Wat Saam Prasob was built in 1950 and submerged in 1968, along with my entire village, which had to be relocated to the hill where the temple now stands after the construction of the Khao Laem Dam. The temple is underwater for most of the year but reappears during the dry season as the reservoir's water level drops. Its visibility varies depending on the time of year, and it is naturally most impressive towards the end of the dry season when it is most clearly visible. My photos were taken at the end of December, a year in which I particularly enjoyed Sangkhlaburi, which explains why Wat Saam Prasob was still well underwater.

You should expect to pay 250-300 THB for a one-hour boat trip including a visit to a sunken temple.

Wat Saam Prasob, the sunken temple of Sangkhlaburi, is only accessible by boat. Several boats depart near the Mon Bridge, offering an hour-long trip across the lake to explore the temple and its surroundings.

Wat Saam Prasob, the Sunken Temple, is a temple. When visiting a temple in Thailand, there are some rules to observe: appropriate clothing (knees and shoulders should be covered), remove shoes upon entering the building, be quiet, no hugging or kissing, do not point your feet at the Buddha statue, and do not smoke.

How to get there

How do you get to Wat Saam Prasob, the sunken temple? Wat Saam Prasob, the sunken temple of Sangkhlaburi, is only accessible by boat. Several boats depart near the Mon Bridge, offering a one-hour trip across the lake to explore the temple and its surroundings.