BannPantai

Mrigadayavan Palace

Mrigadayavan, or the Palace of Love and Hope, was built in 1923 as a summer palace by King Rama VI (King Vajiravudh, 1910-1925) with Italian architect. Mrigadayavan Palace is located on Bang Kra Beach in Cha-am County is a summer palace that comprises three charming interlocking groups of teakwood pavilions set in a beautiful tropical garden with majestic trees and magnificent sea views. The palace is located on the grounds of Rama VI Military Camp and is open to the public from 8.30am-4pm Thursday to Tuesday.

Wednesday Night Market

If you are in town during the week, the Wednesday Night Market is a Cha-Am institution that is a must visit, as the usually quiet part of town comes alive with a huge range of stalls with hundreds of vendors offering everything imaginable from sunset to around 10 pm every Wednesday. The Wednesday Night Market is a great chance to see authentic Thai lifestyle in action, as the vast majority of the shoppers are locals. However it’s a great Thai experience for travellers and you can see many examples of local produce and products in one venue. The Market entrance is on Narathip Road starting at the roundabout about 500 metres before the Cha-Am Railway Station and stretches through a network of lanes alongside the railway tracks, Government offices and permanent shops.

Kang Krachang National Park

Covering an area of 2914 km² Kaeng Krachan is the largest national park in Thailand. Kaeng Krachan was declared as a national park in 1981 and has been included in the list of ASEAN Heritage Parks. The forests contain a great biodiversity of tropical vegetation, including tropical and subtropical broad leaf tree species and palms. Fifty-seven species of mammals and more than 400 bird species have been counted in the park, including colorful examples like the yellow-throated marten, streaked spiderhunter, and the ruddy kingfisher. The best time to visit Kaeng Krachan National Park is around December to March, especially early in the morning to see the famous dense morning mist covering the park with hill tops sticking above clouds for a spectacular view.

Santorini Park

Inspired by the distinctive seaside Greek town of the same name, Santorini is a favorite destination for families to enjoy dining, shopping and taking photos. Some of the attractions include a 3D Trick Art Museum from South Korea, a giant Ferris wheek, robot fighting arena, and an American-style Haunted House. Kids will love the indoor snow play area, outdoor climbing gym from the Netherlands, and grand two-storey carousel. Santorini Park recently launched "Santorini Water Fantasy", a water park on a 20 Rai area which features 12 water play areas which can accommodate up to 3,500 people. It’s easy to locate along Phetchakasem Road at KM187, if coming from Bangkok just look for the giant Ferris wheel and make the next U-turn.

Camel Republic

With Moroccan inspired architecture complete with golden spires, Persian styled tiling and archways reminiscent of a medieval castle in Casablanca, Camel Republic is like a zoo and amusement park all in one. The zoo is home to giraffes, alpacas, colorful birds such as flamingos, and, of course, camels which you can take for a ride. The thrilling amusement rides include the Eagle Zipline, Drop N Twist Tower, Flying Macaw, Sky Flower and Zero Gravity. Camel Republic is on Phetchakasem Road at KM187, across the road from Santorini Amusement and Water Park.

Swiss Sheep Farm

Also located opposite Santorini Park, just before the Cha Am beach intersection (look for the red and white windmill), the Swiss Sheep Farm is a fun activity for those staying in Cha Am with young children and is also popular photo-taking attraction. The main draw here is the chance to feed some of the flock of New Zealand sheep. There is also a horse and cart ride and archery range, as well as a small café inside the park which serves coffee and a selection of refreshments. The Swiss Sheep Farm in Cha Am is open daily from 10am to 7pm, and admission is 50 Baht for adults and 30 Baht for children.