Pattaya
Colourful and alive with activities, it is unrivalled as a beach resort, offering more attractions in greater profusion than any other single destination in Southeast Asia.
A famed international playground in the sun where the action is non-stop. Enjoy yourself to the max in a dazzling kaleidoscope of sports and entertainment.
Pattaya is a phenomenon. Once a tiny fishing village, it has developed into a renowned international playground. Colourful and alive with activities, it is unrivalled as a beach resort, offering more attractions in greater profusion than any other single destination in Southeast Asia.
Located just 150 km. southeast of Bangkok and facing a wide bay and a long majestic sweep of beach, Pattaya has been groomed for international visitors over more than three decades, and today it boasts the unique distinction of a beach resort with a city status. This near paradoxical situation holds the key to Pattaya's rare attraction - it has something for everyone. Whereas most other beach resorts rely simply on natural surroundings for their charm, Pattaya makes an all-out attempt to provide the best of everything in an exhaustive mix of facilities. To the basic ingredient of a superb coastal location, it adds just about every other amenity one can think of for recreation, entertainment, sightseeing and fun.
Beaches & Islands in Pattaya
Pattaya Beach
The main beach at Pattaya, Amphoe Bang Lamung, is a majestic 3-km. curve fronted by a road shaded with refreshing tropical greenery. The northern section of the beach is largely tranquil and is the favoured spot for tourists for swimming, relaxation, and various water sports. The central and southern parts of the beach are packed with hotels, restaurants, department stores, gift shops, nightclubs and various amusement centres.
Hat Jomtien
The 6-km. long, largely straight beach, located around the headland from Pattaya, is popular with windsurfers and water sports enthusiasts. It is also quieter and more relaxing than Pattaya Beach. Hotels and other accommodation facilities are available along the road that runs parallel to the shore.
Hat Wong Phrachan
Situated on the northern side of Pattaya Bay, this one-kilometre beach shares the same entrance as the Central Wong Amat Hotel. It is a quiet spot, good for swimming and relaxation.
Ko Lan
Lying about 8 km. off Pattaya, a 45-minute ferry ride or 15 minutes by speed boat, the island measures 2 km. by 5 km. and offers several white sandy beaches, notably Hat Ta Waen, Hat Laem Thian and Hat Thong Long, the latter facing coral reefs. Visitors can either choose snorkelling or view the coral from glass bottom boats.
Ferries to the island takes 45 minutes leaving the South Pattaya Pier every two hours daily from 7.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. and from Ko Lan back to Pattaya daily from 6.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. Cruises by sailing junks, with lunch provided are also available.
Ko Sak
Located 600 metres from Ko Lan, some 10 km. west of Pattaya Strait, Ko Sak is a small island with two sandy beaches. Overnight stays on the island are possible.
Ko Phai
Lying about 14 km. west off Pattaya, this small island with a beautiful white sandy beach is located 7 km. away behind Ko Lan. It takes about one hour from inland. Under the supervision of the Royal Thai Navy, Ko Phai is one of the most outstanding scuba diving areas in Pattaya with superb coral reefs.
Pattaya Attractions
Underwater World Pattaya
Located on Sukhumvit Road, Tambon Nong Prue, this aquarium offers an insight into the area's rich marine life. Underwater World Pattaya is a modern aquarium with a 100-metre stateof-the-art acrylic tunnel where visitors can walk through an underwater environment filled with dozens of marine species including the rare shovel-nosed ray, a hybrid between a shark and a stingray, providing visitors with the unique experience of viewing the displays at close quarters through crystal-clear water. The aquarium plans to have a variety of dolphin shows in the near future.
Tel: 0 3875 6979
Thunder Rock Dinosaur Park
Located on Sukhumvit Road, 4 km. from South Pattaya, this place brings you face-to-face with life-size replicas of the creatures that lived two hundred million years ago including a Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Velociraptor and a Petinosaurus. Come and wander through the Dinosaur Age, imagining the Earth when it was inhabited by the fierce predator T-Rex. Open daily 10.00 a.m.–6.00 p.m.
Tel: 0 3870 6055 or mobile phone 0 1576 0035
Khao Chi Chan Carved Buddha Mountain
The cliff face inlaid with gold leaf in the outline of a sitting Sukhothai-Lanna Buddha is dedicated to the commemoration of His Majesty the King's Golden Jubilee, the 50th anniversary of his accession to the throne.
This 130-metre-high Buddha's royally-bestowed name is Phra Phuttha Maha Wachira Utta Mopat Satsada, which means His Lord Buddha is virtuous and glorious as Maha Wachira (the Great Wisdom). The surroundings are a wide variety of flowering plants and a number of pavilions for meditation and rest. Directly in front of the cliff face are shrines, elaborate gardens, and a number of terraced pools stocked with lotus flowers.
Khao Phra Tamnak
This small hill also known as Khao Phra Bat, its peak accessed by an asphalt road, affords panoramic views of Pattaya City and Pattaya Bay. Khao Phra Tamnak has been developed and is currently the site of the so to Ro 5 radio station, where there is a monument to Kromluang Chumphon, known as the "Father of the Royal Thai Navy". A Buddha image is enshrined on the hilltop.
Chaloem Phra Kiat Park
Located on Phra Tamnak Road at the foot of Khao Pattaya, the small park is dedicated to the commemoration of His Majesty the King's sixtieth birthday on 5 December, 1987. The gardens boast a wide variety of flowering plants, while the park also includes jogging trails and exercise facilities.
The Million-Years Stone Park and Pattaya Crocodile Farm
This place is a popular attraction for Thai and foreign tourists. Covering an area of close to 40 acres, the compound comprises rock gardens and a botanical garden of rare plants and beautiful landscapes. Top sights include fossilised plants over a million years in age and a 200-year-old Thai style bonsai, plus dwarf horses, ostriches, crocodile pools and a collection of rare animals such as albino bears. Crocodile round-ups, magic and animal performances are major attractions. Open daily 8.00 a.m.-6.30 p.m., with six crocodile shows from 10.00 a.m.-5.00 p.m. Tel. 0 3824 9347-9
Mini Siam
This miniature city is on the left-hand side at the 143-km. marker on Sukhumvit Road before reaching Pattaya town. The models, made to a scale of 1 to 25, cover places of worship, ancient remains and famous sights in Thailand and abroad. Open daily 7.00 a.m.-10.00 p.m. Tel. 0 3872 7333, 0 3872 7666
Elephant Village Pattaya
Located on Sukhumvit Road, which lies off Highway No. 3 at the 146-km. marker, this elephant camp focuses on the working life of elephants and their mahouts.
Visitors can enjoy riding on an elephant's back and cart, road trips, and trekking. There is a daily performance of elephants at work and play, as well as a grand war parade at 2.30 p.m. Open daily 8.30 a.m.-7.00 p.m. Tel. 0 3824 9818 Website: www.elephant-village-pattaya.com
Bottle Art Museum
The Museum, located on Sukhumvit Road, at the 146-km. marker, showcases art contained in glass bottles. The exhibits are the creations of Dutch sculptor, Mr. Peter Bedelais, who has crafted various intricate pieces and assembled them in glass bottles of different shapes. Open daily 9.00 a.m.-8.00 p.m. Tel: 0 3842 2957, 0 3841 5783
Pattaya Park
This amusement centre at Hat Jomtien features a large water park with giant slides, a sky-high basket/hopper and other fun activities. There is also a tower topped with a revolving restaurant that commands panoramic views of the area. Pattaya Park Beach Resort
The Sanctuary of Truth
Construction of this gigantic architectural structure, located on the shore at Laem Ratchawet on Na Klua Road, North Pattaya, was begun in 1981 by Mr. Lek Wiriyaphan, founder of the Ancient City in Samut Prakan, and today has assumed colossal proportions. Made entirely of wood and with exquisite architectural carvings, the building was conceived out of the vision that human civilisation has been achieved and nurtured by religious and philosophical truth. Open daily 8.30 a.m.-5.00 p.m.
Tel: 0 3836 7815, 0 3822 5407, 0 3836 7229-30
Website: www.sanctuaryoftruth.com
Royal Theatre
Also at the Royal Garden Plaza, this theatre offers high-tech screenings of motion and movement experienced in real life. Open daily 11.00 a.m.-11.00 p.m. Tel: 0 3842 8057
Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum
The museum, at the Royal Garden Plaza, Pattaya Beach, houses a collection of more than 300 strange and amazing things from around the world. Open daily 11.00 a.m.-11.00 p.m. Tel: 0 3871 0294-6, 0 3841 2120-2
