Khao Noi

Khao Noi is the smaller, quieter hill beside Khao Tang Kuan at the north end of Songkhla’s old town, close to Samila Beach. Where Khao Tang Kuan draws most of the foot traffic with its hilltop chedi, Khao Noi gets far fewer visitors and keeps rougher trails — uneven steps, slick after rain, with vines tangling parts of the slope. Entry is free and the hill is open roughly dawn to dusk, 06:00 to 18:00; plan on about an hour for the round trip.

The summit holds a statue of Prince Lop Buri Ramet, a former viceroy of Thailand’s southern provinces, and opens onto a view across the Gulf of Thailand toward the small islets of Koh Nuea and Koh Maew. At the base of the hill, Tamnak Khao Noi is a house built in 1911 as the prince’s residence — it’s still in official use today as the Songkhla provincial governor’s residence, so it’s viewed from outside rather than entered. On the northeast side, Suan Seri is a small public park with hedges and shrubs trimmed into animal shapes, another spot with a clear view out over the gulf.

Long-tailed macaques are the hill’s other defining feature. They’re used to visitors and will go for food or an unzipped bag without much warning, so keep bags closed and skip direct eye contact if one gets close. Outside of that, the atmosphere is closer to a local hillside park than a managed tourist site — Thai families on weekend walks are more common here than tour groups, and the two hills together form a natural backdrop to Songkhla’s old town below.

Insider Tip: If you only have time for one of the two hills, Khao Tang Kuan next door has the more dramatic summit view and the chedi most people come for — treat Khao Noi as the add-on for the statue, Tamnak Khao Noi, and Suan Seri if you’ve got an extra hour, not as a replacement.

Watch out: Steps get slippery fast after rain and the macaques are genuinely bold about grabbing food, so secure snacks and drinks before you start climbing rather than mid-walk.

Khao Noi sits within Songkhla old town, right beside Khao Tang Kuan, and it’s a short walk from Laem Samila at the beach below.