Tile on the side of shower base
The curb in this picture is about 3" wide. That is enough to put under the pan a piece of 2x4 (vertically) and screw a 1/2" thick hardie backer.  Then you can use thinset to attach tiles to the hardie backer.

Do not attach your tiles to a layer that can warp, expand, or shrink.  Your tiles will crack.