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Gulf of Thailand
Koh Samui "the island of the coconut tree" is Samui is a place to relax, meet people, sunbathe and party. Nightlife is good with open-air discos, music bars and good restaurants. The island retains its laid back feel, with friendly and welcoming locals, good food and offbeat local attractions which haven't become over commercialised. Modest bungalows or resort, close to the action or peaceful retreat, Samui has a range of accommodation to suit everyone, with many places located near or actually on the beach. Check out our hotel listings in the middle for more information. Relax and enjoy! But if you're bored with the beach, there's lots to do. Close to the water, activities like diving. snorkelling, and kayaking are on offer. Like to explore? Take a tour, or hire a car. Drive around the island and see the Butterfly Farm, the adrenaline pumping Snake show, and some local colour at the Crocodile Farm. Want to learn something new? Take a PADI dive course or Thai cooking lessons. If you simply want to chill out and get healthy. Samui also has a number of spas and treatment centres, offering both therapeutic remedies, Thai massage and courses. Few people realise that Samui is also a Buddhist centre, with many older temples and artifacts, including the mummified bodies of revered monks located here. The north coast of the island is dominated by the big Buddha - a huge
What to See Samui has a large number of offshore islands. The
Easily visible from Ko Samui and about two-thirds its size, Ko Phangan has beautiful beaches and inexpensive, basic bungalows. It's the simple beach life which attracts many tourists each year, and the island's reputation for full moon parties and hedonistic culture. During the 90's Phangan became popular with backpackers, budget tourists and aging hippies seeking paradise complete with cheap accommodation, New Age therapies and good cheap food. The Full Moon party scene still exists but the original word-of-mouth happening with only a few hundred participants is now a well advertised and professional event attracting over 7,000 party-goers. Although there have been changes caused by development, Koh Phangan still has plenty of remote beaches, surrounded with beautiful coral and protected by the spirits of old temples. Lots of coconut plantations, lovely bicycle trails and adventurous mountain treks are available. Near Haad Sadet at About 8,000 people live on Koh Phangan. Some are Chinese, whose ancestors migrated from What to Do Phangan offers a beach lifestyle, "New Age" culture, local inexpensive and good Thai food, and relatively cheap accommodation. It's a place to go walking, snorkelling, swimming, or try new things. From belly dancing courses to Full Moon parties, to lazing on the beach or snorkelling. It's all about taking it easy and leaving mainstream life behind. Island Hopping in Ang Thong Close by and accessible on day trips by boat are a couple of smaller, uninhabited islands where beautiful bays and colorful coral formations offer excellent snorkelling. A more adventurous full-day excursion can be made to the Snorkelling/Diving Water lovers can take snorkelling or diving trips with local boats or dive companies. There are several schools on the island mostly in the more popular beaches like Haad Rin which offer PADI courses. Trekking Take an easy trek to Phang Waterfall from Thongsala. It's the biggest waterfall with a dazzling view over the south and west of the island. The highest point on the island is the Mountain Viewpoint at "Kao Ra". Measuring 627 ms or Alternative Culture For visitors who appreciate the simple life and the beauty of nature, there's an International Meditation Centre at Wat Kow Tahm - a If you're interested in pursuing self-growth & healing therapies, "The Sanctuary" at For absolute pampering, "The Sanctuary Spa" allows you to indulge in various types of massage, Body Treatments, Hydrotherapy (including a Flotation tank), Thai Oil Massage, Aloe Vera Body Wraps, Papaya Body Polish, facials, various manicures, pedicures, etc., For those who prefer to shape their bodies and want a work out," Jungle Gym", located on the beautiful sunset side of Haad Rin Beach, offers classes in Aerobics, Body Sculpting and Thai Boxing from beginners, to advanced level. Full Moon Parties Every month The crowd dances no-stop under a full moon until dawn. For an occasional break in the action you can relax in areas laid out with low tables, mats and lamps. Parties are well advertised - but basically happen every full moon, with smaller black moon and other variations at other beaches. For the Haad Rin Full Moon parties, be aware there simply isn't enough accommodation to meet demand, so arrive a few days in advance (about 5 days in the peak season) pre-book accommodation, or be prepared to sleep on the beach. Since drugs are a general part of the party scene - police and busts are a regular occurrence. Penalties include jail, high fines, and deportation. Also lock all your valuables in a hotel safe back in Ko Samui.
Koh Tao "Discovered" by travellers in the 80's Ko Tao has been gradually gaining popularity. More remote than Samui, faster and safer boats now allow easier access to the island and new resorts with 24 hour air-conditioning are adding to the old basic bungalows. Since the main attraction is diving - the beaches remain tranquil and uncrowded. Check out the underwater scenery - it's what Ko Tao is famous for! Sharks, stingrays, pufferfish, various groupers and triggerfish are just some of the locals. The east of the island has some of the best snorkelling sites - spectacular coral reefs, sea fans and colourful fish.
Pattaya In recent years families, groups and business travellers have also discovered Pattaya's attractions from extensive sports facilities to offbeat museums and lush botanical gardens, providing a holiday destination second to none... Where to Stay There are several kinds of accommodation such as hotels, hostels, guesthouses and resorts. Click the kind of accommodation to see our special offers for you. What to Do Simply everything at really reasonable prices. Scuba diving, parasailing, fishing, sailing, windsurfing, banana boat riding, jet skiing.... You can learn to sail, hire snorkelling equipment or take a scuba course and go diving around some of Pattaya's offshore islands. Jomtien beach is Not content? Then there's horse-riding, bungee jumping, paintball and world-class golf courses within easy reach. The Siam Country Club, one of the best golf courses in the Kingdom, is just What to See Botanical Gardens, odd museums like Ripley's "Believe It Or Not " Elephant demonstrations, Vegas type shows, Underwater World and Amusement Parks. Or why not simply hire a boat or take a snorkelling trip around one of the offshore islands like Koh Larn. (See attractions) Nightlife Pattaya's Shopping Pattaya has some surprisingly fashionable boutiques and shops selling clothes, silk, coral and shells, paintings, handicrafts, gemstones, jewellry and souvenirs. These shops are located mostly around the main street of Looking for ethnic Thai items? Try the Thai handicraft Market..open into the night... How to get there Hire a car and drive from Air-conditioned buses run regularly from Please click here for our airfaires offers to Getting around Travelling around Pattaya is easy. Lots of minibuses run around the If you want to explore Pattaya’s surrounding countryside and beaches you can hire motorcycles, jeeps or cars. Shop around for the best deals and make sure you have insurance. Please note, despite advice to the contrary, there is no insurance when riding a motorcycle in Be sure to check out the Instant Confirmation pages and our own Recommendations. If you are coming to Pattaya Beachroad,
Ko Chang Ko Chang, or "elephant island" is the second largest Home to a wide variety of land animals, birds, reptiles and amphibians which include pythons, king cobras, ant-eaters, wild pigs and bats, it's a naturalist's paradise. There's even an indigenous amphibian, the Rana Kochang (Ko-Chang-frog) which lives exclusively on the island. Accommodation, previously restricted to simple thatched huts with no electricity, is gradually being replaced by more sophisticated resorts and comfortable bungalows on the beachfront areas. Most accommodation can be found along the west coast, especially places like Hat Sai Khao or What to Do Ko Chang attracts people who simply want to relax on a beautiful beach, do some snorkelling and take it easy. If you want to explore, many resorts arrange short jungle treks and also rent kayaks. Paddle to the surrounding islands or go with a local tour company. Hire a local boat or join a snorkelling tour. Small motorbikes can be rented in most places, which makes the island easier to explore independently, but take care - there are steep and curvy roads, unforeseen road ramps, and a general disregard for road rules. Walking/Hiking. It's possible to walk around the island within 3 - 5 days. Alternatively there are lovely shorter paths where you can find waterfalls and beautiful viewpoints. Thai Massage At almost all beaches, masseurs and masseuses offer Thai massages for between 200-250 Baht. In all Beach-Villages, you'll find small Massage-Shops directly on the road. In Baan Khlong Prao you can attend courses in traditional Thai massage. There are also some Tattoo parlours on the island. Elephant trekking Ban Kwan Chang or the Klong Son Elephant Camp is supported by the Asian Elephant Foundation to provide a natural environment for elephants and their mahouts (Kwan, in Thai). Located at Klong Son, the camp offers a half-day tour from 8.30-11:00 a.m. which includes elephant bathing, feeding, performance and a 1.30 hour elephant trek into the forest. Cost 900 Baht including hotel transfer, water and bananas (to feed the elephants) A shorter 35-minute trek with a 15-minute performance is also available for around 450 Baht. Snorkeling and Fishing You can arrange a sightseeing trip combined with snorkelling or fishing at most resorts, beaches and fishing villages. It's possible to charter a local boat at Speedboats are available at higher prices. The Klong Prao Resort offers chartered speed boat trips to Koh Yuak at 2,500 Baht or a 4-island package at 8,000 Baht. Sea Kayaking Along the coast. For rent at most of the resorts along the beaches or around 100 Baht an hour Diving The best diving or snorkelling is around the small islands off Ko Chang's south coast, such as Ko Khlum, Ko Whai, Ko Phrao (some wrecks of Thai naval ships from WWII) Ko Ngam, and Ko Lao Ya. All of these islands, except Ko Khlum, have a few bungalows, but the boat service can be unpredictable and expensive. Dive shops operate at all the main beaches on the west coast. You can also book combined island sightseeing and snorkelling trips through local travel agents and resorts. Where to Stay Accommodation is improving all the time with new resorts appearing each year. Most are bungalow style with some resorts offering low rise air-conditioned units. You can stay at villas perched on the hillside or simple rattan bungalows. Most accommodation is located on the main beaches along the west and
Ko Samet An idyllic island about 200km south-east of In the 1970's Ko Samet was 'discovered' by Thai teenagers and young couples looking a weekend retreat from the hectic pace of What to do Ko Samet is essentially an island for relaxing and enjoying the quiet life close to nature. As more tourists arrive, more facilities and outdoor pursuits are being offered, particularly along the more developed northeast coast at Hat Sai Kaeo ( For around 300B per person, you can book a speedboat at the main beaches. Take a tour around the island and/or go snorkeling off the rocky uninhabited western side, or around the reefs at the southern tip. They'll be happy to do a morning drop-off and afternoon pickup if you want to relax at one the secluded bays along the island's east coast. Or negotiate a price and explore the islands of Kudi, Kruai, Kham and Plai Tin which lie a little to the east of Ko Samet. The islands are fringed by lovely beaches - ideal for swimming and camping. Scuba diving excursions can be arranged at Vong Duang. The beaches on the southeast coast are the least developed and least visited. The west coast is rocky but does have one very secluded beach Ao Prao (Paradise Beach) which has a comfortable bungalow resort and a alternative health centre offering courses in yoga, painting, dance, meditation and Reiki healing among others. Courses conducted in English. How to Get Around Generally walking and "Songtaews" (local open air taxis) are the main modes of transport. As the island is tiny it's really not a problem. Many of the resorts and guest houses around Hat Sai Kaeo ( Where to Stay Over the past few years, lots of small bungalow resorts have emerged along the popular beaches at Hat Sai Kaeo, Ao Pai, and Vong Deuan beach. These beaches get busy with locals at the weekend during high season (Nov-May) and on national holidays. Accommodation even in the new resorts, is mainly standard bungalows with terrace. Mains electricity has brought air-conditioning and TV, but not necessarily hot water! Accommodation along the more secluded beaches is non-existent or very basic. Camping is possible. Most seasoned visitors bring their own gear. When to Visit Ko Samet gets significantly less rainfall than neighbouring How to Get There This tiny island (about
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Check out a selection of the best tours in Thailand. Click the links for more information about the Tour.
This fullday tour includes visit of Saiyok Elephant Camp (near Wang Po) to see elephant show, followed by a 30 minutes of elephant riding and 40 minutes on bamboo rafting along the Kwai Noi River. After lunch at a local restaurant in Wang Po, take a short ride on the original Death Railways passing over a very long wooden viaduct among sheer cliffs. Short stops at the River Kwai Bridge and War Cemetery before travelling back to Bangkok.
4 D 3 N " New Heart of Siam Package & Trek
Koh Samui - Around Island Tour
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