Phraya Nakhon Cave and Laem Sala Beach - N1 in my rating
Here it is, it happened! Another place I was able to visit from my must-have list in Thailand. Now there are literally 3 more points left on the map. I can recommend Phraya Nakhon cave to visit to everyone who will pass by Hua Hin or spend the winter in it. This is a neighboring area, very close. You can ride both adults and children, and those who are fond of photography, and those who just love to see. The place is already slightly poppy, but nevertheless, of all the caves I have seen in Thailand, it is in my rating at the very beginning. And, mind you, not only for me, King Rama 9 also noted here.
The content of the article
Phraya Nakhon Cave
It is located in the Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, but this park is such that it «scattered» along the coast. That is, you are driving along a regular highway, Thai villages float past, and from time to time there are turns to this or that attraction belonging to the national park. In fact, the entire area is the national park, they just take money not at the entrance to the area, but near each attraction. Don't worry, getting lost is hard. Follow the signs to the payment booth, and it is there that you will need to leave your transport, buy a ticket, and then on foot or by boat.
The payment booth is located in the Bang Pu village near the coast. And the ascent uphill to the cave is located on the neighboring Laem Sala beach. There are only two ways to get to this beach: by boat or on foot through the rock. Walk about 20 minutes on foot, first up the hill, then down. The ascent starts right next to the ticket booth. I got to Laem Sala in 10 minutes, but it's a run. I took the boat back to save time and effort.
Entrance to the national park, to the Phraya Nakhon cave
There is a playground not far from the payment booth.
This is a path that leads through the rock
Laem Sala beach seen from above
Once at Laem Sala beach you need to move on. You will pass several houses in which you can spend the night (from 1500 baht / day), as in any national park, and you will see a sign to the cave.
We went down and walk along the path
Locals collect coconuts
The ascent to the cave is more difficult and takes about 30 minutes (430 meters). Running and without rest, I got up in 20 minutes. In principle, anyone can climb a stone staircase if they take their time. I saw there both pensioners and families with children. Just keep in mind that it is very hot, and therefore you need to take more water with you, well, and it is better to go in the morning.
Ascent to Phraya Nakhon cave
Monkeys are promised in the forest, but I have not seen them
Intermediate platform with a view
After passing through the jungle, you will see a sign with the name of the cave. Just move on. This is where the fun begins! The cave is huge, its ceiling is as high as an 8-storey building. More precisely, not the ceiling and gaping holes, as if a bomb had been thrown here. There are two halls and both with openings. From the interesting: in the first there is a stone bridge of friendship (there is such an alley that divides the hole into two parts), in the second there is the famous Kuha Karuhas pavilion. We just go through the first hall and go to the second. He is what we need, it is him that you saw in all the photographs..
Praia Nakon is just around the corner
The staircase leads down to the first hall, to the second
The Kuha Karuhas pavilion can be seen from afar
Phraya Nakhon cave and temple
Pavilion Kuha Karuhas
Pavilion on the other side
Drawing of one of the kings that was here
There are stalactites in Phraya Nakhon cave
In a niche in the dark sits a little artificial monk
Green walls in one of the nooks
They prop up the walls with sticks, omen
Phraya Nakhon Cave is quite large
Well, if you are not quite a hardened traveler yet, then some exclamations of delight will have to fly out of your mouth. I personally experienced something similar when I entered Phraya Nakon and saw the pavilion. Play of light and shadows, peace and quiet, light coolness and fresh air. Here you want to linger and just watch. Only tourists break the idyll, although everyone is quiet.
Laem Sala Beach
After the cave, the very thing is to return to Laem Sala beach, eat something from Thai food (there is one cafe), swim, and leave full of impressions..
The beach itself is a bit heavenly: white sand, few people, nature around, the coast is all in casuarins and needles from them. Not a bounty, but beautiful. It may not be very convenient to swim at low tide, but when it’s hot, it’s all the same. If you have the strength and desire, then you can walk to the right side of the beach, there are small grottoes, as well as two more pieces of the beach separated by rocks. And then, and then, you can only visit at low tide, well, or you have to walk on water (or even swim).
We return back to the beach the same way
The beach in the embrace of the casurine forest
You can not swim all the way
Beautiful beach Laem Sala
Low tide on the beach
A piece of beach separated by rocks
Photo from the grotto
The boat trip back
As I said, I swam back in the boat. I went to the Thais hanging out on the shore (workers of the national park), and they said that the price of a boat was 200 baht, and so, they say, a boatman, go. But I, smiling, went to the parked boats, where a Thai couple was just about to set sail. A boatman from the national park tried to reason with me for a while, following me, but it didn’t work :) As a result, another boatman took me for 100 baht.
For more photos and a more detailed description of the beach, see separate article.
Information to visit
All sights of the National Park - described in detail in his post.
Entrance to the territory of the national park is 200 baht as standard. With this ticket, you can see all the objects of the park, but within one day. Therefore, if you want to climb everything, come here early in the morning. Visiting time from morning to 18 hours approximately, that is, until dark.
To get to the cave you will need to walk, but part of the way can be done by boat (described in more detail above). The ticket booth for the National Park is located right next to the coast right after Wat Bang Pu (which also has its own cave). Boats are also parked there. We bought a ticket and went to the boats. The standard price is 200 baht per boat one way, but if you know how to bargain, you will sail for 100 baht. The opposite is also true. Swim 5 minutes.
It makes sense to visit Phraya Nakhon Cave in the morning before lunch if you want to take beautiful photos. From about 11:30 in the afternoon, the sun begins to leave the pavilion and it turns out to be in the shade. Believe me, it is better to photograph it illuminated, it looks completely different. I photographed around 10: 30-11 o'clock.
If you want to visit this place, you can stay in Hua Hin, for example, in budget hotel, where we once stayed. Alternatively, search more hotels in Hua Hin by this link.
But if you do not go hunting from Hua Hin, but, on the contrary, want to spend time in the vicinity of Sam Roy Yod National Park, then you can stop at that comfortable apartment, where we lived, or look at RoomGuru hotel somewhere nearby. See for yourself, you can stop there on the Dolphin beach (our option), or you can get closer to the Phraya Nakhon cave.
Where is located, map
National Park Khao Sam Roi Yot
National Park Khao Sam Roi Yot: