Khao Takiab Beach
Khao Takiab or Chopstick Hill lies just 7 kilometres to the south of Hua Hin. What was once a quiet fishing village has in recent years witnessed increased tourism development, with international hotels and apartment complexes springing up along the road that runs through the village. Despite this, it’s still considerably less developed than Hua Hin. It remains a popular destination with tourists and Thais, and there is always a large influx of visitors at the weekends. The focal point at one end of the village is the hill itself (sometimes called Monkey Mountain because hundreds of mischievous macaque monkeys have overrun the place), and the long sandy beach which runs for several kilometres further south.
To reach Khao Takiab beach from Hua Hin you can either take your own transport or hop on a local motorbike taxi, tuk-tuk or songthaew bus (by far the cheapest option) from the main Petchakasem highway or at various places around town. Access to the beach itself is fairly straightforward: once through the village take the righthand fork in the road past the police station, and a series of small lanes lead you right down to the beach. Follow the signs to the Blue Wave hotel or the Anantasila resort and you can’t go far wrong.
Khao Takiab beach is a picturesque sandy stretch that gently curves from behind the mountain all the way to Suan Son Pradiphat beach a few kilometres further south.
Dominated on the northern side by the rocky hill, it’s fairly quiet and usually less busy than the beach in Hua Hin. The sand is clean and pebbly in places, and at low tide there is a wide expanse to reach the water which is very shallow and slopes gently.
The northernmost strip is where all the restaurants and activities are located within a five minute stroll, and you’ll find the atmosphere is relaxing and low-key; you won’t even get hassled much by the beach vendors unless you really show an interest. On a weekday and during the low season you might be the only soul on the beach, but Thais tend to arrive later in the day when it’s not so hot. You might even see an impromptu game of beach football played between local children.
Visible just 800 metres from the coast are the tiny secluded islands of Koh Singto (Lion Island) and Koh Tao (Turtle Island, not to be confused with the other Koh Tao near Koh Samui). These are excellent snorkelling and fishing spots that can be reached by boat in around 20 minutes, however there are no scheduled trips so you have to organise your own transportation at Khao Takiab fishing village. Anglers can expect to find squid, grouper and red snapper in abundance amid a very pristine natural environment. Be aware that there are no facilities on the islands themselves.
Restaurants at Khao Takiab beach are mainly small affairs which offer a dazzling variety of western and Thai cuisine at reasonable prices. Most provide chairs and tables as well as the obligatory sun-beds and umbrellas, and there are enough restaurants here to cater for everyone but without being overcrowded.
Try the Nongkim seafood restaurant (the last one on the beach’s southern end) which offers delicious locally caught seafood, or for a more upmarket experience the Anantasila resort (closer to the mountain) and restaurant has an excellent BBQ lunch (between 11.30 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily) at 690 baht for a huge platter of fresh seafood, as well as a lovely pool set in a verdant tropical garden and live music throughout the day. Alternatively, there are various beach vendors selling snacks such as freshly sliced fruit (watermelon, pineapple, and guava) and roasted, flattened squid at 20 baht each.
The beach activities at Khao Takiab are just as varied as at many larger destinations, however it’s done in a more laid back style here. Besides swimming or paddling in the sea, it’s possible to ride horses and ponies on the beach. Prices start at around 300 to 400 baht or just half that for 15 minutes. The horses seem well looked after and the guides will help if you need assistance. When there are no customers, they can be seen racing each other or just snoozing in the shade.
There are many massage shops dotted along the beach, but you could do worse than try Beach Massage 3 on the northern side near Anantasila. They charge 300 baht an hour (prices are the same everywhere, surely a monopoly!) for a Thai or oil massage.
For an adrenaline rush, thrill-seekers can hire jet-skis at around 1500 baht for 30 minutes, or jump on an inflatable banana boat with some friends, but be prepared to get completely soaked. Gladly, the tranquil atmosphere isn’t spoilt and there are long periods of inactivity, although it does provide some welcome excitement and is an engaging spectator sport.
A few guesthouses and hotels will rent out two person sea kayaks, which is a pleasant way to explore the coastline with a friend. It’s probably even possible to paddle all the way to Koh Singto and back in just a few hours.
