Finding Thailand’s best diving and snorkeling requires traveling a bit. Near the maritime border with Myanmar, the Surin Islands offer some of the country’s most beautiful reefs, excellent visibility, and smaller crowds than better-known spots like the Similan Islands or the southern Andaman Sea. But to experience the Surin Islands at their best, staying at least one night—more if […]
During a ten-day road trip from Bangkok to Phang Nga and back, we figured we’d take a break from Ranong hostels and Surin Island bungalows with a stay at a big-name resort. I had points to burn, and it was close to a surf school where Isobel was taking a class. Big mistake. I can’t
Why Visit Koh Phra Thong Koh Phra Thong is one of Thailand’s largest islands, and one of its least known. Which is really strange, because places like this don’t usually stay secret for long. I’m not surprised that Koh Bulone or even Koh Libong slip off the radar. But for an island this big, with
Koh Phra Thong: Thailand’s Quietest Great Island Read More »
Only a twenty-minute longtail ride from Thailand’s Andaman coast lies a quiet island of golden-sand beaches, sleepy fishing villages, and rock pools brimming with life. Here, in Koh Libong’s shallow seas, you have your best chance of encountering Thailand’s last remaining dugongs as they placidly graze in meadows of seagrass. Despite these attractions, Koh Libong
Koh Libong: The Best Thai Island for Families (That You’ve Never Heard Of) Read More »
As lovely as Phuket and Krabi are, the true magic of Thailand’s Andaman coast lies offshore. The Trang Islands — Ngai, Kradan, and Mook — along with nearby Koh Libong, offer better beaches and smaller crowds. Even if we were looking for a livelier scene, I’d take Koh Lipe over the coast any day. The
Why Koh Bulon Lae is the Andaman’s Best-Kept Secret Read More »
Koh Ngai, Koh Muk, or Koh Kradan: If you can pick only one, which should it be? Just a short longtail boat ride from the coast of Trang lies a chain of islands that checks every box of the ideal Thai escape: white sands, turquoise waters, and deep green jungle. The three most famous—Koh Ngai,
Trang Islands Triage: Which One Is Best for Families? Read More »
From Chumphon, we drive south along the Isthmus of Kra. We cut east across the river flats of Surat Thani, and climb into the coastal mountains of Nakhon Si Thammarat. The final stretch into Khanom is a rewarding detour: a quiet, well-paved road flanked by karst hills which leads to a secluded coast. It feels like you are
Shadow Puppets & Silver Seas: A Guide to Nakhon Si Thammarat Read More »
The air gets warmer and the water clearer the further down the coast we travel. By the time we reach Chumphon, universally known as the “Gateway of the South,” we’ve left Central Thailand behind and crossed into a new and distinctly different part of the Kingdom. The food is spicier, the Southern Thai dialect is (for