The region's largest garden
Some two hundred hectares.
Wayne77 — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Public domain · Mark Stepanov — CC BY 3.0 · Mark Stepanov — CC BY 3.0
The largest botanical garden in Southeast Asia, covering some two hundred hectares south of Pattaya. The Tansacha family bought the land in 1954 to grow fruit, then Mrs Nongnooch decided to turn it into a tropical garden after a trip abroad; today it is one of the region's best-known sights and an important scientific centre for rare cycads. The garden is divided into sections in different styles: a French garden in geometric layout, an Italian garden, a cactus garden, an orchid garden, a dinosaur valley of giant models and a miniature Stonehenge, with lakes, bridges and views designed for photographs. There are Thai cultural shows and animal shows. Entry for foreigners is about five hundred baht for the gardens alone and about eight hundred with the shows, with children under ninety centimetres free; it opens daily from morning to evening. Distances inside are long, so the internal bus or an electric cart suits the heat. Allow half a day at least and come in the morning before the heat. It is one of Pattaya's favourite places for families and children, with several restaurants.
Some two hundred hectares.
Giant models children love.
French, Italian and orchids.
Sukhumvit Road, Sattahip, about 20 km south of Pattaya
The cultural shows are fun for families but optional; the gardens alone fill half a day. For photography and walking, the garden ticket is better value.