If you have the means and desire to travel, don't limit yourself to exploring only the sights of Pattaya. Recently, excursions to neighboring countries such as Cambodia, the Philippines, and Singapore have become increasingly popular.
Cambodia: The Cradle of the Khmers
Cambodia is a common excursion choice from Pattaya. You can visit Cambodia either as part of an organized tour or independently. More often than not, the primary purpose of the trip is to explore Angkor, a temple complex recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is located approximately 240 kilometers from Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, and just 5 kilometers from Siem Reap. Angkor covers an extensive area of about 240 thousand square kilometers and includes several iconic structures:
- Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom;
- Ta Prom;
- Pre Rup;
- Pnom Bakeng;
- Preah Kan;
- Banteay Srei.
All these historical buildings are scattered throughout a coniferous forest and are devoid of modern tourist infrastructure like hotels, restaurants, or stores nearby.
Organized Tour to Cambodia
An organized tour to Cambodia, arranged through a travel agency, typically includes transportation, accommodation, meals, entrance tickets to attractions, and visa arrangements. You can also request a guide, and it's essential to specify your language preference for the guide separately.
For a visit to the ancient city of Angkor, there are commonly two types of excursions available:
- Two-Day Tour
(Starting from THB 4,500) - This tour includes visits to a floating village, a crocodile farm, lunch at a Thai restaurant, a stroll around Siem Reap, a Khmer cultural show, and a guided tour of Angkor.
- Three-Day Tour
(Starting from THB 10,000) - This tour offers the option to visit a silk farm and a national conservation park in addition to exploring Angkor.
Driving to Cambodia
If you want to visit Angkor, you have the option to drive to Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, or Sihanoukville, and then continue the journey by bus. The most challenging route is Sihanoukville, involving a combination of land (bus) and air (plane) travel.
Siem Reap
For a visit to this resort city in northwestern Cambodia, you can choose from the following transportation methods:
- By Plane
Several airlines, such as AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, and Cambodia Angkor Air, offer flights taking about an hour with ticket prices ranging from 65 to 120 USD.
- By Bus
Travel by bus with a connection through the border town of Aranyaprathet, totaling a travel time of 9-10 hours and costing around 55 USD.
- Taxi
Take a taxi with a transfer at the Cambodian border, with the journey lasting up to 6 hours and costing approximately 100 USD.
Phnom Penh
To reach the capital of Cambodia, travelers usually opt for one of these transportation options:
- By Plane
Flights from AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, and Thai Airways take around one hour, with ticket prices ranging from 60 to 100 USD.
- By Bus
Travel by bus, which takes about 8 hours and costs 50 USD.
Singapore: Asia's New York
Embark on a two-day tour to Singapore, with prices starting from 17,000 THB. During this excursion, tourists can explore the following attractions:
- Botanical garden with over 150 years of history.
- Clark Key Promenade, the iconic symbol of the Asian Tiger capital.
- The renowned Merlion Park.
- The largest oceanarium in Asia.
- An amusement park or zoo, according to your preference.
Manila: the Enchanting Philippines
Manila, a city of striking contrasts where stark poverty and lavish luxury coexist, offers both 3-day and 6-day tours. The starting price for a tour from Pattaya is 31,000 THB.
During these tours, travelers will have the opportunity to explore the city of pearls, mother-of-pearl, and exotic fruits, visiting the following highlights:
- Makati, the most opulent district in Manila.
- Tagaytay Volcano, situated in the center of a lake.
- Fort Santiago.
- Boracay Island.
Pattaya's robust tourist infrastructure ensures comfortable conditions for arranging tours to neighboring countries. When booking a mini-tour, it's advisable to consider aspects like insurance coverage and the language proficiency of the tour guide.
