The Nature Education Center for Mangrove Conservation and Ecotourism

The Nature Education Center for Mangrove Conservation and Ecotourism protects a stretch of coastal mangrove forest a few kilometres inland from Bang Saen, reached via the mangrove forest road off Sukhumvit Road at the Kiri junction, opposite the Chonburi Provincial Forestry Office. Entry is 10 THB for adults and 5 THB for children, daily 08:30 to 18:30.

The centre’s main feature is a wooden boardwalk running roughly 2,300 metres through the mangrove stands — one of the longer boardwalks of its kind in Thailand, built to let visitors move through the forest without disturbing the mud and roots below. At low tide, mudskippers work the exposed flats and crabs move between the prop roots that let these trees hold ground in salt water; what you actually see depends heavily on the tide table and time of day, so an early visit around low tide gives the best chance of spotting them.

This is a working conservation site as much as a visitor attraction — the mangrove stand it protects is one of the last significant patches left on this stretch of the Chonburi coast, and the boardwalk exists partly to keep foot traffic off the forest floor while it regenerates. It’s a modest, unhurried walk rather than an interactive museum: bring your own curiosity about the ecosystem rather than expecting exhibits or guided commentary.

Insider Tip: Time your visit around low tide for the best chance of seeing mudskippers on the exposed mud — at high tide, the flats disappear and there’s less to spot from the boardwalk.

Watch out: There’s little shade over parts of the boardwalk and no food or drink sold on-site — bring water and sun protection, especially for a midday visit.

Combine it with Bang Saen Beach or Khao Sam Muk for a half-day loop that mixes the mangrove walk with the coast — both are a short drive away and cover very different scenery for the same trip.