Top Day Trips from Hua Hin, Thailand
Hua Hin’s strategic position on Thailand’s upper gulf coast makes it the ideal base for excursions into the outlying countryside. Awaiting you are national parks honeycombed with caves and teeming with wildlife, vineyards offering a tempting wine-filled day out, little-visited beaches, and pagoda-packed provincial towns. All these places make for straightforward day trips, so what are you waiting for?
Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
Hugging the coastline 40km south of Hua Hin, Khao Sam Roi Yot is visited by Thais in their droves. What draws them here is Tham Praya Nakhon, a spectacular, light-filled cave that houses a meeting hall built for King Rama V in 1890. Once you’ve marvelled at this cave, there are many other less-visited caverns to explore, glistening with stalactites and stalagmites, such as Tham Kaew and Tham Sai.
The park is a paradise for bird-watchers too; it sits at the intersection of the East Asian and Australian migration routes and is home to 300 different bird species. Additionally, you’ll find Thailand’s largest freshwater marsh here, as well as sandy beaches accessible by boat.
Getting there
- A taxi from Hua Hin will cost around 1500B for the day.
- Alternatively, consider joining a tour that offers convenient transportation and guided experiences.
Kaeng Krachan National Park
Thailand’s largest national park, Kaeng Krachan is nestled surprisingly close to civilisation, its southern edge a mere 35km from Hua Hin, yet it sees relatively few visitors, especially during the week. In the mornings, a mist hangs over the park, with the peaks of the highest hills poking through it, before clearing to reveal a genuine wilderness: an extension of a huge rainforest that stretches deep into neighbouring Myanmar, complete with waterfalls, tangled jungle trails, a lake, and two rivers.
All manner of wildlife roams here: elephant herds, wild deer, leopards, and even the odd tiger. The animals you’re most likely to encounter are various varieties of monkeys, including gibbons, macaques, and langurs, as well as over 400 species of birds and countless beautiful butterflies fluttering around. Consequently, the park is bursting with extravagant fauna.
Most of the animals lurk deep in the park, making it best to visit here with both transport and a guide who knows the area well.
Getting there
Regular trips are available from Hua Hin Adventure Tour, some of which offer exciting options like mountain-biking through the park.
Phetchaburi
A stark contrast with hectic Hua Hin, Phetchaburi is a laidback provincial town filled with traditional teak shophouses and a staggering number of temples that offer visitors a visible timeline of the different dynasties and kingdoms that have ruled Thailand.
Phra Nakhon Khiri National Park is the ideal place to start your Phetchaburi tour. It features a royal palace atop a hill offering excellent views of the town. You can choose to walk up past the macaque monkeys (be sure to keep your belongings secure) or take a charming tram that runs up and down the hill. From the top, strike out in almost any direction to discover temples dating back as far as the 12th century. Must-see sites include Wat Kamphaeng Laeng, a relic from the Khmer kingdom era, and the gleaming, all-white Wat Mahathat Worawihan, located in the heart of Phetchaburi’s oldest district with atmospheric streets lined with wooden shophouses. Conclude your tour at Phra Ram Ratchaniwet, a stunning art nouveau summer palace built for King Rama V.
Getting there
Phetchaburi is a 90-minute bus ride (40B) from Hua Hin, with buses leaving frequently near the intersection of Th Phetkasem and Th Chomsin.
Monsoon Valley Vineyard
Tucked away in a valley 45km west of Hua Hin is one of the area’s more unusual sights: a working vineyard in a climate where coconut trees are common. However, thanks to some clever innovations, like inducing a false winter period by pruning, the Monsoon Valley Vineyard has successfully mimicked traditional grape-growing methods found in countries like France and Italy.
The neatly landscaped vineyard, complete with traditional wooden houses, is surrounded by hills, offering stunning views. The wine produced here is formulated to complement Thai cuisine, with options ranging from Classic to Premium and Flagship. Daily tours are available, including a ‘wine safari’ jeep ride around the vineyard and basic tastings, as well as more sophisticated options that feature a three-course meal. An on-site wine bar and bistro are also available. Visitors are advised against taking elephant rides, as they aren’t necessary here.
Getting there
Shuttles (300B) to the vineyard leave from the affiliated Hua Hin Hills Wine Cellar Store in Hua Hin at 10:30 am and 3:00 pm, returning at 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm, respectively.
Hua Hin to Pranburi
If Hua Hin’s long strip of sand is just too crowded for you, consider venturing further south. The coast between Hua Hin and Pranburi is lined with beaches, some of them still relatively unknown, and punctuated by dramatic hills and headlands, while tiny islands lie offshore. This area is popular with upmarket Thais, and consequently sees far fewer foreigners than Hua Hin itself.
Hat Khao Tao is the first sandy stretch you’ll encounter, overlooked by Khao Tao (Turtle Mountain) and its sizeable hilltop temple. The beach here, located 13km south of Hua Hin, is deliciously serene most of the time. A further 7km past it is Hat Sai Noi, recognized as one of the best beaches along this part of the coast for swimming. To truly embrace the fantasy of having a wide, white sand beach all to yourself, head to Pranburi and the surrounding area, particularly the beaches south of Dolphin Bay, which is itself a beautifully scenic stretch of sand.
Getting there
Hat Khao Tao and Hat Sai Noi are best accessed by motorbike or taxi from Hua Hin (approximately 250B one way). Taxis can also take you further south to Dolphin Bay for around 500B one way.
