Ang Thong

Ang Thong: The Land of (Really, REALLY) Giant Buddhas

Forget a quick temple stop. Welcome to Ang Thong, a quiet province right in the heart of Thailand's central plains that just so happens to be a land of giants! Just a short drive from Bangkok, Ang Thong (meaning "Golden Basin") is a rural idyll of rice paddies and sleepy towns... that are watched over by some of the biggest Buddha statues on the planet.

If you're looking for an easy and seriously impressive day trip from Bangkok, or a stopover that will have your jaw on the floor, you've found it. Get your camera ready!

Why You Can't-Miss Ang Thong

This province is small, but its attractions are colossal.

A sunlit view of Wat Tha It in Ang Thong, Thailand, featuring the ornate, white-walled temple with its red and gold roof on the left, contrasted against the tall, dark, multi-tiered chedi (stupa) on the right, all under a clear blue sky.

The Ang Thong "Giant" Bucket List

Get ready to crane your neck in awe.

Holy Moly, That's Big! (Wat Muang)

This is the main event. The Great Buddha of Thailand at Wat Muang is a golden goliath that will completely blow your mind. At 92 meters (302 ft) high, it's the tallest sitting Buddha in the country, and you can see him shimmering from miles away.

Get Good Luck: Walk up and touch the giant's outstretched fingertips—it's said to bring you good luck and a long life.

Explore the Temple: Don't just see the big guy! The temple complex also has a stunning "glass" ordination hall (Wiharn Kaew) covered in mirror mosaics and a... let's say vivid... Buddhist Hell Garden with graphic statues showing the punishments for various sins. It's quirky, weird, and absolutely fascinating.

The "Other" Giant (Wat Khun Inthapramun)

As if one giant wasn't enough, just a short drive away is Wat Khun Inthapramun. This ancient temple, dating back to the Sukhothai era, houses one of the longest reclining Buddha statues in Thailand. Measuring a whopping 50 meters (164 ft), this serene, white Buddha lies peacefully in the ruins of the original temple hall, which was destroyed in a fire centuries ago. The open-air setting makes it incredibly photogenic and peaceful.

Discover the Village of Drums (Ban Phae)

Want to see where all that festival noise comes from? Head to Ban Phae, a village almost entirely dedicated to the craft of drum making. You can see artisans of all ages carving, stretching, and painting all kinds of traditional Thai drums. It's a great place to see true craftsmanship and maybe pick up a (much smaller) souvenir.

See the Artisans at Ban Bang Sadet Court Doll Center

This isn't a factory; it's a living project. Started by Her Majesty the Queen, this center helps local villagers earn income by creating beautiful, intricate "court dolls" that depict traditional Thai life and characters from classical literature. It's a fantastic place to see the delicate work up close and support the local community.

How to Get There

Ang Thong is super accessible.

The easiest way is by car or van from Bangkok, which takes about 1.5-2 hours. You can hire a driver for the day or rent your own car. This gives you the flexibility to hop between the giant temples at your own pace.

There is no train station in Ang Thong, but buses run regularly from Bangkok's Mo Chit Bus Terminal.

The Provinces of Central & Western Thailand...

View of the Chao Phraya River looking south from Bang Rak

Bangkok

A golden Buddha statue nestled on a hillside.

Chai Nat

An ancient temple.

Kamphaeng Phet

A serene, hazy view of the long, wooden Mon Bridge in Kanchanaburi, spanning a calm lake where a small boat is cruising. Layers of forest-covered mountains are visible in the background under a soft, warm light.

Kanchanaburi

Macaque monkeys play on the green entrance sign for the ancient stone temple of Phra Prang Sam Yod in Lopburi, Thailand.

Lopburi

A high-angle, scenic view looking along the crest of the massive Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam in Nakhon Nayok, Thailand, with its reservoir on one side and a lush green valley and forested hills on the other, under a partly cloudy sky.

Nakhon Nayok

The magnificent golden stupa of Phra Pathom Chedi in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, glows against a deep blue twilight sky, with a Buddhist monk in orange robes standing in the foreground courtyard.

Nakhon Pathom

A panoramic view from a high vantage point in Nakhon Sawan, Thailand, looking out over a dramatic, forest-covered limestone peak and a vast plain of green and yellow patchwork agricultural fields stretching to the horizon under a blue, cloudy sky.

Nakhon Sawan

A modern cable-stayed bridge with a distinctive pylon topped by a golden, traditional Thai spire, spanning a wide river in Nonthaburi, Thailand. The foreground is filled with green water hyacinths under a clear blue sky.

Nonthaburi

A traditional Thai temple with an orange-tiled roof sits in the middle of a tranquil pond in Pathum Thani, Thailand. A large, ornate Naga serpent statue encircles the structure, its body forming a walkway leading to the entrance. The building and a blue sky are reflected in the water, and the scene is framed by dark green leaves in the foreground.

Pathum Thani

A scenic view of the Wat Pha Sorn Kaew temple complex in the mountains of Phetchabun, Thailand. A massive, white seated Buddha statue and an ornate, golden pagoda are nestled in the lush green hills, with layers of distant mountains visible in the background.

Phetchabun

A white pickup truck with a boat trailer parked on the dirt shore of a large, calm lake in Phetchaburi, Thailand. In the distance, mountains line the horizon under an overcast sky, with dramatic sunbeams breaking through the clouds and shining onto the water.

Phetchaburi

The ancient brick ruins of a temple in Phichit, Thailand, are illuminated by the warm, golden light of sunset, with surrounding trees and a clear sky.

Phichit

A scenic, high-angle view of the patchwork rice paddies in Phitsanulok province, Thailand. The fields, some flooded with water and others a vibrant green, stretch towards a line of dense trees with rolling hills in the background under a cloudy sky.

Phitsanulok

The red brick ruins of the ancient temples at Ayutthaya Historical Park in Thailand, with crumbling walls in the foreground and several towering prangs against a blue sky with clouds.

Pra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya

An elevated, panoramic view of Prachuap Khiri Khan province in Thailand at sunset. A red-roofed temple is nestled in the foreground, overlooking a vast landscape of winding rivers, aquaculture farms, and a small town, with dramatic limestone mountains rising in the hazy, golden-lit background.

Prachuap Khiri Khan

A long-exposure photograph of a river with milky, flowing water cascading over smooth, dark boulders, surrounded by the lush green trees of a forest in Ratchaburi, Thailand.

Ratchaburi

A riverside view of Phra Samut Chedi in Samut Prakan, Thailand, at sunset. The chedi is brightly illuminated in pink and white, reflecting on the calm water next to a traditional temple and docked boats under a colourful sky.

Samut Prakan

A large, golden statue of a mythical bird stands before an ornate Thai temple in Samut Sakhon, featuring a multi-tiered red and gold roof, all set against a clear blue sky.

Samut Sakhon

A red and yellow train approaches on a track running directly through the center of a bustling market in Samut Songkhram, Thailand. Crowds of tourists stand inches from the track, holding up their phones to photograph the train as it passes the colourful market stalls.

Samut Songkhram

A wide stone staircase with ornate Naga serpent railings leads up to the magnificent golden Mondop of Wat Phra Phutthabat temple in Saraburi, Thailand, under a bright blue sky with white clouds.

Saraburi

A white Thai temple in Sing Buri with an ornate, multi-tiered red and gold roof. In the foreground, on a manicured green lawn, are several colourful and whimsical statues, including two large pink rabbits, a rooster, and a black elephant.

Sing Buri

An aerial view of the sprawling temple ruins at Sukhothai Historical Park in Thailand, showing numerous ancient brick stupas and pillars set amongst green lawns, trees, and ponds, with mountains visible in the distance under a warm, hazy sky.

Sukothai

A massive, golden dragon statue at the Dragon Descendants Museum in Suphan Buri, Thailand. The dragon is coiled over stylized clouds with its mouth wide open, spouting a cascade of water onto a structure below. Visitors walk on the paved plaza in front of the immense statue under a clear blue sky.

Suphan Buri

An aerial view of the Bhumibol Dam in Tak province, Thailand, a large, curved concrete structure surrounded by lush green mountains and a vast reservoir under a cloudy sky.

Tak

An ornate, multi-tiered golden temple in Uthai Thani, Thailand, featuring intricate gables and numerous pointed spires set against a bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds. In the foreground is a manicured garden with red flowers and green hedges.

Uthai Thani