Explore Prachuap by Scooter

Ao Manao อ่าวมะนาว

• 5 km from town
• ~10 min ride
• Free entry

A calm, shallow bay inside the Wing 5 air-force base — one of the cleanest beaches in the province. Pine trees line the sand, and food stalls serve fresh seafood at local prices.

A little history

On 8 December 1941, Japanese forces landed on this very beach. Airmen of Wing 5 and local volunteers resisted for more than a day in what became known as the Battle of Ao Manao — one of the fiercest stands in Thailand during WWII.

A memorial near the beach honours the fallen, and the runway your scooter crosses at the gate is part of the same historic airfield. Today the bay is a peaceful recreation area open to visitors.

💡 Tip: bring your passport or Thai ID for the gate. Park free under the pines.

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Khao Chong Krajok เขาช่องกระจก

• In town centre
• 396 steps
• Free entry

The "Mirror Mountain" rises right beside the bay. Climb 396 steps past playful macaques to the hilltop temple, where a golden chedi overlooks the whole town.

A little history

The mountain takes its name from a natural arch near the summit — a "mirror window" through the rock that frames the sky. The hilltop belongs to Wat Thammikaram, the town's royal temple.

The century-old chedi on top is believed to enshrine a relic of the Buddha and has drawn pilgrims — and Thai royalty — up those 396 steps for generations.

💡 Tip: hold your sunglasses and water bottle tight — the monkeys are quick!

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Khao Lom Muak เขาล้อมหมวก

• 6 km from town
• ~45 min hike
• Best viewpoint

The hat-shaped mountain at the south end of Ao Manao. A steep rope-assisted trail leads to the summit — a short but real climb rewarded with the single best view in Prachuap: all three bays curving below you.

A little history

Local legend ties the mountain to the tale of Ta Mong Lai: during a giant's quarrel over a daughter's betrothal, belongings were hurled across the coast — and an upturned hat landed here, becoming "the mountain that encircles a hat".

The slopes are a sanctuary for dusky langurs, and the trail is cared for by the air-force base, which opens it to visitors on weekends and holidays.

💡 Tip: wear proper shoes, take water, and start before 3 PM. Check opening days with us before you ride.

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Wat Ao Noi วัดอ่าวน้อย

• 8 km north of town
• ~15 min ride
• Free entry

A remarkable temple beside Ao Noi fishing village: the ordination hall is built entirely of golden teak, guarded by long naga serpents, with a shell-decorated staircase climbing the hillside behind.

A little history

The teak hall is a modern masterpiece of Thai craftsmanship — carved and joined by hand from golden teak over more than a decade, every panel telling scenes from the Buddha's life.

Long before it was built, fishermen prayed in the limestone cave behind the temple: Tham Phra Non, where a large reclining Buddha and rows of white seated Buddhas have watched over the bay for generations.

💡 Tip: dress modestly (shoulders & knees covered). Combine with lunch at the Ao Noi seafood village.

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Three-Bay Coastal Loop

• ~25 km loop
• Half-day ride
• Scenic route

Link all three bays in one easy ride: start on the Prachuap waterfront promenade, head north past the fishing piers to Ao Noi, then loop south through town and the air base to Ao Manao.

A little history

Prachuap is nicknamed "the city of three bays" (Mueang Sam Ao): Ao Noi in the north, Ao Prachuap at the town, and Ao Manao in the south — a shape best appreciated from a scooter seat.

The waterfront road follows an old fishing shoreline; the piers still land squid and mackerel every morning, feeding the night market you'll want to visit after the ride.

💡 Tip: ask us for a free route map when you pick up your scooter — we mark our favourite food stops.

Some photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons contributors (rudy.rijen, Immoreel — CC BY-SA 3.0; Cletusfrombkk — CC0). Opening times of air-base attractions can change; message us to check before you ride.