Category: FEATURED

Visit Monkey Island in Pattaya Tour

Visit Monkey Island in Pattaya Tour Monkey Island goes by various names, including Koh Ling (Thai for “Monkey Island”), Koh Ped (“Duck Island”) and the official name: Koh Klet Kaew (“Crystal Shard Island”). True to some of its names, the tiny, jungle-covered lump of land is shaped roughly like a splinter of crystal and is famous for its large population of crab-eating macaques. There are no ducks, however. The 24-hectare island just off the coast of Sattahip is home to hundreds of monkeys which have become accustomed to human contact as a result of daily visits from boats carrying tourists. The stony beach on the eastern end of the island is one of the most popular spots on the route of many of the island-hopping tours sailing from Ocean Marina Yacht Club in Na Jomtien, with visitors enjoying feeding and photographing the residents. Monkey Island Pattaya was once the home of quite a large white-handed gibbon population introduced by US Armed Forces scientists in 1967. They were part of a study into the feasibility of using isolated breeding colonies as a ready supply of subjects for testing potential malaria vaccines on. However, the institute behind the programme stopped using gibbons in their research a few years later and the gibbons were removed and released into the wild near Kanchanaburi. The current residents are crab-eating macaques, also known as long-tailed macaques and locally as Ling Samae (‘Ling’ means monkey and ‘Samae’ is a type of crab). There numbers have grown so large, thanks to being regularly fed by visitors, that the Royal Thai Navy has to provide food aid during the off-season to prevent mass starvation! The monkeys are so used to tourists that they will often swim out to meet approaching boats, eager to get at the fruit that most of them bring along. If you want to feed them yourself, bananas and nuts are good, but watermelon is their favourite. It is important to note that, while the residents of Monkey Island Pattaya are generally friendly and approachable and will even climb up on you if you are carrying food, they are still wild and can become aggressive without warning.

Underwater World in Pattaya Bangkok Tour

Underwater World in Pattaya Bangkok Tour Pattaya’s most exciting aquarium, Underwater World brings a slice of the deep ocean on shore in a series of exhibits that take you from the sandy beaches to shallow rock pool teeming with colourful reefs to the open ocean where predators and prays swim side by side. Enjoy the live feeding shows and watch real-time action as you progress down the 100-metre acrylic tunnel, with all the brilliantly coloured creatures plying the waters above and all around you. Discover the riches of the world’s deep ocean, and you will be amazed at how much you learn in one entertaining hour. Underwater World features some 2,500 marine animals, comprising more than 200 species from the region as well as overseas, including sharks, sea otters, stingray and rare shovelnose ray – a hybrid between a shark and stingray. The journey begins at the ‘Touch Pool’, where you can feel the skin of bamboo sharks, sea cucumbers, turtles, blue-spotted stingrays, starfish and lobsters. The reef tank showcases colourful reefs, corals and the symbiosis of undersea plants, anemones and fish. From here, the underground water tunnel opens into the depths of the marine world. Meet the sharks, stingrays, hovelnose rays, giant groupers and a host of predators and prays that inhabit the ocean’s depths. The Ship Wreck Tank at the end of the tunnel houses a collection of fish found just off Pattaya’s shores. Apart from the aquarium section, the live feeding shows are great fun, especially for children. The shark and ray feeding draws the biggest crowd, so does the otter tank. Check the feeding schedule if you don’t want to miss out on the fun. Opening Hours: 09:00 – 18:00 Location: 22/22 Moo 11, Sukhumvit Road, Jomtien

Splashdown Waterpark in Pattaya Bangkok Tour Attraction

Splashdown Waterpark in Pattaya Bangkok Tour Attraction Splashdown Waterpark Pattaya is an exciting adventure playground on the outskirts of Pattaya. Based roughly on the UK TV gameshow “Total Wipeout”, it features a selection challenging and thrilling slides and games designed to challenge the bravery and fitness of teenagers and adults – kind of like a rollercoaster where you have to push it along yourself! Once you’ve been fitted with a lifejacket, helmet and rubber safety shoes (all included in the ticket price), your first obstacle is the Super Slider – at over 15 metres, the tallest inflatable waterslide in the world! The steep drop back down to ground level, with a little flick at the end to throw you into a large pool, is an excellent introduction to the park. After being eased in with mere acrophobia and rapid acceleration, you are faced with Splashdown Waterpark Pattaya’s toughest challenge – the so-called Big Red Balls. These are exactly what they claim to be – eight giant crimson inflatable spheres, tethered in a line from one side of a pool to the other. Jumping from one to the next is a great challenge of balance and coordination. The best we ever managed was getting fished out of the pond by the helpful staff after taking a face-full of the third one! The next challenge is relatively tame – just an exciting and exhausting race across floating trampolines and obstacles in The Zorb Race. It is the part of the waterpark which closest resembles “Wipeout”. Complete that, and you face The Square Runner, which is similar in principle to the Big Red Balls, except for the shape of the obstacles. They’re just as challenging, however, and you’re just as likely to get wet. Rounding off the challenging games at Splashdown Waterpark Pattaya are two where it’s all about making a splash, with the Big Blue and the Big Blob. The first is a nine-metre-high and 18m-long slide, which seems like quite a gradual descent, until you see the three-metre drop into the water at the end! The Blob is like a giant inflatable sausage, where you sit on one end and someone else jumps on the other, throwing you high into the air. Other attractions at Splashdown Waterpark Pattaya include an ATV course, a kids slip and slide (like a much less extreme version of the Big Blue) and a zorb ball ride. There is also a restaurant, a bar and even a small mini-mart, giving you the chance to recover some of your energy before having another go at getting past the third Big Red Ball. Finally, there are changing rooms with showers and restrooms, so you don’t have to take the ride home soaking wet. While generally quite safe, the main attractions are all an extreme sort of fun, so you are likely to come away with a few aching muscles at the very least. While entry for children under 120cm tall is free, they will not be allowed on any of the main attractions – only Zorb Mountain and the Kids Slip and Slide. All-day entry for those over 120cm costs 1,500 baht (650 baht for Thai nationals and expatriates with valid ID), including free two-way hotel transfers and entry for those who just came to watch is 200 baht.

Visit Ramayana Water Park in Pattaya

Visit Ramayana Water Park in Pattaya Ramayana Water Park is a vast aquatic playground located in beautiful natural surroundings and joins the rapidly growing number of attractions in the Silverlake area, south of Pattaya. With 50 slides and attractions in a 184,000sqm area, it the biggest of its kind in Thailand. Opened in May 2016, there is something for practically any age group at Ramayana Water Park, from toddlers to adults. A small lagoon with a selection of spray toys is good for the youngsters, particularly as the pool is covered to protect their skin from the sun. Skin and eyes of all ages are protected from harsh chemicals by the fact that there aren’t any in use. The pools all use fresh, clean water drawn from on-site wells, which is thoroughly cleaned with a state-of-the-art filtration system, meaning that it is actually theoretically drinkable. If a refreshing gulp of the park’s water doesn’t sound too appealing, head over to one of the three large food outlets or the swim-up bar in the adults’ pool. There is also plenty of opportunity for the grown-ups to chill out, either on private cabanas atop the hill and in the middle of the natural lake and river or in the extensive parkland. You could also grab an inflatable and ride the lazy river, which loops around the base of the hill. Those coming to Ramayana Water Park for the excitement, though, will not be disappointed. There are numerous large high-speed slides, a double FlowRider, a teen activity pool and, for special occasions, a performance stage with large LCD display, which is surrounded by a dual wave machine pool. Ramayana Water Park also offers important conveniences to make your fun as carefree as possible, including secure lockers, extensive on-site car parking and a plentiful supply of washrooms. It is sure to provide at least a full day’s safe, family-friendly, wet and wild adventure. With parkland, a hill and a natural lake, it makes an impressive effort to fit with its surroundings, though the large, brightly-coloured slides make it easy spot from a distance as you drive up. To reach the park, turn off Sukhumvit Road 3km south of the entrance to Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Gardens and follow that road for 7km.

Pattaya Park Attraction

Pattaya Park Attraction Pattaya Park, a landmark on Jomtien Beach, is best known for its 240-metre tall observation tower, which doubles as a jumping tower. The tower hosts three revolving restaurants serving international buffet, all with 360-degree views of Pattaya. There’s also a separate water park and amusement park. Visible from any point along Pattaya Beach, Pattaya Park is an ideal attraction for the entire family. Its beachfront location occupies an expansive area on the jutting headland that connects South and Jomtien beaches. From the tower, you get one of the most amazing 360-degree bird’s eye views of the entire area. The beach also feels more secluded and private, with fewer peddlers and well-shaded areas with beach chairs for lounging. Pattaya Park Highlight ‘Amusement park’ is not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Pattaya. So for families, Pattaya Park offers a good alternative to beach activities and other tourist attractions found along Sukhumvit Road. The Water Park has a gigantic waterslide and a whirlpool where you can let yourself loose and just go with the flow. If you don’t want to get wet, head over to Fun Park and enjoy a few rides on the rollercoaster, Viking, monorail, musical carousel or, for the more adventurous souls, tower shot. Designed for young children, Fun Park is more a fairground activities park than a fully-fledged amusement park with hair-raising thrill rides. For the thrill factor, Pattaya Park Tower has a jumping platform where you can try one of the three ways to get back to the ground: Sky Shutter, Speed Shutter, or Tower Jump – depending on how much of an adrenalin rush you prefer. If jumping off the tower is not your idea of having a good time, try having a meal at one of the three revolving restaurants up top. A choice of international buffet is available for lunch and international seafood buffet for dinner. Enjoy your meal as the backdrop of the city and ocean slowly reveal themselves. Or you can just go up to the observation deck and enjoy the views. Good to know about Pattaya Park Admission varies for each type of activity. The Pattaya Park Tower (open 11:00-22:00) has two types of tickets – with or without the buffet. The Fun Park (10:00-19:00) has a combination ticket; one ticket allows you on three rides. For the Water Park, you pay one price at the entrance and enjoy all the facilities inside (food and drinks cost extra).

Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya bangkok Tour

Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya bangkok Tour Bali Hai Pier commonly known as Pattaya Pier – is a central feature of the city, located at the end of Walking Street, near the southernmost point of Pattaya Bay. It is a hive of activity, with endless day-trippers on the way to the nearby Coral Island (Koh Larn), as well as scuba divers, fishing enthusiasts and even private charter boat trips setting off or returning to dry land. The jetty stretches quite far out into the bay and is lined on either side with boats of all descriptions. It can be seen clearly from Pattaya View Point and has now become a classic image of Pattaya itself. The main attraction of Bali Hai Pier is the regular ferry service to Coral Island, which takes about 45 minutes to cover the 10.5km journey. Tickets are purchased on the pier, close to the ferry itself, with prices starting at just 30 baht (one-way) to Naban Pier or Tawaen Beach. This is an extremely popular service, so boats are often crowded and you will usually see crowds of people walking up or down the pier at almost all times of the day, from the first sailing at 07:00 to the last one at 18:30. Sadly, there is no alternative to walking the 300 metres to the boat since personal vehicle traffic on the pier is restricted. The faster and more convenient alternative to the ferry is to charter a speedboat. This service can be purchased in the large hall at the head of Pattaya Pier, where you will find a multitude of stalls and stands. Chartering the boat itself will cost between 1,500 and 3,000 baht, with the price then split between the passengers to make it actually quite a reasonable cost, particularly as you can fit up to a dozen people in the boat. Even with that many passengers aboard, a speedboat is a much more comfortable method of making the voyage and cuts the journey time down to about 20 minutes. Speedboat charter from Bali Hai Pier is the only option if you wish to travel to the other islands near Pattaya, including Koh Sak and Koh Krok. You will also be able to charter boats for fishing and island-hopping trips here or, in many cases, through your hotel’s tours desk. Prices vary according to destination, equipment, duration and other services. You can often negotiate the price and maybe haggle it down a little. We recommend heading down the day before to arrange any private trips. The area around Pattaya Pier – known as Bali Hai Plaza – is an attraction in itself. It particularly comes alive in the evenings, when it is partially illuminated by the huge Pattaya City sign. The plaza is home to a couple of restaurants and a nightclub complex housing Mixx Discotheque and LimaLima, just by the bottom end of Pattaya Walking Street. There is also the 2Sky Pattaya Rocket Ball ride and a guarded parking structure where you can safely leave motorbikes for 30 baht.

Best Attraction of Teddy Bear Museum in Pattaya

Best Attraction of Teddy Bear Museum in Pattaya The Teddy Bear Museum Pattaya – also known as ‘Teddy Island’ – is a truly unique, slightly baffling and extremely fun family-friendly experience. Housed in the impossible-to-miss teddy bear-themed building at the northern end of Beach Road, it houses about 1,000 stuffed animals in the most unexpected journey through history and fantasy ever. Particularly popular with Asian visitors and an unshakable part of the tour bus itinerary, every exhibit can be at least touched and, in many cases, interacted with. The route through the museum is surprisingly long, so guests should save at least two to three hours to really enjoy every section, stopping to take cute pictures with the bears whenever you fancy. The Inca Zone shows teddy bears climbing up the distinctive stepped pyramids of the ancient Central American civilisation. The Dinosaur Zone features the slightly unnerving spectacle of a two-metre tall Tyrannosaurus Rex being cuddled by stuffed bears. The Fossil Zone jumps back to the present day and shows the descendants of the dino-cuddlers excavating the relics of the past. The Teddy Bear Museum Pattaya’s Africa Zone features tribal hunts-bears wielding spears, which is about as incongruous an action as you can ever imagine a teddy bear performing. The Thailand Zone shows some of the nation’s ancient culture and architecture, with the principle actors all in bear form. The Under-the-Sea Zone sees bears in scuba gear – which comes close to beating the spear-wielding bears for weirdness – and features a pair of giant mer-bears. The Eskimo Zone’s most noticeable feature is the collection of air conditioners set to their lowest setting, but the polar teddies are cosy and warm in their winter jackets. Santa Town at the Teddy Bear Museum Pattaya seamlessly carries on the snowy theme from the Eskimo Zone, but with dozens of Santa’s little helpers perched on practically any horizontal surface. The Space Zone seems to take its cue from a combination of Stargate and Star Wars and includes Jedi teddies. The Fairytale Zone is where the interactivity level of the museum – which is already pretty high – goes into overdrive, with a small collection of slides for the young kids. China Zone features the biggest bear in the museum – a three-metre-long giant panda which purportedly took four people to lift into position. The Europe Zone finishes the whole experience off with big bears in traditional dress amongst the continent’s many famous landmarks.

Visit Viewpoint in Pattaya Tour

Visit Viewpoint in Pattaya Tour Pattaya Viewpoint (Khao Pattaya View Point) on Pratumnak Hill is the best viewpoint in the region and the place to visit day or night to get that classic shot of Pattaya’s sweeping, crescent bay. Be warned though, this is anything but an insider’s tip so expect to share your view with an almost ceaseless conveyor-belt of package tours and the local traders who follow them touting cheap souvenirs and expensive refreshments. This might sound off-putting but the reality is tours will usually stop for 10 to 15 minutes and once they have been called back to the bus, the view point becomes quiet and peaceful – perfect for enjoying the stunning scenery. Despite its popularity, the esplanade is long and wide enough to accommodate large numbers so there is no waiting around to find a position against the railings for a picture-postcard backdrop. The main view looks north and has uninterrupted views of Pattaya Bay right up to the headland separating Pattaya beach from Naklua beach, but there are also views south looking out over Jomtien Beach and straight out to sea. To reach the view point, drive south from Central Pattaya, past Bali Hai Pier, but don’t take the bridge next to Easy Karts race track. Instead, exit under the bridge and turn right up the hill. The view point is on Rajchawaroon, the first right hand turn at the top of Pratumnak Hill. Alternatively, you can negotiate with a songtaew (baht bus) to take you there and back – there is no fixed price for this trip but expect to pay a few hundred baht for the return journey. Other things of note on the hilltop include Wat Khao Phra Bat, an interesting temple which is claimed to house a relic of Buddha and a monument to Kromluang Chomphonkhetudomsak, the founding Father of the Thai Navy, which is revered by many Thai people who leave wreaths and burn incense in his honour. Any time day or night, this hillside viewpoint offers panoramic views of Pattaya and Jomtien but it is best visited in late afternoon or early evening when the changing lights enhance this already amazing sight, and best of all, it’s absolutely free.

Wat Phra Yai Temple in Pattaya Tour

Wat Phra Yai Temple in Pattaya Tour On the very top of Pratumnak Hill, between Pattaya and Jomtien Beach, you can’t fail to notice an enormous 18 metre tall Buddha popping up through the trees. This Big Buddha – the largest in the region – is the highlight of Wat Phra Yai, a temple built in the 1940s when Pattaya was nothing more than a fishing village. The Big Buddha is extremely popular with tour groups who love to see the intricate design of the statue and the temple complex, but it is also revered by local people who come to pray at the temple. Despite the crowds, the wreaths of flowers and burning incense create a reflective mood in which to explore the many smaller Buddha statues, partial views of Jomtien Beach, and the pavilion hall which has a beautifully painted mosaic on the walls. The staircase leading up to the temple is quite striking as there are golden dragons running along the entire handrails, and at the foot of the stairs, seven-headed mythical snakes called Nagas emerge from the dragon’s mouths. Once at the top, visitors like to take photographs with the many Buddha figures in different postures (some are sitting, others lying down or standing) which are representative of different days of the week. Many foreigners are unsure on which day they were born but in Thailand there is a special relevance placed on this information, with a unique Buddha posture which should be revered. Although a visit to Wat Phra Yai requires some walking, it is a popular activity with old and young visitors and the stairs aren’t difficult to handle. Before you arrive at the top of the hill, you will notice traders selling many small birds that are kept together in cages. The idea is for people to set them free and gain good karma. This all sounds wonderful, but actually we would not encourage it because, in reality, the more money given to this practice, the more birds will be caught and enslaved. It is far better to donate to the temple. Either enter the temple at the foot of the stairs and be blessed by a monk in return for a small donation of your choice, or donate in the pavilion hall at the top of the stairs, next to the enormous smiling Buddha. Another popular activity while visiting Big Buddha Hill in Pattaya is to ring the line of bells with a big stick, which is supposed to call good luck to whoever completes the task. The Big Buddha Statue in Pattaya is a cultural highlight to any visit to Pattaya and can be enjoyed by people who are knowledgeable about Buddhism but equally by people who have limited knowledge of the religion and the way of life. Pratumnak Hill is only 2km from South Pattaya and entry to the temple is free. If you need transport, a songtaew (baht bus) will take you there for around 200 baht. Opposite Wat Phra Yai there is a Chinese Shrine complex dedicated to Confucius, Guan Yin, and a Taoist temple which can be explored afterwards.

Floating Market in Pattaya Tour

Floating Market in Pattaya Tour Covering an area of 100,000sqm, the Four Regions Floating Market is separated into four sections – each representing and selling items from the four major parts of Thailand (north, northeast, central and south). Expect to find many eateries, fruit stalls, souvenir shops and some art galleries. There is also a cultural show every afternoon. The 350 million baht market has over 114 shops and water vendors selling authentic Thai food, desserts and specialties from all over the kingdom. For a floating market experience, hire a man-powered boat to get around and discover the richness of the surrounding Thai architecture and riverside life. Typically, the boat is big enough for four people and can be hired for a small fee for around 30 minutes. A walk through the hundreds of wooden houses built in the different styles of the four regions is pleasant and fun. Food happens to be the main draw here. There are plenty of authentic Thai dishes and classic desserts to sample. Highlights include noodle soups, pad thai (stir-fried rice noodles), kanom jean (rice vermicelli) with different kinds of curries, ka nom krok (coconut pancake), foi thong (golden threads), thong yip (sweet egg yolk) and more. Postcards, Thai handicrafts and some ancient toys made from wood or die-cast metal are widely available within the market, too. Besides food stalls and shops, the market also features other educational and entertaining attractions. The wood-carving museum displays beautiful carved images. If photography is one of your hobbies, don’t miss the sunflower and agricultural demonstration fields. There is also a daily free show featuring four cultural performances. The Four Regions Floating Market Pattaya is a good place to get away from the chaos that is Pattaya and is a must-do for those who have yet to visit a Thai floating market. The market is located on Sukhumvit Road, about two kilometres past Pattaya Underwater World, on the way to Sattahip. More than 80 paddle boats are on standby to ferry visitors around the compound along many Thai style teak wood buildings, linked by a network of canals, bridges and a number of different sized islands with exotic plants and trees. The boat trip will slowly expose the richness of the surrounding architectural and cultural river side living. Water vendors moving with their paddle boats from dock to dock and offering their unique range of freshly cooked delicious dishes. Pattaya Floating Market provides daily several cultural performances, native to the four regions of the country, like Thai classical dance, martial art demonstrations,as well as water boxing, where the fighters perform on a horizontal pole above the canal. Painters do show their artificial work, like umbrella and portrait painting. Pattaya Floating Market will provide shortly Amphibian-boat rides, an agricultural rice field demonstration and authentic House-boats for home stay. Open Daily: 10.00 – 21.00 hrs.