Prachuap Khiri Khan (Thailand)
Prachuap Khiri Khan is the administrative center of the province of the same name in the central part of Thailand. It is located in the north of the Kra Isthmus, on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand, 280 km south of Bangkok. This is a small fishing port. The beaches here are not very clean and swimming within them is not recommended. To the west of Prachuap Khiri Khan, you can go to Stone Park, where there are huge stone blocks of various shapes created by nature. 22 km south of the city is Hat Wanakon National Park, where there is a seven-kilometer beach surrounded by pine trees. Not far from here is the Namtok Huai Yang National Park.. The main attraction of the park is the waterfall of the same name, consisting of 5 cascades.
85 km north of Prachuap Khiri Khan is the oldest resort in Thailand – Hua Hin. It attracts tourists with its developed infrastructure and long white sand beaches. The resort is more suitable for a relaxing holiday – middle-aged Europeans rest here. Water sports in Hua Hin are underdeveloped. Underwater visibility near the coast barely reaches 2 m. All beaches are located south of the city. Of these, the beaches of Takiap, Sai Noi and Sai Yai can be distinguished. Hua Hin has a Folk Art Center, where typical Thai houses that are more than 80 years old stand, and exhibitions of handmade Thai craftsmen with antique furniture and paintings that tell about the past of the region are open. The local railway station is considered the most beautiful in the country. 8 km south of the resort is the Seaside Pine Garden. 60 km west of Hua Hin , the Namtok Pala U waterfall is interesting . It is located in evergreen forests near the border with Myanmar. In its vicinity you can also see many birds and butterflies, especially in the morning. A little north of Hua Hin, it is worth visiting the Klai Kangwon Palace. It was built in 1926 by order of King Rama VII as a summer residence. The palace complex consists of three buildings, made in the Spanish style, which stand on the seashore. There are many interesting places between Prachuap Khiri Khan and Hua Hin. Here you can relax on the beaches of Sam Praya and Laem Sala. Halfway between the cities is Sam Roi Yot National Park. In translation, the name of the park means “mountain with 300 peaks”. Its area is 98 sq. km. The park has limestone mountains, mangrove swamps and beaches. From November to February, many migratory and resident birds can be seen in Sam Roi Yot.
In the vicinity of Laem Sala beach, there is a Praia Nakhon cave.. This is the most famous cave in the province. Inside it is a building with four terraces, made in the Thai style. It was built in Bangkok in 1890 under King Rama V and was later moved to a cave. Now the building inside the cave is the symbol of Prachuap Khiri Khan province. Kaeo and Sai caves are also worth a visit. Just north of Prachuap Khiri Khan is Chong Krachok hill. At its top, to which 395 steps lead, there is a monastery with a Buddha stupa.
Sattankhip (Thailand)
According to Vaulted Watches, the port city of Sattankhip is located in the central part of Thailand on the northern coast of the Gulf of Thailand, 30 km south of Pattaya. It began to develop in the early 20th century as one of the main bases of the Thai Navy. Sattankhip can be advised to those who want to relax in silence, away from the overcrowded resorts. The main beaches of the city are Ao Dong Tan, Nang Ram, Sai Kaeo, Tian Tale, Toy Ngam. A wide embankment is laid along them. In addition, in the vicinity of Sattankhip there are many places where you can sunbathe and swim. These are the villages of Bang Sa Re, Ban Pala and Samaesan, as well as many small islands.
Among the sights of the city, one can single out the city port, the Museum of the Navy near the Toy Ngam beach and the large Fish Market. In the vicinity of Sattankhip in the town of Chi-Chan, a rock with a 100-meter image of the Buddha rises. Of interest is the Nong Nooch Garden, 10 km north of the city, as well as the Yansangwararam Temple located nearby. The temple was built in 1976. There are several Buddha stupas and even an international pavilion built in the architectural traditions of various countries.
Off the coast of Sattankhip there are several dive sites. They are more suitable for trained divers, as there are quite strong currents here. Underwater visibility in the vicinity of the islands reaches 40 m. In the eastern part of the coastal waters of Sattanhip, at a depth of 27 m, lies the sunken ship Hardip. Not far from here is the Shark Fin Rock coral reef. In the western part of the coast of Sattanhip, not far from the coast, there is the Submarine Rock dive site with hard corals, where you can see turtles and rays, as well as the sunken merchant ship Petchaburi Bremen . The immersion depth here reaches 22 m. The ship is “patrolled” by huge slopes.