Thailand hotels and travel guide. Hotel reservation for Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui, Krabi and all provinces in Thailand.

Transformed from large coconut plantation to a prime tourist destination in Thailand, Koh Samui is situated 84 km northeast of Surat Thani and 34 km from Don Sak Pier on the mainland. It covers an area of 228.7 sq km. The climate on the island is tropical warm throughout the year and a short rainy season. It has an international airport that eases the travelling time and bring considerable development as a result boosts the tourism for the island.

The island is comprised of plains surrounding the mountains. The coconut fringed white sand beaches that stretch along the island together with great facilities provide a perfect island escape. It is surrounded by 60 smaller islands including Ang Thong National Park, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan.

The concentration of the tourism activities is on the east coast meanwhile the west coast remains relatively quiet. Nathon is the Samui’s main port and administrative centre. Popular beaches include Chaweng, Lamai, Laem Yai, Bophut and Mae Nam beaches amongst 19 beaches lying on the west and east sides.

Popular Beaches: Chaweng Beach, Lamai Beach, Bo Phut Beach, and Maenam Beach

Getting There
By boat from Surat Thani to Koh Samui from Tha Thong Pier, Don Sak Pier or Ban Don Pier. Cars can also be carried on the ferry to the island. There are different ferry services including Songserm Express Boat departing from Tha Thong Pier in Surat Thani to Nathon Pier on Koh Samui. Seatran Ferry departs from Don Sak Pier to Nathon Pier. Raja Ferry departs from Don Sak Pier to Lipanoi Pier. There is also slow night ferry departing Ban Don Pier to Nathon Pier. See boat timetable.

Thanks to the international airport on the island, Samui can be reached within 1.30 hour from Bangkok.

Internationally known for the Full Moon Party that beckons more than 10,000 party goers every months, Koh Phangan is not all about that. Pristine beaches that lie around the island are truly tropical paradise.

The island is situated off Surat Thani mainland in the Gulf of Thailand, covering an area of 170 sq km. it has a mountain range lying north to south in the middle of the island. The west part of the island is plains and mountain range stretches to the ocean in the east. The neighbouring islands include the famous Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan.

Its white powdery sand, coconut-fringed beaches, tropical forests and great facilities would be more than enough to spend a perfect holiday. A variety of activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, bird watching or even cultural tourism will fulfill the good time. For a wild night, Full Moon Party will provide the opportunity to party from dusk to dawn on the beach. If you miss the full moon, there are dark moon and half moon parties.

Popular Beaches: Rin Beach, Kuat Beach (Bottle Beach), Thong Nai Pan Yai Beach

Getting There:
There are some ferry operators running from different piers from the mainland in Surat Thani including Don Sak Pier and Lamphun Pier to Koh Phangan. From Surat Thani town or train station, there are bus services to Don Sak Pier. Raja Ferry runs daily services from this pier. Songserm Express Boat operates daily express boat services from Lamphun Pier to the island. The journey takes 3 hours. There is also night boat departing Ban Don Pier to the island daily at 11.00 pm. The journey takes 6 hours.

If you depart from Nathon Pier in Koh Samui, Songserm Express Boat’s express boats run twice daily. The journey takes 45 minutes. A catamaran leaves Koh Samui’s Mae Nam Pier. Ordinary boat services leave Koh Samui’s Phra Yai Pier. See boat timetable.

One of Thailand’s top dive sites, Koh Tao or Turtle Island is situated in the Gulf of Thailand, off Surat Thani. It covers an area of 21 sq km which is relatively small. The beauty of its beaches and waters are incredibly jaw-dropping. It waters abound with colourful coral reefs and aquatic animals. It is the mecca for diving enthusiasts. It offers a plenty of diving spots where you can spot turtles, stingrays, barracudas, reef sharks and if you are lucky then you might have a chance to see a whale shark. Other aquatic activities include game fishing, sailing, wakeboarding and many more. But that is not the only thing it offers. There are other land activities that are worth trying such as rock climbing, Thai boxing training, ATV riding, paintball jungle games, mini-golf, bowling, cooking class or going to spa or massage.

The facilities on the island are more than enough to indulge on a lovely holiday. There are internet cafes, many food shops, beachside restaurants, bars, a clinic, bike rentals and many others.

Popular Beach: Sai Ree Beach

Getting There:
There are several ferry companies running services from the piers in Surat Thani to the island. Songserm Express Boat operates services from Tha Thong Pier. The night boat also runs from Ban Don Pier. From Chumphon, there are also many boat services run to the island starting from 07.00 am. The journey takes around 2 hours. There are both regular day boats and night boats which take approximately 6 hours.

From Koh Samui, Songserm Express Boat runs the services from Na Thon Pier. Lom Phraya Catamaran offers daily high speed boat departing from Wat Pra Lan Pier. Other services include Seatran Discovery Ferry and Phangan Cruise. The journey takes around 2 hours. See boat timetable. Koh Phi Phi has been a top list of the destinations in Thailand. Thanks to its striking natural beauty on the shore and underwater. Koh Phi Phi is a home to scenic limestones, white sandy beaches and abundant marine life. All in all, it is a tropical gem of the Andaman.

Koh Phi Phi, an archipelago consists of 6 islands including Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Leh, Bamboo Island, Yung Island, Bida Nok and Bida Nai. Only Phi Phi has accommodation. The rest is available for a day trip. Snorkeling and scuba diving is not-to-be-missed activities. Witness the world underwater that is filled with colourful coral reefs, sea caves and a multitude of aquatic species. Not to mention great facilities, a wide range of accommodation which starts from budget guesthouses to luxurious 5-star resorts, restaurants of multi-cuisines, leisure activities and services.

Popular Beaches: Hat Yao (Long Beach)

Getting There:
Situated 45 km from the Krabi town, Koh Phi Phi can be accessible by boat from the mainland as well as other nearby islands. There are 2 ferry services from Krabi departing from the pier near Ao Nang and from Railay Beach. The journey takes from 1.30 – 2 hours.

From Phuket, there are 2 regular ferries a day departing from Rassada Pier in Phuket 3 times a day. See boat timetable. There is also seaplane available provided by Destination Air based in Phuket. Daily shuttle service from Phuket International Airport can be arranged. Once, it was a backpackers’ destination. Now Koh Lanta has everything to offer all types of travellers. Lying off the south coast of Thailand and the most southern district of Krabi, Koh Lanta features pristine white sandy beaches, lush green mountains, waterfall and local villages that provide an excellent cultural tourism. The island has been a home to sea gypsies who have their own languages and beliefs. The island is the place you can find lower degree of vibrancy, more levels of relaxation and privacy.

There are abundant activities including hiking, Thai cooking class, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, island hopping, fishing, elephant trekking, Thai boxing class or just simply lying down on the white sand beach. There used to be only a few small bungalow and guesthouses. Time has changed. Now there is more variety of accommodation which includes some more of the luxury boutique resorts. Most best beach lie on the west coast of the island while the east coast has verdant forested mountains.

Popular Beaches: Klong Dao Beach, Pra Ae or Long Beach

Getting There:
From Krabi town, take minibus to Ao Nang Pier, there are 2 ferry piers, one goes to Koh Lanta Noi and the other to Koh Lanta Yai. Take the one to Saladan Pier on Koh Lanta Yai. The ferry journey takes approximately 1.5 hours.

From Phuket, you can reach Koh Lanta in a single day, take the ferry to transfer to another ferry on Koh Phi Phi and to Koh Lanta. The boat runs twice daily and takes 2 hours to get to Koh Phi Phi (the morning service will stop 1 hour at the island) and continue for 1.5 hours to Koh Lanta. See boat timetable. One of Trang’s most beautiful islands in Trang, Koh Ngai lets its visitors experience a long white sand beach, stunning limestone karsts and coconut groves. Situated only 12 km from Koh Lanta, Krabi and 15 km from the pier in Trang province, Koh Ngai is rife with colourful shallow-water coral reefs and surrounded by small islands dotted in the turquoise sea. There is also Koh Muk or Emerald Cave in the neighbourhood that should not be missed. The sandy beach on the east coast of the island stretches 2.2 km.

On this magical island, nature-related activities can be enjoyed such as snorkeling, canoeing, boat tours and hiking in the jungle. There is a viewpoint on the hill, overlooking the infinity of the Andaman Ocean.

Getting There:
From Trang, take speedboat from Pak Meng Pier. The ride takes about 20 minutes and tourist boat takes 45 minutes. From Koh Lanta, there are excursion ferry boat services daily departing from Saladan Pier in the north of Koh Lanta. (during the high season only) the journey takes 2 hours The most southern island in Satun, Koh Lipe is a part of Tarutao National Park, 70 km off the southwest coast in the Andaman Sea. It has led sea gypsies originally from Malaysia known as Urak Lawoi to settle there. The island is approximately 3 km long, 1.75 km wide and located 45 km from Koh Tarutao and 1.7 km from Koh Adang. There are guesthouses and resorts on the east side of the island including a few restaurants.

The high season starts in November and last until May. There are daily ferry services from the mainland and nearby islands. The low season is during May to November. The ferry services only run from Pak Barra on the mainland.

Popular Beach: Pattaya Beach

Getting There
From Hat Yai, across the train station, there are minibuses to Pak Bara which takes a bit less than 2 hours. There are also public buses running from Hat Yai Bus Terminal to Pak Bara. From the pier in Pak Bara, there are ferry services to the island. The journey takes around 4 hours. Since the island has got no pier, you will need to switch to a long-tail boat to get to anywhere on the shore. There are also speedboats from Pak Bara which takes around 90 minutes and other islands such as Koh Lanta, Koh Ngai, Koh Muk, Koh Bulon and the mainland of Trang.

Located 35 km from Ranong, Koh Phayam, gorgeous little island features tranquil white sandy beach, clear blue sea, rife underwater world and tropical jungle. The cashew nut which is mainly grown on the island, fringe the beach. It is the second largest island in the Andaman Sea and resembles Koh Samui in the time before the development arrived. There are a number of sea gypsies or Chao Le living on the island. Situated in the middle of the island, a lush mountain is a home to many species of animals such as birds, monkeys and boars. The villagers mainly plant coconuts, rubber trees and cashew nuts.

The island’s topography features bays alternating with rock formations and beaches are located in the middle of the bay. There are also mangroves on the east of the island, big canals, bays and beaches in the west. Offshore, there are islands dotted along the coast. Coral reefs are abundant around the island.

Koh Phayam has not got wide road for cars or big vehicles. Motorbycles are available for rent around the pier. Bars and restaurants are located along the beach. There are 2 main bays on the island including Yai Beach, the largest bay on the west coast with 2 miles long and 300 m wide, Khao Kwai Beach which is a hub for transport. Both bays have long curving white sandy beaches.

Popular Beach: Khao Kwai Beach, Yai Beach

Getting There
From Ranong, take a minibus to Koh Phayam Pier. The journey takes approximately 2 hours. Once, you arrive on the island, there are motorcycle rentals or motorcycle taxis available in the village. The largest island in Thailand as well as a province, Phuket covers an area of 542 sq km. It is located in the Andaman Sea and connected to the mainland by 2 bridges. It derives its wealth from tin and rubber. It also possesses a colourful and significant history. Travelling to island is facilitated by an international airport.

The topography of the island is 70% covered with mountains which lie from north to south and 30% of plains in the central and eastern parts of the island. It is a home to Sirinat National Park located on the northwestern coast and Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Conservation Development and Extension Centre. Phuket also includes 39 surrounding islands. Most of white sandy beaches are on the west side of the island while the beaches on the east side are muddy. One of the picture perfect attractions that can be found on postcards of Phuket is Laem Phromthep or Phromthep Cape where the sunset is just spectacular.

It is also known as the pearl of Andaman thanks to abundant natural attractions both on land and in waters. Phuket has something for all, vibrant beaches, tranquil hideaway, sportive activities, culinary delights, family retreat, health and wellness sanctuaries or an escapade to surrounding islands. There are all sorts of activities you can think of.

Popular Beaches: Patong Beach, Kamala Beach, Kata Beach, Karon Beach, Rawai Beach

Getting There
By Car
Take Highway No.4 (Petchkasem Rd.) via Nakhon Pathom, Ratchburi, Prachuab Kiri Khan, Chumphon, Ranong, Phang Nga and cross Sarasin Bridge. Then there Phuket is at the distance of 867 km from Bangkok.

By Bus
There are daily state-run bus services from Southern Bus Terminal and private bus companies from Khao San Rd. to Phuket. The night buses or sleeper buses are popular as the journey takes around 12 – 14 hours.

By Train
There is no direct train service to Phuket as there is no railway but if you would like travelling by train, the day and sleeper train runs from Hua Lam Phong Station in Bangkok to Surat Thani. Then the road transfer is required.

By Plane
The quickest way to get to Phuket, the province has an international airport. There are daily flights by international and domestic, low cost and regular airlines. From Bangkok, the flight takes 1.20 hours.

Koh Kradan, occupying 600 rais, is located 10 km off Amphoe Kantang in Trang. The island is a part of Had Chao Mai national Park. It is known as the most beautiful island in Trang’s waters with its powdery sand beach, crystal clear sea, long reefs of coral and abundant aquatic animals.

The evening here is welcomed by spectacular sunset. The nearby islands such as Koh Muk, Koh Waen, Koh Chuek, Koh Ma and Koh Hai can be seen from Koh Kradan. Ao Chong Lom Beach is where you can see beautiful sunset and the sight of Koh Rok. The beach is small but has with fine soft sand and brown rock scattering around. The island has a small bay that has big waves, ideal for surfing. There are coral reefs in the north of the island. The island is chosen for renowned underwater wedding venue that is held every year.

Getting There
From Trang, take a minibus from town to Pak Meng Pier or Hat Yao/Ban Chao Mai Pier. There are longtail boat charters along the pier. Khao Lak, a part of Khao Lak – Lam Ru National Park, is situated on the coast of Andaman Sea, approximately 100 km north of Phuket town. It is known as secluded destination with family-friendly atmosphere and lack of overcrowd. The provincial ordinances prohibit the buildings of structures higher than a coconut tree which retain Khao Lak pristine. The coastline is fringed by casuarina pine trees. Inner land is a home to palm groves, rubber plantations, coconut plantations and lakes.

Other attractions of the National Parks can be accessed from Khao Lak such as sea cliffs, hills, evergreen forest, waterfalls, hiking trails and many more. Nature-related activities abound in Khao Lak. One can opt to go snorkeling, scuba diving, yoga, canoeing or just relaxing by the beach. In the neighbouring area, there are also river bamboo rafting, visiting waterfalls, visiting khao Lak village, temples, elephant trekking and many more.

Getting There
By Car
Take Highway No.4 (Phetkasem Rd.) via Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Ranong to Amphoe Takua Pa in Phang Nga. Continue on Highway No. 4. Khao Lak is a 35 km away. The road well indicated throughout. The journey takes around 13 hours.

By Bus
Take the bus from Southern Bus Terminal, there are bus services running daily.

By Train
Travelling by train can start at Bangkok’s Hua Lam Pong Station. The closest train station to Khao Lak is Surat Thani which is about 150 km from Khao Lak. The journey takes around 12 hours. Sleeper train is also available. Then, road connection by bus or taxi is required.

By Plane
The closest airport to Khao Lak is Phuket International Airport and Krabi International Airport. There are taxis available at the airport. Alternatively, you can take a bus on the main road which is on Highway No.4 which is about 5 km from the airport. Take the bus that heads towards Takua Pa, Ranong or Surat Thani.

Railay Beach gains its reputation high spectacular limestone cliffs and rock formations that stand as a backdrop of turquoise sea. It is located between the city of Krabi and Ao Nang. Accessible only by boat due to the limestone cliffs that cut of the mainland access, Railay Beach is popular amongst rock climbers and adventure-seekers as well as those who look for a chilling-out holiday.

Railay Beach is divided into 2 parts; the east side and the west side. The east side is a docking point for boats and mainly covered with dense mangrove which is not ideal for swimming. It is connected to the west side with paths via the large resorts or trails through thin jungle cover which lead to wide sandy beach with a spectacular view of the flanked limestone cliffs

The beach has lushly jungled interior and offers a host of activities that you won’t get bored staying there such as kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, jungle trekking, elephant trekking, white water rafting, ATV or Quad Biking and even Thai cooking lesson. There is a wide range of accommodation on the beach from luxury to budget.

Getting There
From Krabi Airport, the shuttle bus services runs to Ao Nang or Krabi town. The shuttle bus schedule meets the landing flights. There are also taxi services from the airport to any destinations. From Ao Nang, there are long tailed boat services running all day. The journey takes 15 minutes.

During the low season, you may need to get the boat from Ao Na Mao or Krabi town. The boat ride from Ao Na Mao takes only 20 minutes to Railay. The ride from Chao Fah Pier in Krabi town takes 45 minutes. Situated on the Andaman Sea, Laem Son Beach is a part of Laem Son National Park in Ranong, 4 km from Bang Ben Beach. The cape of white sand beach protrudes out of the land into the blue ocean with aligning pine trees. The beach is wide and stretches for miles. During the low tide, the sand reflects the sun turning it to sparkling silver beach. The traces of the waves are left on the beach with the beautiful undulated pattern which can be seen especially during the low tide.

Watersports are gaining popularity here. The beach is one of the most spots for sunset in Ranong. Camping in this area is also popular in particular for bird watching.

Getting There
By Car
From Ranong town centre, head towards Laem Son National Park which is around 60 km away. Turn right at Bang Ben intersection, continue until you see the National Park Office.

By Bus
From Ranong, there are bus services heading towards the park. Motorcycle taxis are also available from town.

The crescent-shape Pak Meng Beach is located in the south of Krabi and north of Hat Yai. A perfect place for lazing around, Pak Meng Beach’s area is quite shallow. The fine sand stretches 4 km long even though the colour is not glowing white like some beaches. The village is located in the south of the beach meanwhile the northern part has a dock for boats to go to the surrounding islands such as Koh Ngai, Koh Mook and Koh Kradan.

The area is filled with casuarina pines. The offshore islands that dot along the horizon. One of which is in the shape of human lying on his back towards the north on the water. It is an icon of this beach.

Getting There
By Car
From Highway No.4046 (Trang – Sikao), turn left into Highway No.4162 for about 10 km. Then turn right at three-way junction to Pak Meng Pier.

By Bus
There are minibus and motorcycle taxi running from the town, from train station and trang Domestic Airport to Pak Meng Pier everyday.

 

---

Thailand & more | Bangkok | all provinces | Central | Northern | Isan (North-east) | Southern | Phuket

(c) 1996-2009 Web Sawadee Plc. - reproduction without permission prohibited. [V.2.00]