Where is eastern Thailand?
Eastern Thailand is the coast that runs south-east from Bangkok along the Gulf of Thailand to the Cambodian border. The Royal Institute counts seven provinces in the East, from Chachoengsao and Chonburi to Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat. For visitors, it means Pattaya, a string of islands and the gem town of Chanthaburi.
It is the closest beach region to Bangkok. Pattaya is a short drive from Suvarnabhumi, and the islands of Trat are a one-hour flight away. That makes the east the easy choice for a long weekend or a few beach days at the end of a city stay.
Eastern Thailand travel suits three kinds of trip. Bring a group to Pattaya for villas, golf and nights out. Bring your partner to the quiet islands of Trat. Come in December for the festivals. Each needs a different base, so tell us which trip you have in mind.
Where should you stay in Pattaya?
Pattaya is a large resort city with golf, family attractions, beach clubs and a busy night scene. Stay away from the centre. Choose the Pratumnak headland, Naklua and Wongamat to the north, or Na Jomtien to the south. Start with our Pattaya guide.
Pratumnak. A green headland between Pattaya Bay and Jomtien, with InterContinental Pattaya Resort and Royal Wing Suites & Spa. See our Pratumnak guide.
Naklua and Wongamat. Quieter beaches north of the centre, with Pullman Pattaya Hotel G on Wongamat and Cape Dara Resort on Dara Beach. Read our Naklua and Wongamat guide.
Na Jomtien. A long, calm stretch south of the city with large villas and Renaissance Pattaya Resort & Spa. More in our Na Jomtien guide.
Only licensed entertainment venues in Pattaya's designated late-night zones may open until 04:00, under a 2023 ministerial regulation. For the best rooftops and clubs, see our Pattaya nightlife guide. Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, on the Naklua side, holds Joint Commission International accreditation.
Pattaya also has the region's largest choice of private pool villas, many on the hills of Pratumnak and in Na Jomtien. Picture your own pool, a chef at the grill and the bay below at sunset. It is the right base for a family or a group of friends who want space to host. Golf is the other draw, with several championship courses a short drive from the city.
Which eastern islands are closest to Bangkok?
Ko Samet and Koh Sichang are the two islands closest to Bangkok. Ko Samet, off Rayong, has fine white sand and is inside Khao Laem Ya-Mu Ko Samet National Park. Koh Sichang, off Si Racha, is a small, quiet island with an old royal summer palace and no big resorts.
Boats to Ko Samet land at Na Dan pier. The national park charges foreign adults ฿200 and children ฿100 at its booths, the Tourism Authority of Thailand says. We arrange a private speedboat from the mainland so you skip the ferry queue. Read our Ko Samet guide.
Koh Sichang suits a half-day of history and seafood rather than a beach stay. See our Koh Sichang guide.
Both islands work as a day trip from a Pattaya villa. We send a private speedboat in the morning and bring you back for dinner.
Ko Chang, Koh Kood and Koh Mak: the eastern islands
Ko Chang, Koh Kood and Koh Mak are the eastern islands of Trat, near the Cambodian border. They are greener and quieter than the Andaman islands, with rainforest, waterfalls and long bays. Ko Chang is the largest and busiest. Koh Kood is the most private. Koh Mak is small and flat, with a slow, family feel.
The islands are at their best outside the rainy season, which the Thai Meteorological Department sets from mid-May to mid-October. Its normals for the eastern region show 218.6 mm of rain in October, 48.2 mm in November and only 9.8 mm in December. In the wet months some boats stop running and the sea can be rough, so we plan Trat trips from November to April.
Ko Chang. Ferries leave from Ao Thammachat pier on the mainland. They run from early morning to early evening, so check the times on the day. The Department of National Parks charges foreign adults ฿200 for Mu Ko Chang National Park. Read our Ko Chang guide.
Koh Kood. Boats leave from Laem Sok pier, and the ferry company gives about an hour for the crossing. Soneva Kiri, one of Thailand's most private resorts, is here. See our Koh Kood guide.
Koh Mak. A small island between the two, with coconut groves and calm water, good for families and a few quiet nights. More in our Koh Mak guide.
The easiest way in is to fly. Bangkok Airways flies from Suvarnabhumi to Trat in about an hour, and the pier is about 30 minutes from the airport, the airline says. We meet you at Trat with a car and a private boat.
The Centrepoint ferry has been suspended since July 2024, so older guides that mention it are out of date.
Chanthaburi: gems and fruit
Chanthaburi is the east's gem and fruit capital, between Rayong and Trat. Its gem market sits on Sri Chan Road and Trok Krachang in the old town. The Department of Internal Trade calls it the largest gem trading area in Thailand. The old riverside quarter and the orchards make a good day out from the islands.
We visit with a trusted guide who knows the dealers and can explain what you are buying. No official source lists market days, so we confirm the day before you go.
Which festivals take place on the east coast?
The east coast hosts some of Thailand's biggest music festivals, all near Pattaya and all in late November and December. In 2026, the Pattaya International Fireworks Festival runs on 27 and 28 November. Wonderfruit follows from 3 to 7 December, and Tomorrowland Thailand from 11 to 13 December.
Wonderfruit takes place at The Fields at Siam Country Club, Chonburi. Tomorrowland Thailand, the first full Tomorrowland in Asia, is at Wisdom Valley in Bang Lamung. The fireworks festival has no official VIP option; the best views come from rooftop tables and boats on the bay, which we book.
Festival weeks fill Pattaya's best villas and hotels early. If your dates fall in December, send them to us as soon as you can.
Dates for 2027 are not yet announced for any of the three; we update this page when they are. See our Wonderfruit guide and our Tomorrowland Thailand guide.
How do you get to eastern Thailand from Bangkok?
The easy way to reach the east is by road from Bangkok. The Tourism Authority of Thailand puts Pattaya about 150 km from the capital, a drive of about two hours. U-Tapao airport, south of Pattaya, takes some domestic and international flights and private jets, and it is open 24 hours.
The Royal Thai Navy runs U-Tapao, and it has a private jet terminal. See our U-Tapao airport guide. There is no ferry from Pattaya to Hua Hin; by road it takes about five to six hours around the top of the Gulf.
For the drive from Bangkok, we send a chauffeur in a large van or a luxury car. Water and Wi-Fi are on board, and the driver stops when you ask. At the airport, our host meets you in the arrivals hall; a meeting at the aircraft gate is possible only through the airport's authorised meet-and-assist service.
By sea, a private yacht from Pattaya reaches the nearby islands for a day of swimming and lunch on board. See our yacht charter in Pattaya page.
Plan the east with Tanner
Tanner plans eastern Thailand around your dates. One planner books the villa in Pratumnak or Na Jomtien, the boat to the islands, the festival days and the driver from Bangkok. Our Thai staff know this coast, including the parts of Pattaya you can skip.
Example plan: three nights in a Pratumnak villa with a chef, a yacht day to the nearby islands and a rooftop dinner. A slower week adds four nights on Koh Kood. You get one plan, one contact on WhatsApp and one invoice. We get back to you right away.
