Khao Takiab (Chopstick Hill)

Khao Takiab (Chopstick Hill) is a forested limestone hill at the southern end of Hua Hin's beach, crowned by a large golden Buddha statue visible from far along the coast. The hill is covered with temples and shrines, and home to a troop of monkeys who have made themselves thoroughly at home among the sacred buildings.

The climb to the top takes about 20 minutes on a path through the trees. The views from the summit take in the full sweep of Hua Hin beach to the north and Khao Takiab Bay to the south. The golden Buddha figure at the top is a major focus of local devotion and the site is busy with Thai worshippers, especially on weekends.

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The monkeys that live on Khao Takiab are both the hill's main attraction and its main hazard. Long-tailed macaques have colonized the temples and paths and have no fear of people — they will snatch food, cameras, or sunglasses if given the opportunity. Local vendors sell bags of food to tempt the monkeys, which does not help. The advice is to keep bags closed, avoid eye contact, and enjoy them from a respectful distance.