Hua Hin: the royal beach

The wide golden beaches of Hua Hin lie only 4 hours from Bangkok. Within such easy reach of the capital, Hua Hin is an ideal for travellers in Thailand with too little time to explore the beaches further afield. Since the Thai royal family built their palaces here in 1921, Hua Hin has become a favourite weekend destination for the Thai people. Unlike Pattaya and Jomtien, Hua Hin still attracts a mix of Thai locals and foreign travellers, helping it to maintain a traditional Thai atmosphere.

During this module, you will stay in a charming hotel right on the beautiful beach. The chatty tuk-tuk drivers will take you into the small town centre, where you will discover a vast range of restaurants, bars and ice-cream parlours. The night market is a paradise of souvenirs alongside some of the tastiest Thai delicacies. Think chicken satay, fish cakes and mango with sticky rice- delicious. Fill your days with massages, horseriding on the sands, sipping tropical fruit jucies, lazing on the beach, and snoozing in the sun.

Most travellers arrive in to Hua Hin from Bangkok. Trains and buses to Hua Hin depart from the Thai capital regulary, and we can arrange these for you if you require. The journey takes around 4 hours, and will take you through an interesting landscape of salt pans and rice paddies. On arrival in Hua Hin, you can easily take a tuk-tuk to your hotel. All of the hotels that we offer have swimming pools, and they are located right next to the beach, and within easy walking distance of the town centre. Rooms have a patio to relax on and the beach is a perfect place to watching the tropical sunsets.

If you are coming to Hua Hin from the south of Thailand, a train will bring you from Surathani (currently departs at 10.40am and arrives in Hua Hin at 4.40pm). It is also possible to reach Hua Hin from Kanchanaburi (from The River and the Railway module) by bus via Rachaburi. Our local agent can assist you with any travel information that you might need.

Today you can relax under a parasol on the golden beach of Hua Hin, enjoying the low-key atmosphere of this fishing village. Perhaps indulge in a Thai massage, or splash out with some tropical cocktails. Alternatively, try your hand at horse riding along Hua Hins wide and sandy beaches. The night market in Hua Hin is a fantastic way to sample local Thai dishes- especially fresh fish - and the restaurants on stilts will tempt you with specialities such as kingfish, octopus, mussels and crab.

For a more active day, you can take a trip to the Khao Sam Yot National Park, 50km south of Hua Hin. This park is situated on the coast and is home to many species of seabirds and animals, it also has some interesting caves. You can take a walk through the park, or take a boat through the mangroves. Hiring a guide will only cost approx £3 and can be arranged on arrival. Your hotel in Hua Hin will provide all of the information that you need concerning how to get to the park.