You must also have seen Prachuap Khiri Khan
With the number of visitors ever increasing, it must be only a matter of time before Prachuap Khiri Khan becomes an important tourist attraction on the map of Thailand.
The town of Prachuap Khiri Khan is one of Thailand's many interesting “invisible” destinations, but is less well known than nearby Hua Hin or Pranburi. However, it is very suitable for a short break as the province is dotted with beaches, caves, mountains and forests.
The city of Prachuap Khiri Khan
The small town is “walkable”, it has wide streets with not too much traffic. With a map from TAT it is easy to find most attractions, walking is an option, otherwise the “Songtaews” are available with fixed fares to different places. In the center of town you will find a number of small cafes and shops. The main attraction in the inner city is the large and elaborate City Pillar with a temple and shrine, in which exotic Lopburi-style paintings can be admired.
Travelogue
The journalist Lekha Shankar made a multi-day trip to Prachuap Khiri Khan and wrote a travel report for Lookeast. She and her partner stayed in the modest Bangnangrom Guesthouse, which was quite comfortable and had a homely atmosphere. In addition, the location was very suitable for a tour of the city. I have used part of her story below.
Our viewing started from the TAT office, as it is located near the famous Mirror Mountain with the Lhao Chong Krajok Temple. This is a temple known for its many monkeys, who greet you at the foot of Chong Krajok Mountain and guide you up the long 400-step staircase. The Chong Krajok Mountain is also called the Mirror Mountain, because there is a hole in the mountain that gives you a unique view of the sky. At the top of the mountain is a small but interesting temple, the Wat Thammikaram, containing a number of important Buddha relics. From the top you also have a beautiful view of the entire city.
The Prachuap Khiri Khan Bay was also close by and easy to get to, so we often had a morning coffee there or a glass of wine in the evening. There we also found a number of good fish restaurants with dishes at very attractive prices. .
We hired a songtaew with a friendly English-speaking driver, Prateep, who quickly turned out to be our friend, philosopher and guide. We made a number of excursions with him.
What Thammikaram
First day
Our first trip was a trip to the interesting Noi Bay. We stopped at the Grand Noi temple with beautiful wall paintings. Then we climbed a staircase of 100 steps to the Khan Ka Dai temple in a cave, famous for its statue of a reclining Buddha. The climb was not too difficult and the beautiful view over the sea was an incentive to climb higher and higher. The large caves, which we then visited, were impressive with a large Sleeping Buddha and many other smaller Buddha statues. The stalactites at the top of the cave and the beautiful light and dark spaces were a feast for the eyes.
Second day
The next day our trip went to the popular Ao Manao Bay, so named because it is shaped like a manao (lime). This bay is part of a Thai Air Force base on a site where Thai and Japanese armies fought during World War II. It has a museum to commemorate this, and it is almost a township in itself, with its "Ao Manao Square" with many shops and cafes.
The bay has white sands and translucent shallow waters and is very popular with holidaymakers. This is also the only beach with all tourist facilities, such as beach umbrellas, tables and chairs, food and drinks. It can be quite busy on certain days.
Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
Last day
Our last trip was to the famous Sam Roi Yot National Park and the Pranayakorn caves. We rented a car for this trip, because it was more than an hour drive from the city. This marine national park with a beautiful water surface and views of limestone mountains with lush vegetation is definitely worth a visit.
The trip includes a boat ride across the bay, a walk along the beach, a dip in the water and a climb up Pranyakorn Mountain. That climb is a real ordeal, because there is no mountain path or stairs and you have to be strong and courageous to complete the 40-minute climb. It's about time there was a better facility there, because the beautiful caves are definitely worth a visit.
Finally
Prachuap Khiri Khan is an 'invisible' destination that deserves to be visited more. Just under 300 kilometers from Bangkok to the south, there are excellent connections by train and bus. You have to be satisfied with modest accommodation, because luxury hotels are lacking, as is an exuberant nightlife.
The province should receive much more attention from the Ministry of Tourism. There must be more and better hotels and guesthouses and more restaurants, and the beaches must also be made cleaner and more suitable for tourism.
Source: Text taken from Lekhar Shankar's Lookeast article
About this blogger
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Bert Gringhuis (1945), born and raised in Almelo in the beautiful Twente. Later lived for many years in Amsterdam and Alkmaar, working in export for various companies. I first came to Thailand in 1980 and immediately fell in love with the country. Been back many times since then and moved to Thailand after my (early) retirement as a widower. I have been living there for 22 years now with my somewhat younger Thai lady Poopae.
My first experiences in Thailand as a kind of newsletter sent to family, friends and acquaintances, which later appeared under the name Gringo on Thailandblog. Many, many articles followed those first stories and that has grown into an almost daily hobby.
In the Netherlands still an avid footballer and football referee, but the years are starting to tell and in Thailand still avid, but the pool billiards is really of inferior quality, ha ha!
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Finally, been coming there for years with my Thai wife. Love that it is far from mass tourism.
With beautiful beaches, 1 on an Air Force base and where you sit alone on Monday morning. Pretty good hotels for little, just look at TripAdvisor. Restaurant on the beach where you pay 500 Baht for a meal of fish plus beer. So please don't spread the word and stay authentic, please let the white socks in sandals brigade stay in Pattaya.
Completely agree with Japie. Three years ago, I went to the beach by bike with my daughter for two months every day and once a week or 10 days to Hua Hin. We didn't have a day of boredom, good food, no disco, bargirls, souvenir shops or massage places where the masseuses are waiting for you outside. Tasty fish along the boulevard, bustling market at the weekend. Last year I was there again for two weeks, new hotels and guesthouses are being added, but fortunately it remains fairly small-scale and the "progress" is gradual. We would like to go there again next year .. not to compare but because it is a good place if you like quiet Thai life.
Been there several times, recently in transit to Phuket. Between the cities of Hua-Hin and Prachuap I saw a number of resorts where, so to speak, I wouldn't want to be found dead yet. In the middle of nowhere, where you only depend on the hotel facilities and in the midst of foreign holidaymakers. I liked the town itself, there is indeed little to do and certainly no exuberant nightlife. And that is precisely what I like from time to time. At the foot of the 'monkey rock' there is regularly an extensive and busy market. A tip is to visit the monkeys on the rock in the company of a young local. These girls and boys sell you food for the monkeys and are masters at keeping intrusive monkeys at bay, they are visibly happy with a tip for their services. Halfway up the stairs, which is also suitable for the elderly, you can sometimes find enterprising young people who can provide you with a cool drink if desired. Near this rock begins the boulevard that leads to Ao Manou Bay. At the beginning of the boulevard are a number of open air restaurants. Fresh seafood and if you don't speak the language, just point it out. Dirt cheap and delicious, especially when accompanied by a cool drink! However, I do not agree with the statement that the Ministry of Tourism should 'promote' Prachuap much more and that there 'should' be more better hotels and restaurants. Why sacrifice the infrastructure and charm of this town to the ever-advancing tourism. The tourist, who is fond of small scale and likes to stay with locals, will certainly know how to find Prachuap. Such places in Thailand should be cherished rather than fall prey to international hotel investors.
Nice story to read.
In addition, I would like to mention that the mountain, which is visible in the photo belonging to this report, in the background (on the right side of the photo, with the highest peak), can also be climbed.
The climb starts right next to an on-site temple and begins with a climb up a concrete staircase. This then turns into narrow paths, which as you get closer to the top are equipped with ropes that give you hold on the climb.
At the top, the view is great. There is also a very small temple at the top.
The mountain is easy to reach on foot from the town via the military airfield. It is allowed to go there.
Tip: put on sports or mountain shoes and take plenty of water with you.
We have been coming there for years, it is really wonderful and quiet, no excessive tourism, beautiful beaches, certainly not dirty, and certainly not on the army base, there are more foreigners than you would expect, scattered around the town. you can find the night market along the beach with a lot of delicious food, we have had land there for years and now actually regret that we did not build there instead. In overly expensive HH.
We have the impression that in the last year more people are going that way, especially at the weekend and now that they have almost renewed the track there because that was a complete disaster, luckily we in Belgium are also the one in that area and other just.lol.
Greets.
Was in Prachuap for two months three years ago and am now back for two weeks Fortunately, the growth in accommodations is very gradual and you don't have to go to Al Manao for a real white beach like in HH. But that's good it's great for kids, lots of shells and with war graves also your own meal of shellfish. For 50 baht you can get a plate of fried rice with shrimp or squid, for example, on the boulevard. Henk and Yao run a great Milano Coffee and guesthouse here delicious breakfast served and real coffee Feel free to come to Prachuap but don't tell anyone.
just some beautiful beaches there, AO Manao Beach, Bang Saphan Noi Beach and yes beautiful beaches nice and quiet and good food stalls I don't need restaurants just Thai food and beautiful cheap resorts with a restaurant and a trip to Talu Island (400 bp / p) is something different from snorkeling in Samui where they ask 1500 b pp.
Just go to Haadleamson in Bang Saphan beautiful beach, room by the sea (800 to 1000 p / n) really beautiful if you are on your way to Koh Samui or Trang etc etc with your car or bus.
mzzl Pekasu
Well told. Great. Hopefully not everyone reads that. Otherwise it will quickly become “too busy” there.
Hello dear readers. I was there in my Christmas vacation last Dec/Jan. Top destination. If we don't whisper it too loudly, then all tourism there will remain small-scale.
Regards,
Rob
Moderator: We have posted your question as a reader's question.
On Friday evenings, the road from the parking lot at the foot of the hill to the temple is closed to traffic, and an atmospheric market takes place. The first part of the market focuses mainly on clothing, but further on there are plenty of food stalls with a wide range of delicacies.
You can then eat your food on the pier, for example, or enjoy it at another location of your choice.
Also check out the videos of “Thai girl Gift & Foreigner Joe” on YouTube, we have been living there for a while