Khao Sam Roi Yot, Exploring its hidden gems of the mountain of 300 peaks

Thailand, Khao Sam Roi Yot | The mountain with 300 peaks.

Sam Roi Yot is located within the Prachuap Khiri Khan province of Thailand.

it is known for its magnificent green fresh water marshes which surrounds the park near its mountains and forest areas. Where its wildlife co-exists peacefully with the human population, birds species, water monitors, porcupines which are rare to find though are integrated naturally within the national park that is Sam Roi Yot.

The Park has a variety of caves and temples but also awesome viewpoints and a boardwalk on one of the fresh water marshes, called Thung Sam Roi Yot. One of the most famous caves in the park is Phraya Nakhon Cave, which is the most visited but also the most misunderstood in terms of what and why its actually there. Most tourists both national and internationals, rarely appreciate its true glory and philosophy. 

The Phraya Nakhon Cave is the "throne", a historic site built during King Rama V's (King Chulalongkorn). The best time to see the throne is between 10:30 - 11:30 as the sun shines on the throne at that time. The throne has since become the symbol of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.
Although the information is widely available on the premises, still do people truly understand its traditions and such ?

https://youtu.be/v3yA3mNzMO4  Episode 1 link



For me personally the cave represents and maintains the Thai culture and carries its spirit as a nation, that is something easy overseen by most. When i was there i was passed by a group of Buddhist monks, making there way back after there meditation and prayer. I was told they make the trek once a week, which i really admired and respected and it made me understand my culture that is Thai and it took me to a new level of understanding.


Sam Roi Yot's extends further to the Khao Daeng area and viewpoint mountain which is a 725 meter high mountain which overlooks the entire Khao Daeng area, overseeing the shrimp and fishing farms and its amazing salt fields. Also the its beautiful coast line is an amazing spectacle to observe from the viewpoint. A bit of a warning do be careful when scaling up the Khao Daeng viewpoint, it gets tricky the higher you get, of course you should take your time because you can admire the amazing deep vegetation that grows between the rocks and trees that integrate so perfectly with the mountainous landscape.





KHAO DAENG VIEWPOINT
Collaboration with Robert Rystrom. 

   
Khao Daeng Canals

The Khao Daeng Canal offers you a beautiful route from the mainland to the amazing Sam Roi Yot coast line, during your trip you can admire the stunning mountains overlapping with the natural greens that surrounds the area. There are organised boat trips under the supervision of the National park rangers.

When i took the this boat trip, it was just amazing i was there with my camera guy and both of us admired the fishing establishments and locals who were fishing in the area. Its just rich in culture and for me this was the Thailand i remember as a little kid when visiting places like this.

 
https://youtu.be/xk8HBlJumbM Episode 2 Link.


  

Sam Roi Yot also has a legend that is the legend of Mong Li, an ancient Thai Chinese folklore its a story that everyone in Thailand knows growing up in Thai households and schools.

Summary of the story: 

The giant Mong Li and his wife lived on the west coast of the Gulf of Thailand. Each had independently promised their daughter to Chao Lai and the emperor of China. When the daughter was of age, both future husbands arrived on the same date. Mong Li then cut his daughter into two halves. Chao Lai turned himself into a hill, while the traditional fruit basket to be presented to a Buddhist monk was turned into the Khao Sam Roi Yot mountains.


    

THUNG SAM ROI YOT


Thung Sam Roi Yot, is another great freshwater marsh with a wooden boardwalk that extends over the water marsh, during specific seasons the marsh is surrounded by beautiful lotuses and a variety of bird species, this place amazing if you are a bird watcher.

This is my absolute favorite spot in the whole national park, because of the awesome and massive waters around the area, that is just absolutely amazing to watch for hours and hours while comfortable sitting on the boardwalk as you see a beautiful sunset.

My expierence in Prachuap Khiri Khan

Prachuap Khiri Khan Thailand.

When most of us think of Prachuap Khiri Khan, we think of the province and not so much the town which is the main capitol of the province of Prachuap. It is home to a Thai Airforce Base and it was an invasion point for the Japanese troops on december 8 1941 during World War II. A commemoration is held each year on the same month to remember the brave Thai airmen and civilians that fought off their invaders. Prachuap Khiri Khan hosts a variety of local hotels and has plenty of local markets often a lot of sea food caught freshly for you to indulge yourself with it. The town is very close to the Myanmar border

Today many of the Prachuap Khiri Khan residents will tell you very proudly how their ancestors fought off the Japanese invasion force. This town hosts a great many gems such as the beautiful beach of Ao Manao which is located within the Thai Airforce base for tourists and locals to enjoy its beach and local food stalls.
Ao Manao means lime bay in Thai, and within the area there is a viewpoint mountain called Khao Lommuak mountain.


The Singkhon Pass or just Singkhon, is the border crossing between Thailand and Myanm  It hosts a local market right before the border control gate on the Thai side, where Burmese people also exchange and sell their products coming coming from Myanmar.            


The town of Prachuap Khiri Khan, reminds me of a Thailand that was more down to earth, its people are a lot more friendly, and the few foreigners that settle there have integrated perfectly with its local population. Prachuap urban streets are smaller and have a Thainess to them, its quiet and relaxed atmosphere made me feel right at home. There is one amazing temple that is on the top of a mountain called Khao Chong Krachok, it also serves as a viewpoint and is quite popular with foreigners and out of town Thais. And its not that surprising why people would think that its a fascinating place to be at, and monks come up from time to time to pray.


The local markets in the morning like pretty much any other Thai city or town share similarities in produce and foods you can enjoy, still its always worth taking a look just because you might be a tourist and thats what we do right ?

Enjoy a coffee, get a Thai style breakfast, walk around and i urge you to be lost in the town for a while thats when u discover its hidden urban gems. Walk and walk some more until you get to that one food stall or restaurant where the locals eat that one particular Thai dish you crave so much.



Take a nice stroll on the beach boulevard which one must when visiting and if you're lucky at the end of the day, when that gruelling Thai summer heat is over, all of a sudden Markets and food stalls, restaurants, artisans show up to sell their products.

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