Hua Hin neighboring district, Pranburi, offers choices of activities to enjoy different kinds of natural attractions. Download PDF
Pranburi's Hidden Attractions
Hua Hin has been in a top list of Thailand’s beach sites for decades. Being famous for its charming beaches, the town has been expanding rapidly with development of tourist facilities. List of activities being offered for tourists are full of the man-made attractions: a place so called ‘museum’ where it offers 3D photo shooting screens, a place called ‘floating market’ where hundreds of shops within the man-made pond complex are selling t-shirts. There are also sheep farm, camel farm water parks, night markets, shopping complexes, retro shop-houses, animals circus, the 'must visit' cafés and ect. While Hua Hin continues to add more attractions, its neighboring district, Pranburi offers choices for those who seek for natural attractions. Pranburi is well-known to local tourists as a gateway to Sam Roi Yod National Park in Sam Roi Yod district. Taking a short drive for 30 km down south from Hua Hin, it has a calming atmosphere where visitors can conduct outdoor activities and enjoy unspoiled attractions such as beaches, caves, parks, and canals. Apart from those, there are also man-made natural attractions which can be options for an excursion.
Pranburi Dam Built in 1978, Pranburi Dam is an earth dam that preserves water from Pranburi River for irrigation use. Its crest is 1,500 m long, 8 m wide and 42 m high. Located 16 km from Phetchakasem Road, in Ban Wang Won Chonlaprathan, Nong Ta Taem sub-district, it is one of the hidden attractions in Pranburi that provides silent atmosphere with great scenery of the valley and lake. Most of visitors are locals and those who seek for a fishing spot. There is no tourist facility at the spot and for those who do not have a vehicle needs to hire the local transport called ‘Songthaew’ from Pranburi intersection or from Pranburi town. The site opens daily from 8.30-17.00.
Sirinath Rajini Mangrove Ecosystem Learning Center Recusing the area from abandoned shrimp farmland, the center features a living exhibition that educates about the rehabilitation of mangrove ecosystem. Located within the Klong Kao-Klong Khoi National Forest Reserve, the area was contracted for shrimp farming concession during 1981-1996. With the Royal Initiative, The Royal Forest Department turned the barren land to the swamp forest. The project was integrated with the PTT PCL’s Reforestation Program in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Accession to the Throne. Sirinath Rajini Mangrove Ecosystem Learning Center features nature trail that highlights the biological diversity. The trail takes around 45 minutes to complete the route but there are options for shorter walks. Along the nature trail, visitors will be able to observe mangrove ecosystem and learn how mangroves and small animals in the habitat such as Fiddler crabs, mud-skippers, egrets, kingfishers, reptiles, small insects and ants depend on each other. One of the highlights on the route is a viewpoint tower where visitor can observe the panoramic view of the reclaimed mangrove landscape and vicinity. Visitors need to contact the tourist information center before enter the area. The center opens daily from 8:30 to 16:30. Tel: +6632-632-255. www.facebook.com/SirinartCenter
