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Pranburi Forest Everything to Know Before Visiting

Pranburi Forest: Everything to Know Before Visiting

| Last Updated: March 2024

Ever enjoyed boardwalking through one kilometer of mangrove forest or birdwatching over 147 bird species? If all that excites you, then Pran Buri Forest Park should be the next destination on your Thailand travel list. 

And that’s just for starters. In this guide, we’ll show all the things that make Pran Buri Forest Park a must-visit so you wouldn’t miss out on anything while you’re there!

Things to Know

Time Zone: Indochina Time (UTC/GMT+7)

Currency: Thai Baht
(Check the current exchange rate)

Language: Thai (Central Thai)

Calling Code: (+66), (032)

Location: Pak Nam Pran, Pran Buri District, Prachuap Khiri Khan 77220, Thailand

Nearest Airport: Hua Hin Airport (25.3 km)

Operating Hours: 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Daily)

Contact Number: +66 61 464 4951

Admission Fee: Free

Website: https://www.facebook.com/PranburiForestPark/

Best Time to Visit Pran Buri Forest Park

It’s best to visit Pran Buri Forest Park between November and January to experience the optimal weather conditions for exploring its attractions. These are the driest months in Pran Buri and the weather is not as hot as the following summer months.

During these time, rare migratory species like Oriental Plovers are also not in their breeding season, so you’re more likely to spot them in the park. 

In this regard, we recommend visiting the park early in the morning. That way, you can explore all the attractions within the park’s borders.

How to Get to Pran Buri Forest Park

Nature and Boat Tour: Booking a nature and boat tour is an excellent option since there’s no public transport that goes to Pran Buri Forest Park. Thus, you don’t have to worry about traveling to and from the park.

Most tours to the park offer a pick-up service from Bangkok, Cha-am, and Hua Hin, so you only need to wait for a shuttle at your doorstep. You can book these tours from travel agencies like Viator and HuaHin Adventure Tour.

Private Taxi: Pran Buri doesn’t have metered taxis, so you can only hire a private taxi from Bangkok, Cha-am, or Hua Hin. With a private taxi, you’ll have a convenient ride to the park and back to your hotel.

Plus, you’re free to stop at any attraction along the way since you don’t have to follow a predetermined itinerary. Just know that private taxis are expensive so it’s best when traveling with other people who will pay their share of the bill.

Rental Car: Renting a car is a great option if your goal is to camp at Pran Buri Forest Park for several days. This way, you can pack camping gear and other necessary equipment for your planned activities.

To rent a car in Thailand, rental companies will ask for a driver’s license and an International Driving Permit. This service is available in key cities and towns in the country, but your best option is to book them from the airport.

You must drive south from Bangkok, Cha-am, or Hua Hin via Highway 4 before turning left to route 1019. You must use the road parallel to the railway and keep following it until you reach the entrance to Pran Buri Forest Park.

What to See and Do in Pran Buri Forest Park

Stroll the mangrove forest via the wooden walkway

Media credit: scenaround.me

Pran Buri Forest Park’s mangrove forest is a well-known attraction to tourists who frequent Hua Hin. Lush green mangrove trees are everywhere, so expect to see plenty of mud crabs and mudskippers while strolling its looped nature trail during the low tide.

The stunning 1-kilometer wooden walkway makes exploring the area a breeze. It’s perfect for taking Instagram photos and observing the wildlife while you’re strolling this part of the park.

There are also information bulletins at specific points in the walkway if you want to learn more about the forest and its inhabitants. Most of the information is written in Thai so it’s important to have a translation app with you.

Get a panoramic view of Pran Buri Forest Park from the wooden watchtower

Media credit: the.yellowbucket

Climbing the wooden watchtower in Pran Buri Forest Park gives you the best aerial view of its surrounding mangrove forest. The stunning panoramic view from this vantage point also lets you see the rivers, canals, and beachside areas within the park’s borders.

It’s one of the more romantic spots inside the park, especially during the sunset. If you’re lucky, you and your boo can have this spot to yourselves and enjoy the beautiful view together.

Explore the park grounds on a bicycle

Media credit: morganmoellering

One of the best things about Pran Buri Forest Park is its designated bike lane around the beach area. That makes it ideal for families and couples who want to explore the park grounds on a bicycle.

It’s also perfect if you have kids you want to teach how to ride since this place is safe and not crowded. Just know that there are no rental bikes in the park, so you must bring one with you.

Otherwise, you can go to Bike Point Pak Nam Pran on Pran Buri Beach to rent a bicycle first. They even offer a 3-hour guided bike tour to Pran Buri Forest Park through a specialized 20-kilometer bike route which also includes 1 kilometer of trekking.

Catch a boat ride to tour the park’s rivers and canals

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A visit to Pran Buri Forest Park isn’t complete without catching a boat ride at the dock connected to the wooden walkway. Here, you’ll find longtail boats operated by local Thai fishermen.

Cruising the park’s rivers and canals in a longtail boat is great for observing wildlife. The nature lovers on our team particularly enjoy this activity because it lets you see the mangrove forest and local communities along the Pran Buri River.

If you’re lucky, you may even see a water buffalo cooling down in the river or a kingfisher swooping in to catch a mudskipper.

Enjoy a lovely and peaceful picnic

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The beachside area of Pran Buri Forest Park is perfect for families who love going on picnics. This area is mostly shaded, so expect to see numerous pine trees and casuarina trees swaying to the cool ocean breeze.

You can choose between the park’s grassy spots, sandy shores, or tables and benches. That makes it great if you have a specific preference when it comes to picking the ideal picnic spot.

The best thing is they don’t charge a fee for staying in the picnic area or using the tables.

Go birdwatching

Media credit: hh1948wildlife

If your idea of a perfect forest tour includes birdwatching, Pran Buri Forest Park won’t disappoint. It has over 140 recorded bird species which means there’s plenty for you to see depending on your luck.

Though it’s more likely to spot collared kingfishers, sanderlings, and Asian openbill storks here, you might spot rare migratory species like oriental plover and Eurasian curlew. Just know that these birds will only migrate during their non-breeding seasons.

The park’s looped trail via the wooden walkway is a safe bet if you want to observe kingfishers. However, the beach area is best for spotting zebra doves and spotted doves since they like munching on the fruits of the casuarina trees.

Set up a tent to spend the night near the beach

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The park’s beach area is a designated campsite, so you can set up a tent here if you wish to spend the night. Rental tents and sleeping gear are available at the park’s office area by the entrance for 300 baht.

If you bring a tent, you only need to pay 30 baht in camping fees. The park’s clean toilets and showers are free, so you don’t have to worry about extra expenses.

There are also numerous restaurants and bars within and near Pran Buri Forest Park. That means you’re covered for food and drinks during your stay.

Relax at the beachside coffee shop

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The small beachside coffee shop inside the park is a great place to have a relaxing drink. They have free WiFi, so it’s perfect if you’re looking for a spot to rest or unwind during your downtime.

You can even feel the cool ocean breeze from here since the shop doesn’t have walls. Plus, there are outdoor seats with parasols if you prefer hanging out close to the pine trees.

Watch the beautiful sunset at Pran Kiri Beach

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The stunning sunset at Pran Buri Forest Park’s Pran Kiri Beach is definitely a must-see. It’s the perfect way to end your tour if you don’t plan to set up camp afterward.

It’s even more elegant during the low tide because of the rock formations that emerge from the beach’s shallow waters. You can use them as backdrops when capturing the perfect moment when the sun sets in the Gulf of Thailand.

The sunset in Pran Kiri Beach usually starts at 6 p.m. and ends around 7 p.m. Sunset timers are different each day, so don’t forget to look it up if you want to take photos of the golden hour.

Walk your pet along the shoreline and enjoy the ocean breeze

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Pran Buri Forest Park is one of the more unique national parks in Thailand to go for a walk because it’s pet-friendly. That means you can bring your fur babies with you and take them for a lovely walk along the park’s shorelines.

Just make sure to put your fur baby on a leash the entire time. You can even take them with you to the looped trail via the park’s wooden walkway.

It’s just that the cool ocean breeze in Pran Kiri Beach makes it the best walk spot within the park. We recommend going for a walk here every morning and afternoon.

Take a quick dip at the beach’s shallow waters 

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Though Pran Kiri Beach isn’t the best swimming spot in Pran Buri, its shallow waters are safe at least. It’s perfect if you have small kids with you since they can go for a splash without any issues.

The shallow water and consistent waves make it an excellent spot for water activities like stand-up paddleboarding. In fact, local event hosts like Sup Run Yo Fun Race sometimes hold stand-up paddleboard and kayaking races here for this reason.

You must check their page if you need more information about this local event.

Check out the rock formations on the beach during the low tide

Media credit: supakornnnnn_

The emerging rock formations in Pran Kiri Beach are one of its unique features. That makes it a popular spot among visitors because you can take fantastic Instagrammable photos here during the low tide. 

You may also spot some birds hunting for fish from these rocks. A good trick is to set up a tripod along the shore during the low tide so you can capture photos of Sanderlings and Oriental Plovers resting on these rocks.

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