Bucket List: Hilltop Monastery in Prachuap Khiri Khan

Mueang Prachuap Khiri Khan, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand

This article was first published on this blog slightly more than a year ago on 9 January 2025.

My visit to Prachuap Khiri Khan was in May 2024 when I transited the town and stayed overnight while I was on my so-called self-planned South-East-Asia Train Trip. 

Prior to this visit, I had never even heard of Prachuap Khiri Khan. Other more popular places in this part of Thailand including Hua Hin, Surat Thani and Hat Yai are often featured and mentioned in Travel Magazines and Travel TV Shows. But Prachuap Khiri Khan? Hardly much mentions. Thus for me, arriving at Prachuap Khiri Khan via train from Hua Hin was a new experience. Not just visiting a place for the first time, but realising that such a place exists! This is the proverbial "off the beaten path" destination, at least for me! A Travel Bucket List item? Yes, this is one for the list!  

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I arrived at Prachuap Khiri Khan, Mueng Prachuap Khiri Khan to be correct,  by train from Hua Hin on a cool evening. The time was between 8pm to 9pm. Early by most definitions. But here in this small town, this was apparently already quite late in the night. Most shops were closed. I walked the streets alone, pulling my cabin-sized luggage along the small road that cuts through the town, the wheels of my luggage "complaining" loudly as it trudged along the uneven road, creating noises that in most places would not even be noticed. But here in this quiet town, the noise could be regarded as a "din". I just hoped I was not waking up the whole neighbourhood.

Thankfully, Google Maps did not bring me on a round trip that night and I managed to find my accommodation, a small hotel by the sea.

Checking-in was fairly simple although the young and handsome gentleman manning the so-called reception desk was grumpy and grouchy. Maybe my "late" night arrival had caused disruption to his daily routine or I had simply arrived at a time when he was busy with some other stuff?

But check-in I did and soon found myself in my nice third floor room facing the sea. Yes, the sea! A whole stretch of white sand beach, that extended into the distance, where a small hill could be seen. And on top of the hill in this sleepy town, was a brightly lit monastery. I silently took note of my surroundings, including the monastery, and decided there and then that I would do a little but of walking and sight-seeing the next day. By the way, third floor in this sleepy little town can be considered staying in a skyscraper. 

After taking in the night views of the surrounding areas from my vantage point, I did a short survey of my room to make sure I was alone. Why? No, it was not ghosts that I was worried about. But cockroaches! I had came across a cockroach by the hallway which scurried away as I was making my way to the room. And we all know that when there is a cockroach, there will be cockroaches! I made a mental note to zip tight my luggage so that I would not end up having a cockroach sneaking in and hitch hike along with me as I continued my journey along southern Thailand and onwards to Malaysia.

After a quick and refreshing shower, I settled in for the night and was soon asleep. The next day arrived and I woke to bright sunlight shining into my room. I had not pulled the windows' curtains the night before on purpose, preferring to be awaken by the natural sunlight rather than my mobile phone alarm.

Mueang Prachuap Khiri Khan is the provincial capital of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province and is about 240km south of Thailand's capital city of Bangkok.

The monastery I had seen the night before was the Khao Chong Krachok Monastery. After. quick breakfast at a small stall in the town, I walked to the hill where the monastery in and climbed the 400 steps up to the monastery. Along the way, I was rewarded with a bird's eye view of the town and the coastline. While the scenery below was beautiful, the view of the monastery while on my way up the hill was amazing. This is the view that led me to decide to climb the 400 steps!

But I did not reach the top. Near to the summit and the entrance to the monastery, a pack of dogs blocked my way, snarling and baring their teeth. Deciding that I was probably not welcomed, I slowly made my way back down the steps again. The legions of wild macaque monkeys "stationed" along the steps were more welcoming, compared to the doggies.

I descended the hill via the same steps that I had climbed just minutes earlier. Soon, I was back at sea level. After a tiring climb and the unexpected encounters with the doggies of the hill, the next logical step was to head for the nearest cafe for a cup of latte. And I saw one next to a gas station just across the busy road. I need my cuppa. 🐕

An unplanned Travel Bucket List item achieved... 🌏

Author's Note: There are guided walks where visitors will be accompanied from the base of the hill all the way to the top to visit the monastery. During such guided walks, one will probably not face the "wrath" of the doggies who "guard" the approach to the monastery! Such guided walks are only available in the early mornings.

Khao Chong Krachok Monastery, Mueang Prachuap Khiri Khan District, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand (2024)