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The
South - Overview
Southern Thailand offers beautiful beaches, tropical islands, jungle
adventure and some breathtaking scenery. A long narrow strip of
land (the Kra Isthmus) provides an extensive coastline dotted with
some of the most idyllic island getaways imaginable.
On the west side lies the Andaman Sea with the islands of Phuket,
Phi Phi, Lanta and Phang Nga province. The eastern coastline - the
Gulf of Thailand, has Samui island and the Ang Thong Marine National
Park. During the last 20 years tourism has opened up much of the
south with new roads and airports, better boat services and frequent
air links to places like Phuket, Ko Samui and Krabi. International
hotels and investment have created a choice of excellent accommodation,
good infrastructure and some of the best international and seafood
restaurants to be found anywhere.
All through the south, from Ranong near Burma, to Narathiwat on
the Malaysian border, the southern interior has lush jungle covered
national parks with waterfalls, rivers and extensive wildlife. Eco-tourism
including canoe trips, bird watching and elephant trekking has developed
recently, especially around the areas within easy reach of Phuket
and Krabi. Wildlife sanctuaries, marine and land based national
parks have encouraged places like Khao Lak and Khao Sok to develop
tourism with minimal impact on the environment.
Not as culturally rich as the north, the south is for those looking
for sea, sun, fun, eco-adventure and water sports. The marine national
parks like the Phi Phi islands National Park and Ang Thong have
been designated to protect the wonderfully varied aquatic life to
be found in these warm tropical waters. The Similan
Islands near the Burmese border on the west coast, are already
known as one of the Top 10 dive sites in the world for their spectacular
underwater scenery and big fish like Sharks and Rays.
Further south, Trang province has some stunning
"back to nature" islands like Tarutao, recently featured
on the TV series "Survivor" which are gradually and quietly
opening up to visitors. See below...for more info.....
Andaman Coast - A quick tour
....... Where to Go........
Phuket
 One
of Asia's premier destinations, soft beaches, excellent accommodation,
great scenery, good food and lots to do. The provincial town,
also called Phuket, has grown rapidly over the last few years,
incorporating new hypermarkets and leisure facilities such as
bowling alleys and a new cinema complex. Kata,
Karon and of
course, Patong
where you'll find cabaret, restaurants, discos and the ever present
bar-beers. Upmarket hotels line the beaches at the northern end
of the island which have all the facilities of any first class
resort destination.
Phuket is also a good base for visiting the outlying southern
islands in the area. Koh Phi Phi, Lanta Island, Ko Yao Noi, and
Raya (Racha Island) which can visited on a day trip, or you can
stay overnight. Just north of Phuket island, lies Khao Lak, a
new destination for visitors who prefer a quieter holiday, and
also Phang Nga Bay. Famous for its strange and hauntingly beautiful
limestone scenery it can be visited on a day trip and should be
on your "must do" list in Phuket.
Phi
Phi Islands & the Phi Phi Marine National Park
 Picture
postcard perfect, classic beaches, surrounded by impressive limestone
cliffs and sunlit crystal water, Phi Phi offers a great laid back
tropical lifestyle. Soak up the sun, go beach hopping, or simply
enjoy the great outdoors in some of the most beautiful scenery
in Asia! Just a 90 minute boat trip from Phuket island. Boats
leave every day. You can also get to Phi Phi from Krabi, although
boat schedules may vary with weather variations from April to
October.
Phang
Nga and Khao Lak
Recently "discovered" Khao Lak offers nature lovers
an unspoilt landscape of beaches, jungle covered mountains, forested
valleys, mangroves and estuaries. The area covers 3 national parks.
Development has been careful with comfortable resorts and bungalows
blending into the scenery along the coastline. Many new resorts
have recently opened in Khao Lak, most located right on the beach.
Once there you can relax or take a local tour to the interior
national park for hiking, birdwatching or elephant trekking. Speedboat
trips to the Similan Islands- one of Asia's best dive sites are
also available during high season (Nov- April)
Khao Lak is close to Phang Nga Bay - famous for its amazing limestone
formations which literally rise from the sea to form a spectacular
seascape. The Bay has caves leading to interior lagoons with their
own eco-systems which can only be accessed when the tide is low
enough. Local companies in Phuket and Khao Lak offer adventure
activities in Phang Nga, with kayaking tours into the caves especially
popular.
Krabi
Province
 Some
of the most spectacular scenery in southern Thailand. Similar
to the limestone "karst" type scenery found in Phang
Nga Bay, Krabi has hundreds of islands in the Hat Nopporat National
Park. The mainland beaches of Ao Nang and Rai Ley are among the
best in southern Thailand - duvet soft sand surrounded by towering
limestone cliffs. Accommodation ranges from standard bungalows
to the upmarket 5 star Rayawadee Resort close to Rai Ley. There
are other resorts in Krabi town - the provincial capital and also
around the more secluded beaches if you simply want to be, literally,
away from it all. The interior offers forest and rivers - with
elephant trekking and kayaking tours to keep you busy. If you
love the sea, enjoy snorkelling and simply want to relax in the
sun for days on end........this is it!
Trang
Province
 Not
yet on the tourist map, Trang province is quietly beginning to
attract visitors to its peaceful beaches and untouched islands
which offer caves, lagoons, waterfalls and coral reefs.
Trang town. Clean, quiet streets, and with few tourists.
The provincial capital of Trang province tends to win municipal
awards such as "Cleanest City in Thailand" and is also
famous for its cake, similar to a Madeira. Check out the pungent
local market, with its curry pastes, ripe durians, fresh fish
and meat laid out on slabs. Eat at one of the many foodstalls
near the clocktower which serves khanom Jin, a rice-noodle dish
with a sweetish curry sauce, accompanied by plates of crunchy
fresh green vegetables. As an alternative, sit down at one of
the many Chinese restaurants.
Tarutao
and the Far South
 Wild,
mostly uninhabited and pristine, the Tarutao National Park consists
of 51 islands containing wildlife sanctuaries where dusky langurs,
crab-eating macaques, flying lemurs, fishing cats, monitor lizards,
pythons, cobras and coral snakes, live in undisturbed comfort
with some 100 different bird species and a few human residents.
Diving is superb and the Adang-Rawi group of islands in the western
corner of the national marine park area, has a diverse coral reef
with an estimated 25% of the world's fish species, including sharks,
rays, and marine mammals like dugongs and dolphins.
There are very few facilities, no entertainment, and food is local.
Accommodation - simple bungalows (2 rooms + bathroom) or rustic
bamboo longhouses with outside shared bathroom, is basic. Bring
your own tent or hire one from the Park Office at a nominal charge.
Visitors must contact the national park office at Phante Malacca
Bay on Tarutao and ask for permission to stay. Facilities include
a restaurant, a small shop and exhibition centre. Tarutao, as
demonstrated in the TV series "Survivor" is not for
the faint hearted, but dense mangroves, rainforest and limestone
cliffs offer the adventure-oriented, and outdoors enthusiast one
of the few places to experience "nature in the raw."
Kayaking is becoming an ecologically friendly way to explore the
islands and the mangroves. Eco-tours are available from 4 - 8
days ranging from Hardcore Survivor type - eating edible plants,
to more gentle programmes which include snorkelling and bird watching.
Best time to visit - November to April when the sea is calm as
the islands get buffeted by heavy winds and rains during the monsoon
season - May through October. For reservation of accommodation
on Tarutao Island, please contact the Royal Forestry Department
of the National Park Division at Tel ++ 662-5790529, ++ 662-5794842
or ++ 662-5795269.
Gulf Of Thailand - A quick tour ....... Where to Go........
Ko Samui &
the Ang Thong Marine National Park
 Located
on the eastern coastline -(the Gulf of Thailand) Koh Samui - "the
island of the coconut tree" is Thailand's 3rd largest island.
A backpacker's secret for years, this sun lover's paradise, with
its coconut plantations, rolling hills, curved sandy beaches and
offshore islands, has rapidly developed over the last few years
into an international holiday destination. No longer for backpackers,
with the simple bungalows being replaced by upmarket resorts and
town development, the island nevertheless still retains its distinctly
local flavour. Samui's development has been guided by the fact
that many resorts and restaurants are located directly on the
beach, creating a laid back "beach culture" not found
in the other islands.
Other Islands
- Ko Phan Gan
Koh Pha Ngan - now on the map as one of SE Asia's premier ravers
destinations with the famous full moon parties held every month.
Off the party scene it's still an ideal destination for travellers
looking for tranquil surroundings close to nature, reminiscent
of Koh Samui fifteen years ago. Prices have increased and accommodation
is better than before, but there is still a very basic road system
with some beaches only accessible by boat.
Major cities in the
south - Nakorn Si Tammarat
The second city of the south, after Hat Yai, it's not on the standard
traveller trail, but offers you a chance to see modern Thailand
without the international hotel chains and package tourists.
Close to Wat Mahathat, a temple believed to be at least 1,000
years old, is the shadow puppet workshop of Suchart Subsin, which
forms the centrepiece of the southern Nang Thalung puppet theatre.
This uniquely Southeast Asian form of entertainment is in danger
of dying out in Thailand. Although traditional, shadow puppets
are not as obscure or old fashioned as you might think - with
humourous elements, bawdy behaviour and some modern storylines.
In addition to its great history, Nakhon Si Thammarat boasts
pristine verdant jungles abundant with luxuriant vegetation and
is also noted for picturesque beaches waterfalls and caves.
Had Yai
 Hat
Yai is a bustling, car-filled city close to the Malaysian border.
It's not a place where many westerners stay, but it's hugely popular
with holiday-makers from Malaysia and Singapore, who come for
the shopping, entertainment, markets and food. The city has lots
of accommodation located in the centre of town, within easy walking
distance of shopping facilities. Leather goods, Asian food
items, fruit, watches, clothes, Thai music and souvenirs. The
stall holders set up at around 10am and don't clear away until
after dark. Some of the more unusual Chinese dishes including
traditional Chinese "cures" and " restoratives"
can also be found here. Songkla, a sleepy fishing town with a
pleasant promenade, is close by.
Songkla
 Small,
clean and friendly, this southern fishing town has few western
tourists and a small expatriate community attached to the offshore
oil industry. A popular place with tourists , it's located between
the Gulf of Thailand on the east side, and a huge saltwater lake
(called Thale Sap) on the west side. At the north end of the peninsula,
there's a quiet little beach where the seafood is delicious, and
where you can sit all day and read a book while sipping from a
coconut under a tree. There's also a replica of the Danish "Little
Mermaid" statue on the seashore.
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