About Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
Nakhon Si Thammarat is one of southern Thailand's oldest and most historically significant cities, home to Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan — a revered temple with a 77-metre chedi said to enshrine a relic of the Buddha brought from Sri Lanka over a thousand years ago. The province sits on the Gulf coast, protected from the Andaman monsoon, meaning it can be visited when the western coast is wet. It is a centre of traditional Thai crafts including nielloware silver work and shadow puppet theatre (Nang Talung), and the local cuisine — including Khao Yam and Khanom Jin with curry — is considered among the finest in the south.
Top Highlights
Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan
one of Thailand's most sacred Buddhist sites, over 1,000 years old
Nang Talung shadow puppet workshops
the traditional craft is centred in this province
Khao Luang National Park
granite peaks, waterfalls, and orchid-rich montane forest
Nielloware silver craft workshops
the finest traditional metalwork in southern Thailand
Getting There
Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport (NST) has daily flights from Bangkok with Nok Air and Bangkok Airways. Train from Bangkok takes 13–16 hours on the southern mainline. Buses from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal take approximately 11–12 hours. The city is about 1.5 hours by road from Surat Thani.
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Senior Travel Writer · Bangkok · 12+ years in Thailand
James has lived in Bangkok since 2014 and has visited all 77 Thai provinces. He specialises in destination guides, itinerary planning, and transport logistics. Before moving to Thailand, he worked as a travel journalist in Hong Kong and Singapore. He speaks conversational Thai and is a certified PADI divemaster.
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