Roughly an hour south of town lies Khao Sam Roi Yot, meaning 'Mountain of Three Hundred Peaks', Thailand's first coastal national park. Jagged limestone hills rise straight out of marshes, mangroves and quiet beaches, and it is excellent for birdlife. The star is Phraya Nakhon Cave, reached by a short longtail boat from Bang Pu beach and then a steep, sweaty half-hour climb. Inside a collapsed cavern sits the Kuha Karuhas pavilion, a delicate royal pavilion built for King Rama the Fifth's visit in 1890. Around mid-morning a shaft of sunlight drops through the cave roof and lights the golden pavilion, which is the moment everyone comes for. Wear proper shoes, bring water, and start early to catch both the boat and the sunbeam. You can combine the cave with the park's viewpoints and mangrove boardwalk to fill a full day trip out of Hua Hin.
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