As you look out over the botanical, you'll see rows of golden statues, intricately shaped greenery and giant models of diplodocus and T. rex – yes really! While these botanical gardens near Pattaya have over 18,000 plants throughout their themed gardens, there's also activities that dive into Thailand's cultural heritage and family-friendly entertainment, too.
You'll be picked up from your hotel in Bangkok and driven a couple of hours south-east, sweeping around the coast of the Gulf of Thailand. When you arrive at the gardens you'll head to the skywalk to get your bearings and a bird's eye view of the 600-acre gardens. Then, it's time to get hands-on with a clay pot crafting and painting session, followed by a mini cooking experience. You'll learn how to make two classic Thai dishes, a sweet and salty pad Thai noodle dish and spicy, tangy tom yum koong soup.
There's a relaxing break for lunch before your visit to the Khon Museum to see the world's largest collection of Khon masks, which are used in traditional Thai performances. Hop on a sightseeing buggy to tour the gardens, taking in the French Garden – based on Versailles – Stonehenge Garden and Dinosaur Valley to name a few. Then, round off the day with a couple of hours at Bang Sareh Beach where you can take a swim, or just relax and stretch out on the sand before your journey back to Bangkok.
