Hotels Guide Thailand
Eastern Thailand travel guide
Bjørn Erik Pedersen, CC BY-SA 3.0

Eastern Thailand travel guide

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Pattaya, Ko Samet, Ko Chang and Chanthaburi. The east coast beaches and islands closest to Bangkok, and where to stay.

The Eastern region runs along the Gulf of Thailand from the edge of Bangkok to the Cambodian border. Its beaches and islands are the easiest to reach from the capital, which makes it a natural choice for short breaks and for travellers who do not want to take a domestic flight.

What the region covers

  • Chon Buri includes Pattaya and Jomtien, a large resort city with every type of hotel, and the quieter seaside town of Bang Saen. Ko Larn is a short ferry ride from Pattaya.
  • Rayong is the jumping-off point for Ko Samet, a small national-park island with white-sand bays, popular at weekends with people from Bangkok.
  • Trat province has Ko Chang, Thailand’s third-largest island, along with Ko Kut and Ko Mak, which are quieter and more rustic.
  • Chanthaburi is known for its gem market, its riverside old town and fruit orchards. Durian, mangosteen and rambutan are harvested here from about April to June.
  • Chachoengsao, Prachin Buri and Sa Kaeo are mostly visited for temples, nature and the Cambodian border crossing at Aranyaprathet.

When to go

The east coast is driest from November to April. From around May to October the rainy season brings showers and rougher seas, especially around Ko Chang and the Trat islands, where some boat services are reduced. Pattaya and Ko Samet are less affected and are visited year-round.

Getting there

Pattaya is about two hours by road from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. U-Tapao Airport near Pattaya handles a limited number of domestic and international flights. Ko Samet is reached by ferry from Ban Phe in Rayong; Ko Chang by car ferry from Trat. Trat Airport has flights to Bangkok.

Provinces

  • Chon Buri

    Pattaya, Jomtien, Naklua, Bang Saen and Ko Larn compared. Where to stay in Chon Buri province, the closest beach area to Bangkok.

  • Rayong

    Ko Samet's bays, Ban Phe, Mae Phim and Rayong town compared. Where to stay on the eastern coast between Pattaya and Chanthaburi.

  • Trat

    Ko Chang's beaches, Ko Kut, Ko Mak and Trat town compared. A guide to the island province on the Cambodian border.

  • Chanthaburi

    Chanthaburi's riverside old town, gem market, fruit orchards and quiet beaches. Where to stay and when to visit.