Pattaya attractions and accommodation guide, Thailand
 Pattaya
Beach
Some 4 kilometres long, this beach faces Pattaya Bay, the major
venue from where boats visit Pattaya's offshore islands. The beach
curves from north to south and is largely paralleled by a treelined
promenade and beach road which is lined, in the northern and central
parts, by hotels and restaurants.
The northern section of the beach is largely tranquil, while the
central and southern parts become increasingly lively, thanks to
a combination of shops, department stores, boutiques, beauty salons,
supermarkets, bars, discotheques, restaurants and nightclubs.
The central area of the beach is a major shopping area, while the
southern end is one of Pattaya's major nightlife areas.
Jomtien Beach
This 6-kilometre long, largely straight beach, some 4 kilometres
south of Pattaya, is the most notable of several beaches south of
the resort. The beach is popular with windsurfers and watersports
enthusiasts, largely because the area enjoys brisk and fresh breezes
sweeping inland from the Thai Gulf, and because the seas are less
congested with boats than in Pattaya Bay.
Jomtien is also a major residential area with beachside hotels,
bungalow complexes, condominiums and restaurants.
Ko Lan
 Situated
to the west of Pattaya Strait, about 7.7 kilometers from the shore,
covering an area of about 4 square kilometers. There are beautiful
beaches, clear water, and an abundance of coral. Visitors can view
the coral either from a glass-bottom boat or by diving down directly.
A well-known beach is at Ta Waen Beach in the northern part of the
island, a 750 metre stretch of white sand with many stalls and shops.
Sightseeing boats mostly dock in this area. There is also Laem Thian
Beach and Samae Beach on the south-western side, each beach spanning
a length of 700 and 100 meters respectively. Both are regarded as
beautiful and interesting spots, especially Laem Thian Beach which
has remained exceptionally clean and tranquil. There are now a few
stores servicing visitors. TaPan Beach on the western part of the
island is 500 meters in length with make-shift lodging available.
On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, sightseeing boats usually dock
along this beach all the way to Laem Thian where there is coral.
On the southern part is Nuan Beach 450 metres in length. On this
beach is a hotel which accommodates a large number of tourists.
This is another good place for viewing coral.
Apart from these beaches, there are also Laem Hua Khon Beach on
the back and front sides, Laem Lamrae, etc., which are also interesting
tourist spots. Popular activities on Ko Lan include swimming, coral
viewing, Para-sailing, water-skiing, water scooter riding, etc.
Ko Krok
A small island covering an area of 0.05 square kilometers, approximately
8 kilometers from the shore. The island comprises mostly rocks.
Only one sandy-beach on the east of the island is Ko Krok beach
which is only 100 meters in length. This is an ideal place for coral
viewing.
Ko Sak
Some 10 kilometers west of Pattaya Strait or 600 metres away from
Ko Lan. Ko Sak is another small island shaped like a horse shoe
with an area of 0.05 square kilometres. It has two beaches, one
on the northern cover 250 metres in length, an area in which boats
usually stop for tourists to swim and another one on the southern
part of the island opposite the first island, with a pathway linking
the two beaches, a small beach 80 metres in length. A coral reef
is found at the area in front of the beach. Skin-diving is also
possible in this vicinity.
Ko Phai Group of Islands
These are comprised of Ko Phai, Ko Manwichai, Ko Luam, Ko Klung
Badan, with Ko Phai being the largest. The islands are presently
under the supervision of the Royal Navy. The Ko Phai group of islands
are situated at a distance about 13 kilometres from Pattaya and
takes 2 hours to reach by boat. There is a light house on top of
a hill at Ko Phai. Visitors can enjoy relaxing-moments, swimming,
fishing and diving down to view the coral.
Khao Pattaya (Khao Phra Bat)
A small hill with an asphalt road leading to the top. From its peak,
one has a panoramic view of Pattaya City and Pattaya Bay. Currently,
Khao Pattaya has been developed and is now the site of the Naval
Sor Tor Ror radio station. A sacred Buddha image is also enshrined
on the hilltop.
Suan Chaloemphrakiat (Fitness Park)
This is located at the foot of Pattaya hill on Phratani'uk Road.
This park covering a large area, was dedicated to commemorate His
Majesty the King's sixtieth birthday on December 5, 1988. The gardens
of the park boast a wide variety of flowering plants. There are
also multi purpose grounds and winding trails for walking or jogging
and standard exercise facilities. On any given day, a large number
of people will relax, jog, exercise or simple enjoy the scenery
of Pattaya in this park.
Mini Siam
Situated at kilometre 143 on Sukhumvit Highway, some 3 kilometres
from Central Pattaya Road, this complex features miniature reproductions
of major cultural and archaeological sites within Thailand, including
Khmer shrines and the ancient capitals of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya,
and features a section of miniaturised major international landmarks
such as the Eiffel Tower, the Sydney Opera House, St Basil's Cathedral
and the Statue of Liberty. The complex also has a go-kart track
and a Thai restaurant.
Million Years Stone Park & Pattaya Crocodile Farm
 Some
twenty minutes from central Pattaya, this bucolic enclave features
a landscape of native Thai flora, a fascinating collection of Bonsai
trees, and massive ancient rocks (thus the park's unusual name)
imported from Kanchanaburi province. Artfully landscaped with flowers
and trees, the park contains a crocodile farm, a select collection
of wild animals native to Thailand and nearing extinction, a pool
containing giant catfish native to the Mekong River, and a restaurant.
There are daily crocodile and magic shows.
Pattaya Water Park
 This
beachside water amusement park is located between South Pattaya
and Jomtien Beach. Colourful water slides, whirlpools and shallow
pools suitable for small children make the park popular with families.
Restaurant facilities, a fast food corner, changing rooms and lockers
number among facilities, and there is easy access to the beach should
visitors prefer to swim in the sea. The park is overlooked by the
240-metre high Pattaya Park Tower that contains a revolving
restaurant. The tower offers an exhilarating view of Pattaya and
two novel ways, the Pattaya Park Sky Shuttle and Pattaya Park Tower
Jump, of reaching the ground.
Pattaya Elephant Village
Situated on the Siam Country Club Golf Course road, the village
features trained elephants demonstrating time-honoured forestry
skills, enjoying themselves playing football, re-enacting wild elephant
hunts and a medieval war elephant parade in a popular daily afternoon
show.
Phanarak Park
Also on the Siam Country Club Golf Course road, this
tropical garden complex contains a well-stocked lake for fishing
enthusiasts, bungalow accommodation, restaurant facilities, a mini-golf
course, jogging and cycling tracks and boating facilities.
Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum
Located next to the Royal Garden Resort Hotel inside
Royal Plaza Garden, this museum, only the second of its kind in
Asia, features a high technology theatre adapted from a pilot-training
simulator, permanent and special displays of oddities such as animal
freaks and unusual human feats, based on the popular cartoon feature
of the same name which is featured in newspapers throughout the
world.
Nong Nooch Orchid Wonderland
This artfully landscaped botanical garden and country resort, located
at kilometre 163 on Sukhumvit Highway, contains a splendid collection
of native Thai flora, including hundreds of varieties of orchids,
ferns, flowering plants and exotic blooms. The enclave contains
numerous Thai-style residences, an ornamental lake, a large auditorium
where daily cultural performances are presented, featuring folk
dances, martial arts and traditions, followed by the most entertaining
of all elephant shows imaginable, an hilarious form of pachyderm
burlesque.
Bottle Art
Here contains an extensive collection of more than 300 pieces of
artwork contained in glass bottles in the form of well-known tourist
attractions, churches, temples, palaces, ships both Thai and foreign.
These creations result from the tireless efforts of Dutch sculptor,
Mr. Peter Bedelais who crafted the various intricate parts and assembled
them in glass bottles of different shapes. Open daily from 9 a.m.-8
p.m. Inquiries may be directed to the Bottle Art 79/15 Mu 10, Sukhumvit
Road (Kilometre 145.3) Tel: (038) 422957
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