Nong Ya Plong Hot Springs

Nong Ya Plong is a community-run hot spring site in the hills of Nong Ya Plong district, Phetchaburi, built around a natural thermal source that runs at roughly 49°C. It isn’t a soaking-pool resort — the main visitor activity is a foot soak, sitting on benches while the piped overflow runs over your feet, for 10 THB per person.

The source itself sits about 400 metres from the visitor area, with the hot water carried down by pipe to a pool where the benches are set up. Locals suggest keeping your feet in for no more than 15 minutes at a stretch given the heat. For a fuller soak, the site has separate mineral bath rooms split by gender — a step up from the communal foot-soak area if you want more than a quick dip. A traditional massage hall sits alongside, along with a small restaurant and space to pitch a tent for travelers doing a longer loop through the district.

Watch out: don’t expect the open-air soaking pools you’d find at a spring like Sankampaeng or Chae Son — Nong Ya Plong’s main public area is a foot soak, not a swim-in pool, and the water arriving through the pipe is hot enough that easing in gradually matters.

Insider Tip: Go on a weekday morning if you want the benches to yourself — this is a local spot more than a tour-bus stop, and it gets busiest with nearby residents on weekend evenings.

The forest setting keeps things quiet and shaded, with birdsong more common than crowd noise. Bring a towel and drinking water, and wear sandals you don’t mind getting wet — the ground around the benches can be slippery. It’s a worthwhile stop if you’re already exploring inland Phetchaburi toward Kaeng Krachan National Park, rather than a destination to plan a whole day trip around.