Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · See sourceAyutthaya & Lopburi Heritage Loop
Link Bang Pa-In, Ayutthaya, Lopburi and Pa Sak Jolasid on a three-day circuit from Don Mueang.
- Allow
- 3 days
- Route
- 368 km
- Drive time
- 5 hr 50 min
- Stops
- 7
North of Bangkok, the road follows successive layers of central Thai history. Bang Pa-In opens with a riverside royal complex, Ayutthaya deserves a full day among temple islands and Wat Chaiwatthanaram, and Lopburi shifts the story to King Narai’s later royal city.
Pa Sak Jolasid adds an open reservoir landscape before the route returns by Saraburi. This is not a checklist sprint: park once in each historic core, dress for active temples, give macaques in Lopburi space and keep food and loose belongings out of sight.
The road, in one glance
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Drawing the route…
The route earns
its distance
Each pin is selected as a place to do something—not merely proof that you passed through.
- 01Don Mueang Gateway
- 02Bang Pa-In Palace
- 03Ayutthaya Historical Park
- 04Wat Chaiwatthanaram
- 05Lopburi Old City
- 06Pa Sak Jolasid Dam
- 07Saraburi
Photo: Wikimedia contributors · See sourceDon Mueang Gateway
An airport-side rental start avoids carrying a car through the Bangkok sightseeing days.
Don Mueang International Airport (IATA: DMK, ICAO: VTBD) — known as Bangkok International Airport before 2006 — is one of two international airports serving Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, the other being Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). The airport is regarded as one of the world's oldest international airports and among the oldest operating airports in Asia.
Photo: Wikimedia contributors · See sourceBang Pa-In Palace
Pavilions and gardens occupy a long-used royal retreat beside the Chao Phraya.
Bang Pa-In Royal Palace (Thai: พระราชวังบางปะอิน), also known as the Summer Palace (Thai: พระราชวังฤดูร้อน), is a palace complex formerly used by the Thai kings. It lies beside the Chao Phraya River in tambon Ban Len, Bang Pa-in District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province in Thailand.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · See sourceAyutthaya Historical Park
Brick prang, monasteries and palace remains preserve the scale of the former capital.
Ayutthaya Historical Park ) covers the ruins of the old city of Ayutthaya, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, Thailand. The city of Ayutthaya was founded by King Ramathibodi I in 1351, though it is likely to be significantly older, based on evidence showing that the area was already populated during the Mon Dvaravati period.
Photo: Wikimedia contributors · See sourceWat Chaiwatthanaram
A great riverside monastery forms Ayutthaya’s strongest late-light silhouette.
Wat Chaiwatthanaram (Thai: วัดไชยวัฒนาราม) is a Buddhist temple in the city of Ayutthaya Historical Park, Thailand, on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, outside Ayutthaya island. It is one of Ayutthaya's best known temples and a major tourist attraction.
Photo: Wikimedia contributors · See sourceLopburi Old City
Khmer remains and King Narai’s palace district reveal another long-lived royal center.
Lopburi is the capital city of Lopburi Province in Thailand. It is about 150 km (93 mi) northeast of Bangkok. It has a population of 58,000.
Photo: Wikimedia contributors · See sourcePa Sak Jolasid Dam
A broad reservoir and earth dam open the landscape east of Lopburi.
The Pa Sak Jolasid Dam or Pa Sak Cholasit Dam impounds the Pa Sak River at Ban Kaeng Suea Ten, Tambon Nong Bua, Phatthana Nikhom District, Lopburi Province, and Ban Kham Phran, Tambon Kham Phran, Wang Muang District, Saraburi Province, Thailand. It is the biggest reservoir in central Thailand. The 4,860-meter (15,940 ft) wide and 36.5-meter (120 ft) high dam is earth-filled with an impervious core.
Photo: Wikimedia contributors · See sourceSaraburi
A practical provincial stop breaks the return before Bangkok’s outer traffic thickens.
Saraburi City (thesaban mueang) is the provincial capital of Saraburi Province in central Thailand. In 2020, it had a population of 60,809 people, and covers the complete tambon Pak Phriao of the Mueang Saraburi district.
Drive the conditions,
not the itinerary.
Collect the car after the Bangkok stay, use expressways only with the rental company’s toll instructions and park outside temple clusters. Never stop in a live lane for a ruin or monkey photograph.
Checked against
the people who run it
Distances and driving times are planning estimates. Conditions, closures, ferries, permits and park rules can change, so check the linked official guidance before setting out.