Ao Manao

Prachuap Khiri Khan


On weekends, locals head to Ao Manao, an island-dotted bay ringed by a curving beach within Wing 5 Thai Air Force base – the only beach where locals go swimming as both the water and sand are clean. There are the usual seaside amenities: restaurants, beach chairs, umbrellas and inner tubes, plus some dry-land diversions including quad-bike rides and a petting zoo. It's packed on weekends but can be nearly deserted on weekdays.

You need to register at the base entrance, at the end of Th Salacheep. Normally no passport is necessary, but it's best to bring it in case you're asked. From here it's 2.5km to the beach. Across the bay from the public beach is Khao Lammuak.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Prachuap Khiri Khan attractions

1. Khao Lammuak

1.53 MILES

Marking the southern end of Ao Prachuap Bay, this soaring limestone mountain features prominently in photos of the city. At its rocky summit are a Buddha…

2. Ao Prachuap

2.8 MILES

The town’s crowning feature is Ao Prachuap (Prachuap Bay), a gracefully curving bay outlined by an oceanfront promenade and punctuated by dramatic…

3. Khao Chong Krajok

3.01 MILES

At the northern end of town, Khao Chong Krajok (Mirror Gap Hill, so named for the natural hole that seemingly reflects the sky) provides a cascading view…

4. Khao Ta Mong Lai Forest Park

4.95 MILES

This seldom-visited park is at the northern end of Ao Prachuap Bay. Exploration is limited to the 300m nature trail with a viewpoint of the city at the…

5. Wat Ao Noi

6.37 MILES

Leaving Ao Prachuap behind, turn north for 2.5km, passing the fishing village of Ban Ao Noi, where some of the larger boats dock and unload, to this large…

6. Kuiburi National Park

27.13 MILES

Who doesn't want to see herds of wild elephants roaming through the forest or enjoying an evening bath? At Kuiburi National Park's hôoay léuk unit, up…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "thailand/upper-southern-gulf/prachuap-khiri-khan/attractions/ao-manao/a/poi-sig/1243644/357808",
      "destination": "Prachuap-Khiri-Khan",
      "continent": "Asia",
      "country": "Thailand",
      "city": "Prachuap-Khiri-Khan",
      "position": "superzone"
    }