There are three main beaches located on the eastern shore of Phetchaburi where tourists always spend their weekends and holidays. Cha-am Beach is the most popular one. Had Chaosamran is very close to downtown Muang Phetchaburi. Next is Puktian Beach, the beach with an amazing sculpture of a sea demon standing tall in the sea making a spectacular beach view.
Access to the beaches is easy. Just drive down the Hadchaosanran Road to the east and take the beach-side road to the south.
Cha-am Beach Your Pleasant Getaway. Nice and Cool
Cha-am Beach is one of the top-five most popular beaches in Thailand. Most tourists know about Cha-am very well. It is only 30 kilometers to the south from downtown Muang Phetchaburi. Cha-am Beach is a retreat and an escape for holidays and weekends. Visitors who like to come here will not enjoy crowded beaches like Hau-hin or Pattaya. The appeal of Cha-am is that it has no nightlife. The charm of Cha-am is what it can offer families with young children, students, domestic touists, as well as overseas visitors. Also, Cha-am can be a good place for meetings and seminars.
At this beach, several affordably-priced hotels, restaurants, and other facilities are available. At the fishing pier area, there are several good seafood restaurants where fresh seafood is cooked and the price is very reasonable. Weekends and holidays are usually crowded with tourists.
Overseas travelers who like a more peaceful environment will stay on Cha-am Beach. There are very nice hotels, from low price to luxurious ones to choose from. There are many good resturants with a variety of menus and Thai traditional dishes. Today, Cha-am is becoming more popular since Hua-hin, its adjacent beach, is crowded.
Cha-am Beach activities and fun
- Sun-bathe on the beach
- Cycle along the seafront
- Ride banana boat and jet-ski
|
- Swim in pools and the sea
- Take a Massage on the beach
- Having fun drinking
|
Enjoy staying at Cha-am. It is cheaper and more local than in Hua-hin. Hotels and shops are nice and friendly. |
Tourist spots around Cha-am are:
- Mrigdyavan Summer Palace & Sirindhorn Internation Environemental Development Centre
- Huaysai Wildlife Sanctuary and Breeding Project founded by Her Majesty the Queen and Princess Sirindhorn
- Nang Panturat [Khao Chaolai Yai] Forest Park
- Hupkapong Agricalutral Project under the auspices of His Majesty the Kin
- Huaysai Environmental Development Study
- Princess Sri Nakkharintra Park and Land Development Project
- Don Khun Huay Agriculture Cooperative Farming Development Project
Golf and Spa resorts in and around Cha-am >> SpringField Village Golf & Spa, Kaengkrachan Country Club Resort
Chaosamran Beach
The local charm of Chaosamran Beach is well-known among Thai people. It was established by King Rama V who built Phra Ramrajaniwet (Wang Ban Puen). The beach was named after which the King and his family memebers enjoyed (in Thai called "Samran") there stay there. Due to problem of fresh water resource and disturbance from flies, later King Rama VI found a better beach in Cha-am.
Today local accommodation is very cheap. There are also some small fine resorts by the beach available for those who like privacy. However, beach business is rare but the beach outlook still attracts people to come.
Chaosamran beach and the seashore around it was restructured and its local beach business is gaining more reputation among domestic Thai tourists.
 |
Puktian Beach
Puktian is a small beach located about 10 kilometers South of Chaosamran Beach and about 18 kilometers North of Cha-am. It is famous for its statues in the sea depicting characters from one of Thailand's greatest poets “Sunthon Phu” and his epic 30,000 line story “Phra Aphai Man.i” Sunthon Phu (1786-1855) is Thailand's best known poet. He is loved by Thai's not only for his writing, but also for his colourful personal life. Being a commoner with only a temple education, he broke with tradition and wrote in a more ordinary language than the more traditional high brow writers of the past.
Puktian is small but popular with local Thai families at the weekend, when they come here to sit under the pine tree's, eat seafood, swim and go horse riding on the beach. During the week however, it is usually very peaceful.
All the major characters from Phra Aphai Mani can be seen, either standing in the sea, on islands or on the raised part of the beach. The most prominent of which is a six-meter tall Pee Seua Samut, an aquatic female demon. At low tide it is possible to walk out to these islands to get a closer look.
If you would like to stay in Puk Tian, there are a few small hotels and guesthouses in the town itself, or for a bit more luxury, try the Casuarina Resort, a couple of kilometers south of town. |
Mrigdayavan Palace The Ancient Summer Palace of King Rama VI
Sirindhon International Environmental Development Center is located in the very front of the Mrigdayavan Palace. Biking in the historical garden and walking on wooden bridge trails to study mangrove reforest are absolutely fun.
Visiting Mrigdayavan Palace is an unforgettable experience. Located only 8 kilometers South of downtown Cha-am.
Mrigdayavan was built by His Majesty King Vajiravuth (King Rama VI). The King had this summer palace built in 1923. Mr.Ercole Manfreddy, an Italian architect attached to The Public Works Department of the Royal Thai Government, drew up the plan in accordance with the King’s sketches.
There are three groups of buildings: 1) the audience chambers and staff offices, 2) the royal dinning hall and the royal residence with a seaside pavilion, and 3) the inner chambers and ladies’ seaside pavilion. These buildings are all connected by covered corridors, or walkways.
At the very front of the palace to the north, King Vajiravuth also had a drama theatre build for performing dramas, plays, and dances. The king himself sometimes took part in the plays.
The concrete pillars holding up the golden teakwood palace all have niches around for storing water that keeps ants from climbing up into the residence.
Mrigdayavan Palace Park is open daily from 8.30 in the morning to 4.30 in the afternoon. Tour activities visitors can do are; sightseeing and have a closure look of Thai cultural heritage displayed at the palace, listen to Thai classical music from Thai music class on the weekend, cycling in the park outside to palace, and have eco-tour walk in the magrove conservation area in the park. Ticket is only twenty THB for Thais and 50 THB for foreigners.
Properly wear polite clothes is needed. However, clothing service is provided without charge at the palace entrance.
Please view the charm of the palace below.
Royal Projects Enjoy the reality of simple life
Huay Sai Royal Development Study Center, Cha-am
Nang Panturat Forest Park, Cha-am
Springfield Golf Club, Cha-am
Agave Products
Hupkapong Candy Shop
The royal intiative projects demonstrate and studie reforestation, water conversation, land use, and managing farmland. Visitors who are interested in land development for farming will see how the King’s initiatives of using Vetiveria grass to protect and improve soil work. The main purpose of His Majesty is to improve and sustain farming in based on his "Sfficiency Ecinimic Principle" that relies on the middle path and humble living.
Huay Sai Wildlife Conservation and Breeding Center
Located near the Royal Development Study Center, this wildlife conservation center breeds endangered species of deer, wild birds, fowls and pheasants. Her Majesty the Queen and Princess Sirindhorn initiated conservation and breeding of deers that are considered endangered in Thailand. Since Bird Flue disease outbreak, visiting this wildlife sanctuary has been strictly controled. Visiots are required to ask for permition beforehand.
Khao Nangpanturat Forest Park
This small forest park is located at the Nang Pangpanturat or Khao Chao Lai Yai Mountain. Its rock garden, hill-top scenic view point, giant mirror, urn-shaped rock, and wild animals can provide enjoyable activities for nature lovers. Walking up the hill to the scenic view point is challenging. Dusky langurs can be seen here if you are lucky enough.
Hupkapong Village
Hupkapong, near downtown Cha-am, was formed in the year 1964 with generous support from the government of Israel for rural development project on a plot of land in Cha-am District. It was set up in order to conduct research and study various aspects of agriculture. Land development and a co-operative community was implemented initially with the 120 families of needy farmers. Each family was allotted a piece of land for agricultural purposes.
Two separate plots of land were divided for growing plants. One for plants that depend on water from irrigative sources, such as tomatoes, asparagus, mangoes and cashew nuts; and another for plants that can be sustained by rain water, such as corn, sugar cane, and watermelons. In addition to selling their produces through the co-operative, the farmers may sell their fruits and vegetables directly to visitors to the Hupkapong Co-operative Community to earn extra incomes.
Handbags made form Agave plant fiber are a Five-star popular OTOP product among tourists, as well as home-made candy and sweets from local fruits.
Premium Outlet Mall Fashion yourself like a movie star
Located in Cha-am on Phetchakasem Highway, Premuim Outlet Mall is a place where both Thai and foreign tourists like to hang out. Movie stars and golfers like to shop for fashionable apparel while relaxing in Phetchaburi for weekends and holidays.
Designed in the modern style, the mall features many leisure corners and gardens. Its total area covers 51,200 square meters. There are more than 60 suppliers selling 200 domestic and international fashion brands; such as Nike, Lacoste, Levi, Xoxo, Pooh, Speedo, Pony, Dapper, and Nautica, Pena House, Ten&Co, and U-Fo.
Wide parking spaces and its nice food mall provide a convenient stop on your way home.
Premium Outlet Mall, Cha-am, is open from 10am to 8pm on weekdays, and from 9am to 8pm on weekends.
FlyNow Factory Outlet Mall – Kho Yoi
On the way back to Bangkok on Phetchakasem Highway, another outlet store awaits for visitors who are heading back home from Phetchaburi. FlyNow mall sells fashionable clothes, both popular domestic and international brands at cheaper price.
Sweet Produce of Phetchaburi
Next to the Factory Outlet Mall, a variety of local seafood, sweets, fruits and other products are available for tourists to buy. The most well-known products of Phetchaburi are Kanom Mokaeng (baked custard), and sweet Golden Drops and Golden Flowers. Some favorite fruits are roseapple, and golden banana. Other farm produce of Phetchaburi that domestic visitors like to take home are limes, palm juice and home-made palm sugar.
Foreign tourists who like to try Phetchaburi’s local food and fruit can stop by a by-way stall or shopping compound and taste some of them fresh. Some are so sweet, others maybe so spicy, and some could be smelly.
