The Islands of Thailand
This article was kindly contributed by The Golden Lotus (site: golden-lotus.co.il), travel advisors to independent travellers to the Far East.
To a tourist, the islands of Thailand mean more than
just white beaches, coconut trees and tropical fruit. It
seems like the names 'Phuket' and 'Koh Samui' have
become synonyms for hedonism and pleasure.
Hundreds
of islands are scattered along the southern shores of
Thailand, on the cusp of Siam Bay and the Andaman Sea.
Most of them are too tiny to accommodate strangers, but
dozens of them serve as a popular destination for
tourists from all over the world. The islands are
generally divided into three geographic and climatic
areas: the largest and most impressive collection of
islands can be found in the Andaman Sea in the
South-Western part of Thailand, around the island of
Phuket. The second collective lies in Siam Bay, near
Surat Thani province. The island that stands out most in
this group is Koh Samui. In the North-Eastern part of
the bay, near Cambodia, is the final group of islands,
the most prominent of which is Koh Chang.
By the way,
the word Koh in Thai means 'island', so there is no
point in saying "Koh Samui Island"; rather, you should
say either "Samui Island" or just "Koh Samui". Thailand
has many other famous beaches such as Pattaya, Krabi and
Hua Hin, but as those are part of continental Thailand
they will not be further mentioned in this article.
It is wise for people travelling to Thailand to take
into consideration the major climate differences between
the Koh Samui area and all the islands. While the
Monsoon winds affect all of Thailand and bring heavy
rain with them between the months of May and October, in
Koh Samui these months are filled with sunshine with
nary a cloud in sight. On the other hand, during the
best months for the rest of the country -- October to
January -- Samui experiences heavy rains and stormy
seas. February and March are good for every island,
however.
The island of Phuket is 543 square
kilometres and is the largest of Thailand's islands. It
seemed ridiculously over-optimistic to believe at the
end of December 2004, right after the Tsunami disaster,
that Phuket could recover from the ordeal in just two
years and continue attracting tourists. But it did just
that, and is now considered the most popular holiday
destination in Asia. An international airport connects
Phuket through direct flights to Singapore, Hong Kong,
Bangkok, and Chiang Mai. Forest hills take up a large
part of the island. The small city also named Phuket is
the sole urban centre in the area.
The sandy
South-Western beaches are the main attraction here.
Three magnificent beaches are spread from South to
North: Kata, Karon and Patong, the latter of which is
the most prominent of Thailand's beaches. Hotels of
varying standards are lined up all across the shoreline.
The cost of rooms changes according to season, but in
any case, the prices here are much higher than those of
similar hotels in Bangkok. Among the relatively cheaper
hotels, the lovely little Hotel Patong Seaview is worth
your attention. Near it is the unique, high quality
Amari Coral Beach Resort, which costs upward of $150 per
room in season. Further up the level of standards is Le
Meridien Resort. The wealthiest of the wealthy can
experience a stay in Amanpuri Resort, one of the most
luxurious hotels in Asia. Here you should calculate the
cost of your stay in thousands of dollars... Travellers
who wish to distance themselves a bit from the commotion
of Patong can stay in Cape Panwa on the threshold of a
bay with the same name.
Besides the must-do
activities of lounging on the beach, swimming, getting a
massage, eating fresh pineapples and lying in a hammock,
Phuket also offers many tours. There are rainforests and
waterfalls, excellent viewpoints, and the option to take
a boat ride to nearby islands. Among Phuket's
attractions, two are particularly interesting: One is
the Phuket Fantasea, which is a sort of
circus-entertainment centre-amusement park combination.
The other is Simon Cabaret, which is a fantastic cabaret
show performed by pretty ladies who are actually pretty
ladyboys.
Ko Phi Phi, 50 kilometres away from Phuket,
is made up of two islands, and also bears scars from the
tsunami. Travellers who come here are usually those
looking for calm, relaxation, and getting away from
their busy lives back home. Romantic couples are also
frequent visitors. The bigger island, Phi Phi Don, has
lost some of the paradise glow it once had. It is still
blessed with great peace and calm, and a feeling of
comfortable disconnectedness touches all visitors (and
they are many); but the fast-paced construction of more
and more hotels and resorts --especially near the Ton
Sai bay area -- hurts the "Robinson Crusoe" feel of the
place. Steep cliffs covered in wild vegetation make up
the shoreline of Ko Phi Phi Don. Between cliffs are
beautiful stretches of sandy white beaches, shaded by
palm trees. The smaller island is Ko Phi Phi Ley. Here,
on the famous Maya Bay, the movie "The Beach" with
Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed.
The archipelago of Koh
Lanta is slowly taking Ko Phi Phi's place as the best
exotic and refreshing destination. Arrival at the
harbour of Ban Saladan, the biggest town there, is by
ferry from Krabi or Phuket. Trang city, which has an
airport, also serves as a gateway to Ko Lanta. The
island relevant to vacation-goers, Koh Lanta Yai, is
long and narrow, with all its great beaches on its
western side. Lodging in Koh Lanta is mostly straw huts
and guest houses best suited for backpackers, but there
are some decent hotels here and even a five-star hotel,
Twin Lotus Resort, in the centre of the beautiful Klong
Dao beach.
Similan islands to the West of Phuket
attract the divers. These are nine granite islands
covered in tropical vegetation and surrounded by coral
reefs. Similan islands have been declared a national
park. The preferred months for diving are December to
February, though some say that in March and April the
underwater world is richer and wilder.
Also in
Phuket's area: Koh Yao and Koh Racha. In Koh Racha,
which is only 20 kilometres south of Phuket, is one of
the most wonderful resorts in Thailand -- The Racha.
Those who want to forget their troubles (and also forget
about several hundred dollars for a holiday only a few
days long) should come here. The turquoise waters, the
powder-thin sand, the gorgeous sunsets and other such
kitsch can be experienced in Koh Racha at their best.
Koh Samui is the island that has everything for
everyone. Backpackers will find themselves on this
island, as will the nature lovers, the surfers, the
divers and every other kind of tourist. Samui is a
destination that is developing at an incredible rate,
and not far is the day in which the row of hotels along
the beach will block out the sun. The main beach is
called Chaweng and it is close to the airport, in
North-East Samui. A bit off to the South is Lamai beach;
not as busy as Chaweng, but you can be sure you won't
ever be alone there either. Despite all the development
and construction, coconut trees still densely cover the
land, and the coconut is the symbol of the island. In
the centre of the island are several beautiful
waterfalls, and in the less touristy South side one can
travel peacefully. For those seeking cheaper lodging, I
recommend checking Samui Park Resort. on a slightly
higher step on the scale is First House Samui.
Recommended first class hotels are Imperial Samui Hotel
and Amari Palm Reef Resort. The best hotels in Koh Samui
are Anantara Resort and especially the legendary Tongsai
Bay.
Full moon nights in Ko Pha Ngan are famous all
over the continent. On these nights there are Full Moon
Parties, or Had Rin Nok, parties with many participants
which tend to draw young travellers and party lovers.
Koh Tao is the final tourist destination of the Southern
Siam Bay area. It is far and not easily accessible. It
is nice, but nothing more. Koh Tao is good for divers
and those who have fallen in love with it. A traveller's
liking for one beach or another depends on his or her
personal experience there and not necessarily the
objective beauty of the place.
Koh Chang in Trat
province is a large island, second only to Phuket. In
fact, it is the biggest in an archipelago of over 50
islands. Most of the mountainous terrain of the island
is covered in rainforests. The rich plant life and the
huge number and variety of animals there make Koh Chang
a destination which allows a combination of beach-side
lounging and nature trips. It may be long since the days
when the island had no electricity and paved roads, but
Koh Chang still manages to keep its virgin looks and
only a short distance from the tourist destinations
there are tiny, authentic fishing villages. You can also
go on a fascinating trek through the forests, ride
elephants and catch butterflies. The heart of the island
is crawling with snakes.
A little bit farther away,
Koh Kood is also worth your attention. Good for those
who like to go against the flow.
For those short on
time who want an island relatively close to Bangkok, Koh
Samet is an excellent solution. This small island, which
is shaped like an elephant's head with a long thin
trunk, was one of Thailand's most popular tourist
destinations in the 80s. Along the years it gained a
reputation for being too touristy, so many people have
taken it off their potential destination list. But
aren't Phuket, Pattaya and Samui just as touristy, if
not more? Koh Samet is surprising in its beauty. Its
beaches flaunt beautiful white sand, and you can still
sleep in lovely bungalows and wooden huts here. It's
unnecessary to mention that the island offers high-class
hotels and resorts as well.
More Thailand articles:
Animal Encounters for Families
The Jungles of Bangkok and
the surrounding
Special
Guided tours in Thailand
Family Vacation in Phuket
Vacationing in Koh Chang
A Trip from Bangkok to Khao Yai Reserve
Family holiday in Northern Thailand with
Private Guide
Family Holiday in Koh Samui
Vacations Trips and
Luxurious Hotels in Khao Lak