Bang Tao is a study in contrasts, with the luxurious resorts and villas along its 6km (4 mile) stretch of beach just a few minutes' away from the town of Cherng Talay, where many villagers still make their living as their ancestors did - by fishing, farming and rubber tapping. The northern tip of the beach, so far untouched by development, is still an area where visitors might find that they have the beach to themselves. Apart from going to the beach and a few bars and restaurants there's not much that you need to leave your resort for.
Taking up a huge area in the middle of Bang Tao beach, Laguna Phuket, one of Asia's largest resort complexes, comprises of 6 luxury hotels, a golf course and residential housing.

Activities :

The Beach Taking up a huge area in the middle of Bang Tao beach, Laguna Phuket, one of Asia's largest resort complexes, comprises of 6 luxury hotels, a golf course and residential housing.

Shopping in Bang Tao Some of the island's best finds for antiques and other treasures can befound at Laguna's Canal Village and in the rows of shops just outside the Laguna entrance. The open-air village markets are also worth visiting, if only to take in the sights and sounds of a typical Thai bazaar. A huge range is on sale including fruit and vegetables, fresh meat and fish, clothes, cooked food (take away), toys, shoes and more. There's asmall supermarket in Cherng Talay for groceries.
The closest large supermarket is in Patong, a 25 minute drive away.

Surfing There are many tracks leading down to the beach here and this section of the beach is protected from the swells, on the big surf days (over 3 metres) some nice smaller waves appear here. Towards the northern end of bang tao beach the waves get bigger. The northern end of the beach is exposed to the winds and the shifting sand banks make the surfing waves unpredictable, but on its' day the surf at bang tao can be perfect.

The Koh Lanta archipelago consists of 52 islands, of which only 12 are occupied. Of these there are two Koh Lanta Islands - Koh Lanta Yai and Koh Lanta Noi. Koh Lanta Yai is probably the only island in the group to offer proper accommodation for tourists and over the last number of years it has changed from a remote island inhabited by Muslim fisherman explored only by backpackers to a popular destination that is increasingly becoming more like a resort. As a result of its increase in popularity, Koh Lanta Yai offers more and more of the comforts required by the modern tourist. The island is very impressive. It offers a number of excellent beaches that haven’t been ravaged by tourism. Alongside a limited amount of diving over coral beds, this lack of commercialism adds up to an extremely laid back atmosphere which is very appealing. At present, around a dozen bungalows stretch along the west coast of the Island from Ban Sala Dan in the north to Ban Sangka U in the south. This is though very likely to change in the near future. Ban Sala Dan is Koh Lanta Yai’s biggest town and offers restaurants, shops, and, probably most importantly, a bank, Internet shops and a couple of ATM machines. These are the only ones on the island so be warned – this is not currently the most developed of islands! Unlike other islands you might visit, there are far more mosques here than temples.

Details: From June to October (low-season) the monsoon rains make getting around the island difficult and visitors are sometimes allowed on a single beach. It might be best to contact TAT when planning your trip to find the best time for a visit during the low-season. It is possible to hire bicycles to get around the islands, and it’s also possible to rent motorcycles for around 200 Baht a day. Depending on where you will be staying, bringing your own supplies might be necessary.

How to get there: Koh Lanta Yai is not easily accessible and involves a ferry ride from Krabi. From Trang you can catch buses and minivans that will take you straight to the island. From Ban Sala Dan (on the island) motorcycle taxis are available to the beaches at varying costs starting at 20 Baht.

Koh Samet is one of Thailand’s nicest islands and has a unique place in Thai culture. It was here that Sunthorn Phu – Thailand’s greatest poetic – was inspired to create his masterpiece “Phra Aphaimani” – the story of a prince imprisoned in an undersea kingdom. Despite its place in literary history, Koh Samet is these days more famed for its beauty and location – near enough to Bangkok to be a popular destination for weekend trips and far enough away from the capital to offer foreign tourists a chance to get away from it all. Koh Samet is part of the Khao-Laem-Yah Koh Samet National Park and as result enjoyed the protection of the National Parks Division. Although developed, the island is not overdeveloped and retains its charm.

The whole of Koh Samet is typified by glorious white sand, making the beaches excellent places to spend some time. There are 14 white beaches on the Island and surrounded by colourful reefs. Western Samet consists of long bays and shallow, crystal clear water. A series of paths link the bays… stray south and you come across a number of smaller, more secluded bays.

Of course, Samet has its fair share of diving and other water sports; the island has numerous outlets for canoeing, sailing windsurfing, snorkelling and, although technically illegal on the island, jet skiing. Those with an ecological perspective should avoid jet skis which are slowly eroding Koh Samet’s coral.
With so many foreigners coming to the island, a healthy nightlife has emerged, and although this is not Pattaya, it has elements of Pattaya… bars, restaurants… the works really but in less intense amounts!

How to get there: Ban Phe is the main exit from the mainland to Koh Samet ., Boats leave Ban Phe regularly 06:00 to 17.00 with increased frequency at the weekends. Boats cost around 30 Baht. If you want some privacy, a charted boat with costs anything from 800-3,000 Baht per day.

Details: As with all National Parks, admission to Koh Samet comes with a 200 Baht entry fee – 100 Baht for the under 14s.


Contact:The National Park Office
Koh Samet
Moo 1 Tambom Phe
MeungRayong
Tel: (038) 653-033, (038) 653-034

How to get there: Hat Yai-Songkhla buses pass Hat Samila and songtaews to the beach are available from within Songkhla town.

Things have moved on since the days Koh Tao was a prison colony. Although at present it is not over developed and relatively quiet and peaceful, tourism has spurred a lot of development on the island, and the number of visitors going there is growing annually.


Located 45 kilometres north of Koh Phangnan, the waters around Koh Tao are blessed with excellent sea coral and good visibility. As a result there are plenty of diving schools operating on the island and it is one of Thailand’s key diving and snorkeling destinations. Some of the best diving/snorkeling sites include White Rock, Shark Island, and the Southwest Pinnacles. If water sport isn’t your thing, the island is blessed with long, undulating beaches to relax on; key beaches are Sairee Beach, Mae Haad, Chalok Ban Kao and Hin Wong Bay. For those not interested in sun and surf, the island’s interior is immensely thick jungle with the odd track the adventurous can explore.


Koh Tao offers a good range of accommodation; there are your 150 Baht a night huts for backpackers, as well as luxury accommodation with all the bells and whistles, and everything in between. Most accommodation available is found around the island’s key beach areas. Nightlife in on Koh Tao is excellent and less ‘steamy’ than some islands and tourist destinations. Things are more relaxed and less crowded, but there are plenty of places you can dance the night away to the sounds of topnotch DJ's. Like Koh Phangnan, Koh Tao has its beach parties.

Koh Tao is cool for shopping – there is a good range of shops selling everything from diving gear to souvenirs and jewelry, alongside plenty of ‘mom and pop’ stores and the occasional Seven Eleven where you can stock up on staples. The island is also great for restaurants. There has been a surge in the number of places where you can get great food on the island, and everything is available: Italian, Japanese, German, British… list goes on. Both restaurants and bars offer a fantastic range of local and imported drinks.

Koh Tao offers a complete package – one of the most enticing! Well worth a visit if time and situation permit.

Koh Samui, Surat Thani

Koh Samui The 247-square-kilometre Samui island is Surat Thani's major tourist attraction. Located 258 nautical miles south of BangKohk, and some 84 kilometres east of the provincial capital, Koh Samui measures some 21 kilometres at its widest point, and 25 kilometres at its longest. A 51-kilometre ring and largely coastal road encircles the island, which has numerous lovely beaches and bays, and is almost literally an island of coconuts and forested hills.

Samui's best beaches line the northern and eastern coasts, the most popular being Hat Chaweng and Hat Lamai, where generally attractive accommodation can be found. Other beaches include Hat Choeng Mon, Hat Mae Nam in the north and Hat Na Thon, the island's major seafront settlement where shops, restaurants and tour agencies are concentrated. At the southern end of Lamai Bay are phallic rock formations called Hin Ta Hin Yai. A path connects the three waterfalls, called Namtok Hin Lat, Namtok Lat Wanon, and Namtok Na Muang, from west to south. The waterfalls are best visited during rainy season. Elephant riding is an interesting activity at the Na Muang waterfall. There are some Buddhist monuments and temples on the island: Phra Yai is a massive seated Buddha image at Fan isle; Phrathat Hin Ngu is a stupa containing the Buddha’s relics and Chedi Laem So, a golden stupa on the western coast; and Wat Khunaram houses the dead body of Luang Pho Daeng which does not decay.

Patong Beach is simply where Phuket’s action is! It’s by far the most frequented destination on Phuket and has just about everything a tourist could desire – it is therefore Phuket’s most developed beach! Located 15 kilometres to the west of Phuket town, this 3-kilometer-long white sand beach is jam packed with hotels, restaurants, bars (go-go and other types), discos and shops sitting alongside dive shops, travel agents and the outlets that cater for the windsurfing, snorkeling, sailing and parasailing that goes on around the beach. Despite the often frenetic activity, the water remains reasonably clean and suitable for swimming – there are actually separate ‘lanes’ for swimmers and those involved in water sports… This is a good thing – I would hate to see the consequences if they weren’t separated! Patong is particularly famous for its nightlife, which some say might rival that of Pattaya. Given that, Patong may not be as family friendly as the other beaches in the area. It is though a good place to start your exploration of the surrounding areas and a variety of tours are available that include Kayaking in Phang Nga, half-day snorkeling trips to islands off Phuket, sightseeing tours around the rest of island, and fishing trips into the open sea. Patong is also a good place to arrange your ‘liveaboard’ diving trips (October to May).

How to get there: Songtaew regularly leave Phuket Town for Patong Beach (20 Baht) as do buses from Thawiwong Road (15 Baht).

Cha-am Beach is renowned for being the best beach in Phetchaburi. Cha-am’s fame was established when it’s neighbour Hua Hin became a royal resort and members of the royal family commented that Cha-am was just as beautiful. As a result, Cha-am has become a firm favourite with weekend visitors from Bangkok, and is becoming increasingly popular with international visitors keen on experiencing a genuinely Thai resort town. There’s a complete absence of bars along the beach – local bylaws won’t permit them. There are though numerous hotels and restaurants dotted about the 3 kilometre long beach and it’ easy to pick up a place to rest in a deckchair under an umbrella. You can get a donkey ride if you want one and it is possible to rent bicycles to explore the area. There are also herds of food stalls selling excellent snacks. Cha-am is remarkable in that it is unremarkable – this is a pleasant beach with green water – and that’s about it. Cha-am is not ‘in your face’ and that can make a genuine change and probably what is making it more attractive to foreigners.

How to get there: This beach is only about 1 kilometre east of Cha-am and easily accessible by Tuk-Tuk (30 Baht) and Songtaew (10 Baht) from the town’s bus station.

Koh Hong (Room Island) is part of a group of islands one hour north of Krabi. Koh Hong has only one beach - Pelay Beach - but it is recognized for being extremely beautiful, boasting fine white sand, coral and lots of varieties of tropical fish. Pelay Beach is framed by limestone rock formations which give it an enclosed feel. Coupled with the fact that there are seldom many people there, Koh Hong very much offers a ‘desert island’ experience. Its name comes from an eroded group of caves in the middle of the island which harbours a large lake with a small passage to the sea. When the tide is high long tail boats are able to enter the ‘room’ and visitors can swim in around in crystal clear water with a depth of around one metre. Koh Hong is another collection point for the nests that provide the ingredients for bird’s nest soup. You can witness the fascinating sight of young men shimmying up bamboo poles to great heights to collect these nests, genuinely risking life and limb in pursuit of their income. Death and injuries do happen, so be warned! If you are on a limited time frame, a visit to Koh Hong might not be possible, but if you have the time it’s well worth the effort. A visit to the island is really getting away from it all and something you shouldn’t miss if you can avoid it!

Details: There is no accommodation on Koh Hong and overnight stays are not permitted.
How to get there: It takes about one hour to get to Koh Island from Ao Nang Beach. Group tours can be arranged from Ao Nang.

How to get there: It takes about one hour to get to Koh Island from Ao Nang Beach. Group tours can be arranged from Ao Nang.

Jomtien Beach,Chonburi

Featuring a long straight coastline and long white sand beach, Jomtien Beach is located around 2 kilometers from its less salubrious neighbour – Pattaya Beach. Whereas Pattaya Beach is more geared for the party animal, Jomtien Beach has carved a niche as a more ‘family-friendly’ environment. Like its neighbour, Jomtien Beach is popular for water sports such as jet skiing, but with water that is considerably less murky, it is also a much more attractive location for swimming. Given its natural wind conditions and calm sea, Jomtien Beach is also a destination of choice for wind surfers, and a number of instructors work from the area. Jomtien features every conceivable type of accommodation available to those who want to stay in the area. Like Pattaya Beach, Jomtien hosts an expatriate community but doesn’t have the edge Pattaya Beach does. It does though have just as many great restaurants offering cuisine from every corner of the globe. It also has as many hawkers, plying anything from peanuts and fruit to pictures of the king and massages. They can prove annoying when you are trying to relax, but again, on Jomtien even this is not as hardcore as Pattaya Beach.

How to get there: Just like everywhere else in Pattaya, Jomtien is easily accessible through the multitude of Songtaews that continually move around the ring roads that encircle the coastal areas. A trip is 20 Baht wherever your start or finish.