From Wikitravel

Prachuap Khiri Khan (ประจวบคีรีขันธ) is a coastal town in Western Thailand. It could culturally be considered a part of the Central Plains, but is geographically connected to Southern Thailand as it is a part of the Malay Peninsula. It possesses various interesting tourism attractions such as beaches, islands, forests and mountains.

[edit] Understand

Thailand's royal family and especially former kings were the first to set this location on the map as the original seashore destination in Thailand. The long white sandy beaches themselves are clean, spotless and pretty, much more so than Pattaya's, and the sea is relatively clean. Besides just sunbathing snorkeling and swimming, visitors can also enjoy golf, spas, caves, peaks, waterfalls, shops, seafood and nearby national parks. The town is warm and laid-back making it ideal for families and couples.

Prachuap Khiri Khan is in fact more of a holiday destination with the local Thais than foreigners with many floods of Bangkokians purchasing condominiums there. This guaranteeing a bit of a quite atmosphere if you are fed up with rowdy noisy foreign tourists at their favourite locations, such as Pattaya or Ko Samui.

[edit] Geography

Prachuap Khiri Khan Province covers an area of 6,367.620 square kilometres. It is a long and narrow coast stretching to the South. At the Singkhon Pass in Mueang district, there is a border crossing into Burma. Near there, the distance from the Burmese border to the South China Sea is only 11 kilometres. The length of the province from the north to the south is approximately 212 kilometres.

[edit] History

Once known as Muang Bang Nong Rom, Prachuap Khiri Khan was left to decay after the sacking of Ayutthaya at the end of the 18th century. The town was rebuilt at the mouth of the Ron River during the 19th century and renamed Prachuap Khiri Khan.

It was also an old seaside resort of the country during the reign of King Rama V. From historical evidence, Prachuap Khiri Khan was a location of Mueang Na Rang during the Ayutthaya period. In the reign of King Rama II of Rattanakosin, a new city was established at the mouth of the I Rom Canal and was named Mueang Bang Nang Rom. Moreover, during the reign of King Rama IV, Mueang Bang Nang Rom, Mueang Kui, and Mueang Khlong Wan were combined into Mueang Prachuap Khiri Khan which means a city of mountains. The city hall was situated at Mueang Kui until 1898, it was then it was moved to Ao Ko Lak or Ao Prachuap, the location of Mueang Prachuap Khiri Khan nowadays.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By car

From Bangkok, there are 2 routes as follows:

First Route Take the Thon Buri – Pak Tho Road (Highway 35), passing Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, and turn left into Phetchakasem Road (Highway 4), passing Phetchaburi into Prachuap Khiri Khan. The total distance is approximately 280 kilometres or 3½ hours.

Second Route Take Phetchakasem Road or Highway 4, passing Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi into Prachuap Khiri Khan. The total distance is approximately 320 kilometres or 4 hours.

[edit] By bus

From the Southern Bus Terminal on Borommaratchachonnani Road, the Transport Company Limited offers various routes of daily bus services; namely, Bangkok – Prachuap Khiri Khan, Bangkok – Hua Hin, Bangkok – Pran Buri and Bangkok – Bang Saphan. Companies providing bus services of the Bangkok – Prachuap Khiri Khan route are the Hua Hin – Pran Tour Co., Ltd., Tel. 0 2884 6191-2 (4.00 a.m.-10.20 p.m.), the Phuttan Tour Co., Ltd., Tel. 0 2435 5302, 0 2435 7414 or Prachuap Khiri Khan Office, Tel. 0 3261 1411 (6.00 a.m. – 1.00 a.m.), the Bang Saphan Tour Co., Ltd., Tel. 0 2435 5105, 0 2884 8895 or Bang Saphan Office, Tel. 0 3269 1267 or Ban Krut Office, Tel. 0 3269 5074 ( Bus leaves at 7.30 a.m. and from Ban Krut at 12.30 a.m. There is also a 7.30 a.m. bus provided on Saturdays.) For further information, contact the Southern Bus Terminal Tel. 0 2435 1199, 0 2434 7192, 0 2435 5605 or www.transport.co.th.

[edit] By train

From Hua Lamphong Railway Station, there is a daily southern train passing Hua Hin, Pran Buri, and Prachuap Khiri Khan, departing Bangkok at 9.25 a.m. and arriving at Hua Hin at 1.45 p.m. Moreover, on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, there is the one-day-trip touring train to Suan Son Pradiphat; and from the Thon Buri Railway Station, there is the Thon Buri – Lang Suan train, departing at 7.20 a.m. and arriving at Hua Hin at 11.52 a.m. For further information, contact the State Railway of Thailand at Tel. 1690, 0 2220 4334 or http://www.railway.co.th.

Timetable: http://www.railway.co.th/english/images/N_S.pdf

[edit] By plane

The Siam General Aviation Co., Ltd. provides Bangkok-Hua Hin flights 4 times a day at 7.30 a.m., 10.45 a.m., 2.15 p.m., and 5.15 p.m., taking approximately 45 minutes. For further information, contact the Bangkok Office at Tel. 0 2664 6099, Suvarnabhumi Office at Tel. 0 2134 3233-4, Fax. 0 2134 3235, Hua Hin Office at Tel. 0 3252 2300-1, Fax. 0 3252 2302 or www.sga.co.th, e-mail: info@sga.aero or reservation@sga.aero.

[edit] Get around

The town itself is small enough to get around on foot. For access to the beaches you can easily catch a tuktuk.

Rickshaws (Sam Lor) are for relative short distances. Tourists can take short rides within the town costing between 20 and 30 baht. Longer rides may cost as much as 50 baht.

Tuk-Tuks (three-wheeled motorized rickshaws) are also popular for short and quick journeys. Fares must be bargained in advance.

Songthaews (public passenger pick-up vehicles) pick up as many passengers as they can and drop them off as the drivers reach their destinations. They are a very reasonable way of getting around.

Motorbikes can be hired but it is advised to be extremely careful when hiring a motorbike to only use a reputable agency.

Cars can be rented from trust-worthy companies such as AVIS, Budget and Hertz. For those traveling only short distances, they can rent bicycles downtown.

Motorbike Taxis are the most popular form of public transportation in town and the prices are low (some bargaining is advised before getting on). Trips cost about 10-40 baht depending on the distance. Due to safety however, make sure the driver has a spare helmet of good quality.

Boats can be hired at the pier for travel to nearby islands.

By train Timetable: http://www.railway.co.th/english/images/N_S.pdf

[edit][add listing] See

• Wat Thammikaram - excellent views of the bay and city, with wild monkeys crawling all over the place.
• Ao Manao beach
• CIty Gate, presumably one of the prettiest in Thailand

[edit][add listing] Do

You can rent sea kayaks at the vet in near the waterfront. Don't hesitate to ring as she is not always in the front of the store.

[edit][add listing] Buy

There is a little breakfast joint/ice cream parlor near the night market where you can buy organic coconut shaped soaps, massage oils and body scrubs. Great quality for a more than reasonable price, they made great gifts when coming home.

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit] Budget

• The night market on Kong Kiat Road is open every night and offers a variety of meals for around 25-30B.

There are a few restaurants along the shoreline. The first one, in the vicinity of the Suksant hotel offers great crab with curry for 100B. The next one over has great green pepper hot plate crab.

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

• Yuttichai Hotel, clean, friendly family-style hotel on Kong Kiat Road, which is the street leading from the train station in the direction towards the town pier. Free Wi-Fi, Laundry and scooter rental services are also available from the hotel. Single room for 150B with shared bathrooms and Double rooms with shared bathrooms from 230B, more for en-suite hotelrooms.

• Suksant hotel, looks to have been remodeled recently but the plumbing is in a horrible state when it comes to the higher levels, to the point where the toilet would simply not flush. Rooms from 400B and up

• Maggie's Homestay,url="http://maggiesprachuap.webs.com/" at #5 Soi Tampramuk 4, tel:032604216 mobile:0875979720 E-mail: maggies.homestay@gmail.com Maggie's is a lovely traditional Thai family house, set in a shady garden. The quiet Tampramuk street runs in from the beach road between the Suksant and Had Tong Hotels and the house is about 100 metres from the sea, and about 400m from the train station. Large lounging areas in the garden and inside, cable TV, free use of kitchen, dining areas. Clean bathrooms. Free internet use and wireless access in every room and in the garden. Laundry service, scooter and bicycle hire. Rates vary depending on bedroom size, 150 baht for a single bedroom up to 500 for the largest family room. Clean, cozy, quiet and friendly.

[edit] Mid Range

• Hadthong Hotel, still Prachuap's only true full service hotel option, the Hadthong has seen better days, but offers reasonably spacious rooms with views of the bay on the water side. It is very centrally located only a stones throw to the pier in the middle of the bay. Rates vary slightly, but are around 950-1050b with a good buffet breakfast included.

• Prachuap Beach Hotel, is a new place on the bay, south of the centre of town. Rooms are nicely appointed, modern and comfortable. Most have great views over the bay and town. The staff are eager to help and parking is available on the ground level. The breakfast noodle and wonton shop next door is highly recommended to start the day. Double rooms cost 650b a night and larger family rooms are available.

[edit] Contact

There is a regular internet cafe down the Salacheep Road near the school. Free wireless access at Maggie's place in Soi 4 Tampramuk.

[edit] Get out

There is a train station and a bus station within walking distance of each other.

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