About Pranburi

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Hua Hin is the busiest tourist destination in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. Pranburi, located 25 kilomters south of Hua Hin, has somewhat comparable natural surroundings, but has much quieter beaches and is less urban. If you are less interested in nightlife and more interested in secluded beaches, than consider your next escape from Bangkok to Pranburi.

Wedged between the Pranburi Forest Park in the north and the Sam Roy Yod (300 peaks) National Park, Pranburi offers an excellent selection of beaches, natural attractions, and superb seafood.

It may be odd to hear that the name game is slightly confusing in Thailand, but ‘Pranburi’ actually refers to 2 different places. The northern most area is locally referred to as 'Bak Nam Pran' and is located at the mouth of the Pranburi River. This area has the feel of a tiny town, complete with a pier, a few street stalls outside of the local 7/11 and an excellent evening market (fresh food and cheap everything) just a moment’s drive from the pier. Pranburi also refers to the entire area between Bak Nam Pran and the Sam Roy Yod Park – which easily covers 60 square kilometers.

While the beach at 'Bak Nam Pran' is swimmable, it is not Pranburi's best offering. The river carries sediment, therefore the further south along the coast you go, the clearer the water. I must admit though, at no point is the water as translucent and gorgeous as it is in the deep south of the Gulf Of Thailand.

Going south along the coast is a menagerie of accommodation options - though virtually all of them start at 1500 and up. One notable exception is The Beach Hotel House, which is located about halfway between the pier at Bak Nam Pran and Skull Mountain (Khao Kalow). At the Beach Hotel House rooms start at 500 and in addition there is a kitesurfing school. In fact, due to the often strongish winds, wide and sandy beaches, and relative quietness of the whole place, kitesurfing is a popular activity in Pranburi.

Continuing south there are scatterings of hotels, bungalows, resorts, seafood restaurants, and casual seaview bars. Some of the stronger accommodation picks include, Alibaba, Villa Maroc, and if the budget allows Aleenta.

One of Pranburi's highlights is Khao Kalow. This area features a gorgeous outcropping, nicknamed “Skull Mountain” and a wide stretch of occasionally naturally shaded sand. An excellent pick-nick choice, as the local grilled chicken vendors will happily serve you as you sit on a bamboo mat (for hire locally).

After turning the bend around Khao Kalow, there is a lovely little temple and a daily fish market. This colorful market is where the locals go to get seafood direct from the source. If you have the legs, get to this morning market for the surroundings, the photos, and the great eats! (Daily, 6 AM- 9AM)

Pranburi features another stretch of excellent beaches south of the morning seafood market, called Baan Phu Noi. This area has lovely family oriented beach resorts, with Dolphin Bay as the best known and longest established accommodation option. One nice aspect of staying in Baan Phu Noi is the proximity to the national park. The park is only accessible by car, as the sites are fairly spread out in this 98 square kilometer area.

In brief, 300 Peaks park includes several challenging hikes, interesting caves, viewpoints, a well kept mangrove walkway, secluded beaches (too muddy for proper swimming), a boat trip along an estuary, and a seaside village that was the location for the movie ‘The Killing Fields.’ This park is easily worth a day of your time to explore.

So there you have it. An excellent option to escape Bangkok that doesn’t require loads of whiskey. Not that whiskey is unavailable, should you want any.