Hua Hin

     Hua Hin is Thailand's oldest beach town resort. Situated on the west coast of the Gulf of Thailand and only 200 kilometers from the capital, Bangkok, it offers the ultimate getaway destination for the city's elite. Hua Hin became popular with the Royal Family following the construction of the southern railway in the 1920's, travel became more accessible and a demand for luxury resorts and hotels grew. The first of these was the Railway Hotel which is now the Sofitel Central, still one of Hua Hin's most popular hotels.

     Today Hua Hin is undergoing rapid expansion as Bangkokians and Westerners look this way for a second home, be it a quaint house nestled in the hills or an upmarket condominum with ocean views. Over the past few years, the town has seen countless housing developments spring up, new golf courses constructed, a brand new shopping complex and movie theatre and a boom in local businesses. The charm of Hua Hin is that it still retains its fishing village serenity which is now side by side with the bustling center of a modern luxury beach resort.

What to do Hua Hin
       Hua Hin has plenty of activities and attractions including a long, wide, white sand beach, several world class golf courses, serene Buddhist temples, rustic local markets, high class restaurants offering the finest seafood in the Kingdom, luxurious resorts and spas, all manner of sporting activites, shopping complexes such as Market Village, grand Royal palaces, annual events and festivals and above all a friendly, welcoming local community, Hua Hin has it all!

Nature

• Khao Hin Lek Fai (เขาหินเหล็กไฟ). Situated 3 kilometres west of Hua Hin district, Khao Hin Lek Fai or Flint Mountain is 162 metres high and is accessible by a road. On the mountaintop, there is a public park and scenic spots from where the scenery of Hua Hin and its surrounding area can be seen. 
• Khao Tao (เขาเต่า). Between Km 243 and 244 markers, 13 kilometres south of Hua Hin, there is a 1- kilometre branch road on the left - which leads to the spot with two beautiful beaches called Hat Sai Noi and Hat Sai Yai. Bungalows are available. 
• Namtok Pa La-u (น้ำตกป่าละอู), ☎ 0 3245 9293. This 11-tier scenic waterfall, some 60km west of Hua Hin, is located within a yearlong verdant forest where various kinds of birds and butterflies are found, especially in the morning. Visitors can take a local transport called a songthaew from Hua Hin to this waterfall. The best time to visit the waterfall is from November to April. This place is in charge of Kaeng Krachan National Park. Camping in the park is allowed and a tent can be rented at 250 baht per night. Call for more information. 200 baht. 

Sam Roi Yot National Park
      Located about 60km from Hua Hin Town, with an area of 98 square kilometres, is renowned for its limestone mountains, mangrove swamps, beaches and several species of local and migrating birds during the cool season. There are many ridges with the most popular being Khao Sam Roi Yot with 300 peaks. The park can be reached by following the direction signs marking the remaining distances of 38 and 15 km. at Km. 256 and Km.286.5, respectively.

Some attractions within t he park:

• Hat Laem Sala is a beach 16 km north of the park office and can be reached by boat or on foot across a hill from Bang Pu Village. The well-known cave there Tham Phraya Nakhon has a large hole in it so sunlight can shine through, so allowing plantation to grow. There is Phra Thi Nang Khuha Kharuhat which is a Thai-style pavilion with a scenic view of the cave. It was first built during the reign of King Chulalongkorn before ebing dismantled and reconstructed with the cave. There is also a viewpoint on Khao Daeng which is 400km from the park office and Ban Khao Daeng, the latter of which offers boat trips to watch wild birds.
• Hat Sam Phraya located 3.5 km north of the park office, is a lovely beach with a line of pine trees. Accommodation is available there.
• Tham Kaeo, situated around 23 km from Pran Buri (15 km north of the park office) is a cave with an abundance of stalactites and stalagmites. For exploring the cave, oil lamps can be rented at a nearby village.
• Tham Sai, 9 km north of the park office, is a cave which can be explored in no time. Oil lamps can be rented at a nearby village.

Further away from Hua Hin

• Dan Singkhon is in Khiong Wan sub-district and is the Thai-Burmese border pass.
• Khao Hin Thoen Stone Park is located west of town. To get there travel along Highway No. 4 till Km. 331-332, then turn right and drive for another 8 km. There are nice narrow walks leading out to wide rocky landscape on a mountain top with scenic views of the town.
• Ko Singto (Lion Island) is named after the shape of the island. It is a popular island for diving and snorkeling and offers visitors the chance to explore the Hua Hin and Khao Takiab shorelines.
• Wa Ko has been of historical importance since the reign of King King Mongkut when he viewed a full-moon eclipse. There is a long atmospheric sandy beach fringed with pine trees. It is located at Km. 335 of Highway No. 412 km south from the town.

Where to stay in Hua Hin
       There are at least 8 five star hotels in Hua Hin, each offering something a little different, of the two most popular the Hilton Hua Hin Resort and Spa is centrally located and well established and the Sofitel Central Hua Hin Resort offers the charm of old Hua Hin with beautifully landscaped gardens. Additionally you can stay at the Marriott, Hyatt Regency, Dusit, Chiva Som, InterContinental, Evason and a Sheraton. Hua Hin also offers countless three to four star hotels and resorts and even more local guesthouses and hotels with daily, weekly and longstay rates.