Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park

Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park is one of the more impressive National Parks to visit in Thailand. It's best known for the stunning Phraya Nakhon Cave with its iconic Royal pavilion (see picture above). Between 10.30 and 11.30, the sun shines through a hole in the cave's roof, illuminating the Royal Pavilion. But, aside from the Phraya Nakhon Cave, there is a lot more to explore. The National Park encompasses an area of 92 square kilometers  dotted with majestic limestone mountains reminiscence of Krabi province. The National Park has caves, a viewpoint, a boardwalk, mangroves, boat trips, beaches, Dusky Leaf Monkeys, and a temple backed by jungle-clad limestone cliffs.

Phraya Nakhon Cave is already very tranquil and quiet but at the Kaew Cave I met only one couple who were just coming out of the cave when I reached the entrance. The Kaew Cave is a little more adventurous than the Phraya Nakhon Cave and a good cave to visit if you like adventure. The way is signposted by arrows which lead you down a path with small but easy passages, ladders and bigger spaces. The cave is dark without natural light coming in and there is a man outside the cave renting out flashlights for 40THB, but I used the lamp on my phone and it was enough. Of course, with a bigger and brighter lamp you can see more. Since I didn't rent the flashlight, so I don't know if it was any good. If you follow the arrows for about 20 to 30 minutes (I estimate it's a few 100 meters) you end up at an exit different from where you entered. The cave has many tiny bats and some small jumping spiders. One note; there were different colored arrows, I don't know why. If you do, please leave a comment!

The entrance to the Sai Cave is reached after a 280-meter walk up stairs made out of limestone rock. It is forbidden to enter the cave after 15.30. The first room of the cave is entered via a ladder that leads to a chamber with a hole in the roof that sheds light on some lush vegetation, creating a similar mystic atmosphere as in the Phraya Nakhon Cave. There is another stair at the end of this chamber that leads down to a larger and more impressive chamber filled with crystalline pillars. Light enters the room through a hole in the roof, illuminating blinking stalagmites that appear to be made of thousands of small diamonds.

The 100-meter-high Khao Daeng Viewpoint provides panoramic views of the coastline and the surrounding jungle-clad mountains of Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park. The trail leading up to the viewpoint begins at the parking lot (see map), where you must show or purchase your National Park entrance ticket. The trail is a steep 425-meter climb with signs that tell you how far you've come (rather than how far you still have to go). It's a 80-meter elevation gain. Depending on your level of fitness, the hike up can take anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes. When you reach the top, you'll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the coastline. Don't miss the trail to the back, which, in my opinion, is the most impressive part of the viewpoint, with views of the National Park's jagged limestone mountains and Wat Kao Daeng.

You can enter the trail between 8.00 and 15.00 o'clock. If there has been a lot of rain, the trail may be closed.

I did not take the boat tour, but the area is beautiful! In the picture, you can see the river that the boat will take.

Wat Kao Daeng is located 1.5 kilometers from Khao Daeng Viewpoint and next to the Klong Khao Daeng Canal Boat Trip. The temple, which is backed by jagged limestone mountains, is absolutely stunning and well worth a visit.

When I visited Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park in February 2022, the boardwalk was closed for maintenance. I was told that the boardwalk would reopen in August 2022, but no repairs appeared to be underway. Previously, a large section of the boardwalk was closed for maintenance, and now the entire boardwalk is closed. So I'll take a wild guess and say they won't be repaired and reopened anytime soon.

Fortunately, two towers located just down the road from the entrance offer breathtaking views of the jungle-clad mountains. Although the views aren't as spectacular as those from the boardwalk, they're still enjoyable. The towers are in poor condition, so use caution if you decide to ascend them.

Tower 1 provides nice views of the mountains on the right side. 

Tower 2 offers excellent views of the left side.

The Bueng Bua Wood Boardwalk serves as the starting point for this boat trip. It takes you through Thailand's largest freshwater marsh. Depending on weight, the boat can accommodate 3 to 4 people. The boat ride lasts approximately 60 minutes. Cost per boat is 500 Baht. You'll be treated to breathtaking views of the mountains, and the marsh is brimming with beautiful blooming lotus flowers in February and March.

On the way to the Bueng Bua Wood Boardwalk, you'll pass this temple backed by the stunning mountains of Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park. I didn't enter the temple, but I later learned that it has a vegan restaurant. Making it a perfect stop for some food.

You can drive through the park for free, but to enter certain areas you need to buy a ticket. The ticket is valid for one day and covers the entire park. Keep the ticket with you. You need to show it to enter certain areas of the National Park, like the caves, the Khao Daeng Viewpoint and the boardwalk. 

Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park Fee:

You can take two boat 2 boat trips:

*Depending on weight

You can drive through the park at any time. Because the park contains villages, there is never a moment when the park is closed. The attractions, such as the caves and the viewpoint, do, however, close. The park opens at 8.00 and as a general rule you have to enter caves and the  Khao Daeng Viewpoint before 15.00 o'clock. See the map for details.

Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park lies about 50 kilometers north of Prachuap Khiri Khan and 35 kilometers south of Hua Hin. The park covers 92 km2 so the only way to visit the whole park is by your own transport or a tour. If you have your own transport or want to rent a motorbike I would recommend to go to Prachuap Khiri Khan. It's a quiet small city not geared towards tourism and has 3 stunning bays with jungle-clad limestone rock formations. You'll probably can arrange a taxi driver for the day to drive you around the park. However it is probably easier to arrange a tour in Hua Hin.

You can book accommodation through the website of National Park Office. They offer accommodation in three different zones. One of them on Laem Sala Beach (the beach where  the path to Phraya Nakhon Cave starts), where you can also rent a tent.

Or you can stay somewhere else in Prachap Khiri Khan province. Search here.  Sam Roi Yot village lies within the park and also has accommodation. I can't create a link to Agoda with accommodation in Sam Roi Yot village. So please use the link above and when you enter "Sam Roi Yot" you'll get a list of accommodation inside the village.