🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Taksin Ratchaniwet Palace was built in February 1973 and took roughly six months to complete. King Rama IX chose Khao Tanyong for its high ground beside the sea, its dense old-growth trees, the fresh air, and the unbroken view along the Gulf of Thailand coastline. The palace became his residence when he travelled to work in Thailand's southern border provinces, usually toward the end of the year.
What makes this palace worth a stop isn't just the building itself but everything around it — the shaded botanical gardens, the pine groves along the beach, the nature trails, and the angles that open onto the sea. It's an easy, relaxed place to walk for the whole family, and it sits right next to Ao Manao–Khao Tanyong National Park, so you can roll both into a single day.
When is it open, and what are the hours?
Taksin Ratchaniwet Palace is open to the general public during periods when no member of the royal family is in residence. It normally opens daily from about 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and there's no entry fee for either Thai or foreign visitors.
- Closed periods — when the King and members of the royal family are staying here, which tends to be toward the end of the year (roughly October–December), the palace is closed to visitors.
- Opening hours — around 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Leave yourself plenty of time to wander the gardens and nature trails at an easy pace, no need to rush.
- Entry fee — there's no admission charge, though some spots in the adjacent national park may have their own separate fees.
Always check before you go
Because opening and closing depend on the royal schedule, which changes from year to year, it's worth calling ahead before you travel — try the Narathiwat provincial office or the Ao Manao–Khao Tanyong National Park headquarters (tel. 073-542344, 088-7524747) to confirm the palace is open during your visit, so you don't make the trip for nothing.
Want more out of Narathiwat? 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.
What can you see inside the palace grounds?
The palace was designed to blend into the hillside's natural setting, mixing modern concrete work with touches of southern Thai architecture, set among shady forest and gardens. There are several spots people like to stop and walk.
Hillside botanical garden
An arboretum and garden of plants laid out around the palace — shady and easy to stroll the whole way, with both original old-growth trees and ornamental flowers.
Pine groves by the beach
A line of sea pines along the beach below the palace. The breeze is cool — a good spot to sit in the shade and listen to the waves and the sea wind.
Coastal forest nature trail
A roughly 1-kilometre trail through coastal forest plants, where you'll find drought-hardy seaside species like sea poison tree, sea pandanus, and wild lime.
Gulf of Thailand viewpoint
A spot on the hilltop that looks out over the wide Gulf of Thailand and the Narathiwat coastline — a place to take photos and breathe in the sea air.
Viewpoints and the Gulf of Thailand around the palace
Because Khao Tanyong sits right against the sea, the angles from up on the hill let you see far out across the Gulf of Thailand. On clear days the water turns deep blue against the sand and the pine groves. Walk down below and you reach Khao Tanyong Beach, a stretch of white sand mixed with rock outcrops that runs on into the adjacent Ao Manao Beach — a quiet beach the locals of Narathiwat use, still uncrowded.
- Khao Tanyong Beach — the sandy beach below the palace, shaded by pine groves and good for sitting and catching the sea breeze.
- Ao Manao Beach — a long, continuous beach within Ao Manao–Khao Tanyong National Park, with a campground and seafood restaurants nearby.
- A small waterfall on the hill — about a 400-metre walk up from the beach brings you to Thara Sawan, a small waterfall to sit and enjoy nature by (most water during the rainy season).
Do it all in one area
The palace, Khao Tanyong Beach, and Ao Manao–Khao Tanyong National Park all sit right next to each other, so you can take them in on a single trip. If you like quiet nature, set aside half a day to walk the gardens and enjoy the views, then head down to sit by the beach in the late afternoon — that timing works well.
Dress code and etiquette when visiting
Taksin Ratchaniwet Palace is royal property, so visiting means dressing respectfully and following the site's rules — a matter of courtesy and respect.
- Dress respectfully — no sleeveless tops, shorts above the knee, or tight-fitting clothes. Wear sleeved tops and trousers or skirts that cover the knee.
- Follow signs and staff — some areas may be off-limits to photography or restricted to certain points; do as the staff direct.
- Be composed — don't be loud or do anything disruptive within the palace grounds.
- Respect local culture — Narathiwat is mostly a Muslim Malay area, and dressing neatly and greeting people with a smile helps the trip go smoothly.
How to get to Taksin Ratchaniwet Palace
The palace is at Khao Tanyong, in Kaluwo Nuea subdistrict, Mueang Narathiwat district, about 8 kilometres from Narathiwat town along Highway 4084 (the Narathiwat–Tak Bai road). There are several ways to get there.
- Private car / rental car — the easiest option. Drive from Narathiwat town along the Tak Bai road, about 15 minutes. Just drop a Google Maps pin on "Taksin Ratchaniwet Palace" — there's parking on site.
- Public bus — the Narathiwat–Tak Bai–Sungai Kolok line passes the palace; tell the driver to let you off out front.
- Motorbike taxi / local hire — you can hire one from Narathiwat town; the distance isn't far, which works well if you don't have your own vehicle.
Travel during the day
Narathiwat is in Thailand's southern border region, so before you actually travel it's a good idea to always check the news and safety advisories, along with the latest situation from official agencies, and plan your sightseeing mainly during daylight hours. As a rule, tourist spots like the palace and Ao Manao have the usual visitors and staff on hand.
The best time to visit
The sweet spot is the dry season, roughly February to August, when the skies are clear, the sea looks its best, the gardens are pleasant to walk, and the palace is usually open. Late in the year (October–December) is both the rainy season on this side of the south and the time the royal family may be in residence, which means the palace closes to visitors — so check ahead especially carefully then.
Plan a full Narathiwat trip — the sea, Malay food, and culture
See the Narathiwat travel guide →