Nong Nuch Tropical Garden (Orchid Park)

Nong Nuch Tropical Garden is one of the most visited parks in Thailand, being among the most popular tourist attractions in the resort city of Pattaya. The picturesque area attracts travelers with beautiful landscapes, a historical cultural show, a magnificent elephant theater and a mini zoo. About two thousand tourists from around the world visit Nong Nuche every day.

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Highlights

The tropical garden covers an area of 2.4 km² and is divided into nine themed zones. The favorable climate, professional care, care and enthusiasm of the park staff work real miracles. Rare species of palms and ferns, sprawling vines and small bonsai trees grow here. Gardens of aquatic species of flora have been created on water bodies, and orchid lovers can admire a wonderful collection of exotic flowers of different shapes and shades. The spacious orchid pavilion presents guests with about 500 species of these plants.

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Nong Nuch Tropical Garden incorporates the best traditions of European horticultural art, but is distinguished by Thai color and exquisite decor. Some corners of the park are decorated with original sculptures made from fired ceramic pots, while others are decorated with stylized statues of flamingos, parrots, zebras, pandas and giraffes.

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Since it can be difficult for tourists to travel in the heat of Thailand, the garden has provided ample resting places. There are beautiful wooden gazebos, comfortable benches and shade shelters along the paths. In addition, the tropical park has created many corners where spectacular photographs can be taken.

The tremendous work of Nong Nucha’s horticulturists and landscapers has been internationally recognized. The park has been repeatedly awarded medals at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show, which is held annually in London.

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Most vacationers in Pattaya visit the Nong Nuch Tropical Garden during excursions. Independent trips are chosen by those who like not to rush anywhere and want to spend a whole day in nature, not limited to traditional routes.

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How the Tropical Garden was created

In 1954, a wealthy Thai family purchased a large plot of land in an intermountain valley 160 kilometers south of Bangkok. Initially, Mr. Pisit and Mrs. Nong Nuch Tansacha planned to farm fruit trees and grow vegetables on the new land. However, they later decided to create a tourist park. Small houses, swimming pools and restaurants appeared in the picturesque garden, and in 1980 the first visitors came here.

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Since 2001, the director of the park is the son of the owner, Kampon Tansacha. He has done a great job of renovating and modernizing the garden, turning it into one of the most sought-after tourist attractions in resort Pattaya.

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French Garden

In the mid-1990s, the bottom of the pond at Nong Nuch Tropical Garden was deepened, and this allowed for the expansion of parkland. In 1998, a regular park in the best traditions of French landscape design was created on land previously used for sunflower cultivation.

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The French park is very similar to the old gardens of Europe, which is why it is called the Thai Versailles. The neat trees, shrubs and flowerbeds stretch for 190 meters and reach a width of 50 meters. To the north, the park is flanked by rows of replicas of Thailand’s most famous Buddhist temples, and to the northeast by Stonehenge. Like its British prototype, the Thai megalithic structure is made of stone blocks and is about 30 meters in diameter.

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Garden of Palms

Nong Nuch Tropical Garden’s huge collection of palms and ferns is called the “Blue Garden”. Today, there are about 2,700 species of palm trees in the world, and there are 1,100 species within the Thai park.

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Tourists can walk along park paths or travel on elevated bridges that allow them to see palm trees blooming, see their fruit, and squirrels and birds living in the crowns. The long aerial road is equipped with a roof that creates shade, so it is pleasant to walk along it on a hot day.

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According to experts, the collection of palm trees at Nong Nuche is the largest in the world. Year after year, it is increasing as the director and staff of the park have set a goal to have a complete collection of all the palm varieties available on the planet.

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Elephant Show

The elephant theater at Nong Nuch Tropical Garden is recognized as one of the best in Thailand. The elephant show is amazing! The trained animals excel at darts, soccer and basketball. They dance gracefully, give funny “massages” and move around the arena on large bicycles. The drawings made by the elephants make the biggest impression on the audience. It is noteworthy that T-shirts with images drawn by animals can be purchased as a souvenir. They cost from 300 baht.

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About 20 elephants and elephant cubs take part in the hour-long show. Adult males, which behave more aggressively, are kept separate from tourists. Before and after the show, visitors are allowed to feed the animals bananas and take pictures with them.

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Folklore show

A traditional Thai show introduces visitors to Nong Nuch Tropical Garden to the cultural traditions and history of the country. The show takes place indoors and features professional performers on stage. The audience can hear Thai music and folk songs, see traditional Thai dances and games. Curiously, in addition to humans, elephants take part in the show.

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Car Collection

Park director Kampon Tansacha is passionate about racing and sports cars, so the Nong Nuch Tropical Garden displays his collection of cars. The unusual museum is located in the central part of the park. It occupies two floors of the parking lot and is accessible to all visitors. About 40 expensive cars are on display here – “Cadillac”, “BMW”, “Ford”, “Mini” and other world famous brands.

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What else there is to see in the park

The Nong Nuch Tropical Garden has a graceful Italian garden, a small Japanese garden and a cactus garden that is a favorite of visitors. Many of the tourists stop by the zoo, which has spacious aviaries with birds and gibbons. In this part of the tropical park, travelers visit the terrarium, admire peacocks and hand-feed pygmy deer.

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The local reservoirs are home to huge freshwater fish, the arapaima, brought here from the distant Amazon. Because of their archaic morphology, they are considered living fossils. Arapaima are used to living in tropical climates and grow up to 3-4 meters. They are predators and feed on other fish and sometimes even birds. Arapaima can be fed in the park, and the sight of fish pouncing on food leaves no one indifferent!

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Excursions

Tours to the tropical garden Nong Nuch are sold in all excursion agencies in Pattaya. Such a trip is considered convenient, economical and ideal for anyone who came to Thailand for the first time. From the hotels, tourists are picked up by bus or minivan, and after the end of the tour they are brought back. During the tour, travelers are accompanied by a Russian-speaking guide who tells a lot of interesting things about the history of the popular park and the attractions located there.

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In Pattaya they sell two types of tours to Nong Nuch. The regular trip is designed for half a day. In addition to a walk through the park area, it includes a visit to a folklore show and elephant performance. This tour costs 500-600 baht for adults and 400 baht for children.

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The evening tropical garden tour additionally includes dinner (buffet) and a five-minute elephant ride. Such a trip costs 1100-1400 baht for adults and 800-1200 baht for children. All tour participants are advised to bring hats, sunglasses and bottles of drinking water.

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Visitor Information

You have to pay 500 baht for an entrance ticket to Nong Nuch Tropical Garden. Children under 2 years old are allowed into the park for free. When buying a ticket, tourists receive a map, which is very convenient to navigate and find the right places.

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The territory of the garden is open to tourists every day from 8.00 to 18.00. Travel through it on foot, on a rented bicycle or on an open electric car. It costs 100 baht. In addition, the garden offers elephant rides for 800 baht.

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There are restrooms in the park, as well as kiosks selling water, carbonated drinks and snacks. If tourists get hungry, they can dine at local cafes and restaurants offering a sampling of international and Thai cuisine.

Elephant shows are held every day on a schedule: at 9.45, 10.45, 15.00 and 16.00. To make sure tourists don’t miss out on anything interesting, the Thai cultural show comes before the elephant show.

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At Nong Nuch, you can spend a few hours or stay overnight. Tourists who wish to linger in the scenic spot for a few days are accommodated in guesthouse rooms, cottages, villas and traditional Thai houses. Visitors can buy cute souvenirs and live orchids at Nong Nuch. A bottle of five orchid seedlings costs about 300 baht.

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How to get there

Nong Nuch Tropical Garden is located in Thailand’s Chonburi province, 25 kilometers south of the central resort city of Pattaya. Most travelers reach the park as part of organized tours. Those who want to come independently, use cabs (300-400 baht). In addition, you can take a white-colored minivan or a white-colored Songteo along Sukhumvit Street to the turnoff to Nong Nuch, and from there you can walk to the park (3.2 km).

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