Sattahip's Navy Beaches
What are the best navy beaches at Sattahip in Pattaya?
Seven navy beaches at Sattahip in and around Pattaya, Thailand, compared on rating, price and area. Samae San Island is the highest rated at 4.6★ from 455 Google reviews, with Ko Kham close behind at 4.5★. All of them are in Sattahip. Every entry carries a first-person verdict from Rob, who lives in Pattaya.
The coast south of Jomtien belongs largely to the Royal Thai Navy, and that is exactly why these beaches are the best kept in the region: the sand is clean, the water is clear and the crowds are thinner than anywhere in Pattaya. The trade-off is access, and the thing to know is that they do not share a checkpoint. Kinnaree is entered through the Amphibious Vehicle Battalion, Sai Kaew through the Naval Rating School, and navigating to the sand rather than to the right gate is how most people end up at the wrong barrier — in Kinnaree's case, at the U-Tapao airport gates. What happens after the gate differs too. Kinnaree is a single stop: an ID swapped for a visitor pass you hand back on the way out. Sai Kaew is three, with the ID taken at the entrance, a 100 baht ticket bought a kilometre in, and that ticket checked again before the last stretch to the sand. Neither needs booking ahead, both want ID, and several of these beaches close around 6.30pm — which catches out anyone turning up for sunset. Two are islands reached by navy-run boats.
| Place | Rating | Price | Area | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samae San Island | ★ 4.6 | — | Sattahip | Clear, calm water with plenty of fish visible while snorkelling |
| Ko Kham | ★ 4.5 | — | Sattahip | Clear, calm water and clean white sand; praised as well managed and well preserved |
| Nang Rong Beach | ★ 4.5 | — | Sattahip | White sand and clear, shallow water that suits families with young children |
| Sai Kaew Beach | ★ 4.5 | — | Sattahip | Clean sand and clear water, consistently rated cleaner than Pattaya Beach |
| Kinnaree Beach | ★ 4.4 | — | Sattahip | Quiet and uncrowded, with several reviewers likening it to a private beach |
| Nang Ram Beach | ★ 4.4 | — | Sattahip | Clear water and a clean, well-kept beach, credited to navy management and strict rules |
| Toey Ngam Beach | ★ 4.4 | — | Sattahip | Clear water and clean sand, consistently called quieter than Pattaya Beach |
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“Navy-run, which means clear water, no litter and rules — and the snorkelling is the reason to come rather than the beach, which is ordinary next to it. The boat transfer costs more than you'd expect and more again if you're not Thai. Worth it for a day in properly clear water, though if you only do one island off Sattahip, Ko Kham is the prettier.”
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“The best beach day on this coast, and the visitor cap is exactly why — numbers are limited daily, so the island stays clean and quiet, and you can't turn up on a whim. Get to the pier early, because once the day's quota has gone, that's that. Fifteen minutes on the boat, clear calm water, shade under the trees and food on the island.”
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“The navy beach I'd choose with small children — white sand, shallow gentle water, and restaurants right behind so nobody has to be dragged home for lunch. It shares an entrance with Nang Ram, so you can look at both before settling on one. Go on a weekday: Thai families fill it at the weekend and the calm is the whole point.”
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“The best water within half an hour of Pattaya, and worth the faff of getting in: ID at the Naval Rating School gate, 100 baht at the ticket booth a kilometre on, then a ticket check before the last run down to the sand. Take your passport or ID card, stop at the viewpoints on the way in, and never leave food unattended — the monkeys here are professionals.”
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“The closest thing to a private beach on this coast — long white sand, clear calm water, and few enough people that turning up feels like a mistake. Two things to get right: set the GPS to the Amphibious Vehicle Battalion rather than U-Tapao, or you'll be turned away at the wrong gate, and take an ID card to swap for a visitor pass. Bring an umbrella, as there's little shade.”
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“The busiest of the navy beaches and the easiest to spend a whole day at — shade trees, free parking, food stalls, showers and chairs for hire, all kept in order. The seabed is shallow and rocky with the odd sea urchin, so water shoes again. At weekends it's packed and feels overpriced; midweek it's a different beach entirely.”
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“A proper bay rather than a strip, with clear water, soft sand and mountains closing round it, kept immaculate because the navy runs it. The catch is the 6.30pm gate — a sunset beach that shuts just before the best of it, so aim to arrive by four and accept you'll be leaving early. Weekends are busy; midweek it's close to empty.”
Common questions
- What are the highest-rated navy beaches at Sattahip in Pattaya?
- Samae San Island (4.6★), Ko Kham (4.5★) and Nang Rong Beach (4.5★), on Google rating. Navy-run, which means clear water, no litter and rules — and the snorkelling is the reason to come rather than the beach, which is ordinary next to it.
- How many navy beaches at Sattahip are covered in this guide?
- Seven, chosen and written up individually rather than scraped from listings. Ratings and opening hours come from Google and are refreshed periodically; the verdicts are Rob's own.
- Which is closest to Pattaya?
- Samae San Island, about 47 km from central Pattaya by road, plus a ferry crossing. Distances are driving distances, not straight lines.
- When was this list last updated?
- September 2026. It is maintained by Rob, who lives in Pattaya, and revisited as places open, close or change.
Top of our list: Samae San Island, rated 4.6★.
Curated in Pattaya · Last updated September 2026