Cha Am Information

Cha Am Information

CHA AM (160 Kilometers southwest of Bangkok)

IMMEDIATE AND RELATED ATTRACTIONS

Cha-am Beach
The extensive and popular beach is con-sidered to be one of the most beautiful on the western side of the Thai Gulf.

Phra Ratchaniwet Marukkhathaiyawan
This beachside wooden palace was for-merly used as a royal summer residence by King Rama VI during the 1920s. The pal-ace is contained within the Border Patrol Police Headquarters south of Cha-am on the road to Hua Hin.

Kaeng Krachan National Park
Thailand's largest National Park is located some 50 kilometres northwest of Cha-am. The park extends towards the Burmese border to the west, is characterised by a topography of forested hills and moun-tains, and waterways, and has as a major focal point the Kaeng Krachan Dam, a 58- metre-high and 760-metre-long structure that dominates a scenic reservoir.

Chao Samran Beach
This scenic beach, 51 kilometres north of Cha-am, is one of several popular beaches to the east of Phetchaburi provincial capi-tal.

Khao Wang
This 92-metre hillock on the northern ap-proach to Phetchaburi provincial capital (some 36 kilometres north of Cha-am), sup-ports the Phra Nakhon Khiri palace con-structed in 1860 by King Rama IV (King Mongkut). Phetchaburi residents refer to it as Khao Wang, literally Palace Hill. The area is now known as Phra Nakhon Khiri National Museum and is open to the pub-lic every day from 9.00 AM until 4.00 PM. Admission is 10 Baht per person. Visitors may walk to the hillttop complex, or as-cend by cable car.

Khao Luang Cave
This picturesque cave, some 5 kilometres from Khao Wang, contains a Buddha im-age cast by the royal command of King Chulalongkorn to honour his father, King Mongkut.

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HUA HIN (185 Kilometers southwest of Bangkok)

IMMEDIATE AND RELATED ATTRACTIONS

Hua Hin can lay claim to being Thailand's oldest beach resort. This status dates from 1926 when King Rama VII built a beachside palace named Klai Kangwon (Far From Worries). The Thai royal family still cus-tomarily spend the hottest months of the year, generally March through April, there. Many prominent Bangkok families main-tain beachside villas. Hua Hin boasted Thailand's first golf course (still in use as the Royal Hua Hin Golf Course after some 70 years) and the resort continues to ex-ude, despite modernisation, a genteele fin de siecle atmosphere.

Hua Hin Beach
This extends some three kilometres south-wards from the fishing village and rocky headland (that gives Hua Hin, literally Rocky Head, its name) until a southern headland where Buddhist temples cling to yet another, somewhat formidable cliff. Fine white sand, resort hotels, many watersports opportunities lend the resort its distinctive ambiance.

Khao Takiap
This hill marking the southern extent of Hua Hin supports Buddhist temples and offers a commanding view of the resort, particularly early in the morning.

Sea Pine Tree Garden
This is located 8 kilometres south of Hua Hin. A left turn is made at Km 240 on High-way 4 for a distance of half a kilometre. There are restaurants and accommodation facilities. Further details may be obtained from Hua Hin 511-239-40.

Pala-U Waterfall
This scenic waterfall, some 60 kilometres west of Hua Hin, is an increasingly popu-lar destination.

Khao Tao/Sai Noi Beach
Between the Km. 243 and 244 markers, there is a branch road which leads to a scenic lake, and a beautiful beach named Sai Noi.

Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
This coastal national park, literally trans-lated as 'Three Hundred Peaks', covers more than 24,500 acres. High, thinly veg-etated limestone mountains and coastal marshlands overlook several islands. The marshlands support a great variety of wa-terfowl species and the limestone masses are riddled with popular caves. Accom-modation and camping facilities are avail-able. Further details may be obtained from the National Parks Division in Bangkok (Tel: 579-0529).

Prachuap Khiri Khan
This unpretentious and somnolent pro-vincial capital lies 90 kilometres south of Hua Hin and nestles against a crescent bay with a fine beach. The most prominent landmark is a beachside hillock named Khao Chong Kra Chok (Mirror Mountain) near the provincial office. The hillock sup-ports a Buddhist shrine on the top, which is reached by a climb of some 390 steps. A tribe of mischievous monkeys inhabit the hillock. The summit affords exhilarating views of the rugged coastline to the north, including Sam Roi Yot, and a splendid view of Prachuap Bay.

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GOLF

Golfing opportunities abound in Cha-am and Hua Hin. Indeed, golf is the major sport aside from popular watersports. Some of the courses are well established. Oth-ers are recent creations, several having been specially designed by internationally renowned golfers. Major golf courses in-clude:

Cha-am Villa & Golf Club
27-hole course. Club house, driving range. Tel: (032) 471-974

Springfield Royal Country Club of Cha-am
36-hole course designed by Jack Nicklaus. Club house, driving range, conference fa-cilities, sports club, cycling track. Tel: (032) 471-303, 471-324

Palm Hills Resort & Country Club
18-hole course designed by Max Wexler. Country club with sports and recreational facilities, driving range. Tel: (032) 520-800 Fax: 520-820

Majestic Creek Country Club & Beach Resort
18-hole course, club house, driving range. Tel: (032) 520-162-6 Fax: 520-477

Royal Hua Hin Golf Club
18-hole course, simple club house, seafood restaurant opened in 1924. Tel: (032) 511-585

Sawang Golf Course
27-hole course, club house Tel: (02) 440-0240 Fax: 440-0245

Lake View Princess Resort & Golf Club
18-hole course designed by Robert Packard, club house, driving range, con-ference, sports facilities. Tel: (032) 520-091 Fax: 520-098

Milford Golf Course & Condominium
18-hole course designed by Robert Mcfarland, club house, sports complex Tel: (02) 235-2871

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SPECIAL EVENT

Phra Nakhon Khiri Fair
Each February, the hilltop Phra Nakhon Khiri palace in Phetchaburi becomes the focal point of a popular fair which features light & sound presentations, bazaars, folk entertainment and other special activities.

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SHOPPING

Hua Hin is best known for its cotton prod-ucts, which come in a wide range of prints and colours, and its dried seafood prod-ucts which enjoy enduring appeal among those who favour Thai and Chinese cui-sine. A nightly street market in Hua Hin is the favourite venue for shoppers. Phetchaburi has long been renowned for the excellence of its Thai-style sweets which include subtle custards and e g g -b a s e d confection-ery. Several s p e c i a l t y sweet shops are located at the foot of Khao Wang on the north-ern outskirts of the provin-cial capital.

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Information provided by T.A.T (Tourism Autority of Thailand)