Hotels in Nakhon Nayok

Nakhon Nayok

Nakhon Nayok is a province in central Thailand. Its capital city is also named after the province, as is common in many Thai provinces and states. The city means “tax exempt” from its translation from Sanskrit. The region is renowned for its waterfalls and abundant varieties of fruit. The northern part of the province is located in the Sankamphaeng Range, an extension of the Dong Phaya Yen mountain range, whose highest elevation is almost 1,300 meters high. Khao Yai National Park covers most of the province, and thus is one of the main industries of the province. The central part of the provine is a flat river plain created by the Nakhon Nayok River. The southern part of the province is not so useful in the agricultural sense, as the soil is too acidic to be fertile for most of the plants and fruit that would grow in Thailand. Much of what there is to do in this province is nature related due to its coverage of Khao Yai National Park. The people here are not too used to tourists, and thus English or other languages may not be as easy to communicate in. However, Thai people tend to be very friendly and kind, and signing and body language go a long way!

History of Nakhon Nayok

Nakhon Nayok dates back to the Dvaravati Kingdom, founded in the 11th century. Ruins from this time period are visible at Mueang Boran Dong Lakhon, south of the modern city. Originally named Mueang Lablae, the name was changed to its current form in 1350. It was a fort that protected the Ayutthaya kingdom from the eastern side during the war. The provincial seal is of an elephant holding an ear of rice with its trunk. This is to symbolize the fertile rice fields in the region, as well as the forest of Khao Yai teeming with elephants. In the background, the seal shows piles of straw, trees and clouds, symbolizing the natural landscape of the province.

Surrounding Environment

Saraburi

A place filled with historical sites for those who love ancient civilizations, Saraburi is known for its national parks and the holy “footprint” of Buddha. The region is known for its fantastic food, beautiful scenery and the kindness of the people. It’s not a common tourist destination, and therefore the locals are much more excited to see foreigners and willing to help, even if language is a barrier.

Bangkok

Being the international metropolis of Thailand, Bangkok is a place most travelers will have to pass through, whether they like it or not. A bustling city filled with traffic, skyscrapers, international and fine dining, coffee shops, expats galore, and of course, plenty of temples including the Grand Palace, Bangkok is the economic center of Thailand.

Ayutthaya

The long history of Thailand becomes apparent in Ayutthaya, once the kingdom’s capital. Less than a 2 hour drive from Nakhon Nayok, this is a great day trip for those interested in the long history of Thailand. Picturesque and easy to get to, there is no reason why any traveler would not want to visit this ancient city.

Prachin Buri

Home to Khao Yai National Park, Prachin Buri is a worthy day trip from Nakhon Nayok. In Khao Yai, one can see plenty of wild animals such as monkeys and even occasionally elephants. The fresh air, beautifully paved roads, plentiful waterfalls, all levels of hikes, and options to camp make this a great weekend getaway or a part of the trip.

Hotels in Nakhon Nayok

Sida Resort Hotel

The ultimate in bungalow luxury, the Sida Resort and Hotel is a high end accommodation option in this area. With bungalows starting at 5,000 THB, this is not for the faint of heart. However, what you do get is a top notch experience, fantastic amenities and staff that cater to your every beck and call.

I Din Lake View Resort

Also relatively luxurious for the area, with rooms starting at 1,200 THB. There are options for breakfast, laundry services, parking, and there’s free Wifi. This hotel is clean and offers everything you could possibly need for your stay in Nakhon Nayok.

SP2 Hotel

This beautiful and inexpensive hotel offers you the quaint relaxation one could hope for in this region.

Sukkhiengdao Bar and Bed

There are modern amenities such as cable TV, air conditoning, easy access to an ATM, a bar and a restaurant make this a relaxing place to stay in Nakhon Nayok. It’s a simple bed and breakfast place, but is fantastic for a low maintenance couple as well as backpackers or students.

Bann Chompu Resort

Relatively inexpensive, starting at 500 THB a night, this hotel is Thai style and simple but lovely. there’s a coffee shop, laundry, a garden to chill in, and even access to a supermarket and hair salon services.

Transportation in Nakhon Nayok

There is not an airport in Nakhon Nayok and the closest airport would be in Bangkok. The easiest way to get here from Bangkok is to either take a taxi or a minivan.

By Plane

Suvarnabhumi Airport

Most international flights to Bangkok arrive at BKK. From there, one can head to the taxi stand and get a taxi to Nakhon Nayok. The expected fare will be about 2,000 baht. Taxis departing from the airport have a 50 THB surcharge, but they should all use meters. An alternative is to take an Uber. Tell the driver to take the expresswa if you’d like to get there faster, although there is a surcharge for that as well. The journey is expected to take about 90 minutes.

Don Mueang Airport

DMK is Bangkok’s older airport, and services many local and regionally international flights. You can also get a taxi straight to Nakhon Nayok from DMK, and the journey should take you a little over an hour.

By Bus

Buses can be taken to Nakhon Nayok for a more backpacker style experience. Buses leave from Mochit Bus Terminal every 30 minutes starting from 5:30am.

By Car

For the shorter route, take Highway No. 305 (along Rangsit canal) passing Ongkharak district. The total distance is 106 kilometers. For the longer route, take Highway No.1, turn right at Hin Kong and then drive towards Suwannason Road (Highway No.33). The total distance is 137 kilometers.

Getting Around

There are tuk-tuks (motorized tricycles) available for hire around Nakhon Nayok town. They can mostly be found at the town bus terminal. Rented Motorbike A convenient and economical way of getting around town is by renting a motorbike. These usually cost about 250 THB a day, and gas is about 60 THB a tank. This will enable you to explore at your own will.

A quick note about renting motorbikes: most shops will ask you to leave your passport as leverage in case you damage the bike. Make sure that you take a video or detailed pictures of all areas of the bike before taking off with it. It’s a common scam (although Thais are wonderful and kind hearted people, there are some bad eggs anywhere) to say that you damaged the bike and thus must pay a high amount of money to get your passport back.

Attractions in Nakhon Nayok

Wang Takhri

A botanical garden in the region, it’s based around the Wang Takhri waterfall, which is a popular tourist destination. There are several waterfalls in the province, some of which require a hike to get to.

Opening hours: 08:00 - 17:00 daily

Entrance fee: free

San Lak Mueang

The most revered shrine in the province. Originally made of a wooden fixture, over time it has been revitalized and has grown into a large pavillion.

Opening hours: 7 am to 6pm, daily

Entrance fee: free

Khao Nang Buat

Lord Buddha’s footprint is atop a pagoda located at the top of Nang Buat Hill, about a 9km ride from Nakyon Nayok’s center town. Inside a replica of the Lord Buddha’s Footprint, with the original print in Saraburi. It’s a 100m or 227 step climb to the top, so be advised if that’s an issue. You’re rewarded with gorgeous views at the top.

Opening hours: sunrise to sunset

Entrance fee: free

Activities in Nakhon Nayok

Market at Luang Por Pak Daeng Temple

A daily market takes place at this temple, and is worth seeing in this town. You can find delicious food as well as local fruits and handicrafts here. The temple and market are about 4km out of town. Be aware and wear temple appropriate clothes here, meaning you cover your shoulders and knees.

Opening hours: daily, from 4pm to about 10pm

Entrance fee: free

Ban Dong Lakhon Archeological site

Located 9km outside of Nakhon Nayok town, its the site of an old Thai town from the Khmer period and was declared as a national historical site in 1935. It’s surrounded with earthen walls and canals.

Opening hours: sunrise to sunset

Entrance fee: free

Travel Tips

• Since most of the attractions here are rivers and waterfalls, the best time to visit is the rainy season when these waterfalls and rivers will be flowing. The rainy season occurs from May to October, with heavier emphasis on September and October. Beware, as during the rainy season the trails that lead to these waterfalls can be muddy and cause you to fall or slip.
• Language - since Nakhon Nayok isn’t too common of a tourist stop, many people here will speak little to no English. Therefore, a few words of Thai, even badly pronounced, is highly appreciated. Here are a few basics:
• Sawadee (ka or kap) - hello and goodbye
• Ka/kap - a polite sound of acknowledgement or goodwill. Ka is for women, kap is for men. Sometimes you’ll hear it as “ja and jap” depending on what region people are from
• Ka pun (ka or kap) - thank you
• ow - want
• mai ow - don’t want
• chai - yes
• mai chai - no