7 reasons to add Hua Hin to your Thailand itinerary

Stylish night markets buzzing with people, yet so serene, long stretches of clean sandy beach minus the overcrowding, and food for the soul straight from the ocean – Hua Hin is one of the few places in Thailand that can truly claim to be “far from the madding crowd”! 

Located about 200 Km from the bustling capital city of Bangkok, Hua Hin is where you want to escape to if you’re after a quiet holiday. With all the conveniences of popular big cities like Bangkok and Pattaya in place, coupled with the raw, natural beauty commonly associated with Thailand’s remote islands, Hua Hin is the perfect middle ground for those who want a peaceful holiday in mainland Thailand.

The beauty of Hua Hin lies in the fact that it started out as a small fishing village and has managed to retain its charm even today. In a way, it’s the traditional Thailand that you may not find in the bigger cities. Most travelers visiting Thailand don’t even consider including Hua Hin in their itinerary while they are busy making a round of the touristy places, thus missing out on a beautiful piece of this country. To add some fuel to your inspiration, here are our reasons why we think you should definitely consider making a stop at Hua Hin for a couple of days.

1. Breakaway from the crowds of Bangkok

As much as we love the chaos of Bangkok, it doesn’t hurt to get away from it once in a while. Catch a break from the jam-packed streets and markets of the metropolis and find solace in the quiet elegance of Hua Hin.

Only 3-4 hours away from Bangkok by car or bus, Hua Hin is the perfect weekend getaway destination from the capital city. Even if you can’t dedicate multiple days to visit Hua Hin, we highly recommend you take out at least one day from your time in Bangkok to spend in this beautiful coastal town and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.

2. Scoot off to idyllic islands

Thailand is as much known for its food and shopping experiences as much as it is known for the beauty of its remote islands. Want to explore some of the most popular islands in the Gulf of Thailand (Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, etc.) beyond Hua Hin beach but don’t know where to start? This seaside resort district acts as a great base for exploring the region, and its strategic location makes the journey from Hua Hin to Koh Phangan feel like a breeze. Irrespective of which island you chose to visit in the Gulf of Thailand, you’re more than likely to find transportation from Hua Hin, whether its a ferry or a combination of a bus ride and ferry.

3. Wine and dine unlike anywhere else in Thailand

What comes to mind when you think of Thailand? Beaches, street food, and shopping, right? Well, who knew there’s a stunning vineyard just outside of Hua Hin; one of the very few in Thailand! Lush tropical forest meets verdant green vineyard – that’s exactly what the Monsoon Valley Vineyard in Hua Hin looks like. Only a 45 minutes drive from the town center, the vineyard offers a great way to experience something almost unheard of in Thailand. Join in for a vineyard tour followed by a delicious wine tasting session, go mountain biking or take a 4×4 tour in the vicinity and end the day with a sumptuous meal at their in-house restaurant.

4. Holiday like royalty

Hua Hin gained popularity among travelers in the 1920s when it became the official summer retreat destination for Thailand’s royal family. The pleasant and fairly consistent weather of Hua Hin coupled with its stunning coastal location made it the perfect getaway spot from the sweltering heat of Bangkok.

This also led to the development of Hua Hin, in terms of its infrastructure, to serve the growing needs of tourism. It is now home to sprawling golf courses and charming beach resorts. If the royal family thinks Hua Hin deserves a visit, then who are we to disagree?

5. Travel on a budget without spending big bucks

Thanks to Hua Hin being quite an underdog in Thailand’s inbound travel scene, the tourism here is primarily driven by domestic travelers. This simply means that most of the tourists visiting Hua Hin are local Thai people, which directly translates into slightly lower prices for food, accommodations, and other activities.

This is definitely a welcomed change from the inflated prices you would see in more popular tourist hotspots like Pattaya, Bangkok or Phuket. That itself is enough to warrant a trip here, before Hua Hin catches the international tourists’ eyes, isn’t it?

6. Get up close and personal with mother nature

Just because Hua Hin is not the most visited holiday destination in Thailand doesn’t mean it is any less than the rest of the country when it comes to natural beauty. Blessed with a scenic coastline and home to one of the largest waterfalls in Thailand (Pa La-U Waterfall), there is no dearth of beautiful things to see in Hua Hin for nature lovers, but the biggest natural attraction of the region is probably the Phraya Nakhon Cave. 

A bumpy drive to a tiny village, a tense boat ride and a 430 m climb up 1,410 steep steps later, the magical, naturally-formed cave opens itself up to visitors in all its glory! For those of you who need to get some time outdoors, Hua Hin’s unique landscape offers a great opportunity to connect with nature and discover hidden gems as you explore.

7. Indulge in Thailand’s best seafood

Is it even legal to visit a coastal town and not eat seafood? One thing Hua Hin is universally famous for is the access to fresh catch from the Gulf of Thailand. Some of the best and freshest seafood in the country is said to be found here thanks to Hua Hin’s fishing village origins. A trip to Thailand is incomplete without delicious local food and Hua Hin is a great spot to indulge in Thai seafood delicacies if you’re not keen to head out to one of the islands. An indulgent meal of barbequed seafood is fairly common here and is definitely one of the biggest highlights of a trip to Hua Hin.

Thailand is like that ice cream parlor selling tubs of different flavors of ice cream – all distinct from one another and all equally yummy! Think of Hua Hin as that tub in the corner which few people consider tasting, but once they do, they keep coming back for it. Next time you’re planning a trip to the Land of Smiles, get a taste of Hua Hin to experience a refreshing new flavor of Thailand and thank us later!