Navy Base and Nature Reserve With Public/Tourist Access - Jet Fighter included!
Click-bait intro shot :D ... The beach, more below, plus a fighter jet
Where are we?
In one of the most unexpected spots of which only a seasoned visitor or resident of the area may know about, this nature reserve although from main entrance appearances looks to be for the army only, in fact members of the public are welcome to enjoy the area, which has been preserved from 1950s R&R style beach facilities until now.
Part training camp, part nature reserve, part naval base, part unspoiled beaches, part museum, with coffee shops and restaurants - the area is many things. Links to the location and a map below.
Hat Klet Kaeo is an idyllic unspoiled beach as part of all this, seen as the red pin below.
The areas (roughly and not accurately) marked in blue are all under the control and protection of the Navy, and have been subjected to zero of the kind of the usual tourist or residential development in the area.
Step back in time
Open to all, you can drive right into the base from the main Sukhumvit road (seen running N-S in yellow on the map image above). At certain times you may be requested to show ID, and pay a small (100thb / $3usd) fee for day access to the beach, but otherwise all are welcome. Until sundown, then you have to leave. It is a great daytime place with a very nice swimming beach to chill out on with restaurants.
This area is actually quite large, with a mountain covered in forest right in the middle of it. You have to drive over this to get to the beach itself (red pin on the map). Let's go in for a closer look.
View location on Google Maps. Switch to satellite mode for the most interesting perspective.
Jet fighter, more on this in a moment
You might see cadets or marines in training running around!c
Refreshments at great prices and somewhere to shelter in case of a sudden downpour, there are several establishments available to get some nice Thai food and a beer/soft drink
The jet fighter as promised, what an awesome thing to look at up close. Great photography subject, plus model-making inspiration (another of out fave hobbies)
Along one of the roads to the beach, we are met with a line of guns like this. It's a kind of open air military museum
Ex-service boat makes great showpiece on the grass here.
There is a nice public park atmosphere with the trees, yet the fact it's a tropical beach with those views makes it something special indeed.
Detail of the jet fighter parked up as a lawn ornament
The beach is very clean here, sheltered and good for a dip in the bathtub warm waters of the Thai gulf.
Around the land here, there are many holiday style homes used by the forces, and jungle at the edges. I stopped to take this shot of the remarkably tall trees.
On the way, you will see these official buildings and displays such as ex-service boats, just parked up as lawn ornaments. Pretty cool to look at.
The 'postcard' selfie sign at the beach entrance, with characterful dolphin ornaments
It really has that island feel, even though we are still on the mainland. This spot is especially popular with locals, 'in the know'.
Behind the beach, there are well manicured gardens built around natural or curated tree species. All is tastefully done and well pruned.
nice spot to watch the sun go down
Thanks for sticking around!
if ya made it this far, thanks again for the support. More to come, including a tour around Pattaya as tourism starts to return ... coming soon! Check out my previous posts also for lots of car content mixed with travel content and photo-essays like this one. Enjoy!
and remember to always
Shoot images, not people ... Thanks folks