Wat Chedi Ai Khai

Wat Chedi Ai Khai sits in Sichon district on the Nakhon Si Thammarat coast, about 30km south of Khanom. It’s best known not for its architecture but for a wooden statue of a young boy called Ai Khai, believed to be the spirit of a temple attendant boy, whom worshippers petition for luck in business and money matters. Entry is free, open daily from about 08:00 to 17:00.

The Ai Khai shrine draws a steady stream of Thai visitors, particularly from neighbouring provinces, who come to make offerings and ask for financial luck. A distinctive part of the temple’s routine is the firecracker area, where those who feel a wish has been granted return to set off firecrackers as thanks — expect noise and smoke around that part of the grounds on any day with a decent crowd. Vendors near the entrance sell offering sets: flowers, incense, and small toy items associated with children’s spirits, alongside firecrackers for those making a return visit.

Insider Tip: the firecracker offerings happen throughout the day rather than at a set time, so if you’re after quiet temple grounds, the shrine area itself is busier than the wider compound — the rest of the grounds are calmer.

The temple sits inland from the Khanom coast, roughly a 30-minute drive from Sichon town. Dress modestly — covered shoulders, no shorts — and remove shoes before entering any covered shrine buildings, as at any Thai temple.

Sichon and Khanom’s beaches, Hat Sichon and Hat Nai Phlao, are both a short drive from the temple and make an easy pairing for a day covering this stretch of coast.