🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
If you're visiting Hua Hin or Prachuap and want to escape the crowded beaches for quiet nature, Khao Sam Roi Yot is a one-hour drive away. A long row of pointed limestone peaks forms the backdrop to freshwater marshes, mangrove forest, and several quiet beaches. What really stands out is how much it packs into one place — hiking, walking trails, boat trips, and birdwatching, all without long drives between stops.
Entry fees, opening hours, and the basics
The park is in Khao Daeng sub-district, Kui Buri district, Prachuap Khiri Khan province. It's open daily, with general activities accessible roughly 06:00–18:00. Some cave routes and nature trails have shorter hours, around 08:00–15:00, for safety. It's worth calling the park office before you go (tel. 0-3282-1568), since some routes close at high tide or in rain.
- Thai visitors — adults 40 THB, children 20 THB
- Foreign visitors — adults 200 THB, children 100 THB
- Vehicle fee — car 30 THB, motorcycle 20 THB
- Location — Khao Daeng, Kui Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan 77150
Tip
Your entry ticket is valid all day within the same zone, so hold onto it. Khao Daeng and the Sam Phraya Beach / Phraya Nakhon Cave area are on different sides of the park with separate ticket checkpoints.
Want more out of Prachuap Khiri Khan? Book tours & activities
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
The spots you shouldn't miss
Khao Daeng viewpoint
A short climb up a limestone hill from the park office. The path is fairly steep and rocky in places, but at the top you get the sea, Sam Phraya Beach, the Khao Daeng canal, and the fishing village below. It's the local favourite for sunrise.
Sam Roi Yot marsh (lotus marsh)
A large freshwater wetland with a long boardwalk leading into the middle of the marsh. When the lotus flowers are in full bloom it's a stunning sight. This is Thailand's first Ramsar wetland site and the park's best spot for waterbirds.
Khao Daeng canal boat trip
A local boat ride along the canal that flows from the hills out to the Gulf of Thailand. Both banks are mangrove forest where you'll spot egrets, collared kingfishers, and long-tailed macaques in the trees. It's calm and great for photos at dawn or dusk.
Phraya Nakhon Cave
A large cave with the Kuha Karuhas royal pavilion standing in its centre. Mid-morning, light filters down through an opening in the cave roof — the image Prachuap is famous for. You have to hike over the hill or take a boat from Bang Pu beach first. Tiring, but worth it.
Sam Phraya Beach
A long, quiet sandy beach inside the park with a camping ground and shade from pine trees. A good place to rest after hiking — the water is clearer than the in-town beaches and there are fewer people.
Kaeo & Sai caves
Stalactite and stalagmite caves for those who like to explore. It's dark inside, so you'll need a torch and ideally a ranger to guide you. Suited to travellers who want something deeper than the popular spots.
Birdwatching at Khao Sam Roi Yot
The Sam Roi Yot marsh is an important wetland, with waterbirds and migratory birds dropping in seasonally. The busiest period is late rainy season into early cool season, roughly November to February. If you're serious about birding, come at dawn or before sunset — the birds are more active and the light is better than at midday.
- Commonly seen — purple swamphens, several egret species, pheasant-tailed jacanas, collared kingfishers, and seasonal wild ducks
- Best vantage points — the boardwalk across the lotus marsh and during the Khao Daeng canal boat trip
- What to bring — binoculars or a zoom lens, muted clothing that blends in, and keep the noise down
Best time to visit
If you want both birds and lotus blooms in one trip, aim for November–December — the marsh is at its prettiest and the bird numbers peak for the year.
Getting there
The easiest way is to drive yourself, since the park's sights are spread out and public transport is hard to come by. From Hua Hin, take Phetkasem Road south for about 63 km, then turn off toward Sam Roi Yot or Kui Buri district depending on where you're headed. It's roughly an hour to reach the park.
Drive / rent a car from Hua Hin
The most convenient and flexible option — you can cover several spots in a day, with parking at the park's various checkpoints.
Private car / taxi
Good if you don't want to drive. Agree on a round-trip price and the stops in advance, since finding a ride locally is tough.
Boat tour + local guide
The Khao Daeng and Bang Pu communities offer boats and guides — ideal if you want a birdwatching boat trip or to reach Phraya Nakhon Cave by water.
What to prepare
Bring water, a hat, and shoes you can hike in. The climbs up Khao Daeng and to Phraya Nakhon Cave are rocky and steep in places, and the midday sun is strong — starting early makes it much more comfortable.
Plan a full trip around Prachuap Khiri Khan
See the Prachuap Khiri Khan guide →