About this experience
In 1 day you will mine genuine precious stones (and take them with you), have lunch at a floating restaurant, and, if desired, feed predatory fish. You will visit a gemstone market where prices will pleasantly surprise you, and explore a couple of sacred places of Buddhists and Catholics. And at the end of the day, you will witness a breathtaking sunset on a cliff overlooking the Gulf of Siam.
What to expect
Viewpoint and sapphire mining
From Pattaya, you will drive to a funicular that will take you to the top of the mountain. Here you will find the Wat Khao Sukim Buddhist temple and enjoy magnificent panoramic views. You will perform a small ritual to attract wealth and search for sapphires in the gem mines. The stones you find can be taken with you! The owners of the mines will also gift each traveler with a unique gemstone.
Seafood lunch and boat trip
In the bay, amidst mangrove forests and oyster fields, you will dine at a restaurant on a raft, tasting dishes of sea fish, freshly cut oysters, and other seafood delicacies. After lunch, you will take a motorboat ride through the coastal mangrove forests. If you wish, you can feed giant predatory sea fish - groupers.
Gemstone market and sunset
Our journey continues to the Chonburi province, where you will visit a Catholic church and the famous gemstone market. On weekends, buyers from Arab countries, South Africa, the Netherlands, and Israel come here. It is here where you can buy rare gemstones such as amethysts, rubies, sapphires, and others for a small amount of money.
After the market, you will visit the recently built Sapphire Temple, and from there, head to the viewpoint on a cliff overlooking the Gulf of Siam to enjoy the stunning sunset.
Program with timings
06:30 - departure from Pattaya
08:30 - breakfast stop at a cafe with arapaima. Breakfast can also be taken from your hotel or ordered from the guide. Additionally, for 100 baht, you can have an American breakfast and coffee.
09:30 - funicular ride to the mountaintop
11:00 - sapphire mines, mining precious stones
12:30 - lunch at a raft restaurant in the bay
13:00 - walk through mangrove forests, feeding giant predatory groupers
14:30 - visit to the Catholic temple
15:00 - visit to the gemstone market
17:00 - visit to the Sapphire Temple
18:00 - sunset viewing at the viewpoint on the shore of the Gulf of Siam
19:30 - stop at the fruit market (optional)
20:30 - return to Pattaya
Organizational details
- Excursion without long transfers, everything is located within 150 km of Pattaya
- No additional mandatory expenses are required
- The tour will be conducted by one of our team's guides
