BEACH
The southern part of Dolphin Bay is separated from the beach by a river. It is a beautiful, quiet bay with beautiful views of small islands: a big difference from the touristy main beach of Dolphin Bay. The beach offers a serene and unspoiled environment with soft, golden sands and clear waters.
The coastline is fringed with lush vegetation, creating a picturesque and natural setting. Most people don’t make it to this bay because you have to cross a river and drive around the golf course.
WHERE TO STAY
On this secret beach there are 2 stays in the upper range segment, Brassiere and Hansar. Brasserie has a unique character; each room is individually designed. Depending on your taste, it can feel enchanting or over the top. Hansar has a beautiful infinity pool and offers a more overall experience of luxury. Both hotels have restaurants. It is a 3-kilometer drive to the restaurants in the center of Dolphin Bay.
Please note that there are 2 roads leading to the beach. The one we use is the concrete road that goes to the beach rather than to the lodgings (use Beach in front of Nom Sao Island on your navigation app). This road is in better condition, but you have to walk the last 100 meters over the beach to the stays. The navigation apps normally lead you via a partly unpaved road to your hotel, although we recommend using the road in better condition and walk the last part.
PLACE
Coming from the north, the beaches at Dolphin Bay are the first places that give us the ‘TreasureBeaches feeling’: nice relaxed beaches with stays we love. Here, you will find a good mix of mid-range and upper range stays. Yet on the main beaches of Dolphin Bay are often roads between the beaches and hotels, or the road is too close to the hotel. We prefer Dolphin Bay to Hua Hin or Cha-Am.
WHAT TO DO
One of the most popular attractions of Dolphin Bay is, of course, dolphin watching. The dolphins are known to inhabit the waters in the area. You can book boat tours to spot these acrobatic animals in their natural habitat. Alongside this, Dolphin Bay also offers something complete different – a golf course.
Between Dolphin Bay and Hat Kuiburi lies the Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park. Here is Thailand’s largest freshwater swamps, mangroves and of course a great diversity of animals. Go for a walk on Laem Sala’s natural beach and take a boat trip in the fishing village of Ban Bang. You can visit the limestone rocks, coastal wetlands or one of the shrimp or fruit farms. Well known is the Phraya Nakhon Cave, a cave famous for the light shaft that protrudes through the ceiling. The area is known for bird watching.
A nice excursion if you fancy more people is the seaside resort of Hua Hin. The city is great for shopping. In addition to the well-known Thai markets with standard products, you will find the Market Village: a Western mega-mall with well-known brands. You have to dine at the night market in the middle of the city center!
Besides shopping, you can visit the Mrigadaya Palace and the Khao Takiap temple complex. The palace was built by order of King Vajiravudh to serve as a vacation home and construction took place in the period 1923–1924. The king himself designed the villa with the help of an architect, which consists of sixteen teak buildings connected by a series of walkways.
TRANSPORT
Dolphin Bay is located near Pranburi, 35 kilometer south of Hua Hin. From Bangkok it is a 3 to 3.5-hour drive by car or taxi (2500 – 3000 baht). There are good train, bus and minibus connections between Bangkok and Pranburi.
Traveling from the south, you will find good bus and minibus connections from Chumpon and Prachuap Khiri Khan to Pranburi. For the last leg you can take a taxi from Pranburi to Dolphin Bay or Kuiburi (300-400 baht). Renting a scooter in Dolphin Bay is simple.
