In Thailand, a bpai tiao is a trip of any length. I’ve written about some of my more significant bpai tiaos to tourist destinations here, to be used as travel ideas and tips.
As my time in Thailand winds down, I figured I’d get in one last bpai tiao. I was able to connect with some Peace Corps folks who had been evacuated from Liberia and Guinea because of the Ebola epidemic and we went to Khao Sam Roi Yot, a few hours south of Bangkok.
How to Get to Sam Roi Yot
Khao Sam Roi Yot, which means 300 Mountain Peaks is in Prachuap Kiri Khan province. To get there from Bangkok, take a minibus/van from Victory Monument to the town Pranburi and then get a cab or hitchhike to the park. The whole park is 98 square kilometers and encompasses a variety of natural and man made attractions.
Camping in Khao Sam Roi Yot
You can camp for pretty cheap, even rent a tent and sleeping things from the park, at the beach called Hat Sam Phraya. You can bring your own food, but don’t worry if you forget because there is a pretty reasonable restaurant here too. The beach can be pretty picturesque and at one end a number of fishing boats anchor, providing a glimpse into the local fishing life. The beach is prime for seashell hunting, but watch out for the sometimes massive jellyfish that wash up, they are not the most pleasant feeling to step on.
Things to Do in Khao Sam Roi Yot
The group of us went and explored Tham Sai, or Sai Cave, which was pretty neat. It’s a steep 300 meter hike up to the cave entrance and you should either bring your own flashlights or rent one from the rangers that are at the trailhead. The first main room of the cave has a hole in the ceiling and some small trees growing in it, and in the chambers off to the side are some pretty excellent stalactites. However, the cave does not stop there, you can continue down further and see some beautiful, sparkling columns, stalactites with bats, stalagmites and other cave formations.
We didn’t get to go to the more famous sites in the park – Tham Phraya Nakhon and Hat Laem Sala because of distance and lack of transportation. There, according to guide books, you can find a cave shelter that King Chulalongkorn visited in 1890. The trail to the cave starts along the beach. There’s also a boardwalk through a mangrove swamp and is popular for bird watching, as this national park is situated right along a prime migration route for East Asia and Australia (November to March are the best times to catch some birds).
Ultimately, I wish I had been able to spend more time here and with some personal transportation, which would have made seeing the various sites significantly easier. If you go, let me know what place you enjoyed the most!