Things to do in Pranburi in Thailand

Pranburi is a region in Thailand that sees few tourists. At least, that’s how we experienced it. We traveled during the off-season (October) and, except for Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, didn’t see any Western tourists. Pranburi is located about 30 kilometers south of Hua Hin on the Gulf of Thailand, and it was our first destination on our road trip through Thailand. In this article, I’ll tell you more about what to do in Pranburi, Thailand.

About Pranburi

Pranburi is located about a three-hour drive south of Bangkok. This region boasts long sandy beaches, several nature parks, and excellent infrastructure. When we left Bangkok, we were initially overwhelmed by the busy roads and potholes. However, upon arrival in Pranburi, we discovered that most roads are in excellent condition, making it a great destination for a road trip in Thailand.

Pranburi is about 30 kilometers south of Hua Hin. We hardly saw any Western tourists during our stay, only Asian tourists. Therefore, don’t be surprised if not everyone speaks English (or rather, almost no one speaks English, except in the national park). It’s also helpful to travel with a substantial amount of cash, as we had to pay for everything we bought here in cash.

We traveled during the rainy season (mid-October), which meant it was quite wet everywhere. Because of this, we weren’t able to do everything as planned, but we also discovered places we might not normally have visited.

Here are our tips for what to do in Pranburi!

Pranburi Forest Park

Because it had rained almost continuously for one day and the night before as well, we were initially advised against the hikes we wanted to do in Khao Sam Roi Yot because of the trails becoming dangerous after rain. Therefore, we decided to look for alternatives near our accommodation. A local told us about Pranburi Forest Park, where the main attraction is the mangrove forest.

Following a visit by the Thai royal family to this area, the park was established in 1982 as a forest restoration project. The park area was partly occupied by shrimp farms, but after a successful program, the farms were converted into forest. The forests in the park consist primarily of mangroves, mixed deciduous trees, and coastal pines. The mangrove forests are located along the Pranburi River, where the river meets the Gulf of Thailand and is influenced by the tides.

The park’s main attraction is a boardwalk through the mangrove forests. The walk is approximately one kilometer long and includes a lookout tower along the way. Between the mangroves and the sea lies an extensive park with a number of information panels (in Thai) and some restaurants and coffee shops.

Pranburi Beach

South of the forest park lies a lovely sandy beach: Pranburi Beach. It’s a relaxed sandy beach with few large resorts, and where we only saw Thai people. At the southern end of the beach are several food stalls where you can buy coconuts, among other things. We spent some wonderful hours here among the local families.

Khao Kalok viewpoint

South of Pranburi Beach lies Khao Kalok, a small nature park with a viewpoint and a hidden beach. We’d read various stories online about the hike to the viewpoint, and to be honest, in some places it’s more of a climb than a walk. It took us over 20 minutes to reach the top (only a few hundred meters), and we frequently had to hold on to the ropes that are put here for your safety. This was partly because it had rained heavily, and the rocks were very slippery. The trail down to the hidden beach is even steeper. We couldn’t do part of the walk because it was high tide, so the beach was under water. If you want to reach the hidden beach, you can only do so at low tide.

Note: Only do this hike with shoes with good tread and if you’re not afraid of heights. You can park your car at the beach, walk south along the road from there, and you’ll see the path on your left.

Khao Kalok beach en fish market

The beach south of the nature park is Khao Kalok Beach. To be fair, it initially looked beautiful and romantic, but unfortunately, this beach was completely covered in plastic. Perhaps it’s because of its location, but we were truly saddened by the sheer amount of trash. A wide, paved walking and cycling path runs along the beach, and at the beginning of the beach, you’ll find countless fishing boats and a small fish market that’s a feast for the eyes. If you’re looking for fish during your stay in Thailand, this is the perfect place; it comes directly from the sea onto your plate!

Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park

Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park was our main reason for visiting the Pranburi region. We wanted to spend two days exploring the national park, but due to the rainy weather, we were only able to spend one day here. Many of the trails in the national park become extremely slippery after rain and it was not advised to go on a rainy day.

Khao Sam Roi Yot has numerous attractions spread throughout the park. You’ll need a car to see them. The most famous attraction in the park is the Phraya Nakhon Cave, home to a beautiful temple within a cave. Getting there requires a steep hike uphill. And honestly, we’re glad we didn’t do this hike during the rain, because even though it was dry on the day we went, the trail was still very slippery from the previous days’ rainfall. Note that the best time to visit this temple is between 10:00 and 11:00 AM, as this is when the sun illuminates the temple. This was also the only place we saw (a fair number of) Western tourists.

The other place we visited in Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park was the Beng Bua Wood boardwalk, on the northwest side of the park. Because we did this on the same day, we didn’t have to pay the entrance fee again, but it does require an hour’s drive between these two attractions. This boardwalk is a kilometer long, and due to disrepair, we had to walk back again, as the end (as we could see) is on the verge of collapse. Along the way, you’ll pass several information panels and a birdwatching tower.

Where to stay in Pranburi

We stayed at The Beach Resort on Khao Kalok Beach. To be honest, I thought the word “resort” was a bit of an exaggeration, as we were the only guests and the place could use a bit of a makeover. We found the location ideal, and the breakfast was excellent. There are several restaurants within walking distance, and you’ll need a car for all the other attractions.

Check availability and prices for The Beach Resort here
Check hier availability and prices for all other accommodations in Pranburi here

Driving around Pranburi

We explored the region with a rental car. There is hardly any public transport so you’ll need a car to get around. We rented our car with Thai Rent a Car which we picked up at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. We decided to hire a 4WD car as we imagined it would be nice to have this on unpaved roads, which you’ll definitely come across in this region as well.

Conclusion and further reading

We really enjoyed spending a few nights in the Pranburi region. Especially (especially compared to the other destinations on our road trip) because we met mostly locals instead of other tourists.

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