Hua Hin – A Destination Guide

The beach side town of Hua Hin is located about three and a half hours south of the capital Bangkok. The town is known as the Royal City, as it was frequented by King Rama 9, amongst other Kings and Royal family members. The climate is great year-round, and golfers are spoiled with a choice of excellent golf courses, all within a 30 minute drive from the heart of town. Coupled with some excellent markets, interesting sites to visit and great spots for dining, Hua Hin is really the ultimate Thai golf destination.

The Hua Hin area is home to 8 excellent golf courses. All of the courses are no more than a 30 minute drive from town, which means golfers can enjoy a day on the links, but still have lots of time to enjoy what the town offers. The courses are of excellent quality, and it is easy to fill a couple of weeks in town with top golf.

The 27-hole Black Mountain Golf Club is one of the top courses in Thailand, and is widely popular amongst locals and tourists alike. Having played host to European Tour events, the course is a good challenge and it is always in fantastic condition.

The team are always looking to make the course better, thus small changes made year-on-year make sure it is a unique experience if being played year after year.

The fairways are rolling and there are some great holes both up the hill and down the hill. The original courses are the North and East courses, with the West course being a new addition to the stable after being transformed from a par-3 course.

Pineapple Valley Golf Club is a lovely layout, with a very natural feel which is always in top condition. Set amongst an old Pineapple plantation, the golf course’s natural features are well punctuated. The front 9 plays along the slope and can leave some interesting lies, requiring the golfer to really think their way around.

All of the play is in the shadow of the Burmese mountains in the distance, meaning the views are nothing but spectacular!

The back-9 is set back up in the hill and has some long and difficult holes, in a very memorable layout. However, Pineapple Valley’s biggest defence is most definitely its undulating and sloping greens.

They can be quick and difficult to read. This results in ultimate concentration being given when on the greens down the stretch! Finish the round heading towards Burma and head off to a traditional Thai sala to enjoy a nice beverage overlooking the fantastic vistas around the course.

While Black Mountain and Pineapple Valley Golf Club are the top two rated courses in Hua Hin, there are still others that offer an excellent experience and are of great quality. To start, look no further than the Nicklaus-designed Springfield Royal. Another 27-hole design, this is a classic design that is one of the more favourite courses of everyone in the area.

Majestic Creek is a 27-hole course located against the western hills, and has some fantastic holes and is known to be in fantastic condition in the high season. Sea Pines is one of the few courses in Thailand that play along the ocean. Lake View is an Asian Tour Q-School course and has 36 holes, and there is also Palm Hills which has some of the most penal greens in the area.

With a large offering of courses, a great one or two week golf holiday can be put together to match any preference out there, and result in a fantastic and relaxing holiday in Hua Hin.

Hua Hin does have great golf, but there is also plenty to see and do outside of the fairways. From it’s famous night market, to its Royal history, and Buddhist temples, there is lots to see when not shooting a low score!

One of the trendiest and most interesting markets in Hua Hin is the Cicada Night Market. This market is located in the southern part of Hua Hin, in Khao Takiab area.

This market runs Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings and is broken down in two parts – Cicada Market where all the goods, collectables and items for purchase are, and Tamarind Market where all the local food stalls are. There is live music, some theatrical plays and other performances to enjoy. It really is a one-stop-shop for a great evening out.

The hotel is within walking distance from Asia Golf Experiences hotels such as Amari Hua Hin and Hyatt Regency Hua Hin. If staying further away, it’s within a quick ride done on a local baht bus down to the market.

The traffic tends to be at its thickest from 7:00-8:00pm, so if looking for a bit more of a quiet time it’s best to go outside of those hours. A visit to the market is a must while in Hua Hin, and it is a great place to soak up culture, cuisine and get some of the shopping done all at the same time!

Maruekhathaiyawan Palace, also known as The Palace of Love and Hope is located along the cost line, just north of Hua Hin. The palace was built during the reign of King Rama the 6th as a summer retreat along the sea. The palace was completed in 1924, and is made of vibrantly coloured teak wood.

Upon the King’s death, the palace sat empty for many years, and has only recently been refurbished to its past glory, with one of his surviving family members overseeing the reconstruction.

The palace ads to the Royal feel of Hua Hin. The palace contains a museum with artifacts from the late King’s life, and visitors can walk through the various buildings and halls to learn about the Royal family, the life of King Rama the 6th, and the important role the King played in various Royal projects.

A visit to the palace is a great way to learn about how the revered Royal Thai Family played such an important role in this era, and how it currently still does.

Sam Roi Yot is a National Park, located just south of Hua Hin and is the first National Marine Park in Thailand. The park is very diverse, with mountains, forests, fresh water marshlands and beach. The park is great for anything from a quick stop, to a full day visit.

There are many wild animals to be seen, from small lizards to larger mammals. While anywhere in the park is enjoyable, the park does have some stand-out performers which are magnificent and must-sees when visiting the park.

The most popular attraction would be the Phraya Nakhon Cave. This cave is located 130 meters above sea level and is accessible via a hike to the cave. Due to the steep nature of the trail, it is good to give some time to get up there and to take your time. However, once reaching the cave, it is simply amazing. Inside is the Royal Phra Thinang Khuha Kharuhat pavillion. This was built in 1890 for King Rama the 5th. Be sure to bring your camera as it is a photo that you will want to have.

Thailand is known for its delicious food. The flavours, spices and aromas all mix together to provide for a truly amazing culinary experience. While there are many restaurants in Hua Hin, be it Thai or from any corner of the world, we have a few that are excellent choices and provide good quality, clean food with an excellent atmosphere.

Orchids Restaurant in central Hua Hin is well known for having some of the best and most affordable Thai food in town.

Located down by the Hilton Hua Hin Resort, this quaint Thai restaurant has a menu of Thai and International offerings. We definitely recommend sticking to the Thai however. It’s tough to go wrong with any of their dishes, however the curries are exceptionally delicious.

As the restaurant is quite small and popular, we recommend making a reservation, Be it for 1 night, or many nights on your trip, get your spot booked and enjoy some of the best food in town!

Set right along the ocean just north of the Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa, this well known restaurant is located on stilts that are set in the sea, so you are literally eating on the ocean! Of course, the seafood is the star here, but for those non-seafood folks there is still food for you too.

The ambience is excellent, with the nice ocean breeze blowing across the deck as you enjoy looking out at the sea and the clear night sky, enjoying some freshly caught seafood cooked as you like. It can be busy on weekends so it is recommended to go on weekdays where possible, or get a reservation on the weekends.

If looking to watch some live sport, listen to some great live music, or just have a few drinks and some hearty pub food after a round of golf, Father Ted’s is the place to go. It’s located right in the center of town and has a fantastic menu and good quality food.

There is draught beer and cold cider waiting. There is usually a great atmosphere in the pub, with both inside and outside seating. It is a great place to relax, start your evening, or even finish your evening. The prices are quite good also, so it won’t break the bank when spending a night with Father Ted!

These are just some of the recommended things to see and restaurants, as well as a bit about each course in Hua Hin. For more information, please feel free to contact us via the form just down and to the right of this one, or drop us an email at [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you in Hua Hin soon!