Cha-Am Resort (25 km from Hua Hin) is recommended for lovers of a relaxing holiday. Its main advantage is the virgin beaches, framed by palm plantations.
Unlike noisy Pattaya, Cha-Am is ideal for a family vacation, this place is not yet so popular among tourists, and therefore you can always find a piece of paradise here, where the atmosphere of a sometimes-necessary cozy solitude reigns. Check jibin123 for customs regulations and visa requirements of Thailand.
How to get there
The nearest airport to Cha-Am is located in Hua Hin, but the most convenient way to get to this resort is from Bangkok, which is located 170 km away.
There is no public transport directly from the airport to Cha-Am, you need to take any bus or minivan that goes to or passes Hua Hin and warn the driver to stop in Cha-Am. You will have to spend 3-4 hours on the road (depending on traffic jams, which are not uncommon here), the fare is about 270-300 THB.
Buses to Cha-Am also run from Bangkok South Bus Station, travel time is about 3 hours, fare is 175 THB. A taxi from the airport to the resort will cost from 2000 THB.
You can also get to Cha-Am by public transport from other popular resorts. A minibus runs from Pattaya daily, travel time is 4-5 hours, fare is 400 THB. The bus from Chiang Mai goes to Hua Hin but stops in Cha Am. There is one morning flight and two evening flights, the journey will take 12-14 hours, it is better to buy tickets 1-2 days before the trip.
Weather in Cha Am
The average annual temperature in Cha-Am is +27 °C. The best time to travel is from December to March.
Beaches of Cha-Am
The beaches in Cha-Am are wide, long and mostly lively. The coast is covered with coarse yellow sand with stones and shells, so walking along it without shoes is not very comfortable.
There is a road near the central beach, so it is usually quite noisy here, but on the other side of the road there are many restaurants, cafes, beach shops for motorbike and jet ski rentals and other tourist attractions. Of the unusual entertainment on the beach, there is the rental of car cameras, which children love to ride, as well as horseback riding – Thais with horses walk along the coast almost all day long. There are sunbeds and umbrellas for rent at a price of 100-200 THB per day.
The coast is not the cleanest, and the water is cloudy, as the tides come and go here quite often. The sea itself is shallow, 30-40 m from the shore, it can easily be ankle-deep, but it is always very warm and safe for small children.
The central part of the beach is quite noisy due to the road and crowded, especially on weekends, as Thais from Bangkok and other major cities come here. In the northern and southern parts of the coast, the beaches are more secluded, but there is no infrastructure there, except for expensive hotels and their restaurants. Pay attention to Thiang Beach (to the north of the fishing pier), it is considered the most beautiful in these parts.
Popular hotels in Cha Am
Cha-Am has a good selection of hotels of different price categories, and in general, accommodation here is much cheaper than in neighboring Hua Hin.
Budget hotels are concentrated near the central beach, across the road from the coast. There you can find inexpensive guesthouses, the amenities in them will be minimal – a bed and a fan, but clean and in the center of the resort. The cost of rooms starts from 300 THB for a double room, for 400 THB you can already find a room with air conditioning.
More expensive and comfortable hotels of the 4-5 * category are located a couple of kilometers north and south of the central beach. It is less crowded and the hotels are on the first line. There are no bungalows and cottages here, mostly multi-storey hotels. The cost of living is from 1500 THB per day for a double room. Early bookings often receive generous discounts of up to 50%.
Attractions and attractions in Cha-Am
Sam Roi Yot National Park is located in Cha -Am, where you can visit the Phrayanakorn Cave with the magnificent Rama V Hall. 65 km from Cha-Am, to the Buddha caves, to the temple of Suvanaram and the palace of Phra-Nakhon-Khiri.
Not far from the village is Sam Roi Yot National Park, which means “mountain of three hundred peaks”, an oasis of pristine nature, where you can meet exotic animals.
6 things to do in Cha Am
- Visit Sam Roi Yot National Park, where you can ride Thai pies.
- In the Hua Hinarea, where the famous night market is located, buy amazing products made of pearls, batik and other exquisite works of Thai craftsmen.
- Admire the famous sapphires and rubies, which are mined in the neighboring provinces of Chanthaburi and Kanchanaburi.
- Admire the natural waterfall Pa-La-U, located deep in the forest near Cha-Am.
- Take pictures with the nimble traders of the Famous Floating Market, who skillfully maneuver on their boats loaded with fruits, flowers and seafood.
- Become a witness of the annual large-scale sailing regatta, in which the king of Siam himself takes an active part. The spectacle is grandiose.
