Photo Report - Hua Hin Beach

[Big Boy]

it's pretty impossible to walk south of Chiva Som (although I have been known to wade from there and just hope there aren't any building rocks underfoot).

The clouds may be dark sometimes and the sea can get angry but there's masses of space.
Solitude.

As you will read as the report moves on over the next few days, (maybe not so elegant) the need to protect my recently healed leg wound saw me stood flamingo like waiting for the sea to recede. I eventually had to climb a wall to continue .

I also experienced the dark skies but the angry(ish) sea wasn't too bad.

[TingTongJohn]

Did you note any sewage lines on your walk along the beach or has that gotten better?

[Big Boy]

No I didn't, but as I said (maybe because the tide had just turned and was going out) everywhere looked very clean, with a 'just washed' look.

[Big Boy]

Part 3 - Soi 77 to Marakesh

If going for a wander on the beach, this is the section where I would normally go. It rarely gets busy, and seems to be the main area for Hua Hin’s kite schools. Therefore, my earlier warning to take care still stands – it’s quite safe so long as you stay aware, and assume every surfer is a novice.

The beach from Soi 77 exit

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Although not normally a busy section of the beach, it does have its share of condos and hotels. This probably goes a way to confirming the theory that most condos are only used at weekends.

Condos and Hotels

Condos and Hotels

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Condos and Hotels

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The skies were getting heavier and darker, and I was starting to wonder what I would do when the inevitable rains arrived. How heavy would the rain be? Could I find shelter? Could I keep the cameras dry? Should I abandon the walk, and come back when the weather looked more promising? If the rain started, would there be a convenient place to exit the beach? All sorts of things were going through my mind. I decided to continue for now.

As I continued along the beach, I was starting to pass some nice places. I had done this walk before, but had never really taken much notice of where I was.

If I use the Intercontinental Hotel as an example, I often pass it as I drive along Petchakasem Road, but from there, I only really get a 2D perspective. To me, it’s always been just another hotel charging high prices. However, because I was taking photos, I was taking more notice of where I was. First thing I noticed was a rather grand house where a wedding was taking place.

House where wedding was taking place

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This was immediately followed by the 3D view of the Intercontinental Hotel grounds. I must say, I could now understand why this hotel was a top-end establishment.

Back door of Intercontinental Hotel

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I had read about Intercontinental room types/prices once, and I was able to put 2 + 2 together, and realised the house where the wedding was being held was probably the villa they had for hire – it looked an ideal wedding setting, and very nice it was too.

As a by the bye, on the walk along the beach there was evidence of 5 weddings. We are often asked about getting married in Hua Hin on the forum – this was evidence that it definitely happens.

This stretch of beach had the biggest concentration of beach massage establishments. Although the beach was quiet, the massage establishments had what seemed to be a high proportion of customers.

Beach Massage

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Beach Massage

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There were several places inviting the public in to use their facilities.

Welcome, come inside

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Final part of this leg of the journey is the Marakesh, another high-end place that I’d walked past without really noticing before. Several years ago, I used to watch the building of Marakesh whilst wallowing in the swimming pool of Sport Villa – it never looked that special.

Since moving to Hua Hin, the mother of one of my son’s friends has an apartment there. I was quite shocked when I heard how much she’d paid to live in a block of flats. However, I must say that the 3D view of this complex looks a lot nicer than the front end I’d watched being built. On reflection, I could probably put up with living in a block of flats as nice as these. To me, Marakesh had been the building I’d seen on Petchakasem Road, but the complex behind that looks fantastic.

Back door to Marakesh

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Back door to Marakesh

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Back door to Marakesh

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Next instalment Marakesh to Barai

More photos here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 718&type=1

[Big Boy]

Part 4 - Marakesh to Barai

I would say I was now entering the ‘posh’ part of the beach. No forest of umbrellas, or sun loungers. Only the odd massage table interrupted an otherwise deserted beach.

An otherwise deserted beach

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Only the odd massage table interrupted an otherwise deserted beach.

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I mentioned in my opening report about the black dust that resembled coal dust being washed ashore from my days living in the North East of England. While I’m sure it wasn’t coal dust, the appearance was identical. I don’t know if the dust was the reason for the lack of sun loungers on the beach, or whether it was due to the beachfront hotels having ample poolside sun loungers, with only a short walk to the sea.

Black dust

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Black dust

The dark clouds were almost on me now.

The dark clouds were almost on me now.

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There was a slight bend in the beachfront at Barai, and I couldn’t see any beach beyond. Now if I continued towards Barai, there was a long stretch of beach with no exit. With no visible way beyond, if I continued and the weather turned, I would have nowhere to hide. Any exits from this area of the beach were well guarded by local security guards, and I don’t think visitors would be welcome. Certainly, North of this stretch were plenty of signs encouraging visitors. Here there was nothing (if I had paid the money these guests had, I'd have probably been upset if they let any passer by come in to disturb me).

Any exits from this area of the beach were well guarded by local security guards

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My main concern was for my recently recovered leg wound – I still had to keep it dry. Heavy rain would be a problem, as would running out of beach and having to wade. This was basically the point of no return. If I were to continue, I could be struggling to keep the wound dry.

This was basically the point of no return.

This was basically the point of no return.

I decided to continue. Was it the right decision? Find out in the next instalment Barai to S’Mor Spa.

More photos here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 718&type=1

[Frank La Rue]

Again, thanks for this - I really appreciate your work and continuous contribution to this forum, where a remote member like me can learn a lot.

[Frank La Rue]

Part 3 - Soi 77 to Marakesh



Since moving to Hua Hin, the mother of one of my son’s friends has an apartment there. I was quite shocked when I heard how much she’d paid to live in a block of flats. However, I must say that the 3D view of this complex looks a lot nicer than the front end I’d watched being built. On reflection, I could probably put up with living in a block of flats as nice as these. To me, Marakesh had been the building I’d seen on Petchakasem Road, but the complex behind that looks fantastic.

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Next instalment Marakesh to Barai

More photos here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 718&type=1

We went to look at Marakesh in 2012, we were shown a ground floor appartment, 2 bedroom, so maybe 70 m2 for 12 Mio Baht.
It comes down to prefferences and money, if access to beach is important and central location.

Part of me wants east access to central Hua Hin, but beach access is not important. If it is important to you its an attractive value proposition, at a cost.

[caller]

It's interesting talking about an escape from the beach, as I needed that a good few years ago now. Heavy seas and an incoming strong tide right meant I had little chance of going back or forward on the walk from the Hilton area, so I climbed into a resort, got collared by a security guard who understood my dilemma and smilingly escorted me to the front entrance where I continued my trek to Takiap - that was when it wasn't built up and developed like it is now and it was more akin to a walk down a country lane without a pavement!

Great stuff by the way BB. I stayed at the Wora Bura last year and trekked the relatively short distance from there to Takiap and back.

[Big Boy]

Part 5 - Barai to S’Mor Spa

I’d decided to continue my journey South, despite the risk to my recently healed leg wound, which had seen me hospitalised 4 times in 12 months.

As I rounded the corner past Barai, the beach was only a few inches wide, and somebody had thought it would be good to block the very narrow beach with a few sun loungers. Waves were constantly lapping around the bottom of the loungers, and occasionally covering all of the sand when the larger waves came in.

The corner at Barai

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I stood at the Barai corner for a few minutes trying to judge the best time to make a dash for it. It became evident that I wasn’t going to make this dash in one go. I decided the trip around these stupidly placed sun loungers was going to be in 2 stages. Watching the ebb and flow of the waves, I rushed to the halfway point. I then stood flamingo like, with my recovering leg in the air waiting for the opportunity to complete this diversion – mission successfully accomplished.

I continued walking along the very narrow beach, but I could see just ahead that there was no more beach, just sea. I was at a convenient point, so I climbed the wall, and continued several feet above the sea. Eventually, the narrow beach returned, so I chose a convenient place to climb back down again.

The beach was now very narrow, especially as the larger waves came ashore.

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I needed to climb the sea wall

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Eventually, the narrow beach returned, and it was safe to climb down again.

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Sea avoided (for now), the heavens decided to open. There was nowhere to hide. Fortunately, although the sky looked very ferocious, the rain was relatively light as I continued my journey snapping away. Was it my imagination, or were the wet cameras producing images with strange colouring? Through the narrow beach/wall stage I did not take any panoramic photos because I was too close to the sea wall, and apart from wall, there was nothing to see.

Back on the beach, the rain started.

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The beach was now starting to widen again now, although there were still many sea puddles to overcome. One was about 20 yards wide – this was a challenge. I proceeded with my left leg in the water, seeking out the shallowest parts to put my right foot (toes only in the water). All of this with a continuing steady downpour. I was still snapping away as I progressed on.

There were now many huge puddles to overcome.

There were now many huge puddles to overcome.

There were now many huge puddles to overcome.

This stretch of beach was totally devoid of anything apart from the odd crazy walker (me included). I eventually came to some beach bars slightly off the beach, where I could shelter from the rain. I thought about it, but I was already quite wet. I couldn’t see much point in sheltering now. Fortunately, the rain was falling on the side of my body which was protecting my wound – I was OK.

There were now beach bars appearing, where I could seek shelter from the rain, but by now, I was already wet.

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There were now beach bars appearing, where I could seek shelter from the rain, but by now, I was already wet.

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I was starting to see residential properties again. Not as grand as earlier in the trip, but still very nice. Lovely location.

Some residential type properties

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Some residential type properties

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Some residential type properties

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This leg of my journey ends at S’Mor Spa. There were several friendly signs inviting walkers in. However, I was nearing the end of my mission, so I carried on regardless.

S'Mor Spa

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Next and final instalment: S’Mor Spa to Khao Takiab

More photos here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 718&type=1

[Big Boy]

Part 6 - S’Mor Spa to Khao Takiab

The giant Buddha at Khao Takiab was getting quite large now as I entered the final stage of my journey.

The giant Buddha at Khao Takiab starts to get bigger.

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The rain now started to ease, and the tide was going out fast – leaving more puddles to overcome.

I was getting deep into Khao Takiab, and numbers of hotels and condo were rapidly increasing. Some of these were looking quite spectacular with the backdrop of the Thai Temples on the hill behind. Again, there was no forest of umbrellas until I reached the very end of this stretch of beach.

Some of these were looking quite spectacular with the backdrop of the Thai Temples on the hill behind.

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Again, there was no forest of umbrellas

The residential properties continued, intermingled with the hotels and condos.

The residential properties continued

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The residential properties continued

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The residential properties continued

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intermingled with the hotels and condos.

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I continued to the very end of this beach which ended at the Supatra Hotel, and below the giant Buddha statue.

end of this beach which ended at the Supatra Hotel, and below the giant Buddha statue.

end of this beach which ended at the Supatra Hotel, and below the giant Buddha statue.

There are a few rocks at this point, and I was pleased to see monkeys scavenging on the beach. In fact there is a video on YouTube showing the monkeys diving into the sea from the rocks here.

monkeys scavenging on the beach.

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monkeys scavenging on the beach.

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I took one final look back along this beach, before turning for home.

one final look back along this beach

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As I left the beach, I walked past a large(ish) food complex. I say large(ish) because it used to be larger, but the old complex was demolished and this complex has risen from the ashes.

a large(ish) food complex.

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I walked to the bus station, and jumped onto a green songthaew, which took me back to where I’d parked my car about 3 hours earlier – cost 10 baht

Conclusion: If visiting Hua Hin, and you have a couple of hours to spare, this is a wonderful way to see the town from a different perspective. You could even make a day of it, stopping at various beach establishments as you go. Don’t do what I’ve done in the past – tunnel vision watching Khao Takiab get gradually larger. I was amazed this time, when comparing the fronts of various complexes with their back doors.

More photos here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 718&type=1

[PeteC]

Very enjoyable series. More informative than any published travel guide I've seen. Pete

[Ralfredo]

Don’t do what I’ve done in the past – tunnel vision watching Khao Takiab get gradually larger.

Thank you very much for a series of very interesting posts with great photos! I have been to various parts of the beach many times but I guess I have had some "tunnel vision" too.

[Bitje]

Great pictures. I have to discover some more I think when I look at them. That's for my next visit

[Frank La Rue]

Can just add to previous posters - a great encoyuragement to get a different view of Hua Hin and a different experience from walking along the same old streets

[Khundon1975]

BB What you need, is a good pair of wellies for your feet.

Connolly said

"If it was nae for your wellies, where would you be, you'd be in the hospital or infirmary".

Great pics, keep up the good walks and I hope your leg heals quickly.