Thailand Region Guide Eastern Thailand
Ko Sichang
Lying north of Pattaya, Ko Sichang offers an easy weekend excursion from the capital. Located 12 km. off the coast at Si Racha, the island has one small town but otherwise the landscape is rugged and mostly deserted, thus offering a wonderful sense of escape. If Ko Sichang lacks the classic tropical beauty of islands in the south, it possesses its own charm and character.
Chanthaburi
Visit Thailand’s garden province famed for its rich and varied fruits of the earth. A fascinating town, lush green landscapes and tranquil coastal villages.
With its provincial capital located 245 km. from Bangkok, Chanthaburi, covering 6,338 sq. km., is one of the Kingdom’s less visited provinces, though one full of varied attractions. Known as the ‘garden province’, Chanthaburi is justly famed for its fertile land that gives plentiful yields ol fruit such as mangosteen, rambutan and durian. The earth also yields rubies and sapphires, and Chanthaburi town remains an important trading centre for precious stones. Adding charm to the town is the Chanthaburi River, while the population comprises a colorful mix of ancient communities. Beyond the town, the province is characterized by an interior of forests and scenic waterfalls, and a coastline dotted with quiet fishing villages and peaceful beaches.
Website: www.chanthaburi.go.th
Ko Samet
A part of Rayong province, Ko Samet is well established as a popular destination for overseas visitors and weekend excursionists from Bangkok. The island was, however, famous long before the advent of tourism, being immortalized by the classical Thai poet Sunthon Phu, who set part of his epic Phra Aphaimani on the island, where the hero of the tale defeats a giant by playing a magic flute.
Rayong
Explore beyond Pattaya and discover the quieter shores of the East Coast, from a traditional provincial capital to the charm of beaches, coves and offshore islands. The province of Rayong, covering 3,552 sq. km., is situated on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Thailand, the provincial capital located 179 km. from Bangkok. Less developed than the Pattaya area, it combines an attractive 100-km. coastline, with beaches and offshore islands, and a green fertile interior. Rayong town has a few attractions, while the most famous destination is the island of Ko Samet, although beaches along the mainland coastline are becoming increasingly popular.
Website: www.rayong.go.th
Pattaya
Colorful and alive with activities, it is unrivalled as a beach resort, offering more attractions in greater profusion than any other single destination in Southeast Asia.
A famed international playground in the sun where the action is non-stop. Enjoy yourself to the max in a dazzling kaleidoscope of sports and entertainment.
Pattaya is a phenomenon. Once a tiny fishing village, it has developed into a renowned international playground. Colorful and alive with activities, it is unrivalled as a beach resort, offering more attractions in greater profusion than any other single destination in Southeast Asia.
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