Wat Khao Takiap

Wat Khao Takiap is one of the most unique and memorable temples in the Hua Hin area. Perched on a hill overlooking the sea, the temple offers beautiful views and a relaxed, almost playful atmosphere that sets it apart from more formal temple sites. The resident animals are part of what makes this place so special. The monkeys are everywhere—bold, curious, and entertaining—while the dogs and even pigs roaming the grounds add to the charm. Surprisingly, they all seem calm and well integrated into the temple environment, giving the place a peaceful, lived-in feel rather than a tourist attraction vibe. Climb the steps to the top and you’re rewarded with sweeping ocean views and cooling sea breezes, making the effort well worth it. Despite its popularity, the temple still feels spiritual and welcoming, especially if you take a moment to slow down and enjoy the surroundings. Wat Khao Takiap is a great mix of scenic views, local culture, and unexpected animal encounters. Respectful, relaxed, and a little bit fun—it’s definitely worth a visit.

An easy drive up to the temple with loads of monkeys, a bunch of dogs, some roosters, one pig, and rumors of cats that I didn’t see. There’s also two dinosaur statues, because why not? No entrance fee or pressure to pay, but lots of donation boxes and a request of 100 baht for a bucket of food to feed the always-hungry beasts. A lot of steps up to the top part of the temple, but definitely worth it if you can do it. It’s also worth walking down the road to the Chinese shrine and statues. It certainly nice to see in an of itself, and there are also great sea views from there. The abbot of the temple is new and says there is a lot of work to do. I agree. I asked another monk if he liked monkeys and he said he does and he’s been at the temple for 17 years and that if he didn’t like monkeys, he would’ve been gone long ago. The monkeys weren’t aggressive towards me or other humans, or dogs in the pig for that matter, but they periodically chased, screeched, and fought each other. They’re monkeys after all.

This place is run down and sketchy in the best way. Weird and quirky. Monkeys running around everywhere. Dogs too. A million oddly placed Buddhas and a couple of dinosaur statues because...why not? Beautiful views. Again, run down, some garbage, abandoned buildings. But still worth a visit just because its so frickin' odd.