Lop Buri

Lop Buri is the monkey city — hundreds of crab-eating macaques have taken over the old town around Prang Sam Yot, a 13th-century Khmer temple that's become their permanent playground. The annual Monkey Buffet Festival each November lays out a feast for the primates, drawing crowds and cameras. Love them or dodge them, the monkeys are the defining experience here.

Beyond the primates, Lop Buri has genuine historical depth. King Narai's Palace, a sprawling 17th-century complex blending Thai, Khmer, and European architecture, was the summer capital during the Ayutthaya period and hosts an annual fair with light shows and period costumes. Phra Prang Sam Yot's three laterite towers are classic Bayon-style Khmer architecture. The province also has a sunflower season (November-January) when fields near Khok Samrong bloom golden, and Wat Khao Wong Phra Chan offers a hillside pilgrimage with views over the plains.