As is well known, Pattaya does not have any decent beaches, so many tourists in search of clear water and pristine white sand head to Koh Larn or more remote beaches. One such place is Sattahip Military Beach, which will be discussed in this article.
General Information
Beach information
Length (m): 2000 
Cover Type: Sand 
Water Temp (°C): 28 
Cleanliness (1-10): 7 
Crowdedness (1-10): 2 
Infrastructure: Limited 
Best Season: Nov–Apr 
Waves Level: Calm 
Lifeguards Available? yes 
Children Friendly? yes
Reviews
Photos
Sattahip Military Beach (Hat Nang Ram) is located 40 kilometers from Pattaya, which is even farther than the military beach Sai Kaew, so you can’t just pop over here for 20–30 minutes to take a dip. If you decide to go to Hat Nang Ram, plan at least half a day, if not the whole day.
Sattahip Military Beach in Pattaya is managed by the Royal Thai Navy, just like Sai Kaew. This means there is an entrance fee, and that’s why the beach is sometimes referred to as Military Beach No. 2. Locals also call it Sattahip because it’s located near Sattahip.
The entrance fee is nominal—only 20 baht (if you have a Thai driver’s license, you can enter by car for the same 20 baht, while walking in on foot is free).
Some people call Sattahip Military Beach – Dansing Girl Beach. Why is Hat Nang Ram called that? According to a legend, one day the locals were relaxing on the beach and suddenly thought they heard enchanting music playing nearby, but couldn’t see the source. Then their Thai imagination filled in the details: a beautiful girl was dancing to this wonderful music, and from that point on, everyone began to call this imagined girl the hostess of the beach. Some Thais still bring her offerings to this day.
Entrance to the Sea and the Shoreline
Tourists’ reviews of Sattahip Military Beach vary greatly: some say there is nothing to do here and you’ll just waste your time, while others believe that every visitor must come at least once. We won’t take sides; we’ll just present the basic facts.
The sand on the beach is white and fine, reminiscent of semolina. It’s pleasant to walk on early in the morning, while it’s still cool against your feet.
The beach is about 800 meters long but is roughly divided into three sections, with the first being the most crowded. Most tourists are reluctant to walk far if everything they need is close by.
The second section lies just beyond the first and is less developed infrastructure-wise, yet there are also far fewer people. Finally, the third section is the least populated and is intended for tourists who have rented bungalows right there on the beach.
The shore is fairly wide, about 30–40 meters, with a small grove at the edge providing natural shade during the Thai heat.
The water’s entry is shallow, and you have to walk quite a way to reach deeper water. Indeed, it is rather shallow, and during low tide the seabed may be exposed. The bottom is sandy but you may come across rocks or pieces of coral; if you go farther out, you might injure yourself on a sea urchin or live coral (there is a colony there). Marine life is plentiful at greater depth, so you can have some decent snorkeling here.
The water is perfectly clear, which is a rare thing in Pattaya; you can see the bottom even at depth.
Beach Equipment
On the beach, you can rent sun loungers and umbrellas (40 baht), while on the second beach section, inflatable inner tubes are available for rent in place of life rings.
Many of the visitors here are local Thai people, with fewer foreign tourists (probably because of the distance).
This local crowd is especially noticeable on Wednesdays and weekends. Thais love coming here with their families for picnics. By the way, they often swim fully clothed, so women in revealing swimsuits might catch disapproving glances from Thai women (foreign country, foreign rules, and stereotypes).
Infrastructure
As mentioned earlier, the beach is roughly divided into three sections. We won’t consider the third one in detail, as it is for tourists who have rented bungalows.
In the first half, you’ll find several cafés, a souvenir shop, beach equipment rental, and water-sport services (jet skis, banana boat, etc.). The food is decent—better, at least, than what’s available on the second half of Sattahip Military Beach.
On the right is a pier where military ships are moored, and you can take photos or videos with them as a backdrop.
The second part of the beach also has one café, as well as restrooms and showers. According to tourist reviews, the food there isn’t very tasty, but it’s served fast (fewer people to serve).
Both on the first and the second section of the beach, you can get your ordered food delivered directly to you by sticking the indicator provided by the café into the sand and waiting.
Prices, by the way, are quite reasonable (possibly due to the remote location). The most expensive dish—crab or fish—costs 200 baht, while others range around 50–70 baht per dish.
Because the first section of the beach is only 200 meters long, and the second section is separated by rocks, there are always more people in that initial area.
How to Get There
So, how do you get to Pattaya’s Sattahip Military Beach on your own?
Public transport does not go to Hat Nang Ram. Therefore, you have three options:
- A guided tour
- Renting your own vehicle
- Taking a taxi
The best option in terms of budget and overall experience is a guided tour. For just 600 baht per person, you’ll receive transfer to the beach, a free lunch, and an entertaining guide who will share interesting stories along the way.
If you don’t want a tour, a taxi will cost around the same amount but only one-way and without lunch.
If you have your own vehicle (you do not need to pay for a motorbike at the entrance), you can ride it there yourself. Below is a map of the route from Pattaya to Sattahip Military Beach.
Accommodation
If you want to stay close to the beach, you can settle in one of the hotels listed in the widget below. And for the romantics, there are bungalows on the beach itself that can be rented right there. Prices for foreign tourists range from 1,200 to 3,400 baht per night. To rent one, you need to find the administrator, who is located on the third beach section.
It should be noted that the locals here do not speak English very well, and most signs are in Thai. So be prepared for minimal interaction with the staff, possibly using gestures.
In summary, Sattahip Military Beach is a decent option for beachgoers who just want sea, sun, and sand. However, from the point of view of infrastructure, it’s quite limited. If you only need the basics, this beach might be for you. Otherwise, visit once and move on.
Don’t forget to share your impressions in the comments, as they are helpful to those who are still deciding where to spend their vacation.
