If you are travelling to or around Hua Hin this is worth a read

 

Attractions in and around a 200 kilometre radius of Buffalo Bill’s and Hua Hin

 

Here are some attractions from Petchaburi to Bangsapan; Where to start? In Hua Hin, a high point is Kao Hin Lek Fai (Kao is high rock point). This is a viewing point that looks down east over the building tops to the bay of Hua Hin.  It is accessible by Tuk Tuk, taxi or a strong walk heading west on Chomsin Rd, which starts on the corner of Naresdamri Rd and the corner of Chomsin Rd next to Buffalo Bill’s at Fisherman’s Wharf, opposite the fishing pier. This is worth a walk when the fishing boats come in as you can walk to the end of the pier to sea the catch of the day then when you look back west towards land, you can see the roof top of Buffalo Bill’s Harbour View Luxury Studio Apartments.

 

In town just west of the main road traffic junction, is Hua Hin Train Station. The Orient Express stops here on Sunday afternoons. This station is one of the most prominent old local attractions which is still maintained to a high standard.  The station is at the top of Damnernkasem Rd. When looking to your right heading up to the station you can also catch a glimpse of the local Hua Hin Fire Station.

 

Heading west out to the back of Hua Hin towards Pala U Water Falls is a couple of Elephant Trekking places. You can choose between a half hour or an hour ride and you are given a tour of the mahout (elephant trainer/keeper’s) village, a walk through the bush and finally a lake, which must be a  huge relief for the elephants as they seem to enjoy this part so much!  Although the scenery isn’t particularly beautiful, if you’ve never ridden an elephant it’s nice to go home with a photograph of you riding one (this is taken by the staff during your ride and then offered for sale at the end). Every body is offered little trinkets out of the view of the station entrance. 

 

Pala U Water Falls are definitely worth a visit, as the scenery is very pretty, particularly the parts of the rain forest which you go through Elephants run free be aware.  There is an abundants of wildlife and butterflies and huge lizards (which are harmless and will run away if you get too close).  The downside of visiting the Waterfalls or in fact most national parks is that nowadays  westerners usually pay an entrance fee sometimes as much as eight times the fee for Thai nationals.

 

 Heading north out of town opposite Hua Hin Airport, is one of the best Go-Kart tracks in Thailand, very good reasonably priced entertainment and fun for the whole family as they have a couple of twin seated karts for parents to assist or if you ask an experienced member of staff will help.  The track opens from 10am till late and there is a café too. Going further north towards Cha Am is the Palram 6 Army Camp. If you pass through the main gates you can visit Malukataiywan Palace which is one of King Rama 6 Palaces right on the sea shore. The grounds are beautiful, a very interesting place to visit as it gives you an insight of how the old Monarchs lived in days gone by. The whole structure is elevated some 2 plus meters from ground level and made solely from Teak wood.  Most of the rooms are open to the public and at this point entrance is free. In keeping with Thai tradition, anyone wearing shorts or vests will be given a sarong or cotton pants and a loose fitting shirt to wear over their own clothes as showing too much exposed flesh is a definite no no when entering temples, palaces or any other important place. You will be charged about 100 baht for the loaned clothes (which are all freshly laundered) and this money will be refunded upon leaving the Palace.

 

45 minutes or 50 kilometres further north is Petchaburi where there is a very famous temple Koa Wung which used to be the Palace of Rama 5.  It is on the top of a rocky outcrop and has a cable car to take you up. Take some water as it gets very hot at the top.  Now heading back just south of Hua Hin (2 ½ km or 7 minutes) is Kao Takiab (Chopstick Mountain) on the banks of a small inlet river where you can watch fishing boats come and go. Kao Takiab is also called Monkey Mountain. There is a Buddhist temple at the top of the rock that attracts many tourists because of the plethora of Macaque monkeys that are very cheeky but can be dangerous so be aware. They tend to grab handbags, sunglasses or cameras and bottoms if you’re lucky.

 

Continuing south a (30 kms or 25 minutes) is Sam Roi Yot (3 hundred peaks) National Park. This is a predominately a Thai town with not many tourists as the beach is just ok, nothing fantastic, prawn farms and an unusual temple in a cave like amphitheatre theatre with winding path walkways that takes you to the top of one of the peaks.  A difficult and high climb so again take some water as there’s not a lot of breeze.

 

Back into Hua Hin if you pop into Buffalo Bill’s you can get some information or book day trips, over night packages to the Koh Talu Island Resort at Bangsaphan where the locals have just found GOLD. This is a must if you travel to Hua Hin as the Island is possibly one of the gulfs most beautiful privately owned Island and only about 1 and a half hours away.  The food is good, with comfortable accommodation with either air conditioned or fanned rooms to choose from. There is an abundance of marine life which you will get to explore at least twice a day with supervised snorkelling trips by the island’s staff.  Everything you need for this underwater experience is supplied to you on arrival. Small children are catered for to make this a fun and safe experience for the whole family. The crystal clear clean water stays shallow for quite a way out (approx 100meters) the beach is white coral sand with no litter or plastic. There are kayaks and small Dingy on the beach for your free use and enjoyment whilst relaxing in this secret paradise. Don’t forget to be in the restaurant for about 6pm to enjoy a long cool drink whilst watching the most amazing sunset and nightly migration of thousand’s of Giant fruit Bats that fly from the Koh Talu Island over the western mountains of Thailand on into Burma. 

 

We will add more as time goes by.