Nakhon Nayok

Nakhon Nayok: Bangkok’s Green Adventure Playground!

Feeling the Bangkok hustle? Need a blast of fresh air, roaring waterfalls, and a dash of adventure—fast? Then it's time you discovered Nakhon Nayok, Bangkok's best-kept secret and its very own green backyard.

Just a two-hour drive from the city, this province is a paradise for weekend warriors and nature lovers. It's home to a ridiculously massive dam, lush forests, and a part of the legendary Khao Yai National Park. Get ready to swap your skyscrapers for mountains!

Why You Need to Go to Nakhon Nayok

A high-angle view of a powerful waterfall plunging into a deep, forested gorge in Nakhon Nayok province, Thailand, as a river winds through the lush, vibrant green jungle below.

The Ultimate Nakhon Nayok Bucket List

Get ready for a day (or three) packed with action and amazing views.

Stand in Awe of Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam

This thing is MONSTROUS... in the best way possible! This is the longest concrete dam in the world, and its scale is truly mind-blowing. You can drive or walk along the top for incredible views of the vast reservoir on one side and the green plains on the other.

Pro-Tip: Don't just look at it! Hire a long-tail boat to explore the reservoir. The boatmen will take you to hidden waterfalls and "islands" that are only accessible by water.

Chase Waterfalls (Nang Rong & Sarika)

Nang Rong Waterfall: This isn't a single plunge but a series of powerful, cascading rapids flowing over massive boulders. It's a fantastic place to climb around, feel the spray, and find a perfect spot for a picnic.

Sarika Waterfall: One of the province's most famous, this is a tall, majestic nine-tiered waterfall. After a short walk, you're rewarded with a huge, beautiful cascade and a large pool for swimming.

Get Your Thrills (Gently)

The Nakhon Nayok River is the perfect place for a bit of fun. You can go whitewater rafting (it's mostly splashy and fun, not terrifying!) or just grab a tube and float lazily downstream. The area is also packed with ATV adventure tracks that will have you zipping through the jungle and getting nice and muddy.

Explore Khao Yai National Park

Nakhon Nayok is the southern gateway to Khao Yai, Thailand's first and most famous national park. From here, you can easily drive into the park to hike the trails, spot wildlife like elephants and gibbons, and see the legendary Haew Narok Waterfall.

How to Get There

It couldn't be easier.

By Car: This is the best way. It's a straight, easy 1.5 to 2-hour drive northeast from Bangkok.

By Van: Public minivans leave from Bangkok's Mo Chit Bus Terminal every hour and are a super cheap and easy option.

Pack a day bag, grab your friends, and get ready for the perfect city escape!

The Provinces of Central & Western Thailand...

Wat Muang is located in Hua Taphan sub-district, Wiset Chai Chan district. It is presumed that the temple was constructed in the late Ayutthaya Era

Ang Thong

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

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