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If you’re looking for a nice place to
break up the long trip to the island beaches, you can add sleepy
Prachuap Khiri Khan (pronounce ‘pra-juap’) to your itinerary.
The bus drops you off in the very quiet town center where there is not a
pushy motorcycle taxi or foreigner in sight.
 
If you do happen arrive at noon, it might even feel like a ghost town.
At the base of Prachuap is a sparkling blue bay sprinkled with brightly
colored fishing boats. To the north is Khao Chong Krajok (Mirror Tunnel
Mountain) topped by a wat with spectacular views; the hill is claimed by
a clan of monkeys who supposedly hitched a ride into a town on a bus
from Bangkok to pick up some mangoes. There isn’t much else to do except
walk along the waterfront promenade or explore nearby Ao Manao (Lime
Bay) and Ao N oi (Little Bay).
Where to sleep/ eat
Given the very slow way of life in Prachuap, the tricky economic
principle of supply and demand is definitely in effect here. Room rates
can at times be a little more inflated than more popular destinations
when the number of visitors do rise.
Inthira Hotel
Many say there are two types of backpackers: the bag ditchers and the
room searchers. Inthira is so close to the bus stop that bag ditchers
can soon be rid of their packs to be free to wander the town, although
the rooms are little shoeboxes.
Yuttichai
In the center of ‘bustling’ Prachuap, not far from Inthira, this breezy
place has little more personality and the rooms are big enough to
stretch your legs.
Suk Sant Hotel
Maybe the best place in town, it is located in a monstrous pink building
near the waterfront promenade (Th Chai Thaleh), a block from Th Kong
kiat. All rooms are clean and spacious with balconies; the 4th floor
gets water views.
Thetsaban Bamrung
At the foot of the Thetsaban Bamrung is a small night market (Th Chai
Thaleh) that’s quite good for seafood. Pan Phochana Restaurant, near Suk
Sant Hotel, has an English-language menu and is famous for its haw
mok
hawy (ground fish curry steamed in mussels on the half-shell).
How to get there
Buses to/from Bangkok stop on Th Phitak Chat, near Yuttichai Hotel.
Regular buses stop a block away near Intjira Hotel.
Services run to Bangkok (five-hour trip); Hua Hin (two-hour trip) and
Chumphon (3-½ hour trip), the transfer point for Surat Thani Buses and
boats to the Samui Islands.
The train station (end of Th Kong Kiat) is a block from Th Phitak Chat.
Heading south and north, there are several afternoon departures to, Hua
Hin and Chumphon.
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