Ban Ao Kram (Homestay)

Ban Ao Kram is a working fishing community of around 20 households on the coast of Sawi District, Chumphon. The village runs a community homestay that gives visitors an unhurried look at the daily life of southern Thai fisherfolk — simple accommodation by the sea, shared meals of fresh seafood, and genuine participation in community routines rather than a staged show.

The experience most closely tied to this village is Bam Muek, a squid lift-net technique local fishermen work after dark, lowering and raising lit nets to draw squid up from the water. Guests typically head out on the boats to watch, and on calm nights the water occasionally glows with bioluminescent plankton around the hull. Day trips by longtail boat to nearby Koh Kula round out the water-based activities — about 20 minutes away, with clear water and a coral reef visible from the island shore.

Insider Tip: Go out on the Bam Muek boats even if squid fishing isn’t normally your thing — it’s the one activity that’s genuinely specific to this village rather than something you could do at any coastal homestay in the south.

Watch out: This isn’t a drop-in attraction. Rooms are limited and the village runs on advance bookings, so contact the homestay ahead rather than turning up on spec — especially if you want the Bam Muek trip included.

Stays are typically priced as a 2-day/1-night package including meals; expect simple shared-bathroom rooms or the option to sleep on a sea-facing porch. Transfers from Sawi Railway Station can be arranged through your host — there’s no public transport running directly into the village. Arriving early in the day gives you the most daylight hours on the water before the boats go out for the evening Bam Muek run.

For a look at Sawi’s other side, Wat Phrabarommathat Sawi is the district’s principal temple, and Sai Ri Sawi Beach offers a more conventional stretch of sand if the working-village pace of Ao Kram isn’t quite what you’re after.