Khao Sam Roi Yot Marine National Park Thailand

  • Khao Sam Roi National Park is located 63 miles south of Hua Hin on the South west Coast of Thailand in the Gulf of Thailand. It is in Kui Buri and King Sam Roi Yot of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.
  • Khao Sam Roi ecosystems include, Mangrove Forest, aquatic ecosystems and Limestone Forest.
  • Khao Sam Roi is 98 square kilometers in size and includes therein limestone karsk mountains, fresh water marsh lands, coastal beaches, open seas, offshore islands and mangrove swamps. This is a good tourist site for its beaches, caves, wildlife and karsk mountain scenery. It is home to over 316 species of birds, over 50 species of mammals. Many of the birds are migatory and the best time to sea more of them is November to Februaury inclusive.
  • The highest elevation of the limestone peaks is 605 meters above sea level and there are hundreds of peaks throughout the Park. The major peaks are Khao Tham Prathun, Khao Yai, Khao Hup Chan, Khao Khan Bundai and Khao Daeng.



© 2009 Tourism Authority of Thailand


The major tourist places to see at Sam Roi Yot are;
  • Khao Daeng Canal. This Canal can be cruised from Khao Daeng Temple and offers a way to explore the mangrove forests and also watch birds.
  • Kaeo Cave [ Tham Kaeo ]. This cave has numerous stalacites and stalagmites. It can be found 15 kilometers north of the Park entrance office some 24 kilometers from Pran Buri.
  • Sai Cave [ Tham Sai ]. This cave is 9 kilometers north of the Park office.
  • Sam Phraya Beach [ Hat Sam Phraya ] is a beatiful beach with accommodation facilities which is just 3.5 kilometers north of the Park office and is 1 kilometr long.
  • Laem Sala Beach [ Hat Laem Sala ]. This beach is located 16 kilometers north of the Park office. A map of the Park is available. To reach the beach one needs to go by boat or cross from Bang Pu Village. Here also is the Cave Phraya Nakhon.
  • Khao Daeng Mountain [ Khao Daeng ] which is 425 meters from the Park office. This is 157 meters above sea level and a good viewpoint.
  • Ban Khao Daeng, the village and canal from where one can take boats for an hour or more to go bird watching.
  • Phraya Nakhon Cave. Phraya Nakhon Cave is 430 meters from Sala Beach and contains three huge chambers, two of which have open chimneys to allow light, rain and height for vegetation to grow tall therein. Here also is the much photgraphed Royal Pavilion of King Rama V of 1890.
  • Thung Sam Roi Yot. This is a vast fresh water marsh ecosystem which is home to a large number of birds. The birds are either Thailand based birds or migrating birds.


Pelicans At Khao Sam Roi National Park Thailand


The Northeast Monsoon 
  • The Northeast Monsoon comes from the Western Pacific Ocean and brings heavy rain from November to April through out. Accordingly the Gulf of Thailand then receives heavy rain and winds.
  • During this period the sea in the Gulf of Thailand has strong currents and poor under water visibility. This is not a good time to go scuba diving in the Gulf of Thailand.
  • However during this same period on the other side of the Peninsula on the Andaman Coast the water is clear and not turbulant. Then visibility is 30 meters and the sea calm. The Andaman Sea does not suffer any monsoon wind or rain during this period.


National Parks In Prachuap Khiri Khan Province
The mammals include, wild pig, Barking Deer, crab eating Macaques [ monkeys ], the Dusky Langur [ monkey ] fish eating cats, Leopards, Otters and Serow. Of particular significance is the Karst landscape with its soaring jagged limestone mountain overlooking coastal marshes and beaches.

The maximum elevation is 605 metres [ 1,947 feet ], Khao Sam Roi Yot M. N. P. is a coastal wetlands bordering the Gulf of Thailand and is of international importance for bird life conservation. The area includes both mudflats and coastal sands attracting different species.

A key feature is the caves. The more significant are Phraya Nakon and Sai and Kaeo [ the later two including stalagmites and stalactites ]. For greater detail please refer to the recommended books.
Last Updated: Sunday, May 6, 2012 10:50 AM