You’d be excused for thinking that Hua Hin is a beach resort town. You’re not necessarily wrong, even, because this is the most common way to describe this seaside tourist magnet.
Before I visited, I had my slight suspicions that Hua Hin is an expat haven – a tacky, overcommercialized twin of Pattaya on the other side of the Gulf of Thailand. If I had spent all my time only at the beach and the nearby bar street, this would’ve surely been my takeaway summary.
But I ventured out of the town and drove my rental scooter around the nearby national parks, panoramic vineyards, waterfalls, and caves. Thus, now I am inspired to share Hua Hin’s charm and its extraordinary destinations with you, the independent traveler who, I hope, also wants to explore more than just the beach.
Below, you will find four different ideas for day trips near Hua Hin. Going by yourself will require that you rent a scooter, which is easy, cheap, and widespread in Thailand, but where it makes sense, you can find options for tours.
At the end, there is a nod to the best evening-time activity in the city itself – exploring its night markets.
Plan your trip to Hua Hin
Day Trip Option 1: On a Budget (Near South)
The following day trip idea is perfect if you don’t want to spend a lot on entrance fees because most of the places are free to enter. Free doesn’t necessarily mean low-quality or not worth a visit, but it does mean you get a bigger budget for pad this.
The driving on this day trip is about 60 km, not including any detours, so the farthest you will get from Hua Hin is around 30 km south of the Khao Kalok trail.
Khao Takiab
As you’re driving south out of Hua Hin, you will see a hilly peninsula. This is Khao Takiab which houses an eponymous Buddhist temple. The temple faces the sea and after climbing some 100 or so steps, your reward is the lovely view of the sea.
Another way to look at it is like a small pilgrimage to the stupa at the top where you can offer incense sticks and flowers to the Buddha or, if it’s your birthday, top up an oil lamp with perpetual flame.
Now the bad news – you’re not welcome there unless you carry food, in which case it’s a little dangerous. I don’t mean the locals but the monkeys – the true masters of the area. They have completely taken over and have no shame or scruples. If you don’t pick fights and don’t carry anything, you will be begrudgingly welcomed, otherwise prepare for a standoff which you will lose.
Wat Tham Khao Tao
Continue south parallel to the 7-km long Suan Son Beach to reach the next small peninsula – Hat Sai Noi Khao Tao Viewpoint with its Chinese-Buddhist Tham Khao Tao temple carved into the rocks.
The temple area hugs the edge of the rocks and offers a rather unique and peaceful feel. You can either relax on a stone bench, hide from the sun inside the cave-temple, or hike 10 minutes to the Giang Golden Buddha statue and viewpoint at the top of the hill.
Pran Buri Forest Park
If you’re done with Buddhist Wats, you will appreciate that the next place I recommend is unlike anything else I’ve seen. Well, unless you’ve walked among mangrove trees and watched asymmetric crabs forage for food.
The Pran Buri Forest Park almost got lost to unsustainable building practices before the former Queen Sirikit of Thailand stepped in to preserve this coastal beauty
The unique feature is the 1-km-long elevated wooden trail that goes in a loop through the Mangrove forest. It’s not static! The forest is a living ecosystem!
Look below you and watch carefully to notice the hundreds of crabs running across or burrowing their way through the muddy surface. The Fiddler Crabs, in particular, are quite funny with their massive pincers on one side and the tiny malformed nippers on the other.
The visitor center was a bit underwhelming but the mangrove trail and the forest park are completely free to enter and explore. In the wet season, you can opt for a boat trip around the swampy area for an additional fee.
Khao Kalok Trail
If you continue further south, the next rocky peninsula is Khao Kalok. It’s surrounded on both sides by beaches which I claim are both better than Hua Hin Beach but I promised this article isn’t about beaches.
To reach the top of the outcrop, you must hike a rather steep trail for around 20-30 minutes. It’s not particularly difficult, especially with the safety ropes but I recommend you have comfortable shoes as flip-flops just won’t cut it.
What’s there to do at the top? Not much but sit down and enjoy the views, especially if it’s nearing sunset.
Day Trip Option 2: Wine and a Waterfall (To the West)
This day trip offers a different experience – one focused on indulgence and refreshment.
The total driving distance is around 130 km. If that sounds like a lot, you can opt for an organized tour of the waterfall.
Wat Huay Mongkol
Less than 20 km from Hua Hin’s center, you can make a quick stop at the biggest statue of the venerable Luang Pu Thuat – a miracle-performing Buddhist monk who lived in the 17th century.
The temple and the statue are free to enter. If you have ever thought about buying an amulet, this is a good place to do so – Thai people believe that sacred medallions of Luang Pu Thuat have protective powers.
Monsoon Valley Vineyard
The region west of Hua Hin is famous for its wine production and Monsoon Valley is probably the most recognized name.
The venue offers a variety of activities but 2 stand out:
- An educational tour of the vineyard, perfect if you consider yourself a wine connoisseur.
- A food-and-wine pairing in the restaurant.
A word of warning – this is a pricey place for a classy experience.
Pa La-U Waterfall
The nature highlight of this day trip is located all the way west near the border with Myanmar. Pa La-U is a beautiful tiered waterfall inside the Kaeng Krachan National Park.
There are 11 levels, although most visitors only reach up to level 3 via trekking trails which involve a fair bit of climbing. The entrance fee is 300 THB – standard for similar waterfalls in Thailand.
If you travel between April and July, you should consider going to the waterfall early in the morning (7 to 10) before visiting anything else. During this time of the year, you will have the highest chance of watching hundreds of butterflies scrambling to draw nectar from plants all around you. It’s truly a unique experience.
As for the waterfall itself, the best time to go is between November and April when there’s the most water.
Day Trip Option 3: Adventure in Nature (Far South)
This day trip is for hardcore nature lovers – an exploration of the first marine national park of Thailand, famous for its limestone hills, marsh wetlands, and sinkhole caves.
Bueng Bua Boat Ride
There are various boat ride options and routes in the marshland regions of Khao Sam Roi Yot but I believe the Bueng Bua is the best.
It costs 500 THB for the whole boat (up to 4 people). You will also have to pay a 200 THB entrance fee but that’s a one-time fee for the whole national park.
The boat ride makes for an awesome sunrise or sunset experience but you can go at any time during the day. You will be surrounded by lotus flowers and imposing karst cliffs. Plenty of wild birds call the area home and don’t shy too far away from the boats. All in all, it’s an awesome experience and well recommended.
Pro tip: Ask your boat driver to stop the engine for a couple of minutes and just enjoy the peace.
Phraya Nakhon Cave
This cave is the main attraction of the national park and quite popular but is worth it.
You can reach it starting from Laem Sala beach. A 430-meter-long, steep, and rocky trail goes up to the cave entrance and then descends down into the sinkhole cave. At the bottom is the royal pavilion built in 1890 which, when the time is right, gets directly illuminated by the sun’s rays.
An optional boat ride cuts the trek in half but I don’t think it’s worth it – the trek isn’t that demanding and Bueng Bua is a better boat experience. In total, allow for about 2-3 hours to reach the bottom and then return to the beach.
If you’re interested only in visiting this cave, check out this tour for a complete and tailored experience.
Phra Phathun Cave
Some of you may get enough endorphins from just one cave so if that’s you, spend more time in Phraya Nakhon.
But Phra Phathun offers a different experience – one with cave formations, bats, and a secluded temple. A monk-guardian will lead you through the cave to visit the various floors and halls.
Entrance is free but supporting the monk is priceless.
Day Trip Option 4: Elephants in the Wild
You can indeed see elephants pretty much anywhere in Thailand but Kui Buri is different – it’s neither an unethical tourist trap nor a protected sanctuary. Instead, you are almost guaranteed to see elephants in their natural habitat.
Kui Buri is about 85 km south of Hua Hin. The wildlife-watching area is open from 2 PM to 6 PM (the elephants’ most active time), so if you’re efficient with your time, you can make a stop at one of the caves above before going to the park. The last entry is at 5 PM as the tour takes around 1-2 hours.
The entrance to the park is 200 THB. You are not allowed to drive beyond the visitor center; instead, you must take a safari jeep with a guide for 850 THB per group (6 people max). You’re 95% guaranteed to see elephants and over 320 species of other mammals, birds, and reptiles too. Binoculars are available on request.
Pro tip: Don’t go to the Park’s Headquarters – there’s no need. Instead, go to the Huay Luek Ranger Station to begin your journey.
This guided tour will organize everything regarding the visit to Kui Buri for you, including pick-up and drop-off in Hua Hin.
Hua Hin at Night
On some of those day trips, you may be too tired to go for an evening stroll around the town. Fair enough. But won’t you be a little hungry too? And what’s a trip to Thailand (Hua Hin most certainly included) without the world-famous night markets?
Luckily, Hua Hin has a bunch of them.
I duly recommend the main one – the Hua Hin Night Market, which occupies the upper part of the central Dechanuchit Road. Between 6 PM and midnight every day, the street is lined with food vendors, clothes stalls, and trinket merchants.
On the north side, you can check out Chatchai Market, where the standard offerings include herbs & spices, snacks, dried food, and fish. It’s only open until 4 PM though.
On the south side is the Chatsila vintage market where you can find chic clothing, various handcrafted items, and plenty of original gifts for friends back home.
For a more upscale experience, go to Cicada Market or Tamarind Market. They are a bit more touristy, which means a bit less authentic, so I am not a big fan, but I can appreciate their appeal and neat organization anyhow. Both are open on the weekends and Fridays.
Last but not least, on the other end of the authenticity spectrum you can visit the Ruam Suk Market, also called the Dinosaur Market (only because of the cute Dino mascot at the entrance), for local produce, seafood, and sweets at affordable prices.
I hope I’ve changed your mind about Hua Hin, the Prachuap Khiri Khan province it’s in, and its many compelling places of interest, all within a day trip away.
Although if I haven’t, you must’ve surely already known my main point – Hua Hin is not just a beach town but a getaway to one of the prettiest regions of Thailand!
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Posted JAN 01, 2025
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