Si Racha and the island of Koh Si Chang
A fishing town that gave its name to a famous chilli sauce, and an island with a king's summer palace.
- Area
- Day trips
- Start from
- Pattaya
- Distance
- about 30 km north, then ferry
- Time needed
- 1 day
- Best season
- November – April
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Transport
- Car or bus to Si Racha, ferry to the island, tuk-tuk on the island
- Tickets & rules
- Small fees at some sites
Why go
Si Racha is a working port town with wooden piers, seafood restaurants and the temple of Koh Loi on a small island connected by a causeway.
From the pier, ferries cross to Koh Si Chang, a rocky island with a relaxed pace, Chinese shrines on the hillside and the ruins and gardens of the Phra Chudadhuj palace, once a royal summer residence.
It's a perfect day trip that feels a world away from Pattaya.
The story
King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) built a summer palace on Koh Si Chang in the late nineteenth century. Part of it was later moved to Bangkok as the Vimanmek Mansion, while the island keeps gardens and foundations.
The chilli sauce known worldwide as sriracha is traditionally linked to this town.
Koh Si Chang also has a Chinese shrine on the hill, Chao Pho Khao Yai, with stairs and a cave, visited by many Thai-Chinese pilgrims especially during Chinese New Year.
The waters around the island are a major anchorage for cargo ships waiting to enter Bangkok's port, so the horizon is full of vessels.
Getting there
Bus or car to Si Racha, then the ferry from the pier near Koh Loi. On the island, tuk-tuks take you around.
A suggested plan
- MorningKoh Loi temple in Si Racha.
- FerryCross to Koh Si Chang.
- IslandPalace gardens, Chinese shrine viewpoint, lunch by the sea.
- EveningFerry back and dinner on a Si Racha pier.
Where to stay
Day trip; the island has small guesthouses.
Good to know
- Check the last ferry time.
- Try seafood with sriracha-style chilli sauce in the town it's named after.
- Rent a tuk-tuk for a few hours to see the whole island.
- Bring swimwear; there are small beaches on the western side.
- Hilltop stairs are steep and hot.
- Swimming spots on the island can be rocky.