Khao Takiab Beach, Hua Hin: Is It Worth the Trip? (Guide)

Featured image: mmmmngai@rogers.com, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Khao Takiab Beach at a glance

Khao Takiab Beach lies directly beneath Khao Takiab hill, where Wat Khao Takiab and its monkeys sit above the sand. Facilities cluster near that hill. Further along, the beach runs on as a long, open arc. Our editorial verdict: go for local atmosphere and cheap loungers. Skip it if you want clear water and a polished promenade. Takiab Beach (also spelled Thakiab) is the same place.

• Distance: about 5 km (roughly 3 miles) south of central Hua Hin.
• Access: 6-7 lanes, sometimes called the Thakiab Bay Alleys, reportedly lead from the main road to the sea.
• Sand: reportedly a fine white and black volcanic mix.
• Loungers: reportedly a fixed ฿50 per person.
• Best for: local atmosphere, wading, hill views and low-key stays.

Who Khao Takiab Beach suits (and who should skip it)

Fit depends on what you want from a beach day. Families with young children can use the shallows, which reportedly stay knee-deep a long way out. Couples and photographers get the hill backdrop and fishing boats. Budget travelers benefit from simple lounger pricing and lane-side guesthouses. Swimmers who want clear water should look elsewhere.

What to do at Khao Takiab Beach

Start on the sand. Simple cafés and a couple of eateries sit behind the lounger rows near the hill. Loungers reportedly cost a fixed ฿50 per person, so confirm the rate before you sit. A line of trees and palms shades the back of the beach for free. Scooters, boats and horses are offered for hire on open patches. Order seafood, since a fishing village sits at the foot of the hill. Walk to the hill end for the rock ridge and fishermen's houses. Wat Khao Takiab and its monkeys are on the hill, but you cannot reach the main temples and Buddha from the beach. You must go around by road. Ask locally about current access rules and monkey etiquette before you climb. For supplies, 7-Eleven and Family Mart branches sit on the main road, reportedly about 5 minutes from the sea. A market sets up by the temple twice a week, according to local accounts. Confirm the days on site.

Tide, waves, and swimming

Expect a very wide, shallow beach. It reportedly spans 330 feet or more across, and low tide exposes extra sand with a grayish film. Waves are frequent, so water is often murky. That is a general pattern, not a guarantee. Check a tide table the day before and plan wading for higher water. Swimmers, windsurfers and jet skis reportedly share the water at similar distances from shore. Stay alert, and follow any local flags. Families will find it easier to paddle than to swim laps here.

How to get to Khao Takiab Beach from Hua Hin

Head south along Petch Kasem Road toward Takiab, to the local tuk-tuk terminus. A green tuk-tuk from central Hua Hin reportedly costs ฿10 per person. From the terminus, the beach is a 4-5 minute drive or about a 15-minute walk. There is a fork near the terminus. Continue along the road to the right. Any lane then leads to the sand. Fares change, so ask before you board.

Where to stay near Khao Takiab Beach

The area is a hotel zone, with lane-side hotels, condos and low-rise bungalows. Reported names within walking distance of the sand include Marrakesh, Sikreiz, Breeze and Viman. Check each property's current status before booking. Price levels run from budget bungalows to high-end palace-style hotels, so compare current rates directly. Two hotels reportedly face the sea. Others sit 10-15 minutes on foot toward the military beach. Staying here gives you sand within walking distance. The trade-off is distance from Hua Hin's restaurants, night market and transport. Without your own wheels, expect to ride the tuk-tuk into town each evening. A large supermarket is not nearby, since the nearest Lotus is reportedly in Hua Hin.

Khao Takiab vs other Hua Hin beaches

Each beach answers a different question. Hua Hin's central stretch is the easiest option, and our guide to the town beach covers it. Suan Son, also called military beach, is reportedly a 10-15 minute walk from some Takiab lodgings. For a calmer day north of town, read about Cha-am's shoreline. Farther south, Pranburi's quieter sand rewards a longer trip.

Mistakes to avoid and how much time to plan

Half a day covers the beach, lunch and a road detour to the temple. Make it a full day only if you also want the hill and the fishing-village end. Beyond that, little else is nearby.

• Do not assume you can walk from the sand to the temples. Go around by road.
• Do not swim at low tide without checking the tide table first.
• Do not expect a supermarket or nightlife nearby.
• Do not accept a lounger without confirming the per-person rate.
• Do not rely on the tuk-tuk for the last stretch. Plan for a 15-minute walk.