5 Reasons Why Prachuap Khiri Khan Is Our FAVORITE Thai City
We discovered Prachuap Khiri Khan by accident, after a presumably drunk driver slammed into the back of our friend’s rental car, shoving us into a deep ditch and completely totaling the car. Battered, bruised, traumatized, exhausted, and all bandaged, we stumbled into a hotel in nearby Prachuap Khiri Khan at midnight after the police and hospital had sent us on our way.
The staff at Golden Beach Hotel were incredible, leaping into action to get us settled into our rooms as quickly as possible. While the overall experience was (of course) miserable, nothing could have been better in that moment than falling asleep in a soft bed and waking up to look out the window and see that we were beautifully located between the sea and a river, with mountains in the distance.
“Aren’t you so thankful that we had that car crash?” I’ve asked Gustavo a dozen times since, mostly seriously. After all, if it hadn’t been for that derailment of our plans, we never would have found this town that I’m now pretty much convinced is paradise.
We’ve been back several times since then, for longer and longer each time. As I write this, I’m sitting in our beloved Golden Beach Hotel listening to the crashing waves just across the street, a few days into a month-long visit.
Anyway, you’ve probably picked up by now on the fact that I love Prachuap Khiri Khan. But let me expand on why!
1. The city is full of monkeys!
Before coming here, I had been incredibly excited to see a few monkeys in distant trees in a mangrove forest. But here, there are so many that you could almost (almost!) get bored of them and start taking them for granted.
Whether you’re into the “assertive” macaques at Monkey Mountain or prefer the gentle, derpy dusky langurs on the military base, you’ll be absolutely in heaven if you love monkeys. Just make sure you learn how to avoid making monkeys angry before you encounter them!
2. The food is incredible
We’ve only been disappointed with food here when we tried to go too far outside the norms. This resulted in two disappointing meals: a Western-style dinner that didn’t live up to expectations (seriously, when in Thailand, eat Thai food) and a vegetarian lunch with some of the oddest service ever.
Other than that, every meal in Prachuap Khiri Khan has been seriously amazing. Everything we’ve eaten, from the snacks at the night market to the seafood meals while looking out over the waves, has been delicious and memorable.
3. The people are so kind!
This has been our experience throughout most of Thailand, but maybe Prachuap Khiri Khan just isn’t jaded by tourism yet, because we’ve found it to be even more special here.
From restaurant owners who remember us and greet us warmly months later to kind strangers generously pulling us into their cultural events and celebrations, Prachuap Khiri Khan has a sense of welcoming warmth that we haven’t found elsewhere.
4. There are so many things to do!
You would think that a small town would get boring quickly, but not this one. From everything to do within the town itself (like the night market and the hike up Monkey Mountain) to easy day trips (like Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park and the market at the border with Myanmar), it’s hard to get bored.
And hey, if you do manage to run out of exciting activities, you can always go swimming in the blissfully warm sea water or get a massage just steps away from the waves.
5. The area is breathtakingly pretty
I already mentioned that our hotel room has views of the sea and the river, but the whole area is just full of beautiful sights. Climb up Khao Chong Kra Chok for amazing 360-degree views of the area, go to Ao Manao for beach and mountain views, or even admire the charming fishing scenes on the way to the nearby Khao Ta Mong Lai Forest Park.
Ao Manao Beach is one of the reasons why Prachuap Khiri Khan is our favorite city in Thailand
In short, if you’re looking for a bustling tourist hotspot full of partying and nightlife, look elsewhere. If you want an ultra-urban environment where you’re discovering the variety of urban life amid glittering skyscrapers, Prachuap Khiri Khan isn’t for you.
But if you want a laid-back, welcoming town to relax and explore at your own pace, with monkeys to entertain you and the sound of sea waves to rock you to sleep, Prachuap Khiri Khan just may be paradise.