Visiting Routes

Plearn Wan is the place to be if you want to experience the old golden days of Hua Hin. This new community mall with a unique concept brings back some of the most treasured memories of this resort to the modern day in a form of a lifestyle complex. At Plearn Wan, you will be transported back to the past through its stores, restaurants and cafes that offer retro favorites from food and ice creams to toys and vintage fashion. The highlight is the “nang klang plaeng” or an open-air cinema on its luscious green lawn where old movies are shown like in the old days. Hua Hin is known to be a retro-loving resort town but Plearn Wan has just taken the experience to a whole other level.

Phetkasem Soi 38, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan
www.plearnwan.com

In a place like Hua Hin where there are many spots where one can enjoy nature, it might be hard to pinpoint just one favorite. But what makes Khao Hin Lek Fai different from others is the blend of local lifestyle and natural beauty. At the break of dawn, not only does it make a great place to watch the sunrise, it is also a place to observe the local Hua Hin morning routine thanks to its bustling market at the foot of the mountain. Trekking up to the peak can be tiring, but on the way adventurers can commune with local wildlife. Once there, they are eventually rewarded with a breathtaking 360-degree view over all of Hua Hin.

For an authentic glimpse into Cha-am’s old glory as an elite summer destination, there is no better place to go back in time than at Mrigadayavan Palace. Constructed in 1924 as a summer home for King Rama VI (King Vajiravudh), the location of the palace was ideal for a relaxing getaway owing to the adjacent white sandy beach. The palace is also well-known for its unique Thai-Victorian architecture-an open elevated plan that can withstand strong ocean winds and shelter from scorching summer heat-impressively designed by His Majesty King Rama VI himself. There are a total of 16 golden teakwood pavilions within the compound, all of which are interconnected by airy elevated walkways which make navigating the palace a breezy experience. Mrigadayavan Palace was used as a royal resident twice, until the death of King Rama VI in 1925. The palace was then used for royal and military functions before being restored and opened to the public. It is now considered one of the true must-see spots in Cha-Am and Thailand.

Baan Puen Palace is another famous royal palace in the province of Petchaburi with a staggeringly beautiful architecture, built during the reign of His Majesty the King Rama V. This whie colonial-style residence was designed by a German architect to answer royal requests for a holiday palace built in a European style. Modeled after a summer palace of Kaiser Wilhelm, a German king, the palace is sitting near the east side of Petchaburi river, enabling the premise to take in cool river breeze. The palace got its moniker from a big steel cast cannon standing tall at the front of the palace. Even though it does not actually house any historical artifacts from that time, its airy halls and spiral staircases are tempting enough for any art and design lovers who are visiting the province.

Open daily 8am-4pm
Entrance fee: B20 for adults, B10 for children
Tel: +66 (0) 3242 8506 ext. 259

Kaeng Krachan is the biggest national park in Thailand and is considered as one of the most picturesque thanks to its combination of beautiful mountains, creeks, dam and forests, and the result is this ecological phenomenon. The national park is a favorite among campers and outback enthusiasts as the park’s cool atmosphere makes a great place to spend the night among natural beauty. For those just visiting, there are many key points in this park worth a visit, such as the lake with small islands scattered about where visitors can visit by boat, or the breathtaking Pha Noen Thoong peak for a 360 degree view of the quiet greenery down below

Wing 5 sits on land surrounded by two bays, Ao Prachuab and Ao Manao, and has a clear view of Khao Lom Muak. Aside from being the official Air Force base of the province, the site itself is also rich in history dating back to 1941 during World War II when Japan attacked the base and took the lives of many residents of Ao Manao. In December 1941, only hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese troops started invading provinces in Thailand, including Prachuap Khiri Khan, by sea in order to get to the British Allies who were at the time occupying Burma. A battle broke out between Japanese soldiers and Thai Wing 5 forces in the early hours and lasted for over 30 hours before Prime Minister Field Marshall Pibulasonggram ordered Thai forces to surrender to avoid more casualties. The 39 men, a youth volunteer and two female residents who lost their lives are forever honored on a memorial statue set up just offshore of Ao Prachuap. There is also an interactive museum dedicated to the event, depicting stories of that fateful night.