Hua Hin & the Upper Gulf - Thailand's Islands and Beaches - page 327

You can hire motorbikes for 250B per day. The roads in the area are very good and it's
a great way to see the surrounding beaches.
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Ban Krut & Bang Saphan Yai
POP 4275/ 68,344
What a nice surprise to find these lovely, low-key beaches (80km to 100km south of
Prachuap Khiri Khan, respectively) so close to civilisation, yet so bucolic. Dusk falls
softly through the coconut trees and the sea is a crystalline blue lapping at a long sandy
coastline. No high-rises, no late-night discos and no speeding traffic to distract you from
a serious regimen of reading, swimming, eating and biking.
Although both beaches are pleasantly subdued, they are also well known to Thais. Ban
Krut, in particular, hosts bus tours as well as weekending families. During the week
you'll have the beaches largely to yourself and a few long-tail boats.
Check out the websites Ban Krut Info ( www.bankrutinfo.com ) and Bang Saphan Guide
( www.bangsaphanguide.com ) for local information on the area.
Sights & Activities
Ban Krut is divided into two beaches by a temple-topped headland. To the north is Hat Sai
Kaew , which is remote and private with only a few resorts in between a lot of jungle. To
the south is Hat Ban Krut , with a string of bungalow-style resorts and restaurants sitting op-
posite the beach. Both are golden-sand beaches with clear, calm water but Hat Ban Krut
is more social and developed (you'll find ATMs here) and easier to get around without
private transport.
Bang Saphan Yai , 20km south of Ban Krut, fits that most famous beach cliché: it is Thail-
and 15 years ago before pool villas and package tourists pushed out all the beach bums.
Once you settle into a simple beachfront hut, you probably won't need shoes and the days
will just melt away. Islands off the coast, including Ko Thalu and Ko Sing , offer good snor-
kelling and diving from the end of January to mid-May.
Sleeping & Eating