Located about 30 kilometers from the town of Phatthalung, these hot springs offer natural spring water at around 60°C. The public pools, however, are a much more pleasant temperature, with the warmest reaching only about 40°C. They are ideal for a relaxing soak and offer a beautiful, mountain-surrounded setting (a few monkeys tend to keep their distance when it's busy). Although the facility was somewhat neglected for years due to a lack of visitors, a renovation project has breathed new life into it. It is now in good condition and well-organized. In addition to the main pool with its concrete rock formations, there are two other swimming pools, one of which offers slightly cooler water. And finally – a great idea – a pool with pleasantly warm water and a slide for children. Massages are also available upon request. Khao Chaison is an area in Phatthalung province that I love and that remains largely undiscovered by foreign tourists. Besides the hot springs, you can also visit the Nam Yen Cave and the nearby Buddha Cave. A lovely little excursion, especially if you round it off with a relaxing meal at one of the Kaeng Nam Hu Rae restaurants, sitting in one of the small stilt houses over the river. You can play in the water (especially children) or go kayaking. This typical Thai spot is located about 1 km from the hot springs (location and details on Google Maps). There's also a small floating market nearby, but after its revival following the COVID pandemic, it seems to have fallen into disuse again.

Entrance fee: 40 THB per person for foreigners and 20 THB for Thais

I recommend renting a vehicle to visit the Khao Chaison Hot Springs, especially since there are several other interesting places in the area (you can find all the information on the website). The springs are about 30 kilometers from downtown Phatthalung. Khao Chaison train station is just over 2 kilometers from the hot springs, but it's very small. Therefore, finding a tuk-tuk yourself after getting off the train might be difficult – although I haven't tried it myself.

How to get there

How do you get to the Khao Chaison Hot Springs? I recommend traveling by car, as there are several other interesting places in the area (you can find all the information on the website). The springs are about 30 kilometers from downtown Phatthalung. Khao Chaison train station is just over 2 kilometers from the hot springs, but it's very small. Therefore, it might be difficult to find a tuk-tuk after arriving by train – although I haven't tried it myself.