Saraburi

Saraburi's claim to fame is Phra Phutthabat — the Temple of the Buddha's Footprint — one of Thailand's most important pilgrimage sites, where a natural indentation in rock is venerated as the Buddha's actual footprint. The ornate mondop housing the footprint draws devotees year-round. Beyond the temple, the province is a gateway between Bangkok and the northeast, with the beginnings of the Khorat Plateau visible in the eastern hills.

The sunflower fields around Muak Lek and the Pasak Jolasid Dam bloom golden from November through January, drawing weekend photographers. Namtok Chet Sao Noi National Park has a pretty seven-tiered waterfall and easy hiking trails. Saraburi is also a dairy region — Chokchai Farm and other cattle ranches offer farm tours and fresh dairy products. The province's Kaeng Khoi area is known for the WWII-era railway bridge bombing by Allied forces, with a small memorial. Saraburi works best as a day trip or stopover rather than a multi-day destination.