Rommanee Hot Spring

Rommanee Hot Spring is a set of five natural mineral springs in Ban Bang Klang village, Kapong district, about 8 km east of Takua Pa on Highway 401, the road to Khao Sok. Water comes out of the ground at 40 to 63°C and is channelled into a row of bathing pools on four rai (about 0.6 hectares) of landscaped grounds. Entry is free, and the site is run by a community group from Rommani subdistrict.

What to expect

The springs rise on flat ground beside a stream called Huai Bang Nam Ron, and the water is held in dammed pools so each keeps a steady temperature. It carries sulphate, chloride and nitrate. Thai visitors come for aching joints and stiff muscles, and older locals swear by it for arthritis and numbness in the legs.

At the gate, a pair of concrete elephants stands under a sign reading “รื่นรมย์ @ รมณีย์”, a rhyme on the subdistrict’s name that roughly means “enjoy yourself at Rommani”, next to the seal of the community group that runs the spring. Beyond it are lawns and flowering shrubs. Villagers sell fruit and vegetables from their own farms, and a small learning centre on the grounds teaches farming in line with the late King Bhumibol’s sufficiency-economy idea.

Insider Tip: Stay in one of the on-site homestay rooms and get in the water at dawn. Staff recommend soaking in the early morning or evening, when the air is coolest.

Atmosphere and timing

This is a village hot spring run by its neighbours, not a resort spa. December and January are the busy months, when the mornings turn cool enough for hot water to feel like a treat, and Thai and foreign visitors arrive in numbers.

Watch out: If you have heart trouble, high blood pressure or diabetes, tell the staff before you get in. Climb out straight away if you feel dizzy or your heart starts racing; the hottest water is above 60°C.

Practical information

The practical way there is by car or taxi, from Takua Pa Old Town, about 15 minutes away, or from Khao Lak, roughly 40 km south-west. Several Khao Lak day trips to Khao Sok drive past on Highway 401, and the spring makes an easy stop on the way back. Bring a towel and a change of clothes.