Sports & Recreation

Overview

Pattaya offers not just lovely beaches, but lots of activities to keep you busy! High energy people can choose from tennis, go-cart, squash, badminton, bowling, jogging bungee jumping and motor-racing - and that's just on land!

Popular watersports include windsurfing, sailing, water-skiing, parasailing, gamefishing, snorkelling and scuba diving. If you want to learn, there are lessons available, so just do it!

For more sedate activities and local excursions - see attractions Have fun!

Watersports

Windsurfing
Jomtien Beach is Thailand's No.1 centre for windsurfing. Tuition is widely available for beginners, so anyone can try. The Pattaya Windsurfing Club on Jomtien Beach regularly stages competitions. October to June are the best months, when ideal water and wind create the best conditions.

Water Skiing

The most popular venues are the northern and southern parts of Pattaya Beach, Jomtien Beach and Ko Lan island. Freshwater water-skiing is available at the Lakeland Cable Water Ski on Sukhumvit Highway (see below)

Lakeland Water Cable Ski
Cable ski around an enormous fresh water lake. Practise your tricks or learn to water-ski, a sport that is quickly gaining popularity. Open daily from 10 a.m.- 9 p.m. Admission: 300 Baht per person (for around 2 hours) Restaurant services available.
Located on Sukhumvit Highway, about 5 kilometres from Pattaya City. Contact (038)232690-2.

Sailing
The most popular boats for hire are small Lasers, Prindles and Hobie Cats, which can be rented by the hour. You can sail year round in Pattaya's waters. For further information regarding charter, boat hire and weather conditions, contact the Royal Varuna Yacht Club.

Pattaya Water Park

On Thappraya Road, at the top of Jomtien Beach, this fun water park includes gigantic slides and also has an amusement park and Jacuzzi. Ideal for families. Admission: 100 Baht for adults and 50 Baht for children.

Fishing
For a quiet afternoon, you can fish in a local fishing parks; ponds or lakes well stocked with local fish, where you can hire equipment. The fishing parks charge around 80 Baht per day and extra for rod hire, bait, etc., (Some parks also charge for fish caught by the kilo, if you want to take your fish away)

If you prefer to go for the big one! The waters around Manwichai, Rin and Kram islands are popular for marlin, king mackerel and barracuda. Offshore fishing trips are organised by many local operators. Enquire at the tour shops.

Parasailing
There are many operators around the resort, and at several hotels. Ko Lan has floating platforms where flights can be made above the sea.

On Land...

Motor Racing

The Bhira international Circuit periodically stages international motor and motorcycle racing. Local races take place regularly on Saturdays and Sundays. The 2.4 kilometre track is ideal for Formula 3 racing and you can drive your own two-wheeled or fourwheeled vehicles around the challenging track for a nominal fee. Located Highway 36 (Pattaya - Rayong) about 15 kilometers from Pattaya City. . Additional information may be obtained by calling (01)2181616 or in Bangkok at (02)5877448, 2533970.

Go-carts
Great fun at the 400 and 700-metre track at Pattaya go-cart Speedway, at Mini Siam, K.R. Go-cart Grandprix and the 1,090-metre track for professional drivers at the Bhira International Circuit.

Miniature Racetrack
The Pattaya Speedway has separate tracks for professional and amateur motorcycle riders. Situated on Thepprasit Road, which links Sukhumvit Highway and Pattaya-Na Jomtien Road, approximately 5 kilometres, south of Pattaya. Open daily from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Contact (038)422044 Fax: (038)422041

Bowling

Pattaya Bowl on Pattaya Road 2, and OD Bowl in South Pattaya.

Horse Riding
Available at the Horse Sport Centre at Km. 11 on Route 36 (near the Bhira International Circuit). Mountain and jungle rides on Australian thoroughbreds. Riding lessons are also available.

Tennis

Anyone for tennis? Available at 14 Pattaya hotels. Preference is given to hotel guests, but outside visitors are welcome. Certain hotels have tennis coaches, just inquire at the individual hotel desk.

Jogging
Lots of jogging opportunities along the promenades facing Pattaya Bay, and along Jomtien Beach. Pattaya Fitness Park also has a jogging track which is part of the pleasantly landscaped park (located near the summit of Pattaya hill.) Certain hotels also have jogging tracks.

Squash
The following venues offer squash courts: The Cherry Tree pub on the Siam Country Club Golf Course road, the Dusit Resort Pattaya, and Ambassador City, Jomtien.

Badminton
The Pattaya Badminton Court on Soi 17 is open 24 hours daily.

Snooker
Quite a few venues.....Snooker can be enjoyed at the Pattaya Bowl, AR Snooker, Dice Cafe Hall and the Royal Place Hotel.

Shooting
A handgun and rifle range with 19 fully equipped and air-conditioned galleries is open daily on Pattaya 2 Road.