🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Uttaradit sits on the edge of lower Northern Thailand — just over an hour's drive from Phitsanulok, and close to Sukhothai too. The province stretches from the flat town center up into the mountains to the east, so you can fit several kinds of trip into one visit: walk the old town in the morning, head up to the dam in the afternoon, stop by a temple in the evening. It still doesn't get much tourist traffic, so the mood stays easygoing and you won't be fighting anyone for a photo spot.
For nature lovers — dams, mountains, pine meadows
If you're coming to Uttaradit for nature, the two you can't miss are the Sirikit Dam and Phu Soi Dao. The first is easy — you can drive right up. The second takes some legwork on foot, but it's worth it.
Sirikit Dam (Tha Pla district)
The largest water-storage earth dam in Thailand, holding back the Nan River. The crest is breezy with a wide reservoir view, and there's Sumalai Park and the Chalermphrakiat Bridge for a walk and photos. Over on the Wang Nam Ton side you can take a raft tour and stay overnight on the water. Free entry.
Phu Soi Dao National Park
The summit reaches 2,102 metres, among the highest in Thailand. The highlights are the three-needle pine meadow and the fields of purple Hong Nak flowers that bloom in the rainy season around Aug–Sep. You'll hike roughly 6.5 km uphill, so it suits trekkers who've come prepared.
Lam Nam Nan National Park (Pha Lueat)
Headwater forest above the Sirikit Dam, with ridges folding into one another. There are camping spots and a few short trails — a quiet nature break to fit in on the way to the dam.
Tip
Phu Soi Dao only opens seasonally (mainly the rainy season when the Hong Nak flowers bloom), and you need to check the dates and book your slot with the park in advance. Don't just drive all the way up and ask when you get there — you'll waste the trip. The Sirikit Dam, on the other hand, is open year-round and free.
Want more out of Uttaradit? Book tours & activities
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.
For the town side — Lablae, markets, old quarter
The charm of Uttaradit town lives in "Lablae" — a small district with a legend that it's a place where you mustn't tell lies. It's easy to wander, between the yellow town gate, the old market, and the orchards all around.
- Lablae town gate — the bright yellow gate is the landmark at the entrance to the district, with statues from the Lablae legend for a check-in photo.
- Si Phanom Mat municipal market (Lablae old market) — an old-style market with pastel wall paintings telling the way of life in earlier times, selling fresh produce, local eats and souvenirs.
- Mon Lablae orchards — during fruit season (Jun–Aug), drive through orchards of Lin and Long durian, langsat and longkong, taste them right at the source and buy fresh to take home.
- Phraya Phichai monument — in front of the provincial hall in the town center, with a museum inside that tells the history of his battles and a model of an Ayutthaya-era battlefield. It's a key landmark of the town.
Routing
Lablae is only about 8 km from the town center, a 15-minute drive, so it works easily as a morning half-day: walk the market, shoot the town gate, swing by an orchard, then head back into town for lunch.
For culture — old temples and the Nam Phi steel story
Uttaradit has temples dating back to the late Sukhothai period, plus something Thais have known for ages: "Nam Phi steel," a hard steel believed to have been used to forge Phraya Phichai's swords. History buffs and the spiritually inclined will love this zone.
Wat Phra Thaen Sila At (Lablae district)
An old temple that's a fixture of the town. The highlight is the Phra Thaen Sila At (stone seat) inside its mondop, and there's a local museum displaying paintings, old photographs and antique Thai textiles. The grounds are shady and peaceful.
Wat Phra Borommathat Thung Yang
A late-Sukhothai-era temple with the Phra Borommathat Thung Yang chedi enshrining holy relics, plus a principal Buddha image in the Mara-subduing posture in Chiang Saen style. It's an important place of worship for Uttaradit locals.
Wat Phra Yuen Phutthabat Yukhon
Right near Wat Phra Borommathat Thung Yang, with a Chiang Saen-style mondop sheltering a pair of Buddha footprints. You can string together your temple visits in the same neighborhood.
Nam Phi Sword Museum / Nam Phi iron mine (Thong Saen Khan district)
The origin of Nam Phi iron, believed to have forged ancient swords. A large Nam Phi steel sword is on display, with a Pradu-wood scabbard inlaid with mother-of-pearl and silver-wrapped engravings. History fans will come away with plenty of stories to take home.
Wat Phra Fang (Sawangkhaburi Muninat)
An old temple on the bank of the Nan River, once an important town in the Ayutthaya era, with an old ordination hall and a quiet atmosphere. A good stop for anyone who likes ancient sites that still don't draw many visitors.
Group them smartly
Wat Phra Thaen Sila At, Wat Phra Borommathat Thung Yang and Wat Phra Yuen all sit close together in the Lablae/Thung Yang zone — you can visit them back-to-back in a half-day. The Nam Phi iron site is in a different direction (Thong Saen Khan district), so if you want to go, set aside a separate half-day for it.
How to plan a trip that fits
Uttaradit works for anything from a half-day stop along the way to a full overnight trip. Pick the plan that matches the time you've got.
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Plan your whole Uttaradit trip — where to stay, eat and go
See the Uttaradit travel guide →