Day trips from Pattaya
There are a large number of possibilities open to you if you wish to have a morning, afternoon or whole day out of Pattaya. For golfers and divers this is easy. The proliferation of golf courses and diving sites in the area ensure that you can literally just walk out of your hotel, be picked up and taken to whichever course or site you have booked, and be returned at the end of the day.
By contrast you could go to see tigers, crocodiles, elephants, orchids or handicrafts, visit one of the larger Wats (Buddhist temples) in the countryside or take a ferry or speedboat to Koh Larn, the large island off Pattaya. Various attractions near the city can also make a good day out. Bangkok is only two and a half hours away by bus (from the Northern bus station) or taxi (1000 to 1500 baht each way) and many visitors who are staying a week or two on package-type holidays go there for the day or overnight. Buses leave every half an hour and will cost you 100 baht each way, but they are often slow and you may have to wait up to an hour for a seat, so arranging a private mini-bus from your hotel is a better option.
Sri Racha Tiger zoo is about half an hour outside Pattaya and, in addition to tigers and a tiger show, has many other animals. A taxi can take you there for a reasonable fee or you can arrange a tour through a local agent. In a southerly direction, Nong Nooch Garden is a spectacular display of tropical plants and flowers covering a vast area. With an artificial waterfall and canoeing lake, Thai traditional dance shows and elephant rides, this attraction is a favourite day out for many people. Tour buses sometimes make this lovely garden quite busy, and the coolest time to see it is in the morning.
Also to the south, either side of the gardens, are two impressive Buddhist sites. Wat Yanasangwararam is a large complex of ornate temples and gardens which is one of the more important Wats in the area, covering many beautiful acres; while 2kms south of this is a large Buddha image carved out of a massive vertical rock-face over 150 metres high. This image is painted and can be seen for many miles around, but the closer you get the more vivid it becomes.
The Million years stone park and crocodile farm, only a few kilometres from North Pattaya, has a rock garden and 20-year-old zoo. Crocodile shows, elephant riding, many animals and shows are also features of this intriguing attraction. Elephant village is also very close to Pattaya. You can go elephant trekking and see the training shows at 2.30 every day. Mini Siam, on Sukhumvit, has lovely gardens as a setting for models of famous landmarks and buildings from around the world. As is often the case in Pattaya, your Thai friend will only have to pay half the 500 baht entrance fee. There is a larger and more impressive version of this further afield in Samut Prakarn, just south of Bangkok. Known as Muang Boran (or, Ancient City), it is a remarkable historic theme park featuring replicas of most of Thailand’s most important cultural sites. In some cases, even original ruins have been relocated there and it really is worth the 90-minute trip to experience most of Thailand’s best ancient and religious structures in a single day. Incidentally, it was developed by the same family responsible for the incredible Sanctuary of Truth temple in Naklua.
A favourite day out is to Koh Larn, a large island a few kilometres off Pattaya and visible from the beaches. Ferries leave from Bali Hai Pier from 08:00, but you can hire a speedboat and get to the other, less populous side, very quickly by just asking on Pattaya or Jomtien beaches. A speedboat for the day will cost around 5000 baht a day. The ferry costs about 20 baht each way, and you can get a taxi to where you want to go at the other end. More on Koh Larn.
Rayong is a large town about an hour’s drive from Pattaya with a large selection of quiet beaches. The town is less cosmopolitan than Pattaya but the surrounding industry makes Rayong a place for shopping outside the tourist areas of Pattaya. Buses every hour will take you there very cheaply. If you do hire a car, however, you can also visit the naval town of Sattahip and discover the numerous beaches between there and Rayong, many of which are quiet and secluded.
There are many attractions very close to Pattaya city which will fill your day. For the kids particularly, Pattaya Park in Jomtien is popular for its swimming pool, whirlpools and water-slides. There are many other attractions in the park such as a tower jump and monorail. Underwater world next to Tesco Lotus on Sukhumvit enables you to walk along a tunnel and see all sorts of marine creatures (360 baht for foreigners, 130 for Thais).
The Bottles Museum, also on Sukhumvit road, shows off temples, palaces and foreign artwork of exquisite design in bottles, while the Siriporn orchid farm on Nuen Pra Road has a large collection of delicate orchids from Thailand and South East Asia. Wanasin farm on Pornprapanimit Road is a traditional Thai farm with Thai handicrafts, boat museums and a floating market, as well as cultural shows four times a day.
All of the attractions and many others can be booked in advance from any of the many tour operators in Pattaya, who will be able to give you full details. Your hotel will also have many brochures mentioning these and other venues within easy reach of Pattaya.
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