In May 2020, having been stuck in northern Thailand for two months already, following the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, long-distance public transport in the country began to slowly reoperate. We had missed the coast. It was time to look for some nice beach in the south to head to and settle at. Pondering a few different options, we ended up in the village of Khao Tao, some 10 km south from Hua Hin city. It proved an excellent choice. In the end, we stayed there for some two months and had a great time. Here I am writing this post with some good ideas and tips about what to do and see in Khao Tao Beach.
Where to stay: Khao Tao or Hua Hin?
Hua Hin, as I saw it, is one of the most lively and westernized cities in Thailand. It hosts a large population of expats and a regular influx of foreign and local tourists. It is an overall decent location to stay, whether for a week-long holiday or a longer-term basing. If however, like me, you happen to appreciate quietude and slow life-tempo, less-known Khao Tao is the place for you. There, while still having all basic amenities and plenty of activities to keep you busy, you can easily indulge in the peaceful day routine the sparsity of civilization permits. And whenever you feel a little restless, Hua Hin is a 15-minutes ride away.
If you are a budget traveler, your best accommodation option in Khao Tao may be the one we also chose: Oyo 570 Seaside guesthouse. During our visit, that was by far the cheapest one we found. It is an overall lovely place, with modest AC-rooms and sweet outdoor spaces, a 100-meter walk to the beach. The only problem was the owners, who weren’t particularly nice, and they ended up effectively kicking us out after more than a month of staying there. So if you can afford it, you could better check out Khao Tao Beach Lodge Old Siam and Kao Tao Villa Beach Resort, which are situated right before the beach and are reasonably priced. Thai House Resort is another charming lodge with a swimming pool, a bit further up by the lake. If you are more into the high-end, you may have a look at this beachfront villa. Explore more places via the search box below.
Where to eat in Khao Tao
Khao Tao maintains a rather large variety of food places, ranging from streetfood to the fancy. A place you should undoubtedly check out is Baan Tao Restaurant. Delicious food, decent portions, reasonable prices, warm atmosphere, and most importantly, beautiful people. After initially spotting the place, we hardly ever had dinner in any other one.
What to do and see in Khao Tao and Hua Hin
Here are some suggestions about how to spend your time in Khao Tao.
Khao Tao Beach – Swim, walk, run
Khao Tao beach is mostly famous for, well, its beach. A 7-km stretch of fine sand is offered for long barefoot strolls or a good morning jog. The sea is also fairly clean and deep for swimming. You can enjoy a drink in one of the few places along the otherwise sparsely-developed beach.
Khao Tao Lake and its lovely promenade
Khao Tao has a beautiful lake/reservoir of its own, ringed by a 3-km long, paved promenade. The village’s inhabitants are very fond to walk or run around the lake before sunset. Along the lake’s periphery, one may wonder at some really scenic views of the lush, surrounding hills, as well as the picturesque, decorative pavilion in its midst. Giant monitor lizards are commonly sighted hanging out on the lake’s shore.
Wat Tham Temple
Wat Tham is situated on the rock bordering the southern end of Khao Tao beach. It features numerous temple buildings, shrines, statues, and quaint artifacts. It is inhabited by a number of monks who seem to appreciate their privacy, having not commercialized the site. A steep path leads from the temple to the hilltop, where the conspicuous, giant Buddha statue is located. Some really breathtaking views may be seen from there. A narrow forest trail leads from there to the Sai Noi Beach located on the other side of the rock.
Sai Noi Beach
Behind Wat Tham hill, you find the little hidden beach of Sai Noi. A few hundred meters of sand stretch reached only by one road and two walking paths from either end. A small resort and a restaurant are situated there, ideal for a sea-food dinner or an evening drink. The sea is cleaner and deeper, better for swimming, than the main beach at Khao Tao.
Hua Hin Safari & Adventure Park
If you are sensitive to animal rights – which you should probably be – you may want to stay away from that place. If that’s not your worry, or if you have kids, you could check out that zoo park. We just happened to drive past one afternoon, but we didn’t go in – it was shut anyway because of the virus. We got, however, to see some elephants leisurely grazing about and some giraffe heads protruding over the park’s walls. They also host tigers, crocodiles, and snakes.
Kitesurfing
If you’re visiting Khao Tao in winter-spring, and you are of the adventurous kind, you shouldn’t omit to try out some kitesurfing. Go to Anchor Bar for lessons and rentals.
Enjoy views and see monkeys on Hua Hin’s hills
If you have a vehicle, you definitely want to drive to Hua Hin and check out some stuff over there as well. One of my favorite things to do in the city was to go for a walk on its hills, stare at some splendid views, and take some monkey pictures. The three best hills in Hua Hin are Hin Lek Fai, the Monkey Mountain, and Wat Khao Sanam Chai.
Hua Hin nightlife
If you are a party person, bad news are you won’t have anything too exciting to keep you busy in the night hours. Pretty much everything in the village is closed after 9 pm or so. Good news, you may just head over to Hua Hin and go wild in some of its countless bars and clubs.
Other things to check out in Hua Hin
Look into more ideas for organized tours and activities in Hua Hin on Viator.
Day trips ideas
During our stay in the area, we went on a number of independent road trips by scooter. Check the stories below for inspiration.
- Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park Camping Trip from Hua Hin
- Camping in Kui Buri National Park: Bike Tour from Hua Hin
- Camping at Pran Buri Lake: bike trip from Hua Hin
- Riding to Palau Waterfall and Camping at Huai Mai Tai Lake
Accommodation and Activities in Thailand
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