On the eastern coast of Thailand, about five hours from Bangkok, Chantaburi is far from the most well-known province in the country. In
fact, I would be surprised if a whole lot of foreigners even know about
it. That’s a shame, because Chanthaburi has lots to offer for a weekend away from the city.
You can easily reach Chanthaburi by bus from the Eastern (Ekkamai) Bus Station (Ekkamai BTS).
Chanthaburi Old Town
The biggest attraction in the Old Town is Chanthaburi Cathedral, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. It’s a beautiful old Gothic church that sits directly in the center of town. Visitors are welcome to enter, look around, and take photographs.
Jao Lao Beach
You’ll need to hire a driver to get to Jao Lao Beach from the Old Town, but once there, you won’t want to leave. Jao Lao is a black sandy beach in a quiet section of the Thai coastline. It’s beautiful, peaceful, and relaxing. There are plenty of resorts lining the beach, all offering accommodations at a variety of prices, as well as restaurants.
Namtok Plio National Park
Namtok Plio means gracefully dancing waterfall in Thai. As you might guess, a waterfall is the main attraction, but there’s a lot to see besides that.
The park, in the tropical rain forests of eastern Thailand, is home to all sorts of creatures, including mongooses (mongeese?), tigers, porcupines, and all sorts of exotic birds, though of course they don’t come anywhere near the visitors center.
Just beyond the statue is a moss-covered chedi, a Buddhist monument. Though it’s also from the era of King Rama V (late 19th / early 20th century), it feels ancient. Coming to it on the jungle path feels like you are discovering some hidden ruin.
National Park Passport
and collect a new stamp at the park headquarters!
Video: A Weekend in Chanthaburi
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