Three Hundred Peaks: Cruise, Climb, Cave

Three Hundred Peaks: Boat, Climb, Cave

Three Hundred Peaks: A Hidden Gem in Southern Thailand

Three Hundred Peaks, or Sam Roi Yot in Thai, is a district in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, renowned for its stunning natural beauty. While many travelers pass through on their way south, few take the time to explore its hidden treasures.

This journey began with a visit to a charming homestay nestled within the district. With two days at our disposal, we embarked on a quest to uncover the area's hidden gems.

Our first stop was the remarkable Phraya Nakhon Cave, an "Unseen Thailand" destination. After paying a 20 baht temple maintenance fee and finding a shady parking spot, we ventured into the cave. The entrance fee of 40 baht grants access to the entire Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park for the day.

The cave's interior is a breathtaking spectacle, adorned with towering stalagmites and stalactites. The highlight, however, is the "Phra Thinang Khuha Kharuehat Pavilion," a royal pavilion built by King Rama V within the cave. The intricate structure, bathed in natural light filtering through a hole in the ceiling, creates an ethereal atmosphere.

Exploring the cave requires a moderate level of fitness and takes approximately 2-3 hours. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of water.

Tickets to the park have been purchased, get ready to visit Phraya Nakhon Cave.

Phraya Nakhon Cave

The cave is large, with a skylight on the ceiling that allows light to enter. The highlight of the cave is the "Phra Thinang Khuha Krihasan," a four-sided pavilion built during the reign of King Rama V. It was built in Bangkok and then sent to be assembled on site. The construction was overseen by Phraya Chaloeyutthayothin. King Chulalongkorn himself raised the gable finial. On the right-hand wall, the royal monograms of King Rama V and King Rama VII are prominently displayed in large white letters. Phra Thinang Khuha Krihasan is the highlight of Phraya Nakhon Cave and is currently the emblem of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.

Traveling to Phraya Nakhon Cave

Option 1: Hiking the Entire Trail

This route starts at the ticket booth and follows the mountainside, requiring the ascent of two peaks. This path is suitable for those who have ample time, are not in a hurry, and are physically fit.

Alternative Method: Boat + Hike

Those with limited time can save time by taking a boat to cross from Bang Pu Beach to Laem Sala Beach. You can then walk to the second hill. The boat fare (round trip) is 400 baht per boat, with a maximum of 6 people per boat.

Adi chose the second option, which was a wise decision. The climb up the mountain was quite tiring, so it was a good choice to avoid the longer route. However, if you have the time and want to enjoy the natural scenery, the first option is also a good choice.

Let's head to Bang Pu Beach and board the boat.

Embarking on the journey with life jackets on.

A five-minute boat ride brought us to the beach, where we had to present our park entrance tickets to the officials for inspection.

Spectacled langurs endemic to the south welcome visitors as they ascend to the cave.

A 430-meter uphill walk is required.

The path is like this, it will make you sweat a lot.

Take a break and enjoy the view along the way before continuing your walk.

Let's continue after a break.

If you see this sign again, you are almost there. From here, it is a short walk down to the cave.

Light shines through the stone opening.

No matter which way you enter, the view is stunning and well worth the effort.

The Royal Pavilion of Kuha Krihasan

The Royal Pavilion of Kuha Krihasan is a four-sided pavilion built during the reign of King Rama V. It was constructed in Bangkok and then transported to its current location on June 20, 1890. The pavilion was designed by Prince Khun Chitcharoenwong and built under the supervision of Phraya Chaloeyuthayothin. King Rama V himself participated in the construction by raising the gable finial.

The royal monograms of King Rama V and King Rama VII

Crocodile Stone

The light shines on the area of the cave opening, where tall green trees compete for sunlight. After exploring the cave for a while, we returned the same way we came. It didn't take as long as the ascent, but we still had to be careful as some of the rocks were slippery.

The park office has a camping area. The beach here has crystal clear water and is perfect for swimming.

The ship has arrived, let's go back.

Let's get ready to go back home.

Tips for visiting Phraya Nakhon Cave

• Bring sunscreen as you will be exposed to the sun while boarding and disembarking the boat.

• Passengers are advised to wear shorts as they will need to wade through the sea when boarding and disembarking the boat.

- It is advisable to bring drinking water, a cold towel, and an inhaler in case of emergencies while hiking up the mountain.

- Wear sneakers. Sandals are not recommended because you will be walking uphill.

After visiting Phraya Nakhon Cave, we headed to our accommodation for this trip, Uncle Cha Homestay.

Uncle Cha Homestay

Uncle Cha's accommodation offers a fantastic atmosphere, situated right by the Sam Roi Yot field. The property only has three rooms available, and the room rate includes two meals (breakfast and dinner).

Turn into Soi Sam Roi Yot 10 and drive approximately 2 kilometers to reach the resort entrance.

We have arrived at our accommodation.

There are only 3 rooms available here.

The room does not have air conditioning, but it does have a fan and a mosquito net.

A pavilion to sit and enjoy the cool breeze and beautiful views

While waiting, let's go punting. I'd like to take on the challenge as well.

Fresh Nile tilapia from Thung Sam Roi Yot, the ingredients for our dinner.

Our dinner consisted of fresh fish, caught by our host, Kaem, from the nearby fields. It was simply prepared but incredibly delicious.

The sunset view is breathtaking.

Wake up early and enjoy a cup of coffee before embarking on a boat trip to admire the scenic views of Thung Sam Roi Yot.

Gam took us on a boat tour of the Thung Sam Roi Yot wetlands.

Beautiful view of the lotus pond at Sam Roi Yot

The boat trip took about 2 hours. After that, we checked out and went to Sam Roi Yot.

Uncle Cha Homestay

Lungcha Homestay, 300 Yot, Kui Buri District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, Thailand
Phone: +66 83-317 5319
Facebook: Lungcha Homestay

Expenses
1,200 Baht/night per room, including 2 meals (breakfast and dinner)
Nature boat tour: 800 Baht per boat, 6 people sharing, 150 Baht per person.

Travel

By car:

• Take the road from Pranburi to Sam Roi Yot.
• Enter Soi Sam Roi Yot 10.
• Drive for approximately 2 km.
• Look for the sign for Lung Cha Homestay and turn left.
• Continue for another 2 km.
• The road will be paved at first, then turn into a gravel path for a short distance. Drive carefully. I was able to drive my sedan here without any problems.
• Once you arrive, you'll be amazed.

Public transportation
If you want to come but don't have a car, you can take a van or bus to Lotus Pranburi and arrange for Ms. Kaem to pick you up. Ms. Kaem charges 500 baht per trip.

Read full review of Uncle Cha Homestay >> https://th.readme.me/p/16334

---

After checking out, our program for today is to go up to the beautiful viewpoint at Khao Daeng Viewpoint. However, before reaching Khao Daeng Viewpoint, those who want to take a boat trip to see the scenery of Khao Daeng Canal and the way of life of the villagers can stop by here first.

Khao Daeng Canal

It is another tourist attraction in Kui Buri District, which promotes tourism in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. It allows tourists to experience the nature of the mangrove forest, various plant species, animals, the way of life of the local people, as well as relaxation along the two sides of the canal. Tourists can rent a boat by boarding at the pier in front of Khao Daeng Temple. The boat trip takes about 3-4 km along the canal and takes about 1.5 hours round trip. There are various kinds of birds to see. The best time for a boat trip is around 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM because the weather is not hot and you can enjoy a beautiful sunset. The boat fare is 400 baht per boat, which can accommodate 6 people.

After visiting Wat Khlong Khao Daeng, we continued driving to the Khao Daeng viewpoint.

---

Khao Daeng Viewpoint

Located on one of the peaks of Khao Daeng, the viewpoint offers stunning views of the sunrise over the sea at Ban Khao Daeng and the surrounding landscape. The best time to visit is early morning around 5:30 AM. The walk to the viewpoint is approximately 500 meters and takes about 30 minutes. Along the way, you might be lucky enough to spot the Southern Spectacled Langur, which comes out to forage for food.

The entrance to Khao Daeng Viewpoint is located before the Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park Headquarters.

We have arrived. Please park your car and prepare to climb the mountain.

The path to the top is a series of rocky steps that wind their way up the mountain. The air here is cooler than it was at Phraya Nakhon Cave.

Follow the arrows for directions.

We encountered a troop of southern spectacled langurs foraging for food along the way, so we stopped to take some pictures.

Local residents welcome tourists.

This area is densely populated with cacti.

And here we are at our destination, the Khao Daeng viewpoint.

Taking a commemorative photo at such a height.

Climbing the rocky hill on the other side, I was greeted with a breathtaking view.

A shortcut through the mountain will lead you to the view of Wat Khlong Khao Daeng and Khlong Khao Daeng Canal.

The view from above is stunning. It's worth the climb.

After enjoying the view of Khao Daeng, we stopped by the Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park headquarters.

Behind the park office, there is a mangrove forest nature study trail for us to explore nature.

After visiting Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, I realized I had missed out on a lot. The park boasts stunning natural beauty and offers various nature-based attractions. Moreover, experiencing the locals' simple way of life made this trip a truly relaxing experience. If you're looking for a laid-back adventure, I highly recommend visiting Khao Sam Roi Yot. You'll undoubtedly fall in love with this place. See you on my next trip!

If you enjoyed reading this, please like my page here: >> ChillWithAdi : อดิพาชิล

Let's be chill travel buddies with Adin.