PAH NGAN ISLAND

Pha Ngan Island, about half hour’s boat ride north of Samui Island, has become the island of choise for those who find Samui Island too crowded or too expensive. It started out as a sort of ‘back-door escape’ from Samui Island but is well established now, with a regular boat service and over 156 places to stay around the 190 sq km island. It’s definitely worth a visit for its remaining deserted beaches (they haven’t all been developed) and, if you like snorkeling, for its live-coral formations.

Although hordes of backpackers have discovered Pha Ngan Island, the lack of an airport and relative lack of paved roads has so far spared it from tourist – hotel and package-tour development. Compared with Samui Island, Pha Ngan Island has a lower concentration of bungalows, less crowded beaches and coves, and an overall less ‘modern’ atmosphere. Pha Ngan Island aficionados say the sea food is fresher and cheaper than on Samui’s beaches, but it really varies form place to place. As Samui Island becomes more expensive for both travelers and investors, more and more people will be drawn to Pha Ngan Island. But for the time being, overall living costs remain about half what you’d pay on Samui Island.

Except at the island’s party capital, Hat Rin beach, the island hasn’t yet been infested with blaring videos and stereos.

PATTAYA BEACH

Pattaya beach, 147km south-east of Bangkok, is Thailand’s busiest beach resort with over 12,000 rooms available in hotels, bungalows and guesthouses spread along Hat Pattaya beach and adjoining Hat Naklua beach and Hat Jomtien beach. Pattaya is the most active of the three, a crowded crescent of sand where jet skis and powerboats slice the surf and parasail’s billow over the palms all day long. Sunburned visitors jam the beachfront road in rented jeeps and motorbikes.

According to recent Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) statistics, an average one-third of foreign tourists in Thailand visit Pattaya; in a typical November to March season Pattaya receives around a million visitors. Most of them are package tourists form Europe, Russia and the Middle East. Depending on their tastes, some visitors may find Pattaya lacking in culture, since much of the place seems designed to attract tourists interested in a prefabricated, western-style beach vacation with almost no ‘Thai’ ingredients. Hat Pattaya beach is also not that great (although it must have been at one time) and the town’s biggest businesses – water sports – have driven prices for food and accommodation beyond Bangkok levels, compared with many other Thai resort areas.

Still, it continues to attract a loyal following of Bangkok oil company expats, conventionalist and package tourists. Local authorities and travel suppliers have been trying to upgrade Pattaya’s image and clean the place up. Consequently the South Pattaya sex scene has diminished and families are returning.

Pattaya is acclaimed for its seafood, though it’s generally overpriced by national (but not international) standards. Pattaya’s lingering notoriety for sex tourism revolves around a collection of discos, outdoor bars and transvestite cabarets comprising its red-light district at the south end of the beach. That part of South Pattaya beach known as ‘the village’ attracts a large number of ka-toeys (Thai trnsvestities), who pose as hookers and ply their trade among the droves of sex tourists, as well as a prominent gay scene.

The one thing the Pattaya beach area has going for it is diving centers. There are over a dozen nice islands off Pattaya’s shore, although they can be expensive (compared with the rest of Thailand) to reach. If you’re a snorkeling or scuba enthusiast, equipment can be booked at any of the several diving shops/schools at Hat Pattaya beach. Laan Island, the most popular of the offshore islands, even has places to stay.

PHI PHI ISLAND

Phi Phi Island consists of two islands situated about 40km from Krabi, Phi Phi Leh Island and Phi Phi Don Island. Both are part of Hat Noppharat Thara beach/Phi Phi Island National Marine Park, though this means little in the face of the blatant land encroachment now taking place on Phi Phi Don .

Only parts of Phi Phi Don Island are actually under the administration of the Mational Parks Division of the Forestry Department. Phi Phi Leh Island and the western cliffs of Phi Phi Don Island are left to the nest collectors, and the parts of Phi Phi Don Island where the chaonaam live are also not included in the park.

After Phuket Island this is probably the most popular tourist destination along the Andaman Coast, especially during the peak months from December to March, when hordes descend on the island and snatch up every room and bungalow on Phi Phi Don. Even so, the island still retains some of its original beauty, though to truly appreciate it usually means a fair hike to escape the crowds.

THE DEEP SOUTH OF THAILAND

The frontier between Thailand and Malaysia carves across the peninsula six degrees north of the equator, but the cultures of the two countries shade into each other much further north. According to official divisions, the southern Thais – the thai pak tai - begin around Chumphon, and as you move further down the peninsula you see ever more sarongs, yashmaks and towering mosques, and hear with increasing frequency a staccato dialect that baffles many Thais. In Trang, Phatthalung and Songkhla provinces, the Muslim population is generally accepted as being Thai, but the inhabitants of the four southernmost provinces _ Satun, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat – are ethnically more akin to the Malays: most of the 1,500,00 followers of Islam here speak Yawi, an old Malay dialect. To add to the ethnic confusion, the deep south has a large urban population of Chinese, whose comparative wealth makes them stand out sharply form the Muslim farmers and fishermen.

On a journey south, the first thing you might be tempted by is an atmospheric boat trip through the Thale Noi Waterbird Park near Phatthalung. The easiest route after that is to hop across to the great natural beauty of the west coast, with its sheer limestone outcrops, pristine sands and fish-laden coral stretching down to the Malaysian border. The spread of tourism outwards form Phuket is slowly inching its way south to the idyllic islands around Trang, but for the time being at least these remain more or less unscathed, and further south in the spectacular Tarutao Island National Park, you’ll usually still have the beaches all to yourself.

On the less attractive east side of the peninsula, you’ll probably pass through the ugly, modern city of Hat Yai at some stage, as it’s the transport capital for the south and for connections to Malaysia, but a far more sympathetic place to stay is the old town of Songkla, half an hour away on the seashore. The region southeast of here is where you’ll experience Malay Muslim culture at its purest, through with the exception of Narathiwat, a pleasant stopover on the journey south to the border, it has little to offer the visitor.

As well as the usual bus services and the rail line, which forks at Hat Yai to Butterworth and Kuala Lumpur on the Malasian west coast and Sungai Kolok on the eastern border, the deep south is the territory of share-taxis – some times grand old 1950s Mercs, which connect all the major towns for about twice the fare of ordinary buses. The cars leave when they’re full, which usually means six passengers, with, quite possibly, babes – in arms and livestock. They are a quick way of getting around and you should get dropped off at the door of your journey’s end. A more recent phenomenon, run on almost exactly the same principles at similar prices, is air-conditioned minibuses; on these you’ll be more comfortable, with a seat to yourself, and most of the various ranks publish a rough timetable – though the minibuses also tend to leave as soon as they’re full.

Highlights

Mook Island – best of the Trang islands, with laid-back beach resorts and the stunning Emerald Cave...
Tarutao Island National Marine Park – a largely undisturbed haven of beautiful land – and seascapes...

SOUTHERN THAILAND: THE ANDAMAN COAST

As Highway 4 switches from the east flank of the Thailand peninsula to the Andaman coast it enters a markedly different country : nourished by rain nearly all the year round, the vegetation down here is lushly tropical, with forests replacing up to 80m in height, and massive rubber and coconut plantations replacing the rice and sugar-cane fields of central Thailand. In this region’s heartland the drama of the landscape is enhanced by sheer limestone crags, topographical hallmarks that spike every horizon and make for stunning views from the road. Even more spectacular and the main crowd-puller – is the Andaman Sea itself : translucent turquoise and so clear in some places that you can see to a depth of 30m, it harbors the country’s largest coral reefs and is far and away the top diving area in Thailand.

Unlike the Gulf coast, the Andaman coast is hit by the southwest monsoon form May to October, when the rain and high seas render some of the outer islands inaccessible. However, conditions aren’t generally severe enough to ruin a holiday on the other islands, while the occasional mainland cloudburst is offset by the advantage of notably less expensive and crowded accommodation. Although some bungalows at the smaller resorts shut down entirely during low season.

Eager to hit the high-profile beaches of Phuket Island and Krabi, most people either fly over the first three-hundred-kilometer stretch of the west coast or ass through it on an overnight bus, thereby missing out on the lushly forested hills of Ranong province and bypassing several gems: the tiny and still idyllic island of Chang Island (not to be confused with its larger, more famous namesake off the east coast); the Surin Island and Similan Island island chains, whose reefs rate alongside the Maldives and the Great Barrier Reef; the enjoyable Khao Sok National Park, where you can stay in a tree-house beneath the shadows of looming limestone outcrops; and the mid-market resort of Khao Lak, which hugs the rugged mainland coast on the edge of Khao Lak National Park. Tourism begins in earnest on Phuket Island, Thailand’s largest island and the best place to learn to dive. The high-rises and consumerist gloss that characterize much of Phuket Island don’t appeal to everyone, however, and many travelers opt instead for the slightly less mainstream but very popular beaches around the former fishing village of Krabi. Nearby the stunningly beautiful Phi Phi Island attracts a lot of attention considering its size, and is beginning to crack under the strain, so many travelers have moved on again, searching out hideaways on Lanta Island and bringing custom to the tiny retreats of Jum Island and Bubu Island.

Getting to Andaman coast destinations is made easy by Highway 4, also known as the Phetkasem Highway - and usually called Thanon Phetkasem when it passes through towns. The road runs from Bangkok to the Malaysian border, and frequent air-con and ordinary busses ply this route, connecting all major – and most minor – mainland tourist destinations. There is no rail line down the Andaman coast by bus before preceding southwards. Ferries to the most popular islands usually leave several times a day (with reduced services during the monsoon season), but for more remote destinations you may have to charter your own or wait for islanders’ trading boats to pick you up. Alternatively, you fly direct to the Andaman coast: there’s a busy international airport on Phuket, plus useful local ones in Krabi and Ranong.

Highlights

Khao Sok National Park – Sleep in a tree-house and wake to the sound of hooting gibbons. more ...
Similan Island – Remote chain of islands with some of the best diving in the word...
Reefs and wreaks – Dive Thailand’s finest underwater sights from Phuket Island, Nang Island or Phi Phi Island...
Phuket Island – Thailand’s largest island and p province in its own right. There are many activities of watersport, diving...
Sea-canoeing along the Krabi coastline – The perfect way to explore the region’s myriad mangrove swamps and secret lagoons...
Rock climbing on Leam Phra Nang – Get a bird’s eye view of fabulous coastlal scenery...
Lanta Island – The loveliest white sand beach...
Jum Island– Tiny island where there’s nothing to do but chill out...

SOUTHERN THAILAND: THE GULF COAST

The major part of southern Thailand's Gulf coast, gently undulating from Bangkok to Nakhon Si Thammarat, 750km away, is famed above all for the Samui Island archipelago, three small idyllic islands lying off the popular seaside venue for independent travelers, and a lazy stay in a Samui Island beachfront bungalow is so seductive a prospect that most people overlook the attractions of the mainland, where the sheltered sandy beaches and warn scenery dominated by forested mountains that rise abruptly behind the coastal strip, and a sprinkling of historic sights – notably the crumbling temples of ancient Phetchaburi. Though not a patch on the islands further south, the stretch of coast south of Phetchaburi, down to the traditional Thai resorts of Cha-am and Hua Hin, is handy for weekenders escaping the oppressive capital. Nearby Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park is one of Thailand’s most rewarding bird-watching spots. Chumphon, 150km further down the coast, has little to offer in its own right, but is the most convenient departure point for direct boats to Tao Island.

Southeast of Chumphon lies Samui Island, by far the most naturally beautiful of the islands, with its long white sand beaches and arching fringes of palm trees. The island’s beauty has not gone unnoticed by tourist developers of course, but this at least means you can buy a little extra comfort if you’ve got the cash. In recent years the nest island out, Pha Ngan Island, has drawn increasing numbers of backpackers away from its neighbor : its bungalows are generally simpler and cost less than Samui Island’s, and it offers a few stunning beaches with a more laid-back atmosphere. Hat Rin beach is the distillation of all these features, with back-to-back white sands relaxed resident hippies though after dusk it swings into action as Thailand’s rave capital, a reputation cemented by its farang-thronged full moon parties. The furthest inhabited island of the archipelago, the small, rugged outcrop of Tao Island, has taken off as a scuba-diving center, but remains on the whole quieter and less sophisticated than Samui Island and Pha Ngan Island.

Tucked away beneath the islands, Nakhon Si Thammarat, the cultural capital of the south, is well worth a short detour form the main routes down the center of the peninsula – it’s a sophisticated city of grand old temples, delicious cuisine and distinctive handicrafts. With its small but significant Muslim population, and machine-gun dealect, Nakhon begins the transition into Thailand’s Deep South.

The train from Bangkok connects all the mainland towns, and bus services, along highways 4 (also known as the Phetkasem Highway, or, usually, Thanon Phetkasem when passing through towns) and 41, are frequent. Daily boats run to the islands from two jumping-off points: Surat Thani, 650km from Bangkok, has the best choice of routes, but the alnatives form Chumphon get you straight to the tranquility of Tao Island.

Highlights

Hua Hin – Thailand’s oldest beach resort, used to be little more than an over grown ...
Samui Island – A great choice of beachside pads. There are simple bangalows to luxurious cottages...
Full moon at Hat Rin Beach – DIY beach parties draw ravers in their thousands...
Pha Ngan Island– Beautiful, secluded bay with good accommodation...
Boat trip round Tao Island – Satisfying exploration and great snorkeling...

THE EAST COAST OF THAILAND

Located within easy reach of the capital, the east coast of Thailand resorts and islands attract a mixed crowd of weekending Bangkok people, pleasure-seeking expats and budget-conscious backpackers. Transport connections are good, prices are generally more reasonable than at the biggest southern resorts and, if you’re heading overland to Cambodia, the east coast beaches make challenging territory across the border. You’ll find the whitest beaches on the offshore islands – the five-hundred-kilometer string of mainland strands are disappointingly grey and the resorts here cater more for Thai groups than solitary horizon-gazing foreigners. In addition, the discovery of oil and natural gas fields in these coastal waters has turned pockets of the first hundred-kilometer stretch into and unsightly industrial landscape of refineries and depots, sometimes referred to as the Eastern Seaboard. Offshore, however, it’s and entirely different story, with island beaches as peaceful and unsullied as many of the more celebrated southern retreats.

The first worthwhile stop comes 100km east of Bangkok at the less than scintillating town of Si Racha, which is the point of access for tiny Si Chang Island, whose dramatically rugged coastlines and low-key atmosphere make it a restful haven. In complete contrast, Pattaya, just half and hour south, is Thailand’s number-one package-tour destination, its customers predominantly middle-aged Western and Chinese males enticed by the resort’s sex-market reputation and undeterred by its notoriety as the country’s most polluted beach. Things soon look up, though, as the coast veers sharply eastwards towards Ban Phe, revealing the Samet Island, the prettiest of all the beach resorts within comfortable bus-ride range of Bangkok.

East of Ban Phe, the landscape starts to get more lush and hilly as the coastal highway nears Chanthaburi, the dynamo of Thailand’s gem trade and one of only two provincial capitals in the region worth visiting. The other appealing inland city is Trat, 68km further along the highway and an important departure point for Chang Island, a huge forested island with long, fine beaches, plentiful accommodation and a host of smaller, less developed islets off its coasts. East of Chang Island lies the Cambodian border post of Ban Hat Lek beach, one of two points – the other being Aranyaprathet, a little way north – where it is currently legal to cross overland into Cambodia.

Highway 3 extends almost the entire length of the east coast of Thailand– beginning in Bangkok as Sukhumvit Road, and known as such when it cuts through towns – and hundreds of buses ply the route, connecting all major mainland destinations. Buses from Bangkok’s Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai) serve all the provincial capitals and tourist spots; there are a few services here from Bangkok’s Northern (Mo Chit) Bus Terminal as well, and tourist minibuses run direct from Banglumphu in Bangkok to the ferry piers for Samet Island and Chang Island. One Eastern Line train a day runs in each direction between Bangkok, Si Racha and Pattaya. There’s and airport at U-Tapao naval base, midway between Pattaya and Rayong, served by Bangkok Airways flights to and form Samui Island and Phnom Penh in Cambodia.

Recommended Island

Si Chang Island – Tiny, barely touristed island with craggy coastlines and appealingly laidback ambience. more …
Pattaya – Away from the girlie bars and high-rise hotels, there’s rewarding year-round wreck and reef diving nearby…
Samet Island – Pretty (and popular) little island fringed with dazzlingly white beaches...
Chang Island – Large, sparsely populated island, with several good beaches and lots of accommodation...
Mak Island – Stay in a teepee-hut on this diminutive island with fine white-sand beaches...

POPULAR ISLANDS

	Pupular Thailand Island
	Samui Island Samui Island is Thailand's second largest island (229km² - only Phuket Island covers a greater area) and all in all a fairly big place. The most popular and commercialized beaches are Chaweng beach and Lamai beach, while the northern beaches and their adjacent villages of Mae Nam, Bophut, Bang Ruk (Big Buddha) and Choeng ... More
	Krabi Krabi is the location of two world class beaches Ao Nang beach and Hat Rai Le beach which offer numerous diving trips, restaurants, shops etc. Additional attractions in the province are stunning limestone cliffs and rock formations which make it a heaven for rock climbers and a National Park located approximate... More
	Phang Nga Phang-nga's andaman coast offers parks of a different kind. The island groups of Surin Island and Similan Island are renowned for their beautiful unspoilt beaches and spectacular underwater scenery, attracting divers from around the world. Most famous is Ao Phang-nga National Park, a geological wonder filled wit... More
	Phuket Island Phuket Island has a lot more to offer its visitors other than its natural heritage sea, sand, sky, beach, forest, and world renowned diving sites. Sino-Portuguese architecture casts its spell delighting travelers to the city, while Phuket-style hospitality has never failed to impress visitors from all walk... More
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YAOW ISLAND

One of the beautiful of Thailand island that not so many people promoting. That why this island still remain beautiful and peaceful. It located between Phuket Island and Phi Phi Island. It more convenient if you want to come from Phuket Island, Phi Phi Island or Pang nga that will take time around one hour. It means you already are in the middle of the Andaman Coast. Yaow Island is separated to be YaowYai Island and Yaownoi Island.

The main activities of population in this island are fishing and rubber planting. Boat building and farming techniques here have been passed from father to son and, while some of the youngsters leave Yao Island to seek the bright lights of Phuket Island, most return to their tight knit community.