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| Travel Guide |
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| Travel Tips |
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| Travel Directory |
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| Top 5 Destinations |
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Grand Palace (The)
Grand Palace (The), Bangkok, Thailand : Find latest reviews and deals, maps, photo at Yahoo Travel | Erawan Shrine
Erawan Shrine, Bangkok, Thailand : Find latest reviews and deals, maps, photo at Yahoo Travel | Jim Thompson's House and Museum
Jim Thompson's House and Museum, Bangkok, Thailand : Find latest reviews and deals, maps, photo at Yahoo Travel | Wat Pho
Wat Pho, Bangkok, Thailand : Find latest reviews and deals, maps, photo at Yahoo Travel | Ancient City
Ancient City, Bangkok, Thailand : Find latest reviews and deals, maps, photo at Yahoo Travel | Songkran (Thai New Year)
Songkran (Thai New Year), Bangkok, Thailand : Find latest reviews and deals, maps, photo at Yahoo Travel | Victory Monument
Victory Monument, Bangkok, Thailand : Find latest reviews and deals, maps, photo at Yahoo Travel | Lumpini Park
Lumpini Park, Bangkok, Thailand : Find latest reviews and deals, maps, photo at Yahoo Travel | Wat Benchamabophit (The Marble Temple)
Wat Benchamabophit (The Marble Temple), Bangkok, Thailand : Find latest reviews and deals, maps, photo at Yahoo Travel | Sri Mahamariamman Temple
Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Bangkok, Thailand : Find latest reviews and deals, maps, photo at Yahoo Travel |
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Thailand's Islands and Beaches
For a beach vacation it would be hard to find a country in South East Asia that matches Thailand. Along the Andaman coast and fringing the Gulf of Thailand there are hundreds of beaches and islands to choose from. Some are characterized by luxurious resorts, yacht clubs and spas. Some thrive on brash nightlife and turbo charged excitement. Others cater to the budget traveler with cheap accommodation and more basic facilities. Depending on where you choose you can sunbathe, swim, dive, snorkel, sample cuisine from all corners of the globe, kayak, windsurf, jet ski or simply sit quietly and read a book.
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Close to the capital there are a number of quick getaways. Perhaps the most popular is Pattaya. 130 km from Bangkok, this is a lively, even raucous, resort. Crowded streets, loud music and thousands of bars and restaurants give Pattaya its flavor. It is not for everyone but it is a popular international destination. It is a place that never sleeps. If you find the pace in Pattaya a little hard to handle, head 5km south to nearby Jomtien. This is quieter and the beach is bigger, better and cleaner.
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Further down the Eastern Seaboard is Ban Phe, where the boats depart for Koh Samet. This delightful little island has some of the best white sand beaches in all of Thailand. It is popular with both Thais and tourists of all budgets. It is preserved largely by its status as a national park.
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Koh Chang is in Trat province close to the Cambodian border. Ten years ago this was very much a backpacker destination but now accommodation and facilities have expanded and match every budget. The interior is still rain forest. The better beaches can be found along the west coast.
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Heading south west out of Bangkok the first beaches you hit are Cha'am and Hua Hin. Both are a little windswept. Hua Hin is a charming little town. Weather boarded houses line the sea front. It is also a royal resort. The King of Thailand has a palace here. It is perfect for a family break and rightfully famed for its seafood.
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Southern Thailand offers many choices of destination both on the Andaman coast and in the Gulf of Thailand. Phuket, 'Pearl of the Andaman', is the country's biggest island and is a province in itself. It was one of the first of the islands to see major development of tourism. Patong is the busiest beach sporting international hotel chains, bars and restaurants and a brash nightlife. Quieter options are Karon, Kamala, Kata Yai and Kata Noi in the south or Nai Thon in the north. All are white sand at varying levels of development and price range.
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South of Phuket is Phi Phi Island. The facilities on this idyllic place were all but destroyed by the Tsunami of 2004 but they have now been restored and Phi Phi is thriving once again.
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Back on the mainland going north and then east of Phuket one encounters Phang-Nga and then Krabi province. Both areas are distinguished not only by some excellent beaches such as Khao Lak, Ao Nang and Railley but also by the dramatic limestone mountains that dot both land and sea. Taking a boat trip or kayak tour around the geological formations is a popular day trip with good reason. Not surprisingly Krabi also attracts many rock climbers.
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Rivaling Phuket, perhaps, as Thailand's foremost holiday island is Koh Samui. In the Gulf of Thailand, it is a short ferry trip from Donsak pier near Surathani. Samui has many beaches to choose from. The busiest are Chaweng and Lamai on the eastern side of the island. Both are heavily developed with hotels, bungalows, restaurants and nightclubs. Quieter beaches can be found along the north, south and south west coasts.
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A short hop north of Koh Samui is Koh Phangan. Here facilities are much rougher and readier and it remains popular with budget travelers. Many of the beaches are still undeveloped so it is quiet, especially at night. That is except during the monthly 'Full Moon Parties' on Hat Rin when young revelers pack the beach. Deafening sound systems keep them dancing until the sun comes up.
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Further out into the Gulf of Thailand is Koh Tao or 'Turtle Island' because of its shape. It is very popular for diving and snorkeling because of the abundance of coral and the high visibility of the clear blue water.
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Whatever pace or speed you want from a beach holiday, it's more than likely that in Thailand you will be able to find it. The variety is breathtaking.
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About The Author
Alex Smith maintains and manages the Cheap Thailand Travel website at http://www.cheapthaitravel.com - All of the materials on this site are the sole property and responsibility of Cheapthaitravel.com. This material may not be reproduced in any form without express written permission.
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| Additional Thailand Beaches and Islands Related Articles |
 Travel Guide Phi Phi Island
By Alex Smith
Koh Phi Phi is a tropical island almost cartoon like in its beauty. Pristine white sand beaches flanked by impressive rock formations emerge from luminous clear blue water. Discovered by Read more... |
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Islands of Ko Samet, Ko Mun Nork, Ko Maak, and Ko Kut
By Alex Smith
Just 200 km southeast of Bangkok, the island of Ko Samet offers usually clear waters and attractive white sand beaches. Rayong Province is easily accessible by bus from Bangkok's Eastern Read more... |
Travel Guide Similan Islands
By James Doswell
Located in the Andaman Sea 70 km from Phang Nga, the Similan Islands are an archipelago consisting of the islands Ko Bangu, Ko Similan, Hin Huwagralok, Ko Payu, Ko Ha, Ko Hok, Ko Miang, Ko Payan Read more... |
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Travel Guide Koh Samui Island
By Alex Smith
In the last thirty years Koh Samui, Thailand's third largest island after Phuket and Koh Chang, has grown from a remote place peopled by fishermen and fringed by coconut palms to one Read more... |
Ko Tao, Ko Pha Ngan, Ang Thong National Marine Park
By Alex Smith
Located in the Gulf of Thailand, a stay at the islands of Ko Tao and Ko Pha Ngan provide easy access to the Ang Thong Marine Park. Drawing hordes of nature lovers Read more... |
Islands of Ko Bulon Lae, Ko Tarutao, Ko Lipe, Ko Adang and Ko Rawi
By James Doswell
More gems of the Andaman Sea, the islands of Ko Tarutao National Park and Petra National Park welcome you to wile away endless hours miles away from the most crowded beaches Read more... |
Islands of Koh Racha Yai and Koh Racha Noi Thailand Travel Guide
By Alex Smith
Just 20 km south of the more popular Phuket Island, the islands of Koh Racha Yai and Koh Racha Noi lay settled amidst clear blue waters and white sand beaches. The larger of the two islands Koh Racha Yai Read more... |
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