Dancing Girl Beach, Pattaya-a little-known but very picturesque place on the Gulf of Thailand. Due to the remoteness from large cities and towns, nature in this place has preserved its pristine beauty.
This is one of the best in the vicinity of Pattaya. Like the Military Beach, it is controlled by the Thai Navy, but admission is free, and due to its remoteness from populated areas, many tourists consider it wild. The beach is located 40 km from Pattaya City, and 15 km from U-Tapao Airport.
On maps and guidebooks, the beach referred to as dancing girl’s place is known as Hat Nang Rong. But the Russian-language name came from a beautiful legend: once on a neighboring uninhabited island, local residents heard loud sounds similar to both shouting and music. From afar, the silhouette of a dancing girl could be seen as if illuminated by the sun. This surprised and frightened people, but no one dared to approach this place.
What it was, no one knew exactly, but since then the island is often called the place of the dancing girl, and superstitious Thais have erected many statues and laid flower beds in honor of the mysterious stranger.
How to get to the beach on your own from Pattaya
To get to the beach, the symbol of which is considered a dancing girl, you can do the following:
By rented car or bike
This is the most convenient way. Rent a car per day in Pattaya starts from 500 baht + the cost of gasoline in 30-50.
Take the Sukhumvit highway and head south towards Sattahip. After passing through this city, you can navigate by the signs that are enough on the highway. The beach is located to the right of the highway, and you can notice it thanks to a large checkpoint. As is the case with other military-controlled facilities, all citizens staying on the beach will be screened and asked about the purpose of the visit. You must have a passport and a Thai driver’s license with you. After passing the checkpoint, you need to go to the ticket office and pay for the car’s passage to the territory.
The journey time is about 40 minutes.
By taxi
This is the simplest, but quite expensive method. A trip from Pattaya will cost 900-1000 baht in two directions.
On a tuk-tuk
The cheapest way to get around Thailand is by tuk tuk. However, in this case, this is not the best option: songteo go to the airport of U-Tapao or to the city of Rayong. You will have to get off in the middle of the highway, and either walk another 8 km or take a taxi. The cost of a tuk tuk ride is 30 baht. Landing takes place directly on the Sukhumvit highway or directly in Pattaya.
Guided tour
An excursion to the beach always includes a transfer from the hotel and back, so this option is perfect for those who come to Thailand for the first time. As a rule, the tour lasts 5-6 hours, and the cost is 350-450 baht. You can buy a package tour at any of the travel agencies in Pattaya.
What the beach looks like
The beach has 2 Thai names: Hat Nang Ram and Hat Nang Rong. The former means western territory, and the latter means eastern territory. The western part is the most crowded and noisy. It is here that everything you need for a good rest is located: changing cabins, shower rooms, toilets, a cafe and a shop. You can rent umbrellas ($1) and sun beds ($2).
In the eastern part of the beach, there are an order of magnitude fewer people, but there is no infrastructure here either.
The length of the coast is about 1200 m. The entrance to the sea is gentle, the sand is fine and soft. The beach is quite wide, so there is enough space for everyone. The sea is usually calm, waves are very rare. Unlike other Thai beaches, there is no garbage at all.
The beach, named after a dancing girl, is very well located: on all sides there are trees that give shade. This applies to both the western and eastern parts.
Cost of visiting the beach: free of charge, but you will have to pay 20 baht for a car ride.
Things to do on the beach
Since the picturesque beach is far from Pattaya, there are few tourists here, and entertainment too. The following types of recreation are popular:
- jet ski and jet ski ($4 per hour);
- banana boats ($4.5 per hour);
- diving (an hour-long lesson with an instructor will cost $ 30-35).
Other activities include exploring the surrounding area. The beach is located in a picturesque location: both on the shore and in the rainforest, you can find many intricate sculptures and flower figures, gazebos for relaxation and a children’s playground.
Since the beach is located in the south of the country (the southern part of Pattaya) in a sparsely populated place, excursions to neighboring villages and islands are not conducted here.
Despite the lack of well-known attractions and many expensive restaurants, tourists ‘ reviews of the beach in Pattaya, the symbol of which is considered a dancing girl, are positive.
Where to eat
In the western part there are several good cafes. Price for some items from the menu:
| Cost (baht) | |
|---|---|
| chicken with rice | 140 |
| stewed vegetables | 110 |
| steak with french fries | 240 |
| mango with rice | 100 |
| fruit shake | 30 |
| tea | 30 |
You can have a snack either in a cafe, or at tables that stand in the park. You can also order food directly to the beach. After placing the order, the waiter will give you a flag that you will need to stick in the sand next to you – so they will find you faster later.
There are no problems with shops and souvenir shops either. They offer beach accessories, keepsakes and Thai delicacies. It is worth remembering that all this is located in the western part, and there is nothing on the eastern beach of Nang Ram, Pattaya.
As for hotels, the choice is not too large: there is a 3* hotel, as well as a bungalow-type hotel. The price for a room for two people per night starts from$30. While this is not a very popular place, so you can not book your accommodation in advance, but check in on the day of arrival.
Useful tips
- After 19.00, life on the beach freezes: all shops and restaurants close, and local residents go home. Despite the fact that there are quite a lot of hotels in the vicinity, tourists who have visited here are not advised to stay overnight – there is nothing to do.
- Since the beach named after the dancing girl is controlled by the Thai Navy, you must have a passport to enter the property.
- When renting a car, remember that only a Thai driver’s license is valid in Thailand.
- Despite the distance from Pattaya and other major cities, prices in shops and cafes on the beach are not high.
- Since the beach is almost wild, do not forget about monkeys and other animals: in a sparsely populated place, they can easily snatch some small thing and take it for themselves. It is not recommended to approach the monkeys closely, and, moreover, try to touch them. If an animal approaches, try to leave the area carefully, without making too much noise.
Conclusion
Dancing Girl Beach is one of the cleanest and most picturesque places in the Pattaya area. Tourists who love a calm and measured holiday away from civilization will definitely not be disappointed. But lovers of vibrant nightlife and extreme sports can be bored here.