The beach is located on the territory where the military were once stationed, which is how it got its name. It is also often called the “Blue Lagoon” or Sai Kaew Beach. The reason is the incredibly beautiful mountainous landscape. Tourists constantly capture it in photos.
The beach is located 25 kilometers from Pattaya, but getting there is a real pleasure. You will travel along a smooth, well-maintained road while enjoying stunning natural scenery. For travelers who have already visited Phuket or Koh Larn, the Military Beach in Pattaya may not leave a lasting impression. But for first-time tourists in Thailand, this area is an ideal place to relax and enjoy the warm waters to the fullest.
The Territory of the Military Beach
Upon entering the base area (even though it is former), tourists will have to pass two checkpoints. At the first checkpoint, the transport will be checked for the number of passengers, and then each person will receive a ticket, while leaving a deposit — an identity document. If the trip is arranged by a travel agency, documents will be taken only from the driver.
Upon reaching the second checkpoint (the first one is located five minutes away), passengers switch to military tuk-tuks, which take them directly to the beach. Regular visitors are mainly those who love swimming in the sea. The murky and sometimes brown waters of Pattaya do not encourage swimming, but here the sea is clean, calm, and transparent, with a pleasant sandy bottom and light-gray sand. Of course, even on the Military Beach you can sometimes encounter drifting debris, but no one has ever seen jellyfish here.
The sand at Sai Kaew Beach is quite pleasant, and near the shoreline on the left side of the beach, there is a strip of especially soft sand without stones and corals. Those who prefer coarse sand will also find a suitable spot. To relax in such an area, you just need to settle under the trees — if there is a free space. Shaded areas are a favorite spot not only for tourists but also for locals. In October there are hardly any people here, but during the high season, the shade becomes scarce.
Several types of massage are offered here:
- classic;
- with oils;
- foot scrub;
- hand scrub.
Excursion Prices
A boat tour with a glass bottom is fascinating but, according to tourists, very limited in time. In addition, you can stroll around the beach area, feed bananas to monkeys, or go to coral reefs. Such a trip costs 1500 baht ( 46.17 USD), and there will be more than ten people in the boat, which is not very convenient.
If you do not like crowded beaches, it is better to come before noon and on weekdays. The fewest visitors are in the morning. On weekends, many locals come here, often with their entire families.
Entertainment Prices
Adult visitors are offered jet ski rides. The cost of this entertainment is over 700 baht ( 21.55 USD) for half an hour. You can also ride a banana boat or kayak. The first costs 1200 baht ( 36.94 USD) for sixty minutes, the second — 100 baht ( 3.08 USD). If you want to rent an inflatable ring, you will pay 10 baht ( 0.31 USD) + a 100 baht ( 3.08 USD) deposit. For those wishing to learn diving, all conditions are created here. Experienced instructors will help you dive into the clean waters of the warm sea.
You can also rent snorkeling equipment and enjoy the beauty of the underwater world — there is plenty to see! There are practically no children’s attractions on the Military Beach, but small kids who still love sand play can be given plastic molds.
In one of the small restaurants located nearby on the beach, you can enjoy a steak, French fries, chicken, rice porridge, soup, or salad. The portions, according to visitors, are very large.
Average café prices:
- Lunch for two, including drinks, costs from 400 ( 12.31 USD) to 500 baht ( 15.39 USD).
- Water — 15 baht ( 0.46 USD), cola — 20 baht ( 0.62 USD).
- A can of beer (0.33 ml) — 45 ( 1.23 USD)–50 baht ( 1.54 USD).
- Cocktail — 150 ( 4.62 USD)–200 baht ( 6.16 USD).
Military Beach in Pattaya: How to Get There
You can reach Sai Kaew Beach in several ways: by taxi, songthaew, private car, or agency transfer. The trip from central Pattaya takes about half an hour.
A tourist traveling independently must have a passport or driver’s license. At the entrance, the document will be taken as a deposit. This is one of the inconveniences of independent travel. Trips organized by travel agencies typically do not require document checks, as the beach visit is included in the service.
Vacationers can settle on loungers or sunbeds (30 baht ( 0.92 USD)) or rent mats for 20 baht ( 0.62 USD). The service here is completely self-operated: tourists choose the necessary items, take them to the beach, and return them afterward. It is very important not to forget to show the entrance tickets when leaving — 10 baht ( 0.31 USD) will be refunded for each. Tourists note that the sunbeds are not very comfortable.
Taxi
Catching a taxi and negotiating the price is the main task for a traveler choosing this transport option. After agreeing with the driver, you can set off. A reasonable price should not exceed 500 baht ( 15.39 USD). Moreover, the taxi driver must take the passenger directly to the checkpoint — the booth where the deposit (identity document) is taken and a pass is issued. But the procedure does not end there: switching to a moto taxi, the tourist will then go to the ticket office to pay the entrance fee.
Songthaew
Another, more budget-friendly option is to take a songthaew — the local public transport running along Sukhumvit. To reach Sai Kaew Beach independently, you must stop a white songthaew whose route goes south of Pattaya. Songthaews of other colors generally do not go to this beach.
After boarding, you must tell the driver “Sai Kaew Beach” so he stops near the moto taxi stand. The fare is 20 baht ( 0.62 USD), paid upon arrival.
On Your Own
Those traveling by private vehicle should follow the map heading south toward the Floating Market. After passing the park and reaching the traffic light, you must be attentive not to miss the right turn (near the arch). Just 25 meters further, you will see the booth where the deposit (identity document) is required. In exchange, a pass will be issued, which must be shown to the guard at the barrier located about fifty meters away.
If you continue straight, after a while you will see a sign “Left” pointing toward the beach. Five minutes later, the ticket office will appear — the place where you buy the entrance ticket. Here you can also leave your car (there is an official parking area). After paying 100 baht ( 3.08 USD), you can continue further.
Now the beach is within reach. You just need to board one of the free tuk-tuks. Tourists call the local transport “tuk-tuks” (“tuk-tuk” means “cheap”), although they are actually songthaews. They run every 5–10 minutes. Along the way, you can enjoy the scenic mountainous surroundings.
Travel Agency
To get to the Military Beach and return, you can use a minivan. These vehicles belong to local travel agencies, which are abundant in Pattaya. The average price is 400 baht ( 12.31 USD) — this includes the beach entrance fee (no documents will be taken as a deposit). If desired, you can take a transfer for about 600 baht ( 18.47 USD) with lunch included, or rent a private vehicle for 700 ( 21.55 USD)–800 baht ( 24.62 USD) (round trip).
Experienced travelers recommend beginners (especially first-time visitors to Pattaya) to choose a travel agency option. It is the easiest way to avoid searching for transportation and learning local routes.
Agency staff will take clients by comfortable air-conditioned buses (usually leaving at 8–9 AM) to the beach, and at 4 PM they will pick them up and take them back to their hotel.
What else can impress visitors to Military Beach? Its cleanliness. Despite several cafés, showers, and free toilets, the entire beach area is surrounded by well-maintained flowerbeds and mini-gardens. There are also palm trees, small gazebos, and houses (formerly used by military personnel and their families). Neat walkways are decorated with statues.
