Sport Facilities

The Bira International Circuit, about 15 kilometers from Pattaya on the Pattaya-Rayong Road (Highway No. 36), organizes motor and/or motorcycle races regularly over the weekends. For more information, call (02) 280 3547, 522 1731-8.

The Pattaya Cart Speedway is a small racing track about 5 kilometers south of Pattaya on Thep Prasit Road. Open both professional and amateur drivers, it is open daily from 9.30 a.m. – 6.30 p.m. Tel: (038) 422044.

The Lakeland Water Cable Ski, at Km. 150.5 on Highway No. 3, is about 5 kilometers from Pattaya. Cable ski equipments are available for use at its large fresh-water lake. Open daily 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Tel: (038) 232690-2

On the bank of the Huai Sak Nok reservoir off Sukhumvit Highway at Km. 150, the Bamrung Sport Club offers instructions and facilities for water sports such as wind-surfing, Sailing, para-motor and para-gliding. There are also facilities for horse-riding and canoeing, catamaraning and kayaking. Tel: (038) 249841.

The Pattaya Horse-Riding Training Center , at Km. 11 on Highway No. 36, has horses for hire. Tel: (038) 225149.

Five kilometers on Phonprapha Nimit Road off Highway No. 3 at Km. 145, the Panararak Park is a nature-based recreation facility. With fishing gears for rent, visitors can relax in a game of fishing. Tel: (038) 249605-6

Cabaret Shows / Off-shore Islands

 

Cabaret Shows

Alcazar on Pattaya II Road with three shows daily at 6 p.m., 8 p.m., and 9.30 p.m. Extra show on Saturday at 11 p.m. Call (038) 410225 for more information.

Tiffany on Pattaya II Road with three shows daily at 7 p.m., 8.30 p.m. and 10.00 p.m. Call (038) 429642, 421700-5 for more information.

The Pattaya Park at Chomtien features a large water park with giant sliders and a tower to enjoy the view of Pattaya. There is also a revolving restaurant. Tel: (038) 251201-8 or (02) 579 9612-4, 941 2056.
Off-shore Islands

Off-shores are several popular small isles where visitors can enjoy scuba-diving to view underwater corals. Tour counters within hotels can make the necessary arrangement. Alternatively, boats can be rented around the Beach Road or at the South Pattaya landing. Several types of vessels are available.

Ko Lan is some 7.5 kilometers or 45 minutes by ferry from Pattaya. The 2 km. x 5 km. land area offers several white, sandy beaches such as Hat Ta Waen to the north. This is where most of the tour boats make anchor to take advantage of the food-shops and stalls along the shore. Hat Laem Thian and Hat Samae are located to the southwest while Hat Ta Phan is to the west of the island. Facing Hat Ta Phan are coral ranges. To the south are some hotels and is another site to view coral reefs. Visitors can choose glass-bottom boats and surface-diving.

Getting there: A ferry leave South Pattaya pier daily from 10 a.m. until 6.30 p.m. On return, the ferry leaves Ko Lan’s Na Ban Beach at 12 noon and 2 p.m. speed boats are also available at South Pattaya beach.

Some 8 kilometers off Pattaya Beach is Ko Khrok, an isle almost totally surrounded by rock formations. A gap of 100 meters to the east is a stretch of sandy beach from which visitors can go and enjoy viewing underwater coral reefs. This island can be reached by chartered boat from South Pattaya.

Some six hundred meters further from Ko Lan, or about 10 kilometers from Pattaya is Ko Sak , a small island shaped like an upturn horse-shoe. There are two connecting beaches to the north and south. Along the south shore are ranges of corals. Ko Sak can be reached by chartered boat from South Pattaya.

Two hours, 23 kilometers from Pattaya are the Ko Phai Islands, the largest of which is Ko Phai. Others include Ko Manwichai, Ko Luam and Ko Klungbadan. The area is under the supervision of the Royal Thai Navy. However, visitors are allowed for swimming, relaxation or diving but only during daytime. Overnight stays are not permitted.

Attractions

 

Khao Pattaya or Khao Phra Bat is a small hill to the south of Pattaya Beach . And asphalt road leads up to the hilltop. Khao Pattaya is now the site of the Naval radio station. A sacred Buddha image is also enshrined on the hilltop. At the foot of the hill is a Health Park which attracts joggers and ordinary tourists wishing to get a panoramic view of Pattaya City and Pattaya Bay .

Hat Chomthian (Jomtien) is a km.-long beach and only 4 kilometers from Pattaya. A beach road runs parallel to the shores along which are hotels and other accommodation facilities. Less noisy than Pattaya, it is popular as a site for relaxation, swimming and water-sports.

Wong Phrachan Beach is on the northern side of Pattaya Bay . The 1 kilometer beach shares the same entrance as the Central Wong Amat Hotel. A quiet spot, the beach is ideal swimming and relaxation.

The Million-Year Stone Park and Crocodile Farm , located some 9 kilometers from Pattaya city. Its grounds are beautifully landscaped with flowering and rock gardens. Hundreds of crocodiles as well as some rare animals, including albino bears and horses, are kept. There are crocodile shows, magic performances and animal shows 6 times a day from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. The compound is open daily from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Call (038) 249347-9 for more information.

Mini Siam , located at Km. 143 on Highway No. 3, is a wonderland of miniature replicas of such outstanding architectural work as the Temple of the Buddha. Democracy Monument , Bridge over the River Kwai, Prasat Hin Phimai, etc. Replicals if places of world significance are also displayed in the “mini-world” area. These include the Tower Bridge , Eiffel Tower , the Statue of liberty and Trevi Fountain. It is open daily from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. Call (038) 421628, 424232 or (02) 271 1896, 616 1533 for more information.

Pattaya Elephant Village stage shows demonstrating how to catch wild elephants-at-work in the jungle, elephants playing football and a grand war elephants parade. Elephant rides around the village. The-one-hour-long elephant shows are held at 14.30 hrs. Contact counter in Tropicana Hotel, Tel: (038) 24145-7, 249818.

Elephant shows are also operated in other places. Most of them are located on Sukhumvit Road. These include Ban Chang Thai Tel: (038) 706289, Utthayan Chang Tel: (038) 716379, Thin Chang Thai Tel: (038) 756516, 756577, Suan Chang Tel: (038) 756517 and Farm Chang Thai Tel: (038) 237825

Sanctuary of Truth is a gigantic temple-like structure situated by the sea at Laem Ratchawet on Naklua Road, North Pattaya. With exquisite architectural features, the sanctuary was conceived out of the vision that human civilization has been achieved and nurtured by religious and philosophical truth. It is open daily from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Admission fee is 500 baht Tel: (038) 225407

The Ripley’s believe It or Not Auditorium, situated in the Royal Garden Plaza on Beach Road, has a large collection of stories of oddities from every corner of the globe.

The Motion Master Moving Theatre, also in the Royal Garden Plaza, offer hi-tech screening of motions and movements as experienced in real life. Open from 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. Tel: (038) 710294-8

Traveling to Pattaya

By car

Pattaya can be reached in a 2.5-hour drive along Bangna-Trat Highway via Bang Pakong, Chon Buri and Si Racha. However, visitors can avoid Chon Buri by opting for Highway 36, the new Chon Buri – Pattaya – Rayong route or taking the motorway from Rama 9 Road.
By bus

Air-conditioned and regular buses depart from the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai) and Bangkoks Northern Bus Terminal (Mochit 2 Bus Terminal) on Kamphaengphet Road daily. Buses (air-con) depart the Eastern Bus Terminal every 30 minutes from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and from Mochit II (Northern Bus Terminal) from 5.00 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Departure times and fares may be obtained from the Eastern Bus Terminal, tel. 0 2391 2504, 0 2391 8097 or the Northern Bus Terminal, tel. 0 2936 2852-66.

There are also minibuses that travel directly from Bangkok Airport to Pattaya at 9.00 a.m., 12.00 p.m. and 7.00 p.m. daily. For more information, contact the Bangkok International Airport, tel. 0 2535 1111.
By train

The State Railway of Thailand offers a daily train service departing Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station at 06.55 a.m., tel. 0 2621 8701. It takes about 5 hours to reach a station located near the Siam Country Club.
By Air

Bangkok Airways provides daily flights connecting Ko Samui and U-Taphao Airport. (Approximately 30 kilometers south of Pattaya).
Travelling in Pattaya

Pattaya City is divided into four major zones: North Pattaya, Central Pattaya, South Pattaya and Chomthian. Motorbikes are the most popular mode of transport in Pattaya. However, transportation in the city is facilitated through the use of special cars (song taew), customized pickup trucks with passenger seats in a covered overhead back cabin. These pickups, known as Bahts-Bus, can easily carry 8-10 passengers in the back, plus 1 or 2 passengers in front. They circle around the city and are allowed to stop anywhere. If not occupied, they also can be hired as private taxis.

Many kinds of motorbikes, convertible monster Jeeps, sport and passenger cars are offered for rent. A driver’s license is not required for driving around Pattaya and vicinity; so many tourists are tempted get behind the wheel. It should be noted that in Thailand drivers drive on the left lane, as in England and Japan.

Plan your trip to Pattaya

 

Pattaya A Travelers Paradise

Pattaya is nestled along a picturesque bay on the East Coast of the Gulf of Thailand, roughly 170 kilometers southeast of Bangkok. Unlike other beach resorts, where natural surroundings are used as magnets to attract tourists, Pattaya makes an all-out attempt to provide the best of everything which a tourist can imagine while on holiday: recreation, entertainment, sports, sightseeing and fun. Pattaya is a paradise for everyone, as it has a variety of attractions suitable for all types of visitors. This is the place where you can fill your day, from dusk to dawn, with endless activities, or you may choose to do nothing at all and relax.

Pattaya currently integrates the delights of a 1st class beach resort, city-like dining, shopping and night entertainment facilities with more than 300 assorted hotels, thousands of shops, restaurants and bars. In addition, there are an array of sports and recreational activities including beaches, golf courses, tennis courts, go-kart, gyms for working out, weight lifting and Thai-boxing gear. Pattaya offers a broad range of things to do. During the day, one may enjoy riding elephants or driving humble automatic mini-bikes, monstrous motorcycles, or even monster multicolored convertible Jeeps. Others go for shooting firearms, scuba diving and surfing, deep-sea fishing, speed boats, scooters, water-skiing, parasailing, or aerial sports such as gliding ultra-lights and flying motor-propelled gliders. On the other hand, at night, there are restaurants, bars, theaters, cabaret shows, night clubs, bowling halls, billiard & snooker clubs, discos, sauna & massage parlors, mention  its absolutely incredible shopping which is available non-stop both day-and-night.