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All you need to know to visit Bang Saphan
บางสะพาน
Southern Thailand
367 km from Bangkok
Province of Prachuap Khiri Khan
Thai prononciation : Bang Sapan
Southern Thailand
367 km from Bangkok
Province of Prachuap Khiri Khan
Thai prononciation : Bang Sapan
Budget
Recomm. stay
2 jours minimum
Visits
Travel guide to visit Bang Saphan
Absent or very briefly mentioned in guides about traveling in Thailand, this destination hosts surprisingly many foreign tourists. Those who love the sea in a cool rural atmosphere enjoy here. Some people even say that Bang Saphan is the Pai of the South. The most popular area is Suan Luang Beach. There are a lot of cheap bungalows on the beach and a few restaurants and bars. Ramphueng beach is a little bit more lively. There accommodation do not have direct access to the sea, you have to cross the road to go to the beach. To enjoy Bang Saphan you will absolutely need to rent a scooter or maybe a bicycle otherwise you may get bored pretty quickly. Once on one of the beaches you're far from everything, the city is about 6 km away. In Suan Luang Beach there is no shop and during public holidays the choice of restaurants can be reduced drastically, many are closed on Buddhist festivals days for instance. Do not expect to hail a motorcycle taxi or a Songtaews on the road, there are already not numerous in the town except in front of the train station for every train arrival, then at the beaches, they are almost non-existent. bang Saphan main attraction is the caves of Wat Tham Marong temple and the fishing villages of Ao Yang and Bo Thong Lang, that also has a pretty nice cove to swim when the water is not polluted with plastic bags and other waste. Otherwise Koh Talu island is the most highlighted attraction here. Agencies propose to spend the day there and there is a small boat service to get there (one in the morning and mid-afternoon to return).To see all optiosn to get around in Bang Saphan, read our dedicated paragraph about getting around in Bang Saphan.
Accommodations in Bang Saphan
Besides the few establishments in town that are not really interesting because they are far from the beach (except perhaps Rama Inn which can be practical since it is 200 meters from the train station,) choosing accommodation in Bang Saphan will be mainly choosing between Suan Luang beach and Ramphueng beach. Most tourists and regulars generally choose Suan Luang whose fairly basic bungalows resortd essentially have direct access to the long beach. Half have no sign, but all are fairly equivalent in terms of comfort: small bungalows with fan and bathroom without hot water for around 300 bahts a night. Behind the Coral Hotel, the only luxurious hotel in the area, you can find other accommodation with more comfortable and more expensive bungalows but without direct access to the beach. On Suan Luang beach, the choice of restaurants can be counted on the fingers of one hand and there are no store, you are a little far from everything. This is also what makes the charm of the palce but it is better to have rent a scooter otherwise you will be a little stucked there.On Ramphueng beach, there are more dining options and even a little bit more confortabe and therefore more expensive rooms but can find a fan room for 350 bahts. There some shops. Hotels and bungalow complexes are always separated from the beach by a road. The interest of this beach is its proximity to the fishing villages and the small creek of Bo Thong Long, a very nice beach when no waste is floating in the water as it happens sometimes.
Find accommodation in Bang Saphan
My recommandations
People often ask me what accommodations I recommend in Thailand, here are my recommandations in Bang Saphan.
Practical information about Bang Saphan
There are two Bang Saphan, Bang Saphan Noi, the tiny town and Bang Saphan Yai, the largest one and the one that welcomes tourists. Specify Yai to avoid being in a small village where almost nobody speaks English and where you may have some difficulties to find transportation to reach Bang Saphan Yai.How to go to Bang Saphan ?
There is only one bus company that stops in the Bang Saphan Yai city itself. This is bus number 66 from the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok. The other buses will deposit you on the highway 15 km from th city and you will have to complete your trip with a motorbike taxi ride. Otherwise, the most practical, even if it is always late, is to go to Bang Saphan by train. The train station is in the city. The beaches are 5 or 6 kilometers from the city. After getting off the train motorcycle taxis will be waiting to offer their services just in front of the station. The ride to the beach costs around 100 baht.How to get around in Bang Saphan ?
Apart from motorcycle taxis, it will be hard to find other options to get around to Bang Saphan. And if it is easy to find them in town (at least at the railway station), they are very rare near the beaches. So you will have to ask hotels and restaurateurs if they call you one. It may be a good idea to ask the phone number of the driver who will carry you from the train station to your accommodation in case you need him later.
Note that some big hotels have a pick up service at the railway station.
Other places to see in Bang Saphan
Wat Khao Tham Ma Rong
known for its cave converted into a temple. There is also a shelter for abandoned dogs where you can volunteer.
Weather & climate in
Bang Saphan has a tropical savanna climate. Temperatures do notvary a lot throughout the year and the dry and wet season is not as clearly defined as in most parts of Thailand. The rainiest month is October.The best months to come to Bang Saphan are from December to April but even during the monsoon, precipitation here remains fairly moderate except for a few isolated episodes with possible flash floods. October is the only month when coming here is maybe not recommended.
How to ask in Thai to go to Bang Saphan ?
I want to go to Bang Saphan / Yak paï ti Bang Sapan.Where is Bang Saphan ? / Bang Sapan you ti naï ?
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