Guide to Visiting Wat Ao Noi
Not far from the town of Prachuap Khiri Khan is a beautiful teak temple that few tourists venture far enough to visit. (We like to explore the unknown, and we didn’t even make it here until our fourth trip to the area!) If you want to see beyond the city and maybe even have beautiful locations all to yourself, heading to Wat Ao Noi and its surroundings is the perfect opportunity.
How to Get to Wat Ao Noi
Getting to Wat Ao Noi from Prachuap Khiri Khan is pretty straightforward! Head north along the coastal road, following it as it curves around to the left (you’ll pass the turnoff for Khao Ta Mong Lai Forest Park along the way). Continue following the road north through a fishing village at Ao Noi, then bear right when the road splits at the end of the village.
Head almost due north on this road until you see Wat Ao Noi on your right side. You really can’t miss it if you’re paying attention, but if the road ends and you’ve reached a bay, you’ve gone a couple hundred yards too far!
What to Expect Once You Arrive at Wat Ao Noi:
You’ll see a parking lot on the right side of the main road where you can pull over and park your bike, motorbike, or car. From there, you’ll see two nine-headed naga statues guarding the beautiful teak temple’s entrance, one on either side.
Don’t worry, they’re not there to keep you out! In fact, we found the monk at this temple and the Thai people worshipping inside to be among the friendliest we’ve encountered at any temple in Thailand. All of them, including the monk, warmly invited us in and pointed at the beautiful details within, suggesting, “Photo! Photo!”
This warm and enthusiastic invitation was a delightful surprise, since we’re always doing our best to be respectful and not take pictures or intrude where it’s not welcome.
We were especially glad of the encouragement to take pictures, because the inside of this temple is absolutely stunning. It’s fairly small, but the beautiful teak walls are lined with stunning colorful wood carvings depicting scenes from the life of the Buddha.
Once you’re done within the temple itself, head outside and walk to the next building to the north, passing a pond on the way. At this next building, you can buy fish food for 10 baht to feed to the fish in the pond. (There’s also a bathroom here, if you’re in need.)
If you have enough energy, we recommend extending your adventure by hiking up to Khan Kra Dai Cave, where you’ll find two reclining Buddhas! The stairs up to the cave start just to the left of the building where you can buy fish food.
What to Bring and Wear:
Comfortable shoes that you can slip off easily to enter the temple barefoot. (We don’t recommend flip-flops or similar, because once you’re at Wat Ao Noi, you’re just a few minutes from Khan Kra Dai Cave with its reclining Buddhas! There are several hundred stairs up, so we suggest wearing comfortable shoes that are also good for hiking so you can explore both sights in one trip.)
Water, at least if you’re riding your bike! It can get very hot and much of the ride is in full sunlight, so make sure you have water with you.
Appropriate clothing. Since this is a temple, dress accordingly. This means that at a minimum, knees and shoulders should be covered.
Small bills for donating to the temple (optional). While of course you don’t need to make a donation, don’t you want to contribute to the beautiful temple’s upkeep? 20 baht per person is appropriate; more than that is generous.