Hat Laem Kum

Hat Laem Kum is a roughly 5km stretch of sand in Na Hu Kwang subdistrict, Thap Sakae district, used far more by local fishing families than by tourists. It sits about 4km off the main coastal road, which keeps it quieter than the beaches closer to Hua Hin further north. Entry is free and there’s no set closing time, though most visitors come in daylight hours.

The bay is lined with coconut palms along parts of the sand, and longtail fishing boats work the water and haul in daily — you’ll often see boats coming and going rather than sunbathers in rows. At one end, the “laem” (cape) that gives the beach its name juts into the sea as reddish-orange rock rather than the pale sand found elsewhere along the bay, a spot locals use for both sunrise and sunset. The beach has hosted a seasonal shellfish festival in past years, though that’s a local event rather than a fixed annual fixture — don’t plan a trip around it without checking current dates.

Watch out: there are no lifeguards and facilities are minimal — a handful of vendors appear on busy weekends, but on an ordinary weekday you should bring your own water, food, and shade.

Thai families use the beach for weekend picnics rather than all-day sunbathing, so it’s at its quietest on weekday mornings. Insider Tip: the rocky point at the cape end is the better spot for photos at both ends of the day — arrive close to sunrise or sunset rather than midday, when the light is flatter and the heat stronger.

Getting here means your own transport — car or motorbike from Thap Sakae or Hua Hin — since there’s no public bus route to the beach itself. Parking is informal near the access track. Other Thap Sakae district spots worth combining it with include Koh Ram Ra, a small offshore island, and Namtok Huai Yang National Park inland.