Thailand is blessed with many beautiful beaches and resort areas that have become very popular over the years. The west coast of the Thai southern peninsula that faces the Andaman Sea offers some of the best seaside vacation areas in the country. It's only about 30 years ago that development for tourism began in earnest on the Andaman Coast. As a consequence many areas are not overdeveloped and there is a wide range of styles of vacation retreats from backpacker bungalows to five star resorts.

    Beginning in the north adjacent to Myanmar is the Mu Ko Surin (Surin Islands) National Park located several hours by boat off the coast from the town of Kuraburi. This park is only 5 kilometers south of the Thai-Myanmar marine border. Since it is a national park the Thai government manages the facility and prohibits any commercial development. The snorkeling and diving are excellent. If visitors stay on the island they use either the bungalows or tents, both provided by the national park and available for reservation 90 days in advance on the internet. Visitors who want to scuba dive usually purchase several day tours and live aboard boats originating in Phuket.

    The Khao Lak area is just north of Phuket and although it was heavily damaged by the Boxing Day (December 26^th) tsunami in 2004 it has fully recovered. The Khao Lak area is also the stepping off point to another wonderful Thai national park, Mu Ko Similan (Similan Islands) National Park, about three hours off the coast by boat.

    Phuket is the most famous destination resort on the Andaman Coast offering numerous hotels restaurants, bars, shopping and shows. Phuket Island has direct flights from Europe and numerous in country flights. In fact many visitors combine a stop in Phuket with a visit to Chiang Mai since there are convenient direct flights connecting Chiang Mai and Phuket. Visitors desiring a bustling seaside destination or active nightlife head to Phuket.

    Traveling south from Phuket we come to Krabi, Trang and finally Satun before reaching the Malay border. Fortunately this area has been slower to develop and thus has many areas still in relatively pristine condition compared to Phuket. Our favorite is the Pak Meng area of Trang with its beautiful offshore islands including Ko Kradan, Ko Ngai and Ko Cheuk. The Tham Morakot cave is a wonderful site. Actually it is a karst (limestone) island that has been hollowed out in the center by the rains percolating through the limestone. One enters through a sea level cave about 100 yards long by floating in using life preservers and inner tubes. Emerging from the cave one finds a beautiful sandy beach in the center of a tropical jungle with the cave being the only access. It's a totally serene and very peaceful environment.

                    

Similan Island Scene

    Satun, the southernmost province on the Andaman Coast, includes the Mu Ko Ta Ru Tao National Park. When Thailand changed from an absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy in 1932 Ta Ru Tao Island was a prison for political prisoners. Now this has been turned into a national park with facilities for lodging and meals run by the park service. Li Pe Island, about three hours from the coast, has numerous bungalows and small restaurants.

    Seasons are important when planning a trip to the Andaman Coast, especially for one who wants to snorkel, scuba dive or sun bathe.  The rains begin in May and end in October, with afternoon rains being common. Thus boat service to the islands is limited or non-existent during this time pending the weather on any specific day. With the end of the rainy season in late October the water becomes progressively clearer with the best underwater viewing being from February through April. The coastal bungalows and resorts are extremely popular during Christmas, New Years and on into January so one must make reservations well in advance for vacations during this period.

   All in all the Andaman Coast is a wonderful vacation destination and a month spent in this part of Thailand can pass by very rapidly.

                     

                                 Ko Ngai Sunset

       Article and photos by Bill Shaw.   Bill was a member of the same Peace Corps group (Thailand XII) that I was fortunate enough to be in.  Bill and his wife Wannee have returned to Songkla, Thailand.  Both are active in the community there.                                          

 
        
          

                                   Wat Phra Kaew, Chiang Rai

                                      Photo by Donna Porter on tour in 2011

       Most visitors to Thailand visit the home of the Emerald Buddha in the Grand Palace complex of Bangkok.  What few people fail to realize is that the original home of the Emerald Buddha is also worth visiting. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Chiang Rai is to put it simply, beautiful and well worth a visit.  The city of Chiang Rai is preparing to celebrate the 750th anniversary of its founding in 2012. The original temple was probably built at the time of the city's beginning.  It was not known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha but as the Temple of the Yellow Bamboo Forest.  In the beautiful landscaped garden of the temple today, one will still find the yellow bamboo. 

           

                                     Wat Phra Kaew, Chiang Rai                          

             Photo taken by Donna Porter on tour in 2011