TopTen

Farther Afield

Try to imagine the perfect tropical landscape, and you will probably conjure up almost exactly the scenery that surrounds Phuket – unspoiled white-sand beaches, enchanting underwater worlds, ancient rain forests, and dramatic limestone cliffs. There are also hundreds of exotic birds, rare plants and flowers, animals in their natural habitats, colorful coral reefs, and awe-inspiring vistas. Easily accessible from Phuket as daytrips, these locations often represent the road less traveled. Southern Thailand’s natural wonders draw millions of visitors each year, but at their farthest reaches – trekking on jungle trails, immersed in the azure sea, kayaking in cave grottoes, or boating through sparsely populated bays – you’ll often find yourself alone.

1. Maya Bay

Framed on three sides by steep limestone cliffs, and caressed by calm crystal blue waters, this breathtakingly picturesque beach on Ko Phi Phi Leh is best known for its appearance in the Hollywood movie, The Beach. Though still largely undeveloped, Maya Bay today features camp sites, toilet facilities, and a snack bar for overnight visitors.

2. Similan Islands

One of the world’s premier scuba diving destinations, the Similan Islands offer underwater landscapes renowned for their staggering colors and marine life. Even the names of popular dive sites – East of Eden, Richelieu Rock, and Anita’s Reef – conjure up images of exotic seascapes. Located in the Andaman Sea, about 31 miles (50 km) from Khao Lak, the Similans are best visited as part of an overnight or multi-day tour. Non-divers can enjoy snorkeling, boat tours, and visits to uninhabited islands.

3. Phang Nga Bay

Dramatic limestone cliffs jut up from this bay (for further details see Phang Nga Bay), providing extraordinary scenery for boat cruises, kayak journeys, and island tours. To experience the bay fully, spend an entire day here, venturing beyond the popular tourist sites such as Ko Phing Kan and Ko Panyee. Kayak tours explore cave tunnels that open into fantastic hongs (lagoons). Traditional Chinese junk boats, long tail boats, and speedboats can be hired along Phuket’s east coast piers, as well as from Chalong and Rawai Beach.

4. Khao Sok National Park

Home to exotic wildlife, including the Malaysian tapir, wild boars, and pig-tailed macaque monkeys, this national park is one of Thailand’s most pristine virgin rain forests. The majestic scenery features deep valleys, towering limestone cliffs, lakes, and jungle paths. Adventures into the park often include elephant treks, canoeing, and jeep safaris. The park’s picturesque Cheow Laan Lake, framed by verdant cliffs, is home to floating bamboo raft houses, and the area is a favorite with photographers and bird-watchers (for further details see Khao Sok National Park).

5. King Cruiser Wreck Dive

On May 4, 1997, a ferry making a routine trip from Phuket to Ko Phi Phi collided with a reef pinnacle and sank. The crew and passengers were all rescued. Today the sunken cruiser remains a popular and relatively uncomplicated dive site, reachable with standard scuba gear. The ship features large openings that offer easy access to the boat’s interior.

6. Khao Lak

Pristine jungles hug the coastline, while the clear waters and white sand beaches of Khao Lak offer a natural paradise for those seeking tranquility. A number of fascinating diving and snorkeling sites, hidden beaches, and upscale resorts populate Khao Lak. The Khao Sok Lam Ru National Park features beautiful sea cliffs, estuaries, and mangroves. Treks and long tail boat trips can be arranged at the park’s visitor center. The 2004 tsunami devastated Khao Lak, but the area has made a strong recovery, and today tourism is flourishing again.

7. Ko Phi Phi Don

Once populated by fishermen, and later home to vast coconut plantations, this beautiful island southeast of Phuket is now a thriving tourist destination. With colorful bays framed by cliffs and turquoise waters, Ko Phi Phi Don possesses physical beauty but also has a thriving nightlife and many convenience stores. Although the 2004 tsunami destroyed much of Ko Phi Phi Don, it has been almost entirely rebuilt.

8. Sunrise at Phi Phi Viewpoint

Enjoy breathtaking views of the sunrise from Ko Phi Phi Don’s highest point, some 610 ft (186 m) above sea level. The island’s dumbbell shape can be seen beyond the treetops, as well as the dramatic rock formations on the far side of the island. The journey to the summit doesn’t take much time or effort – just 20 minutes or so from Loh Dalum Bay.

9. Ko Panyee

Most of this small island consists of a massive limestone outcrops that rises vertically out of Phang Nga Bay. The main attraction here is the stilt village constructed in the shallow waters along the island’s south side. The island’s economy today relies increasingly on daytrippers from nearby Phuket. Fresh seafood restaurants line the shore, and a mosque towers over the village. Visitors often visit Ko Panyee and Ko Phing Kan as part of a packaged tour.

10. Ko Phing Kan

With Roger Moore as 007, The Man With The Golden Gun (1974) placed Phang Nga Bay squarely into the imaginations of movie lovers around the world. Today, mention that you want to visit Ko Phing Kan, and its likely that you’ll be met with a confused stare. The island – islands, if you count the vertical limestone formation offshore – is now popularly known as James Bond Island.

Eco Controversy

While The Beach was being filmed on Ko Phi Phi in 1999, environmentalists claimed that filmmakers damaged Maya Bay by clearing coconut trees and grass, and altering sand dunes in order to make the beach appear more attractive. The tsunami in 2004, however, essentially washed away all signs of human tampering.


Daytrip to Ko Phi Phi

Morning

Set your alarm clock for early in the morning, and catch the boat that leaves Rassada Pier on Phuket’s east coast at 8:30am. Preferably choose a tour company that arranges pickups from your hotel. Onboard the passenger ferry to Ko Phi Phi, you can breakfast on coffee, sandwiches, and fresh fruit on the open-air roof deck or in an air-conditioned cabin. After dropping off some travelers at Ko Phi Phi Don, the boat continues to the nearby Ko Phi Phi Leh and the world-famous Maya Bay. Renowned for its gorgeous beaches, emerald waters, and towering cliffs, Maya Bay is very popular with visitors. You can go snorkeling here before visiting other beautiful bays. Visit Viking Cave, where swifts build “saliva nests,” used for making the delicacy known as bird’s nest soup. For lunch, the boat returns to Phi Phi Don, where a Thai and international cuisine buffet awaits you.

Afternoon

After lunch, relax on the famous twin bays of Ton Sai and Loh Dalum. These beaches have sun beds with umbrellas, while the comfortably warm blue waters remain shallow even more than 328 ft (100 m) from the shore. You can also visit Monkey Beach, home to numerous of these curious creatures. It also offers good snorkeling and opportunities to see colorful fish and coral. Take the ferry when it returns to Phuket around 4:45pm, so you’ll be back at your hotel in time for dinner.

Best of the Rest

1. Fire Shows, Ko Phi Phi

Flaming staffs and twirling fiery orbs create a tribal feel during the nightly fire shows on the beach on Ko Phi Phi.

2. Ko Yao Noi

Popular for its eco-friendly homestay programs, Ko Yao Noi remains an idyllic and rustic destination in Phang Nga Bay. Visitors appreciate its quiet beaches, slow-paced lifestyle, picturesque hiking trails, and kayaking opportunities.

3. Ko Hae (Coral Island)

Named for the impressive coral reef surrounding the island, this popular day-trip destination located off Phuket’s east coast has two beaches.

4. Surin Islands National Marine Park

Most easily accessed from Khao Lak, this chain of islands spans nearly 58 sq miles (150 sq km) of under water area. Pristine under water reefs make this a popular destination for divers.

5. Viking Cave

This cave, at Ko Phi Phi Leh, has ancient carvings resembling Viking-style vessels. These petroglyphs confirm the legends of Viking boats visiting the Andaman coast below.

6. Camping on the Beach at Ko Similan

The tent campgrounds on Ko Similan allow visitors to spend a night on the beach, listening to the waves gently tumbling on shore.

7. Monkey Beach

While some come to Ko Phi Phi to take photographs of the pesky monkeys on the beach, others come for the snorkeling opportunities at the fabulous reef located just off shore.

8. Loh Dalum Beach

This splendid tropical beach on Ko Phi Phi features limestone cliffs almost encircling a white-sand beach.

9. Nightlife on Ko Phi Phi

Many visit Ko Phi Phi for its natural beauty. Another major draw is the island’s legendary nightlife, which includes everything from cocktail buckets and beach bars to fire dancing.

10. Stargazing on Ko Similan

On cloudless nights, innumerable stars, constellations, and even planets punctuate the dark sky above the Andaman Sea, presenting a rare opportunity to clearly witness the incredible cosmos.

..................Content has been hidden....................

You can't read the all page of ebook, please click here login for view all page.
Reset
54.147.0.155