Hua Hin

The oldest and most traditional Thai resort combines the attractions of a modern holiday destination with the charm and fascination of a still active fishing port.

And while most other Thai holiday destinations cater mainly to foreign tourists, Hua Hin is a holiday resort for foreigners and Thais.

Besides it's great 5 mile long beach Hua Hin provides the highest density of world class golf courses anywhere in Thailand while it's yet virtually undiscovered as an international Golf destination. Green-fees and other costs are currently among the lowest in the world while course maintenance and services are superb.

While the beaches of Phuket and Samui were discovered only recently and have since undergone rapid and sometimes destructive development, Hua Hin has already been the favourite Thai resort for over 70 years.

The resort was discovered in the early 1920s by King Rama VII as an ideal getaway from the sultry metropolis of Bangkok. The tranquil fishing village was turned into the Royal resort and consequently became popular among Siam's nobility and upper-class.

The construction of a railway line from Bangkok ensured its accessibility and popularity with a wider part of the the Thai public.

But it was the resort's royal endorsement which has given Hua Hin a special character of its very own.

Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park

This coastal national park, literally translated as "Three Hundred Peaks', covers more than 24,500 acres. High, thinly vegetated limestone mountains and coastal marshlands overlook several islands. The marshlands support a great variety of waterfowl species and the limestone masses are riddled with popular caves. Accommodation and camping facilities are available. Further details may be obtained from the National Parks Division in Bangkok (Tel: 579-0529).

Prachuap Khiri Khan

This unpretentious and somnolent provincial capital lies 90 kilometers 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 supports 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 Yod, and a splendid view of Prachuap Bay.