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Khao Takiab (Monkey Mountain), Hua Hin: The Full Guide

Last updated 2026-07-08

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TL;DR: Khao Takiab (‘Chopstick Hill’, better known as Monkey Mountain) is a temple-topped headland about 7km south of central Hua Hin. The temple, Wat Khao Lad (also called Wat Khao Takiab), is free to enter and open roughly daylight hours, with a striking golden standing Buddha of about 20 metres and a viewpoint that reaches as far as Cha-Am on a clear day. The catch is the long-tailed macaques: they are bold, skilled thieves, so zip your bag, hide all food and drink, and never feed them by hand. You reach the top by a decorated staircase or a sealed road; getting there costs about ฿10 by songthaew (฿15 after 7pm), around ฿50 by motorbike taxi, or roughly ฿250-300 by taxi. The calm, swimmable beach at the foot of the hill has seafood restaurants and a fishing village. All prices ฿33 = US$1 (July 2026).

If you’ve searched “Khao Takiab” or “Hua Hin Monkey Mountain,” you’re looking at the same place: a temple-crowned headland at the south end of Hua Hin’s beach, famous equally for its golden Buddha and its resident troop of thieving macaques. This guide covers the temple, the big Buddha, the viewpoint, the very real monkey-safety issue, how to get there and what it costs, and the beach at the bottom. Every price, distance and detail below is checked against current 2026 sources, listed at the end, with baht converted to US dollars at ฿33 = US$1 (July 2026).

What is Khao Takiab?

Khao Takiab, or “Chopstick Hill,” is a rocky headland about 7km south of central Hua Hin, topped by a Buddhist temple and home to a large troop of monkeys, which is why almost everyone calls it Monkey Mountain. The hill rises steeply above the coast (over 100 metres) and marks the southern end of Hua Hin’s long beach, per Thaizer. It’s one of the easiest half-day trips from town: a temple, a viewpoint, a photogenic Buddha and a beach, all in one spot. The monkeys are part of the appeal and part of the hazard, so read the safety section before you go.

The temple: Wat Khao Lad

The hilltop temple, Wat Khao Lad (also called Wat Khao Takiab), is free to enter and a daylight-hours visit, roughly 8am to 5:30pm. No single official opening time is published, so treat it as a daytime stop rather than counting on exact hours, per Renown Travel and Forever Vacation. The complex is a cluster of small shrines and statues, including Chinese-style figures, spread across the summit. As a working temple, dress modestly, cover your shoulders and knees, and remove your shoes where signs ask. Going earlier in the day means fewer people and calmer monkeys.

The big Buddha and the viewpoint

The landmark golden standing Buddha, about 19-20 metres tall and named Phra Pang Haan Yad by one local source, looks out over the sea and is visible from the beach below. It’s the main photo stop at the top, per Renown Travel and Thaizer. From the summit you also get a wide view over Hua Hin’s northern beach and the Gulf of Thailand, reaching as far as Cha-Am on a clear day, with a shaded sala where you can buy a cold drink or have a massage while you take it in. Early morning is the most comfortable time for the climb and usually the clearest for the long view.

The monkeys: safety and warnings

The long-tailed macaques are bold, fast and skilled thieves, and they can bite, so this is the one part of the visit to take seriously. Travel guides are unanimous on the basics, per Forever Vacation, Renown Travel and Things To Do In Hua Hin:

  • Zip your bag and hide all food and drink. The monkeys target jacket pockets, open water bottles and plastic bags specifically, and they’ve learned exactly where people carry snacks.
  • Don’t carry visible plastic bags. They read them as food and will grab.
  • Never touch or feed them by hand. Hand-feeding invites a bite; use the designated feeding spots if you buy the monkey food (bananas, corn, peanuts) sold near the base for a small fee.
  • Watch the staircase handrails. Monkeys congregate there, so guard your belongings on the way up and down.
  • Keep children close and don’t let them hold food or drinks in the open.

There’s no official government advisory or documented attack we could verify, so treat the risk as “keep your wits about you and secure your stuff” rather than a no-go. Sensible visitors have a fine time; careless ones lose sunglasses, snacks and the occasional phone.

Getting to Khao Takiab and up the hill

The cheapest way from town is the green songthaew, about ฿10 (~US$0.30) by day or ฿15 (~US$0.45) after 7pm, and you can reach the summit by staircase or by the sealed road.

OptionApprox. cost (one way)Notes
Songthaew (green)฿10-15 (~US$0.30-0.45)From the night market area along Phetkasem Road, ~every 15 min
Motorbike taxi฿50 (~US$1.50)Quick and direct
Tuk-tukfrom ฿100 (~US$3)Minimum fare for the short run
Taxi฿250-300 (~US$8-9)Fixed-fare or metered; most comfortable

Fares per Thaizer and Hua Hin Taxi Cab; confirm before you set off.

To reach the top, you can climb the decorated staircase (lined with naga serpent balustrades; the step count is quoted anywhere from around 100 to 200 depending on the source and stairway) or take a vehicle up the sealed road. Wear proper shoes rather than flip-flops, since the stone gets slippery after rain.

The beach at the foot of Khao Takiab

The beach below the hill is calm, swimmable and quieter than the main Hua Hin town beach. The hill divides it into a relaxed north section with restaurants and a locals’ south section that runs toward Suan Son Pradiphat, per Thaizer and Sandee. There’s a small fishing village and a run of beachfront seafood restaurants where you can eat fresh catch right by the water. As on the rest of this coast, take extra care in the monsoon months when jellyfish numbers rise; a stinger net has been installed at Hua Don Beach here. For the full comparison of Hua Hin’s beaches, see outthailand.com’s Hua Hin beaches guide.

How to combine it with the rest of your day

Khao Takiab pairs naturally with the weekend markets nearby: Cicada and Tamarind are only a short ride away, so a late-afternoon temple climb into an evening at the market works well. Give yourself an hour or two at the hill, longer if you want beach time and a seafood lunch below. See outthailand.com’s Cicada Market guide and the broader Hua Hin night markets guide to line up the evening.

Honest downsides

  • The monkeys will test you. Lose focus and you’ll lose your sunglasses or snacks; a bite is possible if you provoke or crowd them.
  • The climb is steep and can be slippery. The staircase is short but steep, and the polished stone is treacherous after rain.
  • Hours are vague. There’s no reliable published opening time for the temple, so go in daylight and don’t cut it fine near dusk.
  • It’s a ride from town. At about 7km south, it’s a quick trip but not a walk from the centre, so factor in transport.

Bottom line

Khao Takiab is one of Hua Hin’s best-value half-days: a free temple, a photogenic 20-metre Buddha, a genuine viewpoint and a calm beach, all in one headland about 7km south of town. Just respect the monkeys, keep your bag zipped and your snacks hidden, wear real shoes for the climb, and go earlier in the day. Pair it with outthailand.com’s things to do in Hua Hin guide for the wider trip, the Hua Hin beaches guide for the coast, and the Cicada Market guide for the market next door. Check where to stay in Hua Hin if you want to base near the south end, and see outthailand.com’s live Hua Hin events for what’s on while you’re around.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get to Khao Takiab from Hua Hin?

It's about 7km south of central Hua Hin, roughly a 15-minute drive. The cheapest way is the green songthaew from the night market area along Phetkasem Road, which runs about every 15 minutes and costs around ฿10 (~US$0.30) in the day or ฿15 (~US$0.45) after 7pm. A motorbike taxi is roughly ฿50 (~US$1.50) each way, a tuk-tuk starts around ฿100 (~US$3), and a metered or fixed-fare taxi runs about ฿250-300 (~US$8-9). Once there, you can walk up the staircase or take a vehicle up the sealed road.

Is Khao Takiab temple free to visit?

Yes, Wat Khao Lad (also called Wat Khao Takiab) is free to enter, with donations welcome. There's no published official opening time, but in practice it's a daylight-hours visit, roughly 8am to 5:30pm depending on the source. Go earlier in the day to beat the heat and the crowds, and to have a calmer time with the monkeys before they get riled up by a full car park of visitors.

Are the monkeys at Monkey Mountain dangerous?

They're not aggressive in a stalking sense, but they are bold, fast and very skilled at stealing, and they can bite if you crowd or provoke them. Travel guides consistently warn to keep bags zipped, carry no visible food, drinks or plastic bags, and never feed or touch them by hand. They tend to gather near the staircase handrails and target jacket pockets and open bottles. If you buy the monkey food sold at the base, feed from the designated spots rather than hand to mouth, and keep children close.

How tall is the Buddha at Khao Takiab?

The golden standing Buddha on the hill is commonly cited at around 19 to 20 metres, and it faces out over the sea toward Hua Hin. One local source gives it the name Phra Pang Haan Yad. It's the landmark you can see from the beach below, and it's the main photo stop at the top alongside the viewpoint and the temple buildings. No reliable construction date is published, so treat any specific build year you see online with caution.

Is there a good viewpoint at Khao Takiab?

Yes. From the top you get a wide view over Hua Hin's northern beach and the Gulf of Thailand, and on a clear day you can see as far as Cha-Am to the north. There's a shaded sala where you can get a cold drink or a massage and take in the view. Early morning tends to be the most comfortable time for the climb and the clearest for the long view, before the midday haze and heat build.

Can you swim at Khao Takiab beach?

Yes, the beach at the foot of the hill is generally calm and swimmable, and it's quieter than the main Hua Hin town beach. The hill splits it into a north section with a relaxed feel and restaurants, and a south section that runs toward Suan Son Pradiphat and is popular with locals. There are beachfront seafood restaurants and a small fishing village. As with the rest of this coast, take more care in the monsoon months when jellyfish numbers rise; a stinger net has been installed at Hua Don Beach here.

How do you get to the top of Khao Takiab, stairs or road?

Both. A decorated staircase lined with naga (serpent) balustrades climbs from near the beach and parking area; the exact step count is quoted anywhere from around 100 to 200 depending on the source and which stairway you take, so treat it as a short but steep climb. There's also a sealed road to the summit usable by taxi, tuk-tuk or motorbike if you'd rather not climb. Wear proper shoes rather than flip-flops, as the stone can be slippery after rain.

Out Thailand Team

Based in Chiang Mai

The Out Thailand team lives in and around Chiang Mai and writes practical, on-the-ground guides to events, cost of living, and daily life in Thailand.