In my opinion, Khao Sam Roi Yot is one of the most interesting national parks in Thailand. There are caves, beautiful beaches, viewpoint, mangroves, and a swamp with lotuses. And the best thing is that everything is quite close by, you can go around in 1-2 days, depending on whether you want to see all the caves or not. They take most of the time, since they are not on the road.
On the other hand, you should not expect an atmosphere of virginity and conservation from this national park. After all, it is located right near the coast of the Gulf of Thailand and very close to Hua Hin (south of it). This does not mean that there are crowds of people here, it's just that I personally associate more with wild places the north of Thailand, there are mountains and therefore somehow breathe very freely.
The content of the article
All Khao Sam Roi Yot attractions
Phraya Nakhon Cave
Let's start with the very first attraction of the Praia Nakon cave, in fact, for the sake of which people mainly go to this national park. It is a cave with a large hole instead of a ceiling, and inside of which there is a small temple. In the morning it is illuminated by the sun and at this moment it is very beautiful there..
Anyone can visit the cave, it is not difficult to get here. But get ready for the uphill climb. This cave and the ways to get to it are covered in detail. in my separate article about her.
Phraya Nakhon Cave
Laem Sala Beach
On the way to the Praia Nakon cave, you will need to walk through the beautiful white sand beach of Laem Sala. The place is pleasant, quiet and calm, set aside an hour to be there before or after the cave. By the way, if you really like it, then you can stay overnight there, there is a bungalow in the national park. More about Laem Sala beach.
Laem Sala Beach
Wat Bang Pu temple cave
This temple and cave are not objects of the Sam Roy Yot National Park (most likely), as well as the subject of increased interest among tourists, but you can still look here. It is located very close to the parking lot, where you leave your car / bike to visit the Phraya Nakhon cave, you will drive past this temple.
Ascent to the cave at Wat Bang Pu
Cave at Wat Bang Pu
Kaeo Cave
Another cave, or rather two. The first one is literally 10 minutes walk (uphill) from the parking lot, and the second one takes 30 minutes or more. I only saw the first one. The cave is ordinary, that is, such as we are used to, cramped, with passages, without huge holes in the ceiling. There is nothing to do without a flashlight, take it with you. I didn't have it, I was shining with my phone, so I didn't go far, but there is where to go.
Yes, keep in mind, the first cave is easy to slip through, it is located to the right of the main path, about 10 meters away. Since the entrance is down underground, it is not particularly visible from afar. Therefore, when you go, look for the branches from the main path ... True, the path is stone, it is not easy to see.
Turn to Kaeo Cave
Kaeo Cave
Kaeo Cave
Sai Cave
It takes about 20 minutes to walk to the cave from the parking lot. I didn't go, it was hot 🙂 But you can go. Even on the way to the Praya Nakhon cave, which I wrote about at the very beginning, there will be a pointer to Sai Cave (on the other hand it turns out), but it's not worth walking along that path. There is almost no path, and it's very far to go.
Climbing to Sai Cave
Signpost on the road to Phraya Nakhon, no need to follow it
Sam Phraya Beach
Sam Praia beach belongs to the national park, and therefore the entrance is paid. I can't say that this is justified, the beach is like a beach, Laem Sala will be more pleasant, but you don't need to go or swim here. I just arrived, parked and you are already on the beach. In general, if there is a ticket to the national park, then you can call in, if not, then you should not pay for it. More about Sam Praia beach.
Sam Phraya Beach
Khao Daeng Viewpoint
But you should definitely look here if you like views. You can go both in the morning and in the evening. Only the view will be different: sunset / sunrise, and the mountain on which the viewpoint creates a significant shadow in the evening, it may bother you. In general, the locals advise to walk in the morning, and I was in the evening.
There will be a sign on the road between the Visitor Center and the turn to the Khao Daeng river channel. You drive a little from the road to the parking lot (200 meters) and then you will climb the rocks and through the jungle. Almost anyone can climb, the main thing is to look at their feet. In fast mode, climb for 15-20 minutes, in slow mode 30. There will be a sign at the top, you will not pass by.
Turn off track at Khao Daeng Viewpoint
Path up to the vantage point
Khao daeng viewpoint
Khao Daeng River Channel
On the river channel, they usually take an excursion right there on the spot. In fact, this is just an hour's walk, the boat will take you first in one direction along the river, then in the other. Recommend to ride at sunset.
Turn off the highway to the Khao Daeng Canal
Temple Wat Khao Daeng
The temple is quite ordinary, but you can see it. Located right next to the river channel.
View of the Wat Khao Daeng temple from the viewpoint
Mangroves
Spent half an hour before I found them, somehow not clearly located and there are no signs. Perhaps they are not supposed to be visited due to the shabby footbridge. You go and think all the time whether this or that plate will fail under you. And I do not advise you to climb the wooden observation tower, from where the view opens, as it is about to fall apart. By the way, I don’t know how in other seasons, but in March, everything is dry and mangroves are somehow rotten. Better in the mangroves in the neighboring area to go to Pranburi Forest Park.
The entrance to the platforms is located just behind the National Park Office (Visitor Center).
Walkways through the mangroves, view from the tower
You should not climb the tower
Lotus swamp
The place is called Thung Sam Roi Yot (Lotus Swamp) and is located on the other side of the national park, and you need to go here separately from the main road Hua Hin - Surat Thani. I didn’t have enough time for this, and I didn’t really want to do it, especially since, ideally, you need to go at a time when these lotuses are blooming. Like early April when the wet season starts. The place is unique, this is the largest swamp in Thailand (37 sq. Km), and for our convenience, bridges have been laid.
Photo by Elena Markova (c)
Photo by Elena Markova (c)
About Visitor Center
Besides the mangroves, there are a couple of relatively interesting things to see. The first is the monkeys, which are forbidden to feed, there are signs along the road with a warning about a fine. The monkeys, by the way, were in large numbers one day, and the next day I saw none, I passed.
The second - next to the office, the road goes straight to the beach. And while you are going to him, you can see herons, as well as Martian landscapes. Sometimes the feeling arose that somewhere was not at all in Thailand, although maybe it was my rich imagination played out. The dry earth recalled Lake Khan in the Krasnodar Territory.
Monkeys in the National Park
Herons in the National Park
Unusual landscapes
Somewhere at the end of the earth
Here are a few more photos from Khao Daeng beach.
general information
Entrance to the national park 200 baht. You buy a ticket once and it gives you the right to inspect all objects during the current day. There are no payment and security booths near some places, that is, the visit is free. As for example, at the viewpoint. I also noticed that sometimes the guards leave long before dark at about 15 o'clock, so before sunset you can also watch something for free.
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 are not hunting from Hua Hin, but, on the contrary, you 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.
Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park - beauties all around
Khao Sam Roi Yot Map
On the map, I marked all the places that I found in the process of visiting this park. Oh, how I missed it before the trip. If something is not clear, ask.
National Park Khao Sam Roi Yot
National Park Khao Sam Roi Yot:
