Nong Nooch Botanical Garden — Attraction in Chon Buri Province

Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden (Nong Nooch Pattaya)

Location, History, and Origins • The garden is located in Chonburi Province, on Sukhumvit Road, in the Najomtien area between Pattaya and Sattahip. It is about 17 km from central Pattaya. • It was founded in 1954 when the couple Pisit and Nongnooch Tansacha purchased about 1,500 rai (approximately 600 acres or 242 hectares) originally for agricultural purposes. Inspired by her travels, Mrs. Nongnooch transformed it into a large tropical garden, which opened to the public in 1980. • Three years later, their son, Kampoon Tansacha, took over the management of the garden, initiating its continuous and steady expansion.

Size and Importance • It is considered the largest botanical garden in Southeast Asia. • Its area is estimated at around 600 acres (about 242 hectares), though some modern sources mention an expansion to 1,700 rai (about 670 acres). • The garden receives more than 5,000 visitors daily.

Plant Collections and Scientific Research • The garden contains more than 12,000 plant species, with about 19,528 accessions recorded as of 2020. • It is a major scientific center for the conservation and propagation of cycads and other ancient plants, housing a free gene bank for these species. • Highlighted plant groups include: • Cycads from Southeast Asia, Central America, and Central Africa • Rhapis palms • Succulents such as Blue Agave, Euphorbia from Madagascar, and Pachypodium • Zingiberales: Heliconia, Ginger, Alpinia • Other plants like Bougainvillea, Hoya, Bromeliads, Passiflora, Plumeria, and more. • The garden is recognized as one of the world’s largest living collections of tropical plants.

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Experiences and Tours • Themed Gardens: • French Garden: Inspired by Versailles, opened in 1998. • Italian Garden: Romantic classical design with statues, fountains, and aligned plants. • Stonehenge Garden: A replica of the famous British monument. • Cactus Garden: Featuring species like Echinocactus grusonii. • Garden in the Sky: Two-level hanging gardens with LED and irrigation systems, accessible by skywalk or elevator. • Dinosaur Valley: Home to more than 180 life-sized dinosaur models, opened in 2017. • Other creative gardens such as Flamingo Garden and Butterfly Hill, where plants are arranged into butterfly shapes.

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Shows and Cultural Activities • Daily Thai Cultural Show: Traditional dance, martial arts, costume displays, and performances, held in a theater with about 2,030 seats. • Elephant Show: Includes activities such as painting, football, bowling, and performances, along with opportunities to feed and take photos with elephants. • Hua Khon Museum: Displays over 500 traditional Thai Khon dance masks. • Interactive activities: Sculpture, fruit carving, lantern-making, weaving, umbrella painting, and more.

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Facilities and Services • The garden features restaurants, cafés, a mini-mart, a hotel with a pool, and Thai-style houses. • VIP car services are available, with a driver and guide who also act as personal photographers. • The Nong Nooch International Convention and Exhibition Center (NICE) covers 15,500 m², accommodating over 12,000 people, and is used for conferences and exhibitions. • Visitors can book packages including admission, sightseeing bus tours, shows, and meals for a...

Nong Nooch Botanical Garden is an absolute gem located just outside of Pattaya, offering a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural experiences, and educational insights. This vast 600-acre garden is undoubtedly one of the largest botanical gardens in Southeast Asia and a must-visit for any nature enthusiast or traveler seeking a serene escape from the bustling city life.

Upon entering, you're immediately struck by the meticulous landscaping and the sheer diversity of flora. The garden is segmented into various themed areas, each with its own charm. The French Garden, Italian Garden, and the Stonehenge Garden are particularly impressive, providing a global touch to the Thai landscape. The orchid garden is a spectacle with over 650 species, showcasing an array of colors and forms that are simply breathtaking.

The experience extends beyond just the plants. Nong Nooch is home to the Dinosaur Valley, where life-sized replicas of prehistoric creatures offer a playful and educational journey through time. This is especially loved by children, making it a family-friendly destination.

Cultural immersion is another highlight here. The Thai cultural show, with its vibrant traditional dances and music, offers a glimpse into Thailand's rich heritage. Similarly, the elephant show, although a subject of ethical debate, is undeniably a demonstration of the intelligence and agility of these majestic animals.

For those interested in the botanical aspect, the garden's commitment to plant conservation is commendable. It houses one of the largest collections of cycads in the world, among other rare and exotic plants, and serves as an important center for botanical research and education.

The facilities are well-maintained with clean pathways, shaded areas for comfort, and various dining options that cater to different tastes, ensuring visitors can spend a whole day exploring without worry. The shuttle service within the park is a practical feature for those who might find the area too vast to walk entirely.

In summary, Nong Nooch Botanical Garden stands out not only for its beauty but also for its educational value and cultural offerings. Whether you're there for photography, nature, or to learn about Thailand's botanical and cultural heritage, your visit will be memorable. It's a place where you can truly appreciate the wonder of nature, combined with the art of landscaping and the spirit of Thai culture. Highly recommended for anyone...

I really don't enjoy leaving such low reviews for any place especially if you looks at my record. However if we had known what this place is about, we never would have went.

The gardens are beautiful and the flowers and all sorts and kinds of unique plants are just incredible. We really enjoyed our walk through the gardens and the hanging walkways.

The dinosaurs looked sort of out of place. They just stuffed them on every step of the way so it made it look like a garden of plastic rather than plants. It would probably be exciting for children but otherwise it really takes away from the experience.

The shuttle bus is a scam, at the window we were told that we can take 2 buses or make 2 stops and were each given a ticket with 2 sides that can be ripped off, one for each ride. But once we went to get on our second bus to get back to the entrance, we were told that we are only allowed once on the bus. I was pointing at my tickets saying "look I have the other side of the ticket that we didn't use. The lady at the window said we could go twice". But that was a straight "no, only once allowed". That's seriously wrong. Especially since on our ride one way, it started raining so they put the plastic covers down so we could barely see through and were not able to take photos. I was very disappointed but that's not the worst of it.

On our walk back we came across the elephant compound and that was just a horrible sight. Now that I read some of the other reviews I'm quite angry that we even went and supported this place with our money. I should have been more diligent reading the reviews prior.

When we saw the chained elephant that was swaying his head side to side we were just shocked at the sight. The poor animal looks like it's on a brink of a mental breakdown. It was heart breaking to see and the rest of the "fun" that we had experienced prior on our walks through the gardens just vanished.

The whole drive home myself and my wife were just silently staring out the window. I feel so angry and disappointed with myself that we even went there and supported this place with our money.

Yes the pictures look amazing and yes the rest of the garden is amazing but if you have a heart, you will be disappointed when you see what we saw. Please don't support this. Please don't go.

We now signed all the possible petitions we could find to stop this animal abuse.

Hope this review helps...