HOT Magazine HOT Magazine Issue - 9, 10 Volume 5 | Page 32

Hua Hin Day Trips
Caves, Wines & Wild Elephants
By Michael Cullen
L
ow-key
and
uncrowded,
fronted by a five-kilometre
beach, the town of Hua Hin
is surrounded by three of
Thailand’s biggest national parks.
Its central location on the gulf coast
means easy access to plenty out-of-
town beaches, too, fresh seafood
comes cheap, and Bangkok is always
just three hours away.
So why doesn’t Hua Hin get more
of the 32 million tourists who visit
Thailand every year? It’s certainly
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popular with Thais, but you’ll find
more foreigner holidaymakers in
Phuket, Koh Samui and the north.
Whatever the reason, for my wife
Vivien and I, living in Hua Hin since
2015, this is part of the attraction. It
keeps the costs down and the crowds
reasonable so we can enjoy the great
beaches; natural beauty and wildlife
in the nearby national parks; and
historical elements of Hua Hin that
have made it the “Royal Coast”. We
do have the international hotels,
championship level golf courses,
modern infrastructure, and all the
elements people coming to Thailand
look for—just at a less frantic pace.
We’ve been exploring the region
since arriving, and thought it was
time to share some of the best day
trips from town. Whether you’re just
on holiday or scouting Hua Hin as a
potential retirement haven, try not to
miss these excursions…