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🛕 Cross-province itinerary

Surat Thani to Nakhon Si Thammarat, 3 Days
Two Southern Sacred Stupas

Upper southern Thailand has two old, deeply revered stupas in neighbouring provinces: Phra Borommathat Chaiya, a thousand-year-old Srivijaya-style chedi in Surat Thani, and the Phra Borommathat Chedi at Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan in Nakhon Si Thammarat, the gold-topped bell-shaped stupa at the spiritual centre of the city locals call Muang Khon. The two towns sit about 130-some kilometres apart, an easy day's drive one after the other. This plan runs 3 days and 2 nights, starting at Chaiya on the Surat side, then drifting south to Nakhon Si Thammarat, so you get the temples, the old art, and good food from both towns.

🛕 Two cities, two stupas🏛️ Srivijaya and Lanka art🚐 Cross-province in a day
Surat Thani to Nakhon Si Thammarat, 3 Days Two Southern Sacred Stupas

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

A lot of people pick just one of these temples, when in fact Phra Borommathat Chaiya and the Nakhon Si Thammarat stupa sit on the same main southern route, an easy drive apart. This plan is built so you don't have to rush: day one stays around Chaiya in Surat Thani province, day two shifts south to Nakhon Si Thammarat to pay respects at the Phra Borommathat Chedi, and day three walks the old town of Muang Khon before you head back. Along the way you'll see that the two cities' art comes from different schools entirely — Chaiya is Srivijaya, while Nakhon Si Thammarat has the bell shape of Lankan influence.

Before you set off

This trip is easiest with your own car or a rental from Surat Thani town, because the temple stops are spread along Highway 41 and inside Muang Khon. If you're not driving, you can string together vans and trains, but build in extra time for waiting on departures. Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered at every stop, since these are all temple grounds.

The route at a glance — how far apart are the two stupas

Chaiya sits about 50–60 kilometres north of Surat Thani town along Highway 41, while the city of Nakhon Si Thammarat lies to the south of Surat. The distance between the two provinces is roughly 130–140 kilometres, about a 2-hour drive. The whole route runs on main roads, which makes it easy to plan one stretch after the other.

  • Own car / rental — the most flexible option. Chaiya to Surat Thani town is about 1 hour; Surat Thani town to Nakhon Si Thammarat is about 2 hours. Easy to time your temple visits so you arrive before closing.
  • Van route 475, Surat to Nakhon Si — departs Surat Thani town roughly 07:30–16:30, with runs almost every hour. Takes about 2 hours, comfortable, and drops you right in Muang Khon town.
  • Southern Line train — the cheapest, with tickets from around 60-odd THB, but slower at roughly 4 hours because you change lines at Khao Chum Thong junction. Good for anyone who isn't in a hurry and wants to watch the scenery.

Base yourself smartly

This plan has you sleeping in Surat Thani town the first night (plenty of places to stay and eat) then moving to Nakhon Si Thammarat town for the second night, so you're not dragging your bag back and forth. If you're starting from Surat Thani Airport (URT), you can set off straight from the city.

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Day 1 — Chaiya and its Srivijaya-style stupa

Day one goes to Chaiya, an old district north of Surat Thani that was once the centre of the Srivijaya kingdom more than a thousand years ago. The main draw is Wat Phra Borommathat Chaiya Ratchaworawihan, with its thousand-year-old Srivijaya-style chedi — a form you'll only find in a handful of places in Thailand.

Day 1

Chaiya and Srivijaya art

08:30
Leave Surat Thani town and drive north on Highway 41 toward ChaiyaAbout 50–60 km, roughly 1 hour. There are petrol stations and roadside cafes along the way to refuel.
09:30
Arrive at Wat Phra Borommathat Chaiya, pay respects at the Srivijaya-style chedi, and walk the cloister to see the old Buddha imagesThe temple is open 08:00–16:00 daily, free to enter. Take off your shoes before stepping onto the stupa terrace.
11:00
Cross over to the Chaiya National Museum next to the temple to see real Srivijaya sculptureOpen Wed–Fri 09:00–16:00, closed Mon–Tue and public holidays. Thais 20 THB, foreigners 100 THB.
12:30
Lunch in Chaiya town — try the bold southern khao gaeng (rice and curry) around the marketChaiya is a small town and shops close in the afternoon, so it's best to eat before about 1:30 pm.
14:00
Stop at Suan Mokkh (Wat Than Nam Lai) off Highway 41 for a quiet forest dhamma walkOpen 08:00–17:00 daily, free to enter. This is Buddhadasa's natural forest, so keep your voice down and be respectful.
16:00
Stop at a local shop to pick up Chaiya's famous GI-registered salted eggs, then drive back to Surat Thani townChaiya salted eggs have an especially rich yolk. Buy them raw or boiled — either keeps well for a while.
18:00
Back in Surat Thani town, eat seafood along the Tapi River and save your energy for the drive down to Nakhon Si tomorrowSleep in Surat Thani town tonight — more places to stay and eat than staying over in Chaiya.

Mind the museum closing days

The Chaiya National Museum is closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and public holidays. If you're set on seeing the real Srivijaya art, don't put day one on a Monday or Tuesday, or you'll only get to see the chedi from outside.

Day 2 — cross to Nakhon Si for the Phra Borommathat Chedi

Day two is the cross-province day: from Surat Thani town it's about 2 hours south to the city of Nakhon Si Thammarat. The day's main stop is Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, home to the Phra Borommathat Chedi, a gold-topped bell-shaped stupa that sits at the heart of Muang Khon life. Its shape is clearly different from Chaiya's, drawing on Lankan art.

Day 2

Cross-province plus Muang Khon's Phra Borommathat Chedi

08:30
Check out of your Surat Thani place and head down to Nakhon Si Thammarat on the main roadIf you're not driving, catch van route 475 from Surat Thani town — runs almost every hour, about 2 hours to arrive.
11:00
Arrive in Nakhon Si town, check in or drop your bags, then find lunchMuang Khon is known for southern-style khanom jeen (rice noodles with curry sauce) and khao yam. Try a khanom jeen shop in town.
13:00
Enter Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, pay respects at the Phra Borommathat Chedi, and circumambulate the stupaThe temple grounds are open roughly 08:30–17:00. Going up to pay respects or drape cloth at the chedi is open on Buddhist holy days and Sat–Sun, roughly 08:00–16:00.
14:30
Walk through Wihan Phra Ma, Wihan Khian, and Wihan Pho Lanka within the temple grounds to see the offerings and old Buddha imagesThe grounds are large with several halls to wander — take it slow. The softer late-afternoon light makes the chedi photograph well.
16:00
Stop at the Nakhon Si Thammarat National Museum, not far from the temple, to see southern antiquitiesCheck the opening days first — the museum usually closes Mon–Tue like its sister branches. Leave enough time before closing.
18:00
Head back into town, rest, and have dinner in Muang Khon — walk the market or the walking street if the day lines upNakhon Si has plenty of cafes and bold southern restaurants. Try gaeng tai pla or khua kling for dinner.

The Phra Borommathat Chedi is a white inverted-bell stupa with a gold-clad spire, standing tall in the middle of the city. Southerners believe it enshrines a relic of the Buddha. The popular thing to do is circumambulate the stupa and join the cloth-draping ceremony on important days. If you come during the Hae Pha Khuen That festival (around February, on Makha Bucha day), you'll see a procession of phra bot cloth running a kilometre long — a sight you can only catch in Muang Khon.

About going up to the stupa

You can pay respects at the Phra Borommathat Chedi around the lower terrace any day. But going up to bow or drape cloth close to the stupa is only open on Buddhist holy days and Saturdays–Sundays. If you're set on doing the ceremony here, pick the right day and double-check the temple's announcements again before you travel.

Day 3 — Nakhon Si's old town, then home

The last day is an easy walk through Nakhon Si Thammarat's old town before heading back. The inner-city quarter still keeps traces of the old city walls, the city pillar shrine, and old shophouses to wander past. It's a place with a long history that's still very much a working city where people actually live — not a set dressed up for tourists.

Day 3

City pillar shrine, old walls, and souvenirs

08:30
Start the morning at the Nakhon Si Thammarat City Pillar Shrine for a bit of good fortuneThe city pillar shrine is a cluster of buildings drawing on Srivijaya art, right in the city — easy to walk or drive to.
09:30
Walk the line of the old city walls and Pratu Chai Nuea (Pratu Chaisak), the traces of the ancient cityParts of the wall still stand and you can photograph them. The morning sun isn't harsh yet.
11:00
Stroll the Tha Wang quarter or an old street in town, look at the shophouses and old shops, and have coffee at a local spotNakhon Si has several newer cafes tucked into the old town. Sit and rest before lunch.
12:30
Close the trip with a southern Muang Khon lunch, such as khanom jeen, gaeng tai pla, or khao yamThis is the send-off meal — pick a place where lots of locals are sitting to get the real taste of the city.
14:00
Pick up Muang Khon souvenirs such as nielloware (khrueang thom Nakhon) and khanom la before heading backNielloware is an old craft, while khanom la is a local sweet that travels easily as a gift.
15:30
Set off home — back to Surat Thani, fly out of Nakhon Si airport, or take the train backNakhon Si has an airport (NST) with direct flights to Bangkok. If you came by van, there are return runs to Surat Thani that arrive by evening.

If you've got a spare half-day, Nakhon Si Thammarat has other stops worth a detour, such as Wat Khao Khun Phanom outside town, or for nature lovers, Krung Ching Waterfall in Khao Luang National Park, which is in the same province but fairly far from the city. If you want to add it, budget it as a separate day.

Real opening hours — check before you plan

  • Wat Phra Borommathat Chaiya (Surat Thani) — open daily 08:00–16:00, free entry.
  • Chaiya National Museum — Wed–Fri 09:00–16:00, closed Mon–Tue and public holidays. Thais 20 THB, foreigners 100 THB.
  • Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan (Nakhon Si Thammarat) — temple grounds open roughly 08:30–17:00; going up to bow / drape cloth at the chedi is open on Buddhist holy days and Sat–Sun, roughly 08:00–16:00. Free entry.
  • Nakhon Si Thammarat National Museum — usually open Wed–Sun, closed Mon–Tue. Check the latest opening days before you go.

Straight talk on timing

You can pay respects around the terrace of both stupas any day, but where people slip up is the two museums that close Mon–Tue, and going up onto the Phra Borommathat Chedi in Nakhon Si, which is only open on certain days. If you want it all — the temples and the art — building the trip over a Saturday–Sunday works out best.

Pair it up — where to go next

Add an island

On to Koh Samui or Pha-ngan

Both Chaiya and Surat Thani town sit on the route to Don Sak pier. Finish the temples and hop across to the islands in the same trip.

Nature route

Nature route to Khao Sok and Cheow Lan

With several days to spare, you can carry on from the temple route to a floating raft house on Cheow Lan Lake — but it's in the opposite direction, so budget a separate day.

Hiking

Krung Ching Waterfall, Khao Luang

Also in Nakhon Si Thammarat, this is a big waterfall in the Khao Luang forest, good for hikers but far from the city, so add an extra day.

Food from two cities — pay respects, then eat well

The charm of this trip is eating two styles of southern food. On the Surat side it's seafood along the Tapi River and Chaiya salted eggs. In Nakhon Si it's southern-style khanom jeen with a plate piled with fresh vegetable sides, bold gaeng tai pla, khua kling, and herb-laced khao yam — a true southern taste you won't find quite the same anywhere else. Finish with Muang Khon's khanom la as a sweet to take home.

Want a full Surat Thani plan covering the city, the islands, and the food

See the Surat Thani travel guide →

FAQ

How are Phra Borommathat Chaiya and the Nakhon Si stupa different?

Phra Borommathat Chaiya in Surat Thani is a thousand-year-old Srivijaya-style chedi, with a tiered square base. The Phra Borommathat Chedi at Wat Phra Mahathat in Nakhon Si is an inverted-bell stupa with a gold-clad spire, drawing on Lankan art. The two shapes are clearly different, which is exactly why it's worth seeing both in one trip to compare the two schools of art.

How long does it take to get from Surat Thani to Nakhon Si Thammarat?

The two provinces are about 130–140 kilometres apart. By private car it's roughly 2 hours. Van route 475 runs almost every hour from about 07:30–16:30 and also takes about 2 hours. The Southern Line train is the cheapest, with tickets from around 60-odd THB, but it's slower at roughly 4 hours because you change lines at Khao Chum Thong junction.

How many days do you need to visit both stupas?

Three days and two nights is the sweet spot: day one around Chaiya in Surat Thani, day two crossing over to pay respects at the Phra Borommathat Chedi in Nakhon Si, and day three walking Nakhon Si's old town before heading back. If you're really short on time you can squeeze it into 2 days, but you'll be driving non-stop and moving through everything faster.

Can you go up to the Phra Borommathat Chedi in Nakhon Si any day?

You can pay respects around the lower terrace any day during temple hours, but going up to bow close to the stupa or join the cloth-draping is only open on Buddhist holy days and Saturdays–Sundays, roughly 08:00–16:00. If you're set on doing the ceremony here, pick the right day and double-check the temple's announcements again before you travel.

Can you do this trip without a private car?

Yes, but allow more time. Take van route 475 or the train between cities, then hire local transport to reach the temples. The tricky spot is Chaiya, because the train station is far from the temple cluster and you'll need a motorcycle taxi. If you want to control your timing so you reach the temples before closing, renting a car from Surat Thani town is far more comfortable.

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