Pattaya Guide: Sanctuary of Truth THB 500, Koh Larn Boat THB 40

The Sanctuary of Truth costs THB 500 by day and THB 700 at night. Nong Nooch starts at THB 600 for a foreign adult. The scheduled Koh Larn boat costs THB 40 per person since 10 April 2026. The most rain falls in August or September.

By Vincent Nguyen and team

Three prices cover most Pattaya days. The Sanctuary of Truth day tour costs THB 500 for an adult. Nong Nooch starts at THB 600 for a foreign adult. The scheduled boat to Koh Larn costs THB 40 per person.

Below: where to stay, how to move around, the sights, safety and when the rain stops.

For coach and train fares from Bangkok, read Bangkok to Pattaya. This page does not repeat them.

Where to stay in Pattaya

Pattaya Beach is almost 3 km long and runs alongside Beach Road. Beach Road south of South Pattaya Road is closed to vehicles from 18:00 to 02:00 and is called Walking Street. Pick the area by the evening you want.

Jomtien Beach stretches about 6 km. Choose Jomtien for a long, calm beach, Naklua or Wong Amat for the quietest sand, and Central Pattaya for nightlife.

Baht bus, taxis and Walking Street

Pattaya’s blue songthaews, called baht buses, run the beach loop and the main roads. A shared ride normally costs THB 15 for most trips. The fare is the same for locals and foreigners on trips within Pattaya.

Flat fares only apply when the vehicle operates as a bus, so agree the price before you board a songthaew that is not running a route. Taxis in Pattaya do not use meters.

In July 2026 the Pattaya Transportation Cooperative suspended a driver for seven days after he charged two passengers THB 300 for a shared ride that normally costs THB 15. The cooperative acted with the Department of Land Transport after a passenger posted the case online.

Most accidents in Pattaya involve motorbikes and are especially common late at night and in the early morning.

Sights and ticket prices

Prices are for foreign visitors. Nong Nooch has a separate rate for foreign tourists.

Sanctuary of Truth

The Sanctuary of Truth is at Soi Naklua 12, Pattaya-Naklua Road, in Bang Lamung. You enter on a guided tour schedule, and English tours start at 9.10 am, 9.40 am and 10.10 am.

The day tour schedule is 8:20 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and day tickets are sold from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The night tour schedule is 6:20 p.m. to 8:30 p.m, and night tickets are sold from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Parking is free.

Rules at the gate:

• Wear a helmet inside, dress modestly, and borrow a shawl and sarong for a THB 200 deposit.
• Drones, video recording, food, drink, pets and smoking are not allowed inside.
• An online ticket is non-refundable and valid only on the date you choose.

Public transport from the North Pattaya terminal is a blue minibus to the dolphin roundabout, a Pattaya-Naklua minibus to Soi Naklua 12, then a public motorcycle to the museum.

Nong Nooch Tropical Garden

Nong Nooch’s head office is at 34/1 Moo 7 Najomtien, Sattahip, Chonburi. Package 1 is open daily 08.00 - 18.00 hrs.

Admission only leaves out the sightseeing bus and the Thai cultural and elephant show, which runs at 10.30, 11.30, 13.30 and 15.30 hrs. Children under 90 cm are free, children 90 to 140 cm pay the child rate and children above 140 cm pay the adult rate.

Khao Chi Chan

The Buddha image at Khao Chi Chan is carved by laser on the cliff face. It is 130 m high with a lap width of 70 m. The site is in Na Chom Thian, Sattahip district, Chon Buri. It is open 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM every day.

Koh Larn boat from Bali Hai Pier

Boats to Koh Larn leave from Laem Bali Hai pier. Bali Hai Pier is the New Pier at the south end of Walking Street. The scheduled boat fare rose from THB 30 to a single rate of THB 40 per person from 10 April 2026. The rise was officially approved on 23 March 2026.

Some Koh Larn ferries go to Na Baan pier on the Pattaya side of the island and others to Tawaen Beach pier on the far side. Check which pier your boat uses before you board.

Beaches and water safety

Thailand has lifeguards on duty at designated beaches and operates a flag system. Follow warning signs, especially red flags. People have drowned in strong riptides, especially during monsoon season.

Swim inside the 4 or 5 areas cordoned off with red and white booms, because boats and jet skis cannot enter them. Jellyfish come close to shore, particularly in the rainy season from May to October, and stings can be fatal.

Jet-ski rental starts around THB 600 for 30 minutes. Do not leave your passport as a guarantee with a rental business, because it may keep it against claimed damage. For smoking rules on the Pattaya-area beach, read the beach smoking ban guide.

Scams and the tourist police

Four tricks come up in Pattaya:

• Jet-ski operators who try to collect surcharges for supposed damage.
• Rental shops that want your passport as a guarantee.
• Small purchases paid with THB 1,000 notes in bars and nightlife venues, where the note you hand over needs checking.
• Strangers who pose as government representatives, and touts who point to gem shops with deals that will make you rich.

The tourist police hotline for crimes involving tourists is 1155. Chon Buri province has a tourist police station. Read the tourist police guide and the scams guide for the steps.

When to go

Thailand’s rainy season runs from mid-May to mid-October. The eastern region, which includes Chon Buri, gets 1,433.2 mm of rain in the rainy season and 130 rainy days a year. In upper Thailand the most rain falls in August or September.

At the mid-October changeover the eastern region stops raining and cools down later than the north and northeast. For the least rain, plan between mid-October and mid-February.

The figures are the eastern region’s 1981 to 2010 averages.

Hospital and emergencies

Bangkok Hospital Pattaya is at 301 Moo 6 Sukhumvit Road, Km. 143, Banglamung, Chonburi 20150. Its number is +6638259999, and 1719 (local calls only) also reaches it.

For a medical emergency, 1669 is the number to call. The Royal Thai Police number is 191. More numbers are on the emergency numbers page.

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Not confirmed: Khao Chi Chan entry fee: the Ministry of Tourism directory gives hours but no fee, so confirm at the gate. Koh Larn boat timetable and speedboat fares: no 2026 timetable is published, so read the board at Bali Hai Pier.

Prices, timetables and opening hours change; check with the operator before you travel. See how guides are checked.

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