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Region: Eastern Thailand> Province: Chanthaburi>Location: Chanthaburi

Chanthaburi sights and attractions

Khao Sabap National Park -

14 km from Chanthaburi

Description
Khao Sabap National Park, 14 kilometres from Chanthaburi, is home to Nam Tok Phliu, which flows straight out the side of Khao Sabap into a welcoming pool below where both Thais and fish frolic.

Khao Sabap National Park is the fourth most frequently visited national park in Thailand and going by the size of the carpark and the army of Park Rangers, actually reaching the waterfall on weekends could be a struggle.

King Rama V built a bell-shaped stupa at the falls to mark the spot where he and the queen courted and a pyramid shrine to hold her ashes after she drowned in 1876. A rather challenging trail leads to the top of the falls.

The park is 135 square kilometres, mostly comprised of granite protrusions from the surrounding plains. The rainforest has been extensively logged over the years but what's left along with the regrowth still holds some interesting wildlife, mainly birds including the Siamese fireback, silver pheasant, chestnut-headed partridge and the blue-rumped pitta.

Nam Tok Phliu has heaps of food vendors lining the street directly in front of the park entrance. There is no camping near the park headquarters but there are three bungalows, one for 600B which sleeps eight people and two for 800B, also sleeping eight.

Nam Tok Makok, Khlong Nalai and Trok Nong are three other waterfalls located in the park but are reached from separate access roads along the park's boundary. Apparently there is a narrow road connecting Phliu and Trok Nong which would take a day to walk, but good luck finding it -- the park office and visitor centre seem fairly tight-lipped.

Nam Tok Khlong Nalai is half way between Chanthaburi and Nam Tok Philiu and requires a 2.5km walk in from the main road.

Nam Tok Nong has a camping ground with showers, toilets and fireplaces but you must have your own tent and food.


How to get there: Songthaews leave from the north of Chanthaburi market next to the roundabout. The driver will take you to the park entrance for 25B or to the turn-off for 10B, taking around 25 minutes, after which it is a 2.5km walk or hitch to the park headquarters. When you are leaving, unless you are particularly lucky, you will need to walk back out to the turn-off. Songthaews stop at 18:00.

To reach Nam Tok Trok Nong catch a songthaew to Klung town, then another for 10km along the east side of the park. The turn-off to the falls is 3.5km along from the main road.

Khao Kitchakut National Park - A nice waterfall and lots of birds

Description
Khao Kitchakut National Park, 30 kilometres north of Chanthaburi on Route 3249, is a pleasant place to visit for a few hours. The park covers an area of 59 square kilometres, but holds 53 species of birds -- probably because it lies adjacent to the Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary.

Accommodation is available, but no trail network has been developed beyond Krathing Falls, making extensive exploration difficult. The falls have 13 tiers, ranging from water rolling over a rock to an ear-shattering 10-metre drop following a continuous downhill course. The falls roll by 150 metres from the park office, entering at the third tier from the bottom. It is worth making the trek up the steep hill for a kilometre on a well-worn path as the 13th tier is set against a beautiful backdrop of dense forest. Tiers nine and ten are the most impressive. A series of landslides a few years ago made reaching tiers nine, ten and beyond a serious, if not dangerous, challenge.

The mountain that the falls cling to is called Khao Phra Bat, 1,000 metres above sea level, and is the source of the Chanthaburi river. At the very top of the mountain is a Buddha footprint and hermit's cave. The water here is believed to have medicinal powers and rock formations appear in the shape of a pagoda, turtle and elephant. A track requires a guide to be followed safely, and takes around three hours. A number of Thai pilgrims make the trek every year.

Bungalows in the park start at 600B for eight people to 1,200B for 14. Hiring a tent costs 40B and if you have your own it costs just 5B to set up camp. There have been cases of malaria reported in this park, so take insect repellent even if you are on malaria medication. Food is available in the park with the best choices available on weekends.


How to get there: Songthaews run from the beginning of Prachiniyan Road in Chanthaburi opposite the Post Office every hour. The driver may drop you at the boom gates for 20B, else it costs 15B to the turn-off and then a 1.5km walk to the park entrance.

Khai Nern Wong - A feeble fort in the middle of nowhere

Around 12 km from Chantaburi town.

Description
Khai Nern Wong is a feeble old fort worth a quick stopover for a limited view of the water and a firsthand look at some of the only remaining evidence of the battleground that Chanthaburi once was. Set atop a small hill about 5km from Chanthaburi town, it is difficult to imagine what King Taksin thought was being defended here as although it has a reasonable view it is not too much more.

It is here that the king assembled his army before retaking Ayutthaya. The king is believed to have fled here over other escape routes because large ethnic Chinese populations lived here, and his army was largely comprised of ethnic Chinese.

Of course today little remains to bear witness to the retreat save for a stone wall and a reasonable supply of cast cannons which are dotted around the fort wall.


How to get there: The easiest way to reach Khai Nern Wong is by tuk tuk from Chanthaburi town.

Underwater Archaeological Museum - Contains lots of broken pots and other relics

Within the grounds of Khai Nern Wong, around 8km from Chanthaburi town

Description
The Underwater Archaeological Museum within the fort grounds is worth peeking at. On display are relics discovered off the coast of Chanthaburi, including a large selection of earthenware pots, a smattering of Sawankhalok pottery and recovered cannnons.


How to get there: The easiest way to reach here as with Khai Nern Wong is by tuk tuk.

Khao Ploi Waen - A nice view from the top

About 12 km from Chanthaburi town

Description
Khao Ploi Waen is a hill located about 4km past Khai Nern Wong offering a scenic view of surrounds. At the base of the hill lies a small active temple. Follow the path on the right until you come to the steep and rather uneven stairs leading to the summit. Here there is a rundown Ceylonese chedi built during the reign of King Rama IV which appears to be undergoing slow restoration. The walk can be a hot one, although the plentiful bougainvillea provide some shade.