herbal products — inhalers, creams, soaps and herbal teas — are the well-known pick, along with Prachinburi santol in season around mid-year, both fresh and processed.

Who is Prachinburi good for?

It suits anyone who wants a short trip close to Bangkok that combines culture and history, healthy herbal sights and the nature at the foot of Khao Yai, all in one province. It works for both families and groups of friends.

Related

🗺️ Prachinburi Travel Guide🏨 Top 10 Prachinburi Hotels🚣 Kaeng Hin Phoeng Rafting Plan

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.