Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden

Located about 20 south of Pattaya city, Nong Nooch is a tropical botanical garden and tourist attraction in Sattahip District, Chonburi Province. Set on an area of 600 acres, approximately 2.4 square kilometres, it is the largest botanical garden in South East Asia. The history of the Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden began in 1954, when Mr Pisit and Mrs Nongnooch Tansacha bought 1,500 rai of rolling hills and valleys between Sattahip at the 163 kilometer marker on Sukhumvit Road in Na Jomtien. The newly purchased was originally used as a plantation to grow fruits, like mangoes, oranges and coconuts as well as many other local fruits. During her trip abroad, Mrs Nongnooch Tansacha was inspired by the beauty of world renowned gardens and decided to turn the fruit orchard into a tropical garden of ornamental flowers and plants. The garden was later turned into a tourist attraction fully equipped with accommodation, a swimming pool, restaurants, and banquet and seminar halls for the tourist’s convenience. Nong Nooch opened to the public in 1980, and added to the garden was a daily Thai cultural show and elephant show within the theater. Three years later, the garden management was handed over to her son, Mr Kampon Tansacha, and today is one of the most popular attractions of Thailand as well as a center of world botanical significant under the concept “a garden for all people of this world”. Presently, Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden is a very popular tourist attraction with an area of over 1, 700 rai welcoming tourists from all over the world. More than 5,000 people visit Nong Nooch each day and it has also been recognised as one of the top ten most beautiful gardens in the world. Several sections of Nong Nooch are set in a specific theme, such as the four acres of large French garden, which is inspired by the gardens of the 17th century Palace of Versailles, or Stonehenge garden that is inspired by the famous prehistoric monument in England, a ring of large standing stones believed to have been erected some 5,000 years ago. Other Nong Nooch's highlights include European Renaissance garden, Animal Sculpture garden, Butterfly Hill, Bonsai garden, Desert Rose garden, Italian garden, as well as the large tropical palm garden with more than 1,100 different species of palms, more than anywhere else in the world. Thailand is well known for its many beautiful orchids. At Orchid garden and nursery you can admire more than more than 670 native species and hybrids with a wide array of colors all in one place, the largest collection in the country. Apart from the botanical gardens, at Nong Nooch visitors can enjoy a number of daily shows at the Thai Cultural Hall, such as elephant talent shows, elephant rides, Muay Thai fights, martial art performances, ancient fighting techniques and even a demonstration of soldiers fighting on elephants like in the days of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. There is a large program of Thai cultural and traditional performances like Thai wedding ceremony, ancient drum performance, classical Thai dances performed by dancers wearing elegant traditional Thai dress and musical performances. The Thai cultural and elephant shows take place four times per day, namely at 10.30 am, 1.30 pm, 3.30 pm and 4.30 pm. Several accommodation and restaurants are available on site, including a sumptuous international buffet.
Admission fee & Opening hours: Nong Nooch is open daily from 8.00 to 18.00, while restaurants are open until 22.00. Entrance fees at ticket offices are: Gardens 500 bath per adult and 300 per child; Gardens + Thai cultural show + elephant show 800-600 bath; Gardens + International buffet lunch 800- 600 baht; Gardens + Thai cultural show + elephant show + International buffet lunch 1,200-800 bath.
Getting around: Nong Nooch Garden is crossed by a long shaded elevated walkways, which will give you a nice view of gardens, however, due to its enormous size, it’s unlikely that you will see all the attractions of garden just walking. Alternatively, you can use the 30-minute tour on the Sightseeing bus or rent a bicycle and explore the garden at a more leisurely pace.
Getting there: Nong Nooch Garden is located about 20 km south of Pattaya city. It can be reached by following the Sukhumvit Road southward until the km 163 marker where you have to turn on left and continue for another 2.5 kilometers until the ticket booth, after purchasing your ticket carry on for another kilometer to the parking area. For visitors without their own car or bike, the best way to get there is by the local songthaew that can be rented as a taxi. Before leaving, make sure you agree on the price.Read More