Why Cha Am - Hua Hin

South of Petchaburi along the western seaboard are the beach towns of Cha Am and Hua Hin. Once a low-key fishing and market village, Cha Am has grown in popularity, especially with local Thais who yearn for a weekend getaway from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. Cha Am is a little coastal town situated 260KM from Bangkok, and is famous for its good seafood and party atmosphere. On weekend and holidays it is a famous hangout for Thai students. You can find any types of accommodation for your stay. Small guest houses, boutique hotels, or five star luxury resorts and spa's to indulge yourself. The local fare can be appreciate at both open-air eateries with umbrella-shaded tables out on the beach, and more traditional restaurants around the north end of the beach .The beaches are quiet inviting, though not picture postcard-perfect tropical paradises ,they are not packed and fairly clean, with warm gentle waters excellent for swimming. There are a collection of wandering vendors selling silk and cotton fabric, scarves and hand-carved wooden statues, and horses for hire. Take a day out from the beach to explore the Cha Am attractions, such as Mrigadayavan Palace. Just 10 KM south of Cha Am, it is the summer palace built by king Rama VII generally referred to as "the palace of love & hope". The building consists of a two storey golden teak pavilion, with a series of connecting halls. Spend a day at Puek Tian, a small beach resort town situated 18 KM north of Cha Am. It is legendary for its statues in the sea depicting characters from one of Thailand's greatest poets Sunthon Phu and his epic story Phra Aphai Mani. Go for a walk in the mountains that you can see from town, to take in a bit of nature and get a great over the coastline at the Khao Nang Phanturat Forest Park. Spend a good afternoon at Phetchaburi - Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park, situated 40 Km north of Cha Am, the Phetchaburi skyline is dominated by King Rama IV"s royal palace. Hua Hin is 35Km deeper south and many Bangkokians regard it as their preferred beach resort. It is a much quieter place than Pattaya with enough of good hotels and a fine beach. In addition to its beaches and seafood, Hua Hin Is famous for its Night Bazaar, which features food and fruits stalls in addition to handicrafts. Also entertaining is Golden Place, a convenience store that's indeed owned by the Royal Family. You can also explore the Klai kangwon Palace, in Thai the name of the palace actually means far from worries. This Summer Palace consisting of 3 Spanish Style mansions overlooking the sea was build up to the north of Hua Hin under the royal command of King Rama VII. Today, it is the permanent residence of the king. It is open to the public everyday from 9.00am to 4.00pm. Situated opposite to Klai Kangwon Palace, this is the first butterfly and herbal garden in Hua Hin. Surrounded by different local plants from all over Thailand, it features various species of butterflies, birds, orchids, flowers and herbal plants. It open every day from 9.00am to 5.00pm.Go trekking at Khao Takiap, this hill is located at the southern end of Hua hin, only 4KM from the town. It can be quickly be reached by local minibus. Visitors can go up the hilltop to appreciate a bird's eye view of Hua Hin, which is one of the beautiful views either during the day or night. There is a temple call Wat Khao Takiap located on the top of the hill. The close Khao Takiap Beach offers mainly bungalow accommodations. The giant golden Buddha statue set against the cliff has become a landmark of Khao Takiap. Both Hua Hin and Cha Am are famous for their world class golf courses with amazing scenic views such as Milford Paradise & Golf Club. The course is surrounded on three sides by forested hills. Don't miss Namtok Pa-la-U, this amazing 11-tired rock waterfalls is situated in the densely verdant forest in the area of Kaengkrajan National Park where diverse kinds of birds and butterflies are found, mainly in the morning. Some levels of the waterfall can be joined along a trekking trail parallel to the stream. The recommended time to watch butterflies is from 7.00 am to 10.00am. In addition, visitors may be able to spot wild animals and assorted species of rare birds. The best time to explore the fall is at its most amazing. The waterfall can be reached by local transportation from Hua Hin for a distance of 63Km.

Air conditioned buses to Cha Am and Hua Hin leave from Bangkok's southern bus terminal daily. Journey time to Cha Am is about three and a half hours and 30 minutes longer to Hua Hin. Trains for Hua Hin leave Hua Lampong station in Bangkok many times a day and take around four and a half hours. At holiday times special trip services are provided.
The most excellent months to visit Cha Am and Hua Hin are December to March. The mean maximum temperature in April, the hottest month, is about 34C, the mean minimum in the coldest months of December and January is 22C.Rainfall is inferior than in any other part of Thailand with the wettest month being August while there is basically no precipitation in December.
The Monsoon Season kicks in nearby July and lasts until October with temperatures slowly decreasing to their lowest level in December.