Si Satchanalai Historical Park — Attraction in Sukhothai Province

This place is full of ruins and rustic charm. If you're looking for amazing ruins away from throngs of tourists, this is the place for you. I highly suggest renting a bike, the ruins are too far awat from each other to walk to comfortably, but a bike allows you to follow along the river and through a quaint town filled with local coffee and antique shops, tons of flowers, and what looked to be farms to get from one ancient temple to another. If you take a bus, ask to be dropped off at Wat Prabang and you'll be able to rent a bike for 50baht a day. Then you'll go across a somewhat terrifying bridge to see your first big ruin, and the main attraction here. A gorgeous temple flanked by a modern active temple. Then it's a mile or so to the main park area where you'll see Wat Chang Lom and others. Also, don't skip out on Wat Chom Chuen, a small historical site with real skeletons inside from the 3-5th centuries. Definitely worth...

I traveled here by motorbike from Sukhothai (about 55 km), and the ride itself was scenic and enjoyable.

Once at the park, you have several ways to explore: • Bicycles are available for rent at the entrance (30–50 THB), and it’s a fun way to cover more ground. • There’s a minibus/tram option if you’d prefer a guided tour. • Walking is also possible, but the park is quite large, so bring comfortable shoes!

The ticket prices are affordable: • Foreigners: 100 THB • Thai citizens: 20 THB

The park is well-preserved, with highlights like Wat Chang Lom, surrounded by elephant sculptures, and Wat Chedi Jet Thaew, which features intricate architecture. It’s less crowded than Sukhothai Historical Park, making the experience more serene.

Pro tip: Bring water and a hat if visiting during the day, or aim for the early morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat. Highly recommend this park for a relaxing and...

Having already visited Ayutthaya and Sukhothai Historical Parks we weren't sure if Si Satchanalai would just be more of the same. Actually, it was our favorite of all 3 because of the remote, park-like setting.

The best way to see any of these vast architectural wonders is by renting a bicycle to explore at your own pace. Si Satchanalai has multiple tree-lined paths which helps keep the sun away on a hot day.

Be sure to visit some of the temples outside of the gates of the main historical park... A MUST SEE is the Khmer-style Wat Phra SI Ratana Mahathat.

The local streets are safe for bike travel with very few vehicles and many friendly locals to greet along the way. There are also some restaurants and cafes along the road to take a break for lunch or a cold drink.

If you're planning a visit to Sukhothai, the hour drive north to this ancient sister city is definitely...