Prachuap Khiri Khan, Hua Hin Travel Guide

The provincial capital is a fishing port with a superb location beside beautiful curving bays and amongst steep mountain outcrops.  About 100 kilometres to the north of Prachuap Khiri Khan is Hua Hin, Thailand's first beach resort which is renowned for golf and spa.  Between Hua Hin and Prachuap Khiri Khan are Pran Buri with many boutique resorts and Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park with soaring peaks, numerous caves and exotic bird life. Hua Hin 281 kilometers south of Bangkok, Hua Hin, which literally means stone head in Thai, is the oldest beach resort of the country and is still very popular. Clean white sand, crystal clear water and a tranquil atmosphere has continued to attract tourists in search of peaceful and relaxing holidays.  The town was originally known as Ban Samoe Rieng, or Ban Laem Hin (Stony Point Village). The construction of a railway station in the city as part of the Southern Railroad in the reign of King Rama VI resulted in making Hua Hin stand out from many quite fishing villages. In addition, the construction of a Summer Palace of King Rama VII totally transformed the village into a high-society resort town for royalty. Even today, the Royal Family continues to reside at the Palace for part of the year. Hua Hin's consequence came with the opening of the Railway Hotel (known today as the Sofitel Central Hotel), an elegant Victorian-style resort hotel, and also the countrys first standard golf course. A cluster of royal and high-society residences gradually became more visible resulting in the transformation of the whole village into the first seaside resort of the country, where visitors could enjoy swimming, fishing, and golfing in the country's first standard golf course. Today, Hua Hin is a well-established beach destination with word-class facilities coupled with a true sense of Thai hospitality. Despite its expansive growth and development as a luxurious destination, the splendor of Hua Hin remains intact. Remaining content in itself, Thailand's oldest seaside resort has never sought international recognition. It has continued to provide a peaceful and relaxed sanctuary in a picturesque environment that comes with a true sense of historical identity.

How to get there

By car

Drive along Highway No. 35 (Thon Buri-Pak Tho) passing Samut Sakhon and Samut Songkhram Provinces and then take Highway No. 4 to Hua Hin Total distance is 123 kilometers. Alternatively, it is possible to travel via Nakhon Pathom and Ratchaburi Provinces.

By Air

SGA Airlines provides 3 - 4 flights daily to Hua Hin (45 minutes). For more information, please contact SGA Airport office Bangkok (662) 664 6099 or Hua Hin (6632) 522 300. Website : www.sga.co.th

By Bus

Buses from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal cost 110 bahts for 1st class (air-conditioned), 85 bahts for 2nd class (air-conditioned) and 61 bahts (ordinary). The trip takes about 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Various agencies on Khao San Road in Bangkok operate minivans to Hua Hin for 150 baht per person. The bus leaves for Bangkok from a station next to Siripetchkasem Hotel. In addition, there are air-conditioned buses leaving for Chumpon Province (125 baht, 4 hours), Surat Thani Province (210 baht, 7hours), Phuket Province (305 baht, 10 hours) and Krabi Province (280 baht, 9 hours)

By Train

The trip takes about 3-3/4 hours from Bangkok; 1st class fare is 202 baht (rapid and express only), 2nd class is 102 baht (rapid and express only) and 3rd class is 44 baht. Call 1690 for more details.

Getting Around

Local buses/songthaews from Hua Hin to the Hat (beach) of Khao Takiap, Khao Tam and Suan Son cost 7-10 baht / person. These buses run from around 6 a.m. until 5.50 p.m.

Buses to Pranburi are 10 baht and leave from the same area of Chomsin Road.
Samlors may cost 40 baht / trip in to town.

Motorcycles and bicycles can be rented from a couple of places on Damnoen Kasem Road near the Jed Pee Nong Hotel. Motorcycle rates are from 150 baht to 200 baht per day for 100cc and 250 baht to 300 baht for 125cc. Occasionally larger bikes - 400 to 750cc - are available for 500 baht to 600 baht a day. Bicycles are 30 baht to 70 baht per day.

At the fishing pier visitors can charter boats to Ko Singtoh for 800 baht a day. On Hat Takiap it is possible to get cheaper fares for 700 baht.