OK I know you’re probably here on holiday and you don’t want too much exercise. Or the excuse might be “it’s hot”, or “I’m tired”, or “I just want to relax”. Well don’t worry. This is not really for you then. You’re quite free to skip to the next page and just nestle back into your deckchair. However a few souls out there might fancy a little exercise (actually a lot of exercise) and then this might just tickle your fancy. A nice walk, just under 10 miles. Allow 4 hours to do it justice, although you can route march it in 3!

It comes in three sections, any of which can be done on their own.

The Wong Amat Section (yellow) – 2.1 miles x 2 = 4.2 miles
Pattaya North Road to Pattaya South Road along Beach Road  (red) = 2.0 miles
Visit the Big Buddha on Pratamnak Hill (blue) = 3.0 miles

Total 9.2 miles

Here’s the map showing the three sections. The mid one can be skipped by catching the Baht Bus, or you can abort the mid one at any point. The first and last sections sort of commit you to it, as there’s no easy “escape”.


View The BIG Walk in a larger map

Right well, let’s start then. Get the Baht bus along Pattaya 2nd road to the Dolphin roundabout. When you get there you have the option of being cheeky right from the start! You can walk through the Dusit Hotel, down their entrance drive, through the lobby and right past the indoor atrium (very grand). Keep going and you’ll tumble out the end and get to the beach. There. that was a nice touch of luxury to start, wasn’t it?

At the beach, turn right and start walking. The first part is easy. Along a nice paved walkway, past some massage booths (empty in low season and a nice beach-side cafe called the Sawasdee with a really cute and friendly waiter (see the photo). Then up and over some steps and for a short part you’re into the dark side. Here creatures of the night lurk in the bushes. Don’t look … keep your eyes straight ahead and they will not bite. But if you should stray from the path, woe betide you! OK, you got past that section (but of course you have to go back…) and now it’s to the beach. I hope you’ve got your passport handy as this section is German. The one after – Russian. There are benefits of the Russian section. It’s a family beach section and you can watch the teenage boys playing their games, and remember … Oh well … on with the walk.

The path in places has concrete and brick walkways, but they’re crumbling into the sea as we speak and I can’t guarantee how much will be there. Just keep going. Take a look at the high rise condos and there are always more being built. I hope they keep finding the clients for them. One really nice place along the way to lounge is the Aisawan Hotel. Right on the beach side with lovely white “pagodas” to lounge in. There’s a bar and restaurant, and if you’re feeling extravagant, you can hire on for a day, for 1000B, which includes either a massage for you and a friend, or up to 1000B from the bar and buffet, free.

Ok that’s the end of the “flash pots”. Now on with the walk. The path gets a little rougher, but keep going. Look at the tourists, the developments and the lovely houses. Finally you get to a stone jetty. Frequently there’s fisherboys on the end of it, and you can stroll out and look at their catch!

As you round the corner by the jetty, suddenly, there in the distance is the thing we’ve come to see. Wong Amat in all its glory. Pause and take in the sight. But you’re not quite at the end yet. There’s one more corner and one more beach before you can touch the wall and say you’ve got there. This is as far North as you can walk without detouring inland.

So you have to turn round and retrace your steps. Somehow it always seems quicker going back. If you’re hungry stop at the Sawasdee restaurant and smile nicely at the waiter. He undoubtedly will smile back…

When you get to the Dusit, stay on the beach. There used to be an excellent walkway around the headland. Now, like many things in the area it’s crumbling and falling into the sea, but last time I was there (19th August) there was enough to get round the point. Otherwise you’re going to have to blag your way into the Dusit and get back to the roundabout that way.

OK that’s section one. Almost half in the way of the mileage and possibly the most interesting bit.

The middle section is a straight walk along beach road. Take a look at the various sections and note the change from the North Pattaya bit you’ve just done. With the road beside you, it’s busier and somehow less inviting. But it’s worth walking just to complete the challenge. You can always get the Baht Bus along here, but that’s definitely cheating. Look at the girls as you pass. The only cute boys are the ones trying to rent you speedboats, and they don’t seem to be interested in you (or anything else for that matter).

OK now for the final section. This starts when Pattaya Tai turns off left and you go along walking street. All of a sudden you’re in a different world. The family friendly beach side has gone and it’s girls everywhere. It doesn’t matter if it’s 10 am, you’ll still find a westerner propping up a bar somewhere with girls around him. Gay walkers can note the G-U-Y club, on the left just after Lucifer (which is on the right).

At the end of Walking Street you’re into the Bali Hai Pier area. At the end of the pier they’re currently remodelling the square that was there. Keep on walking and suddenly a new world again. Instead of tourist land, we’re in boat land. The beach girls and massage booths are replaced by rough workers and boat stands. The smell of massage oil replaced with diesel. Linger here and watch real hard working Thais work. There are a few cuties, and they may smile back, but they are an exception.

Get to the end at the Lighthouse and the road turns left inland and up the hill. This adds insult to the injury. As if walking 8 miles already isn’t enough, we now have a hill to climb. But it’s definitely worth it.

The Big Buddha

This part of the walk is fully covered in a previous article – Big Buddha Hill

Linger at the top. pay respect to the Buddha and the real final leg starts – and it’s downhill all the way!

When you get back to the road, walk along it to the junction with 2nd road and you’ve officially finished. Get the Baht bus and back home. AND if you do complete the walk, email me or contact me through the contact page and let me know. If you’re in Pattaya I’ll buy you a drink to celebrate.

Hope you enjoy. I do it about once or twice a month and enjoy it every time. We may even meet on the path …