Visiting Khan Kra Dai Cave & the Reclining Buddhas
One of the things we love most about Prachuap Khiri Khan is that it’s full of surprises! It wasn’t until our fourth stay in this beautiful city that we realized it had its very own pair of reclining Buddhas inside of a mountain cave, and even then we only discovered them by chance. Don’t make our mistake and miss out! Read on to learn about visiting Khan Kra Dai Cave and its beautiful pair of reclining Buddhas.
How to Get to Khan Kra Dai Cave and the Reclining Buddhas:
From the town of Prachuap Khiri Khan, head north along the sea road. Follow the road as it curves inland past the fishing village at Ao Noi. When the road splits at the end of the village, bear right toward Wat Ao Noi and follow the road until you reach the bay at the end. Turn right, and then park in the parking lot on the right.
If you’re in shape and it’s not too hot, we recommend riding a bike! It’s about 8 kilometers/5 miles from downtown Prachuap Khiri Khan to the base of the stairs leading to the cave. Alternatively, you can hire a tuk-tuk to take you, but this makes it harder to stop at the scenic spots along the way!
The Hike to Khan Kra Dai Cave and the Reclining Buddhas:
Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to get into Khan Kra Dai Cave to view the Buddhas. Your only option is to take the stairs. And there are a LOT of them. We would estimate that there are around 400 stairs (I mean that literally, not as an exaggeration), and much of the path isn’t particularly shielded from the sun.
Luckily, there are a couple of places to stop and rest along the way, with shaded benches. And as you climb up, don’t miss the (bonus!) shell-encrusted stairs on the right side! Even though it means yet more stairs, that detour is definitely worth exploring, and offers some amazing views of the bay.
Entrance to the Khan Kra Dai Cave and Reclining Buddhas
What to Expect Once You Arrive at Khan Kra Dai Cave:
Once you’ve (finally!) reached the top of the stairs, it’s time to clamber down over some rocks into the cave itself. You’ll immediately find yourself in a large chamber with a beautiful gold reclining Buddha inside. According to Prachuap Khiri Khan’s tourist center, this Buddha is over 300 years old.
Spend a few minutes taking in the view (as you catch your breath and bask in the cave’s coolness after the long trek up), then proceed further into the cave. It’s larger than you would guess from the first chamber, and wraps around to another large chamber with a second reclining Buddha.
What to Bring and Wear:
Comfortable shoes! Even if you take a tuk-tuk to the base of the mountain, you’ll need to climb literally hundreds of stairs before clambering down into the cave itself.
Water. If you’re not already thirsty after biking to Khan Kra Dai Cave, you will be once you’ve hiked up all the stairs in the sun.
A flashlight. The cave itself is strung with electric lighting, but bring a flashlight (or your phone, if it works as one) in case the lights are malfunctioning. Supposedly there are flashlights provided, but there weren’t any there when we arrived, and we were the only visitors at the time.
Sunscreen. Again, even if you take a tuk-tuk to the base of the mountain, this is a good choice because you’ll be exposed to the sun as you hike up to the cave’s opening.
Appropriately respectful clothing. Since this is a sacred place, dress accordingly. This means that at a minimum, knees and shoulders should be covered.