From Hua Hin, most people will go by the highway as it is indeed the fastest and simplest way back to Bangkok. But, if you wish to spend some more time, there is a so-called scenic alternative as well. Along this road, they have created some “points of interest” with information to what you can see in the surrounding area, such as for example local fauna, special trees and such….the problem with these places, is that parking a car is not allowed near the information posts and you will have to stop by the narrow road-shoulder which by the way is not a good idea, as well as not being allowed.
To read: My Pride, My Thai part 1: The Preparation (opens in a new tab).
To read: My Pride, My Thai part 2: The flight (opens in a new tab).
To read: My Pride, My Thai part 3: The arrival (opens in a new tab).
To read: My Pride, My Thai part 4: The first morning (opens in a new tab).
To read: My Pride, My Thai part 5: Big C (opens in a new tab).
To read: My Pride, My Thai part 6: Bangkok (opens in a new tab).
To read: My Pride, My Thai part 7: 200 THB to heaven (opens in a new tab).
To read: My Pride, My Thai part 8: Bangkok - Ubon Ratchathani (opens in a new tab).
To read: My Pride, My Thai part 9: Being a celebrity in Thailand (opens in a new tab).
To read: My Pride, My Thai part 10: From Sisakhet to Sakon Nakhon (opens in a new tab).
To read: My Pride, My Thai part 11: Sakon Nakhon (opens in a new tab).
To read: My Pride, My Thai part 11-B: Coffee Love at Sakon Nakhon (opens in a new tab).
To read: My Pride, My Thai part 12: The long drive to see the King (opens in a new tab).
To read: My Pride, My Thai part 13: Hua Hin Inbox (opens in a new window).
To read: My Pride, My Thai part 14: Returning to Kanchanaburi (opens in a new tab).
To read: My Pride, My Thai part 15: The luxurious resort (opens in a new tab).
To read: My Pride, My Thai part 16: LiT Bangkok Hotel (opens in a new tab).
To read: My Pride, My Thai part 17: Nearing the end (opens in a new tab).
To read: My Pride, My Thai part 18: Departure for Norway (opens in a new tab).
To read: My Pride, My Thai part 19: The two forgotten hotels (opens in a new tab).
To read: My Pride, My Thai part 20: Back to work again… (opens in a new tab).
To read: My Pride, My Thai part 21: The new dawn starts right here (opens in a new tab).
To read: My Pride, My Thai part 22: The homecoming (opens in a new tab).
To read: My Pride, My Thai part 23: A world away (opens in a new tab).
To read: My Pride, My Thai part 24: Hello sir… (opens in a new tab).
To read: My Pride, My Thai part 25: Prachuap Khiri Khan - Hua Hin (opens in a new tab).
With the “scenic route” back to Bangkok, you expect amazing and spectacular vistas and panorama points, you may be in for a bit of a disappointment. Don’t get me wrong, I applaud local governments for having created better sigange and directories for this route, it’s scenic properties is somewhat an overstatement. There are many other much more scenic routes around the country which have not yet been earmarked as scenic.
The drive will consume a lot more time than if you chose to travel by highway, and in the areas around Petchburi, you will eventually rejoin the highway alternatives again. From Hua Hin, you will pass through the rather “quiet” Cha Am ( as long as you are not there on a weekend when locals flock to the beaches here like bees to honey). The seafood on the beach is to die for and highly recommended. They are not completely accustomed yet to foreigners at Cha Am, but compared to two decades ago, there are now a lot more foreginers staying here.
From Cha Am, driving the scenic route north to Petchaburi and through Nakhon Pathom, you will be able to visit other great places such as those pictured below. As you may see, on the day I travelled, there was no mentionable fighting over the beach chairs. A stop at Phra Pthom Chedi in Nakhon Pathom is naturally a must-do stop if you chose that highway in towards Bangkok.
Needless to say, when travelling to empty places like these, on your own pace, do make sure you take time to spend some time and talk with the locals. It’s like that, you get the most memorable memories in Thailand.
Surprisingly comfortable car to drive: actually surprised why Honda is not so big back in Norway.
