Hugged by the pine-fringed beach and a dense mangrove forest, Pranburi Forest Park makes a delightful day excursion. It is located about 20km south of Hua Hin on Phetkasem Road. If you don’t drive, it’s a good idea to charter a song-taew from Hua Hin. You will find the park’s refreshing landscape and peaceful tranquility rewarding.

The park features two natural trails – raised wooden boardwalks – crisscrossing through a dense mangrove forest. Hugging the coast, the beach route offers views of the seashore and pine forest, while the mangrove nature trail takes you inland to explore a wealth of flora. Keep your eyes peeled for the animals that live here as you stand a good chance of seeing a porcupine, squirrel, chipmunk and even kingfishers. The Pranburi River winds through the forest and a small fishing village at the Pranburi Estuary (Pak Nam Pran) before flowing into the ocean. Long-tail boats are available for a 40-minute tour of the river.