Cha-am Things to Do

For people spending a couple of days in Cha-am besides the beach area there are several sights to see such as Muruk Khatayawan Palace (King Vajiravudh’s golden teak summer residence), Kaeng Krachan National Park & Dam (Thailand’s largest national park at 2,915sq.km), Khao Luang Cave (home to many Buddha images very strangely showered in sunlight from 2pm-3pm), Phra Nakhon Khiri Palace & Park ( King Mongkut’s summer palace), Phraram Rachanivet Palace (King Chulalongkorn’s rainy season palace) and Springfield Village Golf Spa

The Beautiful palace, Maruk Khatayawan Palace, located in the King Rama 6 Military Camp. It is the King Rama Sixth's summer residence in the mid 1920s., golden teak palace with a long corridor leading to the sea and some buildings. The palace is elegant with two-storey pavilion facing to the sea, with series of halls linking each other. In the area around, It is a nice area with some gardens with beautiful flower surround.

Open everyday, Mon to Fri 8 a.m.-4 p.m. ;
Sat, Sun and public holdays 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

See more photos on my travelogue page (link below).

At the beach, the usual array of water sports are available, with all vendors offering the same hire prices; Jet skiing 700Bht/30mins, Banana Boat 200Bht/per person and so on., but note that rates can change whether the beach is crowded or not, depending upon the day of the week. If you’re tired of lazing by the sea and prefer something a little less energetic than water sports, then for 20Baht/1hr you can always hire a bicycle (seating 1, 2,3 even 4 people!) or a motorcycle 100Baht/1hr and tour along the beach road and beyond or even take an idyllic pony trip along the beach as the sun sets.

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It's sometimes too crowded for me to get to swimming in the sea so I instead enjoy the atmosphere on long beach road. Apart from taking a walk, enjoy the food, I get a rental bike, ride it along to the end northern and southern part. There are so many shops set up by day along the foot path, provide rental bike and motorbike. (Average is 20B / hour for bike and 120B / hour for motorbike) Very popular activity…. Many kinds of bike…

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North Cha Am, along beach road, there are so many ranges of accommodation from the cheapest ( I can see 200 B/night ) to five star hotels, they are just situated accross the road from front beach. There are many restaurants with different styles. On weekend, it is crowded with local visitors and groups of teenager so it can be bother for you sometime, noisy but lively. Anyway the beach is very long so you can find some other relaxing areas too, I saw it at around the end part near fisherman pier. For first visit I think you should stay around here, convenience and be part of all local visitors, all most in action here. It may looks too crowded at front beach but take a walk along beach road is always a pleasant time for me, day and night.

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We stayed at northern part but make a bike ride in the morning to visit this quiter area, southern part of Cha Am beach. The feature of the area is the peaceful, quieter than the northern part. In the beginning of the part can look crowded as the same but if you keep walking further, it's getting more relaxing. I think some parts at the end is a private beaches and living places. Still I see there is some ranges of accommodations there. The beach is more slope, some rocks but still can swim.

From Cha Am it is only about 15 to 20 minutes by taxi or hotel shuttle from Cha Am to Hua hin, there is a busy night market in the center of Hua hin and also a weekend night market just south of the center of Hua hin at the Hua hin Grand Plaza. This night market has lots of cheap clothing, foodstalls and interesting items to buy.

The area provide a good view of Cha Am and it is a relax place. Many people go there in the late afternoon, too sunny by day. I saw locals come for exercise, enjoy aerobic dance and some relax activities…

By night at View point, it is a very romantic place ;-). A lot people come to enjoy the view and keep wating for the sun go down, admire sunset View point also is a place where they arrange any Festival of Cha Am.

In the public area of Cha Am Beach is the place where you can see many kind of activities such as Jet Ski , Banana boat (favorite for teenager groups) etc. Sometime I can feel it’s too crowded on weekend as it is a popular place for Thais spending family time together on beach, mostly parents sit and enjoy food at beach chairs and watching the kids enjoy in the water.

The Nang Phan Thu Rut nature trail.
Take a walk along 3 and a half kms of trails in the hills behind Cha am.
You can see wild monkeys and birds and get a great view along the coastline.