Many people love Pattaya because there is a lot to do and see with in the week or two they spend here because there are so many destinations where one can go on day trips and you don’t have to go far to get away from the hustle and bustle of Pattaya, for example, take a day trip to Sattahip where you will find the lovely Hat Nang Ram beach.

This is one of Thailand’s secrets, not many foreigners go to this beach simply because they don’t know about it. It is a perfect get away from the busy touristy Pattaya. The beach has a beautiful turquoise water and pure white sand which is something that is truly missing on Pattaya’s beaches. A day trip here is very relaxing under the shade of palm trees, you can take a swim, do some water sports if you are into that, but even reading a book, is very relaxing knowing that when you take a break, you will go and swim in this beautiful clear water or just play in the white sand.

It is advised to do a day break here on the week days because Hat Nang Ram can get crowded on the weekends as this is a Thai hide away, many Thais will be here on the weekends, but during the week, it will be so quiet and very relaxing, compared to the noise and distractions of Pattaya.

Hat Sai Kaew Beach, is also the busiest and this is probably where the best nightlife happens on the island, with lots of restaurants playing videos, karaoke, bars and generally a natural Thai relaxing atmosphere. The island also has a lot of accommodation, so if you want to chill out for a couple of days, there is plenty of accommodation, which is no problem.

Hat Sai Kaew, is the place for you, if you love water sports, either just for a day of fun or a couple of days. There is plenty of water activities which include, water skiing, jet skies, diving, snorkeling, all try to avoid the chaos here as many people who turn up here for the sports activities. It is a fantastic place to be because after all your day’s activities, you can go to any restaurant or bar and relax while you eating exquisite cuisines including Thai while you watch a movie or if you are in a bar, they will be some sort of karaoke going on, all the places on the island try to excel in creation of relaxing atmosphere.

This beach, attracts many day trippers and those on short breaks and as a result, sometimes, it is a bit frenetic but still, a good atmosphere if you just want to relax, you can just do that and leave all the water activities to those who love water sports, you will still have a great time and you never know, people have a tendency of showing up here, you might run into someone you haven’t seen in a very long time.

So if you are in Pattaya and thinking of doing something different for a change, you not take a day trip or a couple days and escape to Hat Sai Kaew beach.

Located near the beach is Wat Ban Saray, an impressive temple with high roofs and elaborate decoration. If you wake up early you will be able to observe the monks from Wat Ban Saray collecting food from the local residents and performing blessings and other rituals – a truly local Thai experience. If you visit the temple on weekends you will be able to see the monks chanting and meditating, giving you a real insight into the religious customs and practices in Thailand.

A variety of activities await you at Ban Saray including fishing, water sports, diving, snorkelling, and sailing. There is also the Phoenix Gold Club just 10 minutes drive away. Given its close location to other major destinations, visitors are able to make day trips easily to nearby Pattaya and Jomtien beaches.

Thanks to recent property developments, Ban Saray boosts some excellent accommodation options for those wishing to stay in the village and get a taste of local Thai life by the sea. Alternatively, Ban Saray is an easy day trip from Pattaya, and provides an excellent chance to escape the crowds and get to the heart of local Thai living and culture.

Jomtien Beach is a cleaner beach than Pattaya Beach and is situated further south than Pattaya Beach. Jomtien Beach has many of the same facilities as Pattaya Beach, but tends to be more popular with foreigners than Thais. Further down the beach there are fewer facilities and the beach is much quieter. At the farthest end of Jomtien is Pattaya’s only gay beach. Jomtien is also certainly the best beach for water sports and sailing. It can be reached by taxi and songtaew easily from the main hotel area in central Pattaya.

North Pattaya Beach, or Naklua Beach, is much quieter than both Pattaya and Jomtien Beaches. However, as this area tends to be much less commercial, there are far fewer hotels and facilities along this beach. This area is a very popular place for picnicking on the beach.

Ko Larn is a short ferry ride away from Pattaya and is renowned for its beautiful white sandy beaches and snorkelling. Ferries to the island start at 8am and finish at 6pm in the evening.

Jomtien Beach is a cleaner beach than Pattaya Beach and is situated further south than Pattaya Beach. Jomtien Beach has many of the same facilities as Pattaya Beach, but tends to be more popular with foreigners than Thais. Further down the beach there are fewer facilities and the beach is much quieter. At the farthest end of Jomtien is Pattaya’s only gay beach. Jomtien is also certainly the best beach for water sports and sailing. It can be reached by taxi and songtaew easily from the main hotel area in central Pattaya.

North Pattaya Beach, or Naklua Beach, is much quieter than both Pattaya and Jomtien Beaches. However, as this area tends to be much less commercial, there are far fewer hotels and facilities along this beach. This area is a very popular place for picnicking on the beach.

Ko Larn is a short ferry ride away from Pattaya and is renowned for its beautiful white sandy beaches and snorkelling. Ferries to the island start at 8am and finish at 6pm.

Most of the action in Pattaya tends to be clustered around the vibrant area known as Pattaya bay, which features a long sweep of sand and line of high-rise hotels. There are all sorts of water sports on offer here, but if you seek something quieter and more private, the adjacent beaches of Naklua bay and Jomtien beach are pleasant. Typically you can enjoy a beachside cocktail, Thai massage or simply relax in the endless sun.

Scuba diving is popular and there are many dive shops in the tourist strips offering good quality excursions to nearby reefs and islands.

By night, Pattaya isn’t short of entertainment and is well known for its sex scene. These are generally clustered in areas and recognised by the scores of single ladies prompting you to come in. However, the are many more reputable establishments in which to enjoy a quiet sunset drink, watch videos while you get drunk, or feed off the sumptuous seafood that the Gulf towns are famous for. Many discos and karaoke bars are scattered about, the one’s located in international hotels being the most reliable. Traditional Thai massage, or foot massages are highly recommended and easy to come by.

Shopping is also excellent value for money at the various day and night markets that are hard to miss in the tourist areas. Beware of fake goods, but look out for excellent-value silk and other clothing.

There are many popular tourist destinations in the province, including Ko Samet, Ko Mun and Ko Kodi. All of these islands feature stretches of golden sand, beach bars and a variety of western and Thai food.

Naturally, snorkeling and scuba diving are major activities in this province, whilst many people like to go on a boat tour of the islands. Other smaller sun kissed islands which are just waiting to be explored include Ko Man Klang, Ko Man Nok and the often overlooked Ko Man Nai.

While in the area, pay a visit to the Khao Chamao/Khao Wong National Park. Here you will find several pretty waterfalls where you can swim amongst the fish, as well as seeing tigers, wild elephants and bears.

Nearby is the Rayong Turtle Conservation Centre, which cares for the area’s endangered sea turtles with a view to releasing them back into the wild. You can learn more about the now rare and beautiful turtles at the visitors’ centre, which contains pictures of the turtles and shells from their eggs.

Suan Son ‘Pine Park’ is situated just 5 kilometers from the pretty port of Ban Phe. This is a great place to spend a couple of hours walking when you need a break from the beach. Incidentally, Ban Phe is the port from which to catch the ferry to the large and beautiful island of Ko Samet.

11 kilometers east at Suan Wang Keaw you will find yet more sandy beaches and the island of Ko Thalu, which is particularly good for diving as the waters are home to some pretty colourful coral and shoals of exotic fish. This is also a great place to hang out if you happen to arrive on the weekend and want to avoid the crowds that tend to congregate on many of the other islands and beaches at the end of the working week.

The name Koh Chang means Elephant Island in Thai and people interested in the island’s elephants should visit the Ban Kwan Elephant Camp or Ban Khlong Son Elephant Camp, where you can interact with the animals and go elephant trekking through the jungle. Animal lovers can also volunteer at the Koh Chang Animal Foundation.

With its many mountains, sparkling waterfalls and rainforest, Ko Chang is an island of intense natural beauty and is part of the Mu Ko Chang Marine National Park, which comprises a total of 52 islands.

There are many beautiful beaches where visitors can chill out and catch some rays or play in the water. Most of the beaches are located along the west cost of the island. Check out Lonely Beach, Hat Kaibae, Hat Klong Makok and Hat Kai Mook for beautiful stretches of sun lined with palm trees and beach bars. Generally, the further south you head the more secluded the beach, and there are some virtually untouched beaches at the very bottom of the island. A good example is Hat Wai Chek, which is unreachable by road, making this the perfect trekking destination.

This is a great area for snorkeling and scuba diving as the coral is beautiful and the water clear. There are lots of small islands to explore such as Ko Kut, Ko Mak, Ko Wai and Ko Kham and basic accommodation is available on most if you decide to stay for a day or two.

Ko Chang also offers plenty of opportunities for self improvement. The Koh Chang Cookery School is a good place to learn to create all the delicious food you’ll have been sampling. You can study the Japanese art of reiki healing at Jungle Way, whilst yoga and healing classes are available at Baan Zen.

But Ko Chang is also the perfect place to be lazy for a few days. There are excellent bars, restaurants and spas all around the island, so just put up your feet and relax for a while.

Chonburi province contains many places of interest for visitors. Particularly well known throughout the world is the seaside town of Pattaya, while the town Si Racha is famous throughout Thailand for its spicy chilli sauce.

Particularly of interest in the area is the picturesque island of Ko Si Chang, which was made popular when King Rama IV, Rama V and Rama VI visited the island for some much deserved rest and relaxation. King Rama V initiated the construction the first palace for royal home-stay in the summer, and the idea proved popular with subsequent rulers and people of note.

There are many beautiful beaches and other places of interest on Ko Si Chang. The meditation caves at the Tham Yai Phrik Vipassana Monastery are a good place to get in touch with nature while learning the art of meditation.

There are plenty of great places on the island to swim, such as the picturesque Hat Tham Phang (Fallen Cave Beach), Hat Sai Kaew and Hat Tha Wang Palace, which is a great picnic spot.

The San Jao Phaw Khao Yai Chinese Temple is located high on a cliff top overlooking the sea and offers spectacular views over the ocean, and the limestone cave of Tham Saowapha is definitely worth a visit, although don’t forget to take a torch.

There are a number of small islands located around Ko Si Chang such as Ko Khaam Noi, Ko Ran Dok Mai and Ko Prong. A good way to explore them is to rent a sea kayak, go scuba diving or go on a snorkeling trip to the nearby Ko Khaang Khaow (Bat Island).
Ko Si Chang is a great place to sample the abundant local seafood, and what could be better than eating fresh barbecued seafood on the beach whilst you drink and cold beer and watch the sun slowly set.

Featuring powedery white sand, clear blue water and colourful coral, Koh Laan is the perfect piece of paradise that so many travellers come to Thailand in search of. This is an ideal place for swimming, snorkelling and even scuba diving. A number of water sports companies can be fund near Pattaya Beach and offer to hire out equipment to visitors.

There are a number of small, cosy restaurants lining the main beach on Koh Laan, making it possible to simply lay here lazily in the sun all day, soaking up the atmosphere. Those who are feeling a bit lively can hire a jet-ski and zip around the island, while parasailing is also a great way to view the island and surrounding area.

The best thing about chilling out on Koh Laan during he day is that when the sun sets the bright lights of Pattaya beckon and visitors will be able to spend the evening dancing the night away in one of Pattaya’s vibrant nightclubs.

In addition to speedboats, ferries complete the journey between Pattaya Beach and Koh Laan at regular intervals, and the journey takes just 40 minutes. Ferries run from 06:30 to 18:00 and the trip costs just 20 Baht. The tiny islets of Koh Saak and Koh Krok are also just a short boat ride away from Koh Laan and are also good places to explore on a diving or snorkelling trip.