Independent guide - not the former Ban Krut resort site. We are not a hotel and take no bookings.
Things to do

Ban Krut Travel Guides: All Things to Do

Published · Last checked · Independent guide, no bookings

This is the index of every guide on this site about Ban Krut, Bang Saphan and the coast around them. Guides are grouped by theme, with a line or two on each, so you can jump to what you need. Each guide has its own sources and tips. For a one-page overview of the area, start with our things-to-do overview or the welcome guide.

Aerial view of turquoise shallows along a forested island shore
Koh Thalu, off the Bang Saphan coast. Photo: Jim Thirion / Unsplash

Start here

Ban Krut & Bang Saphan: A Quiet Beach Guide is the short introduction to the village, the beach and how to get there. Things to Do in Ban Krut and Bang Saphan is the one-page overview of the sights below. Where to Stay in Ban Krut & Bang Saphan compares the beach-road, station, bay and island areas.

Beaches and bays

Ban Krut Beach Day Trip plans a full day on the long main beach, from fishing boats at dawn to seafood at night. Mae Ramphueng Beach, Bang Saphan covers the long, calm bay south of Ban Krut (not the Rayong beach). Bo Thong Lang Bay is a small, shallow cove that families like. Bang Berd Beach in Bang Saphan Noi has reddish sand and a red cliff.

Islands, forest and waterfalls

The Koh Thalu Snorkeling Guide explains the shallow reefs off the Bang Saphan coast and how boat trips work. Pa Klang Ao Forest Park & the New Ao Siam Park covers the coastal forest that is becoming a national park. Waterfalls Near Ban Krut and Bang Saphan describes the nine-tier Sai Khu fall and Huai Yang Waterfall National Park.

Temples and caves

Wat Thang Sai, Ban Krut, is the golden chedi and great Buddha on the hill above the beach. Wat Khao Tham Ma Rong is a cave temple south of Bang Saphan town with a horse-head rock. Khao Khiri Wong Cave & Cave Temples Near Ban Krut is honest about a little-documented cave and points you to well-known alternatives.

History, nature and local heritage

History of Bang Saphan, Ban Krut and Prachuap runs from the Ayutthaya era to the railway age. Bang Saphan Gold tells the story of thong nuea kao and the panning streams at Ban Pa Ron. Nature of Ban Krut explains the narrow land between the Gulf and the hills, its forests and its climate.

Day trips north

Wa Ko Science Park & Aquarium marks the spot where King Mongkut watched the 1868 eclipse and suits families. Hua Hin to Ban Krut is a short guide to the province's biggest beach town and the trip south from there.

Frequently asked questions

Things to do in ban krut thailand

Relax on Ban Krut Beach, visit Wat Thang Sai, snorkel at Koh Thalu, explore the bays of Mae Ramphueng and Bo Thong Lang, and see the cave temple of Wat Khao Tham Ma Rong.

What can families do near Ban Krut?

Swim in the shallow water at Bo Thong Lang Bay, take a boat to Koh Thalu, and visit the Wa Ko science park and aquarium.

Is there anything to do in Ban Krut when it rains?

Cave temples such as Wat Khao Tham Ma Rong and the Wa Ko science park and aquarium work well on wet days, and waterfalls flow best in and after the rainy season.

We give no fixed prices or timetables, because they change. Check the official source (for trains, the State Railway of Thailand at railway.co.th) before you travel.

Next: getting there

Guides in this section

A traditional red and blue Thai fishing boat resting on a wide sandy beach
Ban Krut BeachBan Krut Beach in Prachuap Khiri Khan: what the village and beach are like, is it worth visiting, a map of the bay…
Aerial view of a rock arch in a cliff above clear turquoise water
Things to do in Ban Krut and Bang SaphanThe best things to do in Ban Krut and Bang Saphan: temples, bays, islands, waterfalls, viewpoints and ideas with…
A rope swing hanging from a shady beach tree above soft sand and turquoise sea
Where to stay in Ban Krut and Bang SaphanWhere to stay in Ban Krut and Bang Saphan: which stretch of beach suits you, stay types and what to check before…
Colourful wooden fishing boats moored at a pier below a white temple and green hills
Ban Krut Beach Day TripPlan a day on Ban Krut Beach: calm swimming, early fishing boats, coastal rides, seafood and the view from Khao Thong…
Aerial view of turquoise shallows along a forested island shore
Mae Ramphueng Bay in Bang SaphanAo Mae Ramphueng in Bang Saphan, about 7 km from Ban Krut: the beach, the islets offshore, swimming and how it…
A rope swing hanging from a shady beach tree above soft sand and turquoise sea
Ao Bo Thong LangBo Thong Lang Bay (Ao Bo Thong Lang) in Bang Saphan: the curved bay, the low-tide sand path, the fishing pier…
Aerial view of waves breaking along a sandy beach edged by trees
Bang Berd BeachBang Berd Beach in Bang Saphan Noi has reddish sand, a red cliff and calm water. See what to expect, how to get there…
Aerial view of a rock arch in a cliff above clear turquoise water
Koh Thalu snorkellingKoh Thalu (Koh Talu) near Bang Saphan Noi: where it is, how boat trips work from Ban Krut and Hua Hin, the reef, the…
A coastal road curving along a rocky shore below forested hills
Pa Klang Ao Forest Park & the New Ao Siam ParkPa Klang Ao forest near Ban Krut is the base of the planned Ao Siam National Park. What it covers, camping, how to…
A wide tiered waterfall spilling over grey rock in green forest
Waterfalls Near Ban Krut and Bang SaphanWaterfalls near Ban Krut: nine-tier Sai Khu, Huai Yang National Park and more. When they flow best, how to get there…
An old moss-covered stone chedi among tall forest trees
Wat Thang Sai and the golden chedi on Khao Thong ChaiWat Thang Sai above Ban Krut: the golden chedi, the big Buddha, the views over the bay, how to get up the hill and…
A large golden reclining Buddha inside a lit limestone cave
Wat Khao Tham Ma Rong cave templeWat Khao Tham Ma Rong near Bang Saphan: the cave shrines, the climb, the legend behind the name, what to wear and how…
A large golden reclining Buddha inside a lit limestone cave
Khao Khiri Wong Cave & Cave Temples Near Ban KrutAbout Khao Khiri Wong cave near Ban Krut, plus cave temples you can visit around Bang Saphan, with tips on dress…
Colourful wooden fishing boats moored at a pier below a white temple and green hills
History of Bang Saphan, Ban Krut and PrachuapA short history of Bang Saphan, Bang Saphan Noi, Ban Krut and Prachuap Khiri Khan, from the Ayutthaya era to the…
An old moss-covered stone chedi among tall forest trees
Bang Saphan GoldWhy Bang Saphan gold, called thong nuea kao, is famous in Thailand: its purity, the Klong Thong stream at Ban Pa Ron…
A coastal road curving along a rocky shore below forested hills
Nature of Ban KrutThe nature of Ban Krut and Bang Saphan: a narrow strip between the Gulf and the hills, coconut groves, peat swamp…
Aerial view of waves breaking along a sandy beach edged by trees
Wa Ko Science Park & Aquarium, Prachuap Khiri KhanKing Mongkut Memorial Park of Science and Technology at Wa Ko: the 1868 eclipse story, the aquarium, stargazing and…
Aerial view of waves breaking along a sandy beach edged by trees
Hua Hin to Ban KrutHow to get from Hua Hin to Ban Krut by train, bus or car, how far it is, and what to see in Hua Hin before you head…
Aerial view of a rock arch in a cliff above clear turquoise water
Bang Saphan NoiBang Saphan Noi, the quiet south of the Ban Krut coast: Bang Berd's red sand bay, Koh Thalu, limestone caves, train…
Aerial view of turquoise shallows along a forested island shore
Bang Saphan Yai beach and townBang Saphan Yai: the fishing village and its station, Suan Luang beach, boat trips to Koh Thalu, nearby bays, a cave…
Colourful wooden fishing boats moored at a pier below a white temple and green hills
Eating in Ban KrutEating in Ban Krut: simple seafood on the beach road, dried fish and squid, the local market, spice tips and where to…

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