Phatthalung is a southern province in Thailand. It is essentially landlocked and has a lot of adventure activities. If you love local history and have an insatiable appetite for adventure, this province awaits your visit.
Phatthalung doesn’t have its own airport so you have to land at Trang province first, which is only 40 minutes away from Phatthalung. I would highly recommend renting a car or motorbike because Phatthalung is a rural province and it’s rare to find a taxi there.
But don’t worry about accommodation, because Phatthalung has a wide range of living spaces from resort hotels to home-stays at reasonable rates.
What’s more, don’t forget to try the sago dessert made from authentic sago starch. It has a rich reddish-brown color and a smooth and chewy texture. Definitely try one if you visit.
Phatthalung is soaked with interesting local history. The main highlight is local dancing called Nora. You really must visit the Nora Sculpture Park. It’s located in Kao Chai Sun district, which is 20 minutes from the centre of Phatthalung province. This park is a popular tourist destination. It has the stunning Nora movement sculpture and characters from Nang Talung, the local name for shadow puppetry. There’s also the Takhae Temple, which is a central feature of Nora tradition. You can enjoy full performances of Nora dance and ritual, usually held once a year, in June.
Also, you should be aware that from morning till mid-day it can be quite hot and crowded, so I recommend visiting around 2-3pm.
But the biggest highlight, for me, in Phatthalung, has to be Khao Ok Thalu, a 250-meter tall limestone mountain. What makes it special is that it’s the perfect place to get some exercise and enjoy the scenery and magnificent sunset.
You can reach the summit by climbing a thousand stairs (Yup…great exercise!). There, you’ll have the rewarding experience of breathtaking views. The mountain is an important natural landmark. I’m sure it’ll be an experience worth your while.
On the last day of my vacation there, I drove up to Pa Phayom district to go rafting. Referred to as Nhan Mod Dang rafting, this part of your travel promises to be an exhilarating time of kayaking. It was fortunate that I went during the rainy season because it made the experience of being in the water absolutely thrilling—my heart rate went through the roof!
If you’re concerned about safety, don’t worry. All kayaking trips are supervised by expert guides. For those who don’t know how to kayak, staff will provide training for you. Nhan Mod Dang rafting is an amazing way to wrap up your vacation in Phatthalung.