Chanthaburi Things to Do
Once you've finished exploring the temples, markets and streets of the capital, Chanthaburi province still has a lot left to offer, especially if you love nature.
The province is a wonderful mixture of jungle, mountains, waterfalls, plus a beautiful and diverse coastline. Most of the main attractions are easily accessible from the town using the various highways, either by motorbike or songthaew. We decided to rent a motorbike and make several day trips using the town as a base, before making our way to the coast.
It's recommended that you only hire a motorbike if you have relevant experience, and always check over the bike before setting off. It’s also possible to drive around the province, if you have rented a car from Bangkok or elsewhere.
Khao Kitchakut National Park
The first stop on the itinerary was Khao Kitchakut National Park, which is around 30km north of Chanthaburi. The park is an extremely important religious site for Buddhists, as it is home to what is believed to be Buddha's footprint. Every year, many people make the pilgrimage up the mountain to the footprint, as a visit is equivalent to appearing before Buddha, and making the trek entitles you to a wish.
However, the 10km trek is only possible 3 months of the year (late January to early April), and for most of the year, the main attraction in the park is the Krathing Falls.
We hiked up to the top tier of the falls, and the views are definitely worth it! There's also a temple and some interesting rock formations to look out for. Getting to the park by motorbike is pretty straightforward (Route 3408 north, Route 3249 and then look for signs to the park), or a songthaew will take you there and back to town for THB600.
Namtok Phlio National Park
After spending the night back in Chanthaburi, the next stop was Namtok Phlio National Park, just 14km to the southeast of town (Route 3, Sukhumvit Road), and one of the most popular national parks in the whole of Thailand. Well, it is definitely not the most spectacular one but it is easily accessible – so probably it is the main reason for its huge popularity both with the locals who come here to picnic and tour groups on their way to the islands.
The park is home to forests, waterfalls, and several Buddhist structures (chedi and stupa) that were built by King Rama V. The historical significance of the park is another reason for its popularity with locals, so it’s best visited on a weekday.
The name of the park comes from the magnificent waterfall cascading from the Khao Sabap mountain, which is most spectacular during the rainy season. To our tasting, the most interesting part of the park is the jungle trail which is about 2 km long and is of moderate difficulty. It is well worth exploring, as it brings you through the forest which is home to plenty of wildlife, especially bird species.
If you don't want to hire a motorbike, you can hire a private songthaew (THB400 round-trip) or jump on a minibus from the main roundabout in Chanthaburi (THB25 to park entrance).
Khun Krabaen Mangrove Trail
After some hiking and swimming at Namtok Phlio, there was still enough time in the afternoon to make a trip to Khun Krabaen Mangrove Trail, which is very close to Chao Lao. This is a good town to use as a base, as it’s more developed and there are plenty of accommodation options.
Khun Krabaen is a network of raised platform trails that weave and wind through the mangrove forest, before opening up on to some lovely views of the surrounding inlets. If you’ve already travelled around Thailand, you have probably hiked through mangrove forests more than once but anyway, it is a pleasant experience.
As an extra incentive to reach the end, you may be lucky enough to spot the rare dugong, commonly known as a sea cow, floating lazily in the shallow waters. It's also possible to arrange a kayaking trip on the weekend if you want to increase your chances of spotting one.
However, the trails are very popular with tour groups at the weekend, so it's better to come during the week if you want the trails to yourself. As mentioned, the mangrove trails are closer to the coastal towns than Chanthaburi, so it's best to use them as your base if you want to visit here.
There's also an aquarium next door that houses a variety of tropical fish, sharks and manta rays, and entrance is free!
Seaside villages close to Chanthaburi
Using Chao Lao as a base, we headed east following the coast towards the other main beach town, Laem Singh. Chao Lao itself is a fairly relaxed town, with good value resorts, excellent seafood and a developed beachfront. We managed to stretch out the journey for most of the afternoon, after enjoying a superb seafood lunch in Chao Lao.
Next, we relaxed at the beautiful and secluded Ao Yang Bay, before another leisurely ride to Laem Singh. The beach here isn't the most scenic, but the journey along windy, cliff side roads offered excellent views of the sea below, and fishing vessels in the distance. Whilst Chanthaburi's coast might not be the most impressive in Thailand, it was still a worthwhile experience, and it's especially enjoyable for anyone wanting some peace and quiet.
