Eastern Coast

Pattaya Beach ( Hotels & Resorts in Pattaya )

Pattaya is a city that never sleeps. After dark, Pattaya is full of sparkling lights and music spilling out of discos, pubs, karaoke and beer bars, Thai massage parlours, bowling alleys, and caberet, Al casa, Tiffany and Simon shows. During the day, it offers a wide variety of fun activities, not all of which are limited to its golden beach, such as go-karting at Pattaya Kart Speed Way on a lane going left off Thepprasit Road, or at Gokart Grand Prix nearby. The fee at both facilities depends on both the style of the track and the size of the go-kart: 100250 baht/round ( 10 minutes) for a paved racing track, and 150 - 500 baht/ round for an off-road path. Lakeland Water Cable Ski off Sukhumvit Road (Pattaya-Sattahip) offers Pattaya's only cable ski service at 300 baht for the first two hours and an additional 300 baht for an all -day session. Training for beginners is provided free of charge.

Pattaya is also home to three or four paintball fields, a popular war game, namely at Lake Land Paintball on Sukhumvit (Pattaya-Sattahip Km. 155), Sniper Zone off Thepprasit Road, and Paintball Park on Jomtien Road behind Tang Kee Restaurant just before the Pattaya Park Water Garden. The fee, including gun, bullets and equipment rental, is about 300-500 baht per person.

How to get there and around
From Bangkok, Pattaya is about 150 kilometres along Sukhumvit Road, a journey which can be made either by train or by bus. Buses to Pattaya leave from both the Northern and Southern Bus Stations. A day tour around nearby islands, such as Ko Lan, is provided for 250 baht, including lunch. Alternatively, speed boat rentals are available at 1 500 baht per day for island hopping around Ko Pai, Ko Kleung Badan, and Ko Marn Wichai, all of which are rich in coral life.

What to see - Where to eat
For diving beginners, Ko Lan, Ko Sak, Ko Phai, Ko Klung Badan, Ko Marn Wichai, and many of the isles off Pattaya Beach are all excellent places for diving instruction and practice, or for simply swimming and sunbathing. Apart from an endless supply of water sports, many other attractions are offered on shore, such as Mini Siam displaying the wonders of Thailand in miniature, a crocodile farm, or an elephant village with an elephant show daily from 2:30 pm onwards, located in Suan Nong Nut 15 kilometres to the southeast. On top of everything else, Pattaya offers a wide variety of excellent food stalls in addition to several quality hotel restaurants. For breakfast , Tom Luat Mu (pork soup) at Bun Sub, or the porridge of Mae Sri Ruan comes highly recommended. Yen Ta Fo (noodle soup) at Dam Daeng, or plain porridge at the busy Phak Bung Loi Fa and Khao Toni Pla Set Thi make a cheap and delicious meal. Not far from Pattaya beach, Jomtien Beach is lined with four or five excellent shops, such as Pan-Pan, Chom Thale, Tang Ke, Rim Thale, Lung Wai and Pu Pen.

When to visit - Where to stay
Pattaya is conveniently close to Bangkok and makes a great day trip if schedules are tight. A wide choice of accommodation for longer stays are provided at various rates, from a few hundred to several thousand baht nightly. Pattaya will suit any mood; the northern area provides a quiet, peaceful getaway, while the south presents an all night kaleidoscope of sights and sounds.

Souvenirs
Pattaya is famous for its bamboo sticky rice, coconuts, and Thai traditional desserts at the Premsuk shop in Bang Phra, a very popular shop well worth the long wait in the queue.

Mae Ram Phung Beach - Ban Kon Ao ( Hotels & Resorts in Rayong )

Mae Ram Phung beach is 1 1 kilometres from Rayong province. Follow Sukhumvit Road to Ban Taphong Km. 2 29 and turn right to Mae Ram Phung beach. The beach is 12 kilometres long and enclosed by a 10 kilometre stretch of seaside road. Mae Ram Phung beach is part of the Laemya-Samet Islands National Park, offering a long, shady beach ideal for swimming. Scenic Ban Kon Ao at the end of the beach is also a popular spot.

Laem Mae Phim
Lam Mae Phim is 48 kilometres from Rayong Province. After a right turn off Sukhumvit Road five kilometres beyond the Sunthorn Phu Monument and 1 1 kilometres from Wang Kaeo along the seaside road, there are three alternative routes: Km.259.5, 263 and 268. With its crystal-clear beach, and sparkling, calm waters, Lam Mae Phim is a charming retreat.

How to get there
From Rayong bus station, there are three possible routes by songtaeo taxi: Rayong-Mae Ram Phung beach-Ban Kon Ao, Rayong- Ban Ban Phe-Laem Mae Phim, and Rayong-Klaeng. The fee is between 5 and 20 baht per person.

What to see - Where to eat
While visiting this eastern coastal area, Suan Wang Kaeo, an old private plantation, is a must. The plantation is 1 1 kilometres along the seaside road beyond Suan Son. The beach here is serene and beautiful with comfortable accommodation. Another 5 kilometres beyond Laem Mae Phim is the famous Sunthorn Phu Statue. Khao Chamao-Khao Wong National Park, located in Khao Chamao sub district, can be reached by an asphalt road at Km. 275 off Sukhumvit Road about 17 kilometres beyond Khao Din junction. Khao Wong is 7 7 kilometres from the province, 12 kilometres from the left junction off Sukhumvit Road Km. 286. At Khao Wong, 60 interweaving caves can be explored.

Food here is varied, both along the beach and in town. A wide choice of Thai, Chinese, Western, Japanese, and seafood is offered.

When to visit - Where to stay
This area provides year-round attractions. Good accommodation is plentiful in town, along Ban Phe beach and Mae Ram Phung beach.

Ko Samet ( Hotels & Resorts in Rayong )

Ko Samet, or Ko Kaeo Phisadan of Sunthorn Phu is a beautiful island retreat with crystal-like beaches and sparkling clear waters. It is named after the Samet trees which grow thickly just off the beach and are used as fuel by local villagers. The island is located in Phe sub-district, Muang District, and lies approximately 6.5 kilometres offshore. Its total area of 3,215 rai is surrounded by impressive mountains. Ko Chan, Ko Sanchalam and Ko Hinkhao are located on its south side. Nong Anodat, a deep pond in the wet season, dries up entirely in the summer heat.

How to get there
From the Ekkamai Bus Terminal in B angkok, the first leg of the journey to Ko Samet by bus ends in Ban Phe. From there, a 25-minute ferry from Ban Phe to Ko Samet is available daily between 6:00 am and 5:00 pm, with a fee of 30 baht per person. Once on the island, songtaeos or car rentals of 200 baht connect the various beaches and accommodation, and also provide for excellent sight-seeing.

What to see - What to eat- Where to stay
Ko Samet has wonderful scenic bays and beaches, such as Ao Noi Na to the north, Ao Wongduan to the east, Hat Ao Phrao to the west, and Hat Sai Kaeo, perhaps the most stunning, to the southeast. The most popular are Hat Sai Kaeo and Hat Wongduan, where there is a lot of accommodation at various prices available. These include basic thatch cabins for 50-80 baht per night, cabins with private bathroom and fan for 150200 baht, and higher scale airconditioned rooms for 600 baht and over. Fresh seafood is prepared at Ao Cho, and delicious seafood paste (Ho Mok Talay) at Ao Nuan. Western food can be found at Ao Hin Ngok, including Swiss pizza offered at Ao Wongduan.

Ko Kudi
Ko Kudi is on the eastern coast of Ko Samet and lies 6 kilometres offshore. The island is rich with coral life and is very popular among diving enthusiasts.

Ko Kruai, Ko Kam, and Ko Pla Tin
Further north of Ko Kudi, Ko Kruai, Ko Kam, and Ko Pla Tin offer spectacular coral reefs and untouched natural island scenery.

Ko Man
Ko Man Nai is the site of Her Majesty the Queen's conservation efforts to preserve endangered sea turtles, and features a variety of charming bays, such as Ao Makam, Ao Hin Kotya, Ao Kong Kang, and Ao Na Ban. All are rich in coral reefs. Ko Man Nai is accessible by chartered boat, either from Pak Nam Prasae for 1 500 baht, or from Ao Ma Kam Porn for 500 baht. Ko Man Klang and Ko Man Nok are covered with beautiful beaches, and good accommodation is plentiful.

When to visit - Where to stay
The temperature is cool all year round in Rayong, an area which experiences three distinct seasons: summer from January to April, the rainy season from May to September, and winter from October to December. Heavy rains in August, and the monsoon season with heavy winds in May, are the least popular periods to visit this area. Most bungalows are provided along the beaches, and accommodation and boat chartering is available on the islands.

Souvenirs
Rayong is famous for its shrimp paste and fish sauce, and dried seafood such as dried squid and salty fish can be bought at the Phe Pier.

The sea off Trat is a unique area due to its location at the tip of the eastern cape. The delta around the Noi River creates crystal- clear and amazingly blue water, and the western coasts of the islands have particularly clean, white sandy beaches, similar to those of the Andaman Sea. Moreover, the tip of the cape acts as an enormous breakwater, lessening the force of the waves and wind, and creating ideal conditions for swimming.

The sea off Trat features of two main islands: Ko Chang and Ko Kut. To the west of Ko Chang, there are smaller islets scattered about, such as Ko Man Nok, Ko Man Nai, Ko Phrao, Ko Laoya, Ko Klum, Ko Ngam, Ko Mai Si Lek, Ko Mai Si Yai, Ko Mai Daeng, Ko Kra, Ko Rang, Ko Kam, Ko Mak, Ko Kradat, and many, many more.

Islands in the Sea off Trat

Ko Chang ( Hotels & Resorts in Ko Chang )
Ko Chang is a large island, second only in size to Phuket. Heavily forested with towering hills, Ko Chang is home to the impressive Tharn Mayom Waterfall, located in Ko Chang National Park. Surrounded by an undeveloped, tranquil reserve, Ko Chang is an inexpensive and convenient attraction with much to offer.

How to get there
From Trat, songtaeo taxis can be hired for about 15 baht to cover the 17 kilometre stretch to Laem Ngop Pier. Ferries to the islands are provided from Laem Ngop Pier, and fees vary according to which beach you wish to choose as your destination. It takes roughly 45 minutes to reach the eastern side of the island at Tharn Mayom, Dan Mai, or Ao Sapparot piers. To reach the western coast, the ferry can take up to three hours. To save time, the shorter journey from Laem Ngop to Ao Sapparot is recommended, as songtaeo taxis from Ao Sapparot pier can then travel across the lush interior and arrive at the western beaches far ahead of the ferry.

What to see
The stunning western beaches of Ko Chang are sprinkled with soft white sand and lined with coconut trees. There are many tranquil spots along these beaches to lie back and enjoy the gentle lapping of the waves and the refreshing sea breeze, from Ao Khlong Son, Sai Khao beach, Khlong Phrao beach, Kai Bae beach, Ao Bai Lan, Ao Bang Bao to Ao Salak Petch, and many others.

Ko Phrao, Ko Laoya Ko Kradat and Ko Mak
Each of these four islands has a charm all of their own, from the fine white sands of Ko Phrao, the clear waters of Ko Laoya, the interweaving bays of Ko Ngam, the coral reefs and deep sea diving of Ko Wai and Ko Kradat, to the golden beaches of Ko Mak. Accommodation is plentiful with a wide choice to suit every budget. In addition, several package tours are available which include accommodation and meals. For information and reservations, contact Ko Sai Khao Resort tel. (039) 51 1 -429, or Laoya Paradise Island Resort tel. (039) 512-818. Accommodation on Ko Kradat may be arranged by contacting tel. (01 ) 4328027. On Ko Mak, contact Ko Mak Resort and Cabana tel. 319-6714-5.

Ko Kra-Ko Rang
To the west of the Chang group of islands, Ko Kra and Ko Rang offer dazzling waters and spectacular sights. Ko Kra, with an area of only half a square kilometre, is rich with shallow coral life, and ideal for snorkelling. Ko Rang's white sand and beautiful curved bays make for perfect camping sites, a popular activity which requires prior consent from the Ko Chang National Park Office.


Ko Kut Ko Kut is located in Ko Kut subdistrict, in the farthest reaches of the Gulf of Thailand. Its western beaches are clean and blanketed with fine white sand, from Ao Ta Tin, Hat Khlong Lahan, Hat Khlong Yai Ki, Hat Pho, Hat Khlong Chao, to Ao Phrao and Laem Tian. Most beaches on Ko Kut are scattered with leafy coconut trees. Khlong Chao Waterfall and Anamkok Waterfall are two worthwhile attractions, accessible by boat to Khlong Chao Canal and a short 500 metre hike.

When to visit - Where to stay
High season on this island, Ii e Andaman Sea, is between November and May, when the area is safe from the monsoon. The beaches of Ko Chang are dotted with bungalows, the most popular spots being Hat Sai Khao and Hat Kai Bae. Prices for a-la-carte meals are cheap, and beyond Hat Sai Khao, many smaller cabins are available for 100 - 130 baht per night. Accommodation on the South coast of the island is somewhat cheaper.

There is little accommodation on Ko Kut owing to its remote location in the Gulf of Thailand. Boats from Laem Ngop and Ao Cho take between two to three hours, and arrangements can be made for these by contacting tel. 513-6002, 513-6006. An alternative route is to board at Amphoe Khlong Yai, which is the shortest trip.

Souvenirs
Dried shrimp, fish sauce, shrimp paste and sweet zalacca are popular items on Ko Chang, as are its unique local crafts.

Diving in the eastern sea
Scuba diving is now a popular sport around Trat's many islands. Dive equipment shops and dive training outlets can be found across Ko Chang, and spectacular dive areas off the west of the island, such as Hin Rap, and Hin Sam Sao, are a mere 20 minutes away by boat. Other popular dive sites include Hin Luk Bat, southwest of the island, between Ko Chang and Ko Klum.

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