About fifteen kilometers west of Khanom lies a small stretch of river famous for its fish that feed on dead skin. Within just a few years, several establishments have opened there, offering visitors the chance to sit on benches in the river with their feet in the water while the fish eat their dead skin cells. This is the principle of a fish spa, like those often found in Thai aquarium shops—except here the fish swim freely. You shouldn't be ticklish, though, or you probably won't be able to stand keeping your feet in the water. The surroundings are very beautiful, however, so it's a pleasant place to sit even without the fish pedicure. I've included the GPS coordinates for Suan Ta San, my favorite fish spa in the area. I prefer it to the neighboring Ton Tarn Resort & Spa, where tours to see the pink dolphins and Khao Want Thong cave usually depart, as its many bungalows and water park don't offer the same natural atmosphere. But with children, especially in hot weather, the water park can be a good alternative. I know that fish pedicures are controversial due to cases of infection, and some consider them animal cruelty. Therefore, I've personally never used an indoor option. I haven't looked into it in detail, but with fish in the wild in a natural river, I tend to assume the risk of infection is lower and the fish are more comfortable. However, I still recommend reading this article about the dangers of fish spas. After that, you can decide for yourself whether or not you want to go. Keep in mind that both locations have restaurants and tend to be busier on weekends and holidays, as the clientele is mostly locals then.

Entry costs 20 THB per person (at both addresses I mentioned). Open from 9 am to 5 pm.

There is no public transport to get there.

How to get there

How do you get to the natural fish spas? There is no public transport there.