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Nai Plao Beach, Khanom

Khanom (ขนอม) is a small town in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, along the Central Gulf Coast.

Understand

Khanom is a small, quiet fishing town with lovely beaches, a little bit off of the beaten path, but still fairly easy to get to. It is a great stopping point when travelling through southern Thailand. Nai Plao Beach is where you will find most hotels and restaurants located.

Get in

By mini-bus: You can get to Khanom from the nearest cities of Surat Thani (an hour north of Khanom) or Nakhon Si Thammarat (an hour south of Khanom) for about 80 baht. Minibuses generally depart from the "old" bus terminal in the center of Surat Thani.

By bus: Overnight buses to Khanom depart from Sai Tai Taling Chan bus terminal in Bangkok, and they pass Surat Thani new bus terminal on the way. There are only a few buses a day, and they can get fully booked hours before departure - buy tickets in advance.

Get around

The best way to get around is by motorbike. The town and beaches have very little traffic so it is safe to ride a motorbike around to get to the local attractions and to check out the different beaches.

See

The beaches are nice and practically deserted. There are two caves in the area, a few waterfalls, a nice paved road up Dat Fa Mountain.

Beaches

  • 1 Hua Thanon Beach (หาดหัวถนน). Government cleaned and maintained beach. Free public toilets and showers. BBQ area and food vendors. 
  • 2 Na Dan Beach. Good for swimming and sunbathing. 
  • 3 Ao Thong Beach. 
  • 4 Nai Phlao Beach. Popular with Thai tourists. You'll find more restaurants and older accommodations in this area. 

You can take a boat ride from 2 Laem Prathap Pier. 

In Thong Nian (25 km from Khanom Bay) to see the famous pink dolphins and some interesting islands. The tour costs 1,000 baht and takes about two hours. The best time to watch the dolphins is in the morning although it's not guaranteed you will see one.

Waterfalls

  • 5 Khuan Kloi Waterfall. 
  • 6 Samet Chun Waterfall. 

Caves

  • 7 Khao Wang Thong Cave. 
  • 8 Grand Canyon Khanom. Free.. 
  • Freshwater Well on Koh Nui (บ่อน้ำจืดกลางทะเล). 
  • 9 Bang Pang Bridge. 
  • 10 Talet Bay Wooden Bridge (สะพานไม้อ่าวเตล็ด). 
  • 11 Khanom View Point (Scenic Hills Angels). 
  • 12 Bridge and Love Locks @ Racha Kiri Resort And Spa. 

Do

Relax, see some of the natural, unspoiled attractions in the area. Hike or mountain bike through the jungle to the waterfalls and caves or kayak and swim off of any beach.

Go to the Wednesday morning market in town and see the variety of fruits, veggies and fish and other local merchandise.

  • 2 Suan Ta San (สวนตาสรรค์), ☏ +66 89-589-3245. Daily, 09:00-17:00. Natural fish spa in the river. 20 baht. 
  • 3 Ton Tarn Resort & Spa, ☏ +66 81-945-0263. Daily, 08:00-18:00. Petting zoo with sheep, alpaca, ponies, rabbits, cassowary, and parrots. Inflatable waterpark. Natural fish spa in the river. Great place for kids. 

Buy

Dried stingray (ปลาวง) is a local specialty.

Eat

Thai

  • 1 Khiang Talay Seafood (เคียงทะเลซีฟู๊ด), ☏ +66 98-734-2904. Daily, 08:00-22:00. Beachside seafood restaurant. Popular with locals. 

European

  • 5 Cacao Cafe, Naiphlao Beach Road (opposite of Chula Beach Resort), ☏ +66 930538056. 09:00-16:00. Serves breakfast and brunch, coffee, sandwiches, cake, artisan bread, beverages and alcoholic drinks. Attached is a small deli section that offers all kinds of imported European gourmet food and delicatessen items like chocolate, beer, wine, cheese and cold cuts from France, Switzerland, Italy and Germany. 40-350THB. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 6 Dusty Gecko, ☏ +66 84-448-4540. Tu-Su, 15:00-22:00. Finnish chef. Fusion international food, burger, steaks, pizzas, cold smoke salmon, and more. Est. 2011. 
  • 8 Zum Grünen Baum. Fantastic German restaurant on the beach of a small fishing village. 

Drink

Bars

Coffee

  • 4 Le Pes Café (เลอเพชรกาแฟ), ☏ +66 62-926-2656. A small café inside Le Pes Villas serving Thai organic coffee, teas, and cakes. 

Sleep

  • Baan Nadan (next to the Golden Beach Resort 50 m from Ao Na Dan Beach), ☏ +66 89 6999232. A small, 3-story hotel. Modern, new rooms with concrete finish, balcony, TV, fridge, and very comfortable beds. One of the rare beach hotels from which you could theoretically walk into town (30 min). No restaurant, a minimarket with limited goods next door, 100 m to the nearest motorbike rental. No English spoken at reception. 500+ baht. 
  • Baan Thong Ching Resort, ☏ +66655899200. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Separate Thai-style bungalows on a nice beach (there's also a pool) and lovely secluded setting. A bit pricey. ฿ 3000 a night. 
  • 1 Racha Kiri Resort and Spa, ☏ +66 7530-0245, +66 8647-92491, . Modern rooms. Large pool and spa onsite. 

Go next

Mini-buses leave Khanom every hour from about 06:00-16:00 to Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat. There is also big bus and a VIP bus that goes to Bangkok every day at 17:30. It arrives in Bangkok about 12 hours later.

Khanom is between Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat and about 20 min away from Donsak Ferry pier, which has ferries to Ko Samui and Ko Pha Ngan.

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