Thumbing through a typical Thailand travel guide, Prachuap Khiri Khan usually barely gets a mention unless of course you want to visit or stay in Hua Hin.
Quite why this is so is unclear since the province has some excellent beaches, quaint towns, unusual tourist attractions and several national parks. Its certainly popular with local Thai people, particularly Bangkokians, who enjoy spending their weekends in the province which is well within driving distance of the capital.
The actual provincial capital of Prachuap Khiri Khan is the town of the same name that is located on the Gulf of Thailand about 330km South of Bangkok and 90km South of Hua Hin. The town is set around a large bay, Ao Prachuap, with striking headlands that lead to the adjoining bays of Ao Noi and Ao Manao.
Things to do in and around Prachuap Khiri Khan
Given that Hua Hin is in the very north of the province the town of Prachuap Khiri Khan makes a far better choice for a base to explore the surrounding area and its attractions. Here you will find a good range of hotels with prices that are much lower than those experienced in the area around Hua Hin. There are also other bonuses too, particularly when eating out, given that Prachuap is also the centre for the local fishing industry and excellent high quality low cost restaurants serving fresh seafood abound.
The town of Prachuap Khiri Khan appears somewhat sleepy on first arrival, it is compact and easy to find your way around since the streets are based on a grid system running typically north/south and east/west. However while it lacks the night life you might find 90km to the north there are still plenty of things to do in the town and around the area.
Must see attractions in the town include the City Pillar Shrine, Khao Chong Krajok, and Wat Ko Lak. While the night market just back from the jetty is a great place to eat some freshly cooked seafood.
Moving just outside the city limits Ao Noi caves, the beautiful bay and beach at Ao Manao and the King Mongkut Memorial Park of Science and Technology at Waggor provide both opportunities to learn more about Thai Buddhism, Thailand’s WWII history and Thailand’s Royal astronomer, as well as somewhere comfortable to relax and eat alfresco.
Further afield several national parks in Prachuap Khiri Khan are within comfortable driving distance. For the best wildlife spotting including Elephants, Tiger, Leopard and Gaur the park at Kuiburi is recommended. While the unusual and photogenic Spectacled Langur can be seen at Khao Sam Roi Yot along with its primate cousin the Crab Eating Macaque.
Two smaller but equally interesting national parks can be found at Nam Tok Huai Yang and Hat Wanakon with the former being a magnet for butterflies and the latter providing opportunities to snorkel around pristine coral reef.
Other places of interest within easy striking distance of Prachuap include the cross border market at Dan Singkhon for orchids and the spectacular hill-top temple of Wat Tang Sai. You could even walk across Thailand in a day if you were so minded since the narrowest part of the country is but a few kilometres south of Prachuap.
Getting to Prachuap Khiri Khan
Prachuap Khiri Khan is well connected with the rest of Thailand being served by Highway 4 which runs its entire length connecting Bangkok with Hat Yai and Phuket while the main north/south railway line that leads from Bangkok to the Malaysian border also runs through the entire province.
Several Thailand Railways trains travel to the province everyday and an average journey time is around 4 hours to the provincial capital. Regular express bus and private mini-van services also connect from Bangkok to all the major towns in the province with journey times tending to be slightly less than those experience on the railway.
To find out more details on the tourist attractions highlighted above please view this interactive Prachuap Khiri Khan Tourist Information Map based on a map of the area which in turn links to articles about each location.
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