Surroundings, Hua Hin

The limestone hills around Hua Hin are riddled with caves and make a good morning or afternoon excursion. They include the temple cave of Tham Dao, as well as the caves of Tham Mai Lab, Tham Kai Lon and Tham Kai Far, where there are some Buddha figures that although of no great art historical interest are nevertheless fine pieces.

Khao Takiap Bay about 6 km (4 mi.) south of Huan Hin has beaches of particularly fine sand and some good fish restaurants.One impressive sight is the gleaming white statue of Buddha on a hilltop, fronting a temple which is home to a large troop of free-ranging monkeys.

Kaeng Krachan, about 40 km (25 mi.) west of Hua Hin (signpost in the town center), is Thailand's largest national park, and contains the Pala U waterfall, which is very popular with Thai visitors in the hot weather.It is one of the country's loveliest national parks and as yet still relatively infrequently visited. The main entrance is on Highway 3175 which joins Highway 4 at Tha Yang. An entry permit is needed to get into the park. There are bungalows for overnight accommodation at the park offices, about 20 km (12 mi.) before the park entrance.

The route to Pranburi, about 25 km (16 mi.) from Hua Hin, passes several quiet bays which are good for swimming. South of Pranburi is the Khao Sam Roi Yot ("three hundred peaks") National Park in the rugged limestone hills, part of the Tenasserim Mountains, which line the coast. These are full of ravines and caverns, some of which can be reached by the park's network of roads and trails.