Khao Phlai Dam

Open Days: Natural Area, Beach, And Community Attraction; Accessible According To Local Conditions

Opening Hours: Daytime Visit Recommended, Especially From Morning Until Before Sunset

 

Khao Phlai Dam in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province is a coastal mountain in Thung Sai Subdistrict, Sichon District, close to the boundary between Sichon and Khanom districts. It is one of the most distinctive eco-tourism landscapes on this part of the Gulf of Thailand coast because it combines mountain forest, beach, rocky shoreline, small waterfalls, nature-learning routes, wildlife habitat, and sea views in one compact area. Its most important beach is Thong Yang Beach, a quiet bay where visitors can relax, walk along the sand, and swim when sea conditions are calm.

 

Khao Phlai Dam is connected with the Nakhon Si Thammarat Nature and Wildlife Education Center, formerly known as the Nakhon Si Thammarat Wildlife Conservation Development and Promotion Station. The area lies within the Khlong Leng and Khlong Thong forest landscapes and covers parts of Sichon and Khanom. This makes Khao Phlai Dam more than a scenic coastal viewpoint. It is a learning landscape where mountain forest, wildlife, freshwater, coastal rocks, sandy beach, and the sea are connected.

 

Tourism information identifies Khao Phlai Dam as a mountain next to the sea and as a natural boundary area between Khanom and Sichon. It is located in Thung Sai Subdistrict, Sichon District, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80120. The site is well known for Thong Yang Beach, where visitors can swim in suitable sea conditions. The forested mountain area is also associated with herbivorous wildlife such as deer, mouse deer, and many bird species. For this reason, visitors should treat the place as an ecological site, not only as a beach stop.

 

The local information from Walailak University describes Khao Phlai Dam as a fertile mountain in the Khlong Leng reserved forest area. The mountain rises about 100–150 meters above sea level and lies about 1 kilometer from the sea. Its forest is humid evergreen forest, supporting wildlife such as serow, wild deer, barking deer, mouse deer, wild boar, python, monkeys, langurs, birds, and butterflies. The same source records 142 bird species and 73 butterfly species in the area, showing the biological value of Khao Phlai Dam as a coastal forest habitat.

 

On the eastern side, Khao Phlai Dam meets the sea at Ao Thong Yang. This bay has a clean white sandy beach about 3 kilometers long and is surrounded by hills. The setting creates a calm coastal atmosphere where visitors can walk, rest, swim in safe conditions, photograph the mountain-and-sea scenery, and enjoy a quieter alternative to more crowded beaches. The bay is suitable for families, couples, and travelers who prefer a slow coastal visit.

 

Another visual highlight is Hat Hin Ngam Rang That, a rocky beach area filled with unusual boulders and coastal rock formations. These rocks give Khao Phlai Dam a stronger identity than ordinary sandy beaches. From the coastal road or higher viewpoints, visitors can see a continuous landscape of forested mountain, rocks, and sea. This is why the Khao Phlai Dam-Sichon-Khanom coastal road has become popular for photography, cafes, and scenic drives.

 

The coastline also includes an area known as Noen Loma, or Dolphin Hill, a rocky formation extending into the sea. Local information says dolphins may appear around this area from time to time, especially in the evening, as they move through the coastal waters to feed. Dolphin viewing should be done responsibly. Boats should not chase dolphins, visitors should not feed them, and all observation should keep a respectful distance from the animals.

 

From Ao Thong Yang to Nai Phlao Beach in Khanom, the coastline continues for about 12 kilometers. This route is one of the most scenic coastal drives in Nakhon Si Thammarat, combining blue sea, rock formations, green mountains, roadside viewpoints, cafes, restaurants, and accommodations. Travelers can use Khao Phlai Dam as a bridge between Sichon and Khanom, continuing toward Nai Phlao, Na Dan, and other Khanom attractions.

 

Khao Phlai Dam is part of a layered mountain landscape. Local descriptions mention Khao Phlai Dam, Khao Luang, and Khao Klang as mountain formations around the area. Ao Thong Yang is also surrounded by hills, creating a coastal basin-like view. This makes the landscape especially photogenic, because the beach is not isolated; it is framed by green mountains and rocky shoreline.

 

The area also has small waterfalls such as Namtok Nan Toei and Namtok Nan Phai on the route from Thong Yang Beach toward the forest station area. These are small waterfalls with rocky surfaces and limited water flow, but they are important because they show how freshwater, mountain forest, and the sea are connected within the same landscape. Visitors interested in nature can use these smaller sites to understand the mountain-to-sea system of Khao Phlai Dam.

 

The Nakhon Si Thammarat Nature and Wildlife Education Center plays an important role in environmental education. It provides learning activities about forest and wildlife conservation, youth nature camps, exhibitions, a multi-purpose building, sea-viewpoints, camping activity areas, and nature trails. Two nature trails are described with distances of about 2,100 meters and 3,000 meters, with interpretive signs along the route. The center also has accommodation and dormitory-style facilities for groups participating in educational activities.

 

For families, Khao Phlai Dam and Thong Yang Beach are useful learning destinations. Children can learn about beaches, rocks, forests, wildlife, birds, butterflies, and the relationship between mountain and sea. However, adults should supervise children carefully, especially near rocks, waves, slopes, and wet surfaces. Swimming should be done only when the sea is calm and visibility is good.

 

Conservation-minded travel is essential here. Khao Phlai Dam is wildlife habitat and an environmental learning area. Visitors should not feed wild animals, collect forest products, remove shells or rocks in excessive amounts, litter, light fires in unauthorized areas, or disturb wildlife. Keeping the beach and forest clean protects both visitors and the animals that use this habitat.

 

Getting There follows Highway 401 from Nakhon Si Thammarat toward Sichon. At kilometer marker 98, turn right toward Ban Bang Po and drive about 10 kilometers to Thong Yang Beach. Continue for another 5 kilometers to reach the Khao Phlai Dam area. Other travel information also describes the entrance to the nature center around kilometer marker 98 and a distance of about 13 kilometers from the main highway to the center. A private car, rental car, or motorcycle is the most convenient way to travel.

 

From Sichon town, drive north toward Thung Sai Subdistrict for about 12 kilometers, then continue through the Ban Bang Po and Thong Yang Beach route. From Khanom, travelers can use the coastal road through Nai Phlao and continue toward Khao Phlai Dam. The route is scenic, but drivers should be careful during rain, on wet roads, and during low-light periods.

 

The best time to visit is from morning until before sunset. Morning is good for beach walks, calm views, and photography. Late afternoon is suitable for coastal light, rocky shoreline views, and a relaxed sea breeze. During the rainy season, visitors should check the weather because coastal and mountain conditions can change quickly, and rocks or trails may become slippery.

 

Khao Phlai Dam can be planned as a half-day, full-day, or overnight route. A half-day trip can focus on Thong Yang Beach, the Khao Phlai Dam viewpoint, and nearby cafes. A full-day route can add the nature education center, nature trails, Thung Sai Beach, and Nai Phlao Beach. For an overnight trip, travelers can stay in Thung Sai, Khao Phlai Dam, Sichon, or Khanom and enjoy both morning and evening coastal scenery.

 

The strength of Khao Phlai Dam is its complete natural system. A beach alone offers relaxation, but Khao Phlai Dam gives visitors mountain forest, wildlife, birds, butterflies, rocky coast, small waterfalls, nature trails, and sea views together. This makes it more suitable for eco-tourism and nature learning than for a simple beach review.

 

Overall, Khao Phlai Dam is one of the clearest examples of the Sichon-Khanom coastal landscape. It offers a mountain by the sea, Thong Yang Beach, rocky shoreline, dolphin-related coastal stories, nature trails, wildlife habitat, and conservation learning. Visitors who travel responsibly will see that the forest and sea are not separate. They are part of one living system that supports wildlife, coastal communities, and the long-term beauty of Nakhon Si Thammarat.

 

 

A: Khao Phlai Dam is located in Thung Sai Subdistrict, Sichon District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, near the boundary between Sichon and Khanom districts.

 

A: It is known for its coastal mountain, humid evergreen forest, Thong Yang Beach, rocky shoreline, Dolphin Hill, small waterfalls, nature trails, wildlife, birds, and butterflies.

 

A: Yes, visitors can swim when the sea is calm, but they should check wave and weather conditions before entering the water.

 

A: The area is associated with wildlife such as deer, mouse deer, barking deer, wild boar, monkeys, langurs, birds, and butterflies. Visitors should observe quietly and never feed wildlife.

 

A: The community tourism information reviewed states that there is no entrance fee. Special activities, camps, or accommodation should be confirmed with the responsible office.

 

A: Morning to late afternoon is best. Visitors should avoid swimming or driving coastal roads during heavy rain, strong wind, high waves, or low-light conditions.

 

A: From Nakhon Si Thammarat, take Highway 401 toward Sichon, turn at kilometer marker 98 toward Ban Bang Po, drive about 10 km to Thong Yang Beach, then continue about 5 km to Khao Phlai Dam.

 

A: Nearby places include Thong Yang Beach, Thung Sai Beach, Nai Phlao Beach, Khao Phlai Dam-Nai Phlao Viewpoint, Hat Khanom-Mu Ko Thale Tai National Park, and Wat Chedi Ai Khai.