Escaping Pattaya for the day
Big Buddha, overlooking the coast
By Dave Rudd
Pattaya is a great place to let your hair down and appeals to singletons as well as couples and families, although the latter may wish to escape the mayhem on occasion. There are options not far from the beach and town, as well as places to head farther down the coast.
On the activities front, there are plenty of options for escaping Pattaya - it’s not all water sports and dodgy beer bar activity. There are close to two dozen golf courses near to Pattaya, some of which have been designed by greats of the game, including Nick Faldo and Jack Nicklaus. More on golf.
There are also fishing operators in Pattaya offering many types of excursion, along with nature tours and charters. For diving, the nearby island of Koh Larn – the one you can see from Pattaya Beach – has some good sites, although Koh Rin is a better bet for the serious scuba diver/snorkeller.
For landmarks, a popular nearby sight to see away from the beach and seedy nightlife is Buddha Hill. This pretty place is located between Pattaya and nearby Jomtien atop a headland and affords fine views over the resort. A large Buddha statue sits up here and it’s all very well done and serene.
Another popular sight outside town is the Million Years Stone Park in North Pattaya. Good for kids and lovers of nature, it has crocodile and elephant shows and a beautiful, large rock garden. Those interested in gardens may also like to take a look at Suan Nong Nooch Tropical Garden to the south of town. The gardens are huge and well manicured and come with waterfalls and orchid nurseries, although the entry fee is a bit steep for foreigners.
The lofty Wat Yansangwararam is near to Nong Nooch Garden and many visitors to the gardens also take in the temple. It is different to your standard Thai viharn/chedi, with its stepped stupa looking like something out of Hong Kong. This site also has beautiful gardens. Also nearby is a huge outline of a Buddha image carved into a sheer rock face and painted in gold. It stands around 150m tall and can be seen from all over.
Nearby Koh Samet is tranquil and has better beaches
At this point, you are about half way to the non-touristy town of Sattahip from Pattaya. Sattahip is worth a visit for its nice beaches and Thai naval goings on, as well as for its noted temple where a renowned monk lived. Hat Sai Kaew is the main beach, while Hat Nang Ram beach is also worth a look. You could also check out the HTMS Chakri Naruebet; a large aircraft carrier.
Rayong is off to the east of Sattahip and is a large town that has a route going almost direct from North Pattaya; an hour’s drive. It is capital of the province of the same name and is much more laid-back than Pattaya, featuring a range of beaches and some good shopping, as well as cheap seafood and Thai massage.
Many tourists scoot right through Rayong on a heading for the ferry pier at Ban Phe and, ultimately, the island of Koh Samet. It is the closest main holiday island to Bangkok and Pattaya, and although a bit of a rip-off, it is beautiful and a far cry from Pattaya. Koh Samet boasts some of the prettiest beaches in Thailand and also has national marine park status, for all that implies. More on Koh Samet.
It is best to try and avoid Koh Samet on weekends, however, when Bangkokians flood the place on short jaunts. There is no need to pre-book the ferry over to the island as they are many and frequent, although booking hotels ahead is worth doing. They are generally not on par with Pattaya hotels on price, quality, and facilities; with air conditioning and swimming pools coming at a premium.
Farther afield in this direction is the town and province of Trat, where the large island of Koh Chang resides. Koh Chang is similar in disposition to Koh Samet, although is much more laid-back and not as backpacker- or day-tripper-centric. It has beautiful beaches and also better facilities than Koh Samet and is not nearly as expensive. There is some fantastic diving near to Koh Chang to boot.
Off in the other direction from Pattaya (north) is the town of Sri Racha, where the Sri Racha Tiger zoo resides. This place is a big favourite with kids, who get to have their picture taken with cuddly tiger cubs. It also has a crocodile show and racing pigs, along with scorpions and other creepy-crawlies.
Pattaya islands
Larn Island (Koh Larn) is the closest and the easiest of the near shore islands to access. It is across from the main beach in Pattaya and is regularly served by ferry boat, glass-bottom tours, and charters. Trip time is typically 45 minutes aboard ferries and 20 minutes by speedboat.
Ta Waen Beach is the best known beach on Koh Larn; a long stretch of sand in the north of the Island. Other beaches include Samae Beach and Laem Tien Beach in the southwest, and Ta Pan Beach in the west; the latter of which offers basic lodgings. Nual Beach in the south is good for snorkelling.
Sak Island is close to Koh Larn and is known for its horseshoe shape. There are two beaches here, with the northern one the main one, where tour boats stop for a swim. The rocky Krok Island is a diminutive island with just the one sandy beach and is much less visited.
The Phai Islands are two hours by boat from Pattaya and are more relaxed and less touristed than Koh Larn. There are several islands in the group, with Koh Phai being the main one. It has a lighthouse and good swimming and snorkelling, while Klung and Manvichai islands are also worthy.
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