Feature: The beautiful beaches of South Thailand
Jutting out from the South-East Asian mainland like a huge inverted comma, South Thailand is easily the most popular and touristy destination in the whole region. And it’s quite easy to see why! Blessed by year-round heat and skirted by two stunning seas, the area offers holidaymakers and backpackers a well deserved and affordable respite from the stress of travelling or working.
In recent years the area has undergone a surge in tourism, with millions upon millions of people flying in from all over the world to relax on the out-of-this world stunning beaches. But contrary to what most people believe, it’s not all high rise apartments and five-star resorts. There are still dozens of unexplored and uninhabited islands waiting to be discovered; and even on some of the better known islands you can still get a beach to yourself...
So in our last chapter to our guide to backpacking around the South-East Asian mainland, cast your worries aside as you take the comfy sleeper train down from Bangkok after crossing back into Thailand from Cambodia....
Ko Tao
Cashew shaped Ko Tao is nicknamed the turtle island due to its shelled appearance jutting out from the Gulf of Thailand. And living up to its name, this little place is one of the best destinations in the world to learn how to scuba dive! Visibility is good, moray eels and barracuda can be found in abundance and if you are very lucky you may see a whale shark! Due to competition, a four day open water course (which teaches you the diving basics) will cost no more than £200. This includes accommodation and between four and five dives. Big Blue is a great place to do this due to its amazing beachfront restaurant and bar.
Following closely behind diving, the second most popular activity on Ko Tao is drinking! Sairee Beach is a long stretch of white sand with numerous bars and restaurants over-looking the sea. The sunsets here are spectacular, so after you’ve taken a few pictures, head on down to Lotus Bar for some cheap cocktails and a fire show. Other activities on the island include snorkelling, hiking and sun bathing.
Ko Pha Ngan
Lying in between Ko Tao and Ko Samui in the Gulf of Thailand, Ko Pha Ngan ia a backpacker mecca known for its monthly full moon parties. While the beaches are jaw-dropping stunning, the mid-sized island is actually made up of mountainous jungle, giving the island a very remote and undeveloped feel. But without a doubt the main draw to Ko Pha Ngan are its full moon parties, where up to 20,000 people descend on Haad Rin beach for an all-night commercial party listening and dancing to numerous strains of music. Half moon parties occur during a half moon and dark moon parties when there is no moon, and if even you’re trip falls short of all these three, there’s always a party somewhere on the island!
While Haad Rin has all the tourist development, other, quieter places like Haad Yuan and Haad Yao still offer cheap beds and a good bar scene. And no matter where you stay, every place has taxis heading to the party...
Phuket Town
While the Pearl of the South, Phuket, has been the victim of large scale tourist development akin to Mediterranean beach towns, the provincial capital Phuket Town is a very interesting place. Due to its location on a 1000-year-old trading route from India to East Asia, the town has a lot of history, with some unique Portuguese architecture to match. It was also the centre for a recent tin mining boom which attracted Chinese immigrants who bought their architecture and cuisine with them. Because of this, walking through the Old Town is a treat.
Although Phuket is the most expensive place in Thailand, Phuket Town is a budget lovers’ paradise, with hotels like the On On offering beds for under £4 a night. This was also the place where The Beach was filmed!
Ko Phi Phi
Sitting in the stunning Andaman Sea off the coast of Phuket, Phi Phi Island is another of the backpacker island gems that Thailand is so famous for. While Phi Phi Don has suffered from a bit of development, beds can still be found for £10 a night. And while that might be expensive compared to Thai standards, the incredible limestone karst scenery, turquoise waters and white sand beaches surely makes up for that! Take a trip to nearby Phi Phi Leh for some unspoilt beach viewing and then onto nearby Maya Bay, where The Beach was filmed. On the northern tip of the island you can find untouched beaches only accessible by boat where a population of sea gypsies called Chao Ko (the original inhabitants of the island) still live and cook! You won’t be disappointed by your visit here....
So there we are! We hope you have enjoyed our trip around South-East Asia. Although the region is popular due to its safety and affordability, don’t be put off, you can still find places all to yourself if you wish!
