Introducing Southern Thailand

Tropical Islands and Beaches

Expect to see majestic forested mountains, rubber and coconut plantations and lush green jungle trails along much of the interior while mangrove forests, rocky out-crops, countless tropical islands, colourful coral reefs and the most beautiful soft white sandy beaches that extend along much of the hinterland.

Some of the best diving sites can be found along the southern coastal shores around many of the Andaman islands while the popular beach resorts of Phuket, Krabi and Don Phi Phi draw the most tourists. Koh Samui is world famous for it's beaches, Koh Pha Ngan is world famous for its parties and Koh Tao, all of which lie in the Gulf of Thailand, is the destination of choice for superb offshore diving.

The deep south may have more in common with Malaysia than with the distant Thai heartland further north but it may also be worth visiting simply to experience the region's unique culture, the different dialects and delicious Indian, Malaysian and Chinese cuisine. Equally alluring are the spectacular mountainous scenery of the interior, the unspoiled beaches and islands on the west coast and the historic cultural sites like those found at Nakon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung and Songkhla.

West Coast of Southern Thailand

There are also temples, Thai villages, shopping markets and a whole host of other attractions to make your holiday here most enjoyable. The nightlife is a wonderful kaleidoscope of friendly folk, fabulous food and extraordinary lively entertainment.

Days can be spent relaxing on the beach, leisurely shopping or visiting places of interest. Nights can be spent wandering around the streets, stopping for a bite to eat at any number of local and international restaurants. Later on you could pop over to one or other local pub or club and sip on your favourite cocktail or cold beer while listening to rock music and chatting to some new found friends.

As an added bonus, should you be lucky enough to arrive during any number of the Phuket festivals, then why not join in with all these fun social activities.

Caves and Beaches of Krabi

West Coast of Southern Thailand

The towering limestone stacks of Phang Nga Bay can easily be explored in a day and until recently boat tours of the bay took in all the best known sights such as the Ko Panyi Fishing Village where Muslim families live, work and play in homes built on stilts above the waterline in the shadow of a giant limestone mountain.

A major attraction is James Bond Island made famous as the location where part of the 1974 James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun was filmed. Technically it's not an island as it forms part of the mainland, but nevertheless it is a popular day excursion from Phuket though there are no facilities to stay over.

Towering limestone outcrops are a symbol of Krabi of which the most notable stand proud like sentinels at each end of the river here. Mangrove swamps can be toured by renting a long boat from the pier in the center of town as are daily excursions to a few islands such as Koh Lanta and Koh Phi Phi to the south and southwest respectfully and Koh Nang to the west and Koh Yao to the northwest.

Another interesting excursion from Phuket includes the Khao Lak Coast which comprises of long stretches of both rocky and sandy beaches. Off the coast here is Koh Similan with it's massive boulders and underwater grottoes offering some of the best diving sites in the world. And nearby is the Khao Sok National Park forming the largest and most dramatic tract of virgin forest in Southern Thailand.

The Governor's Residence in Phattalung

The Deep South

One of the few rice growing areas and the next big town as you travel further into the deep south is Phatthalung. Though the town earned it's reputation and income from rice crops, it's now best known as the place where shadow puppetry was first performed in Thailand. So much so that the Thai name Nang Talung is said to have been derived from the name of the town. Phatthalung lies between two picturesque peaks and one of the largest wetland sanctuaries in the country.

Still further south is the next big town of Songkhla once known as Singora the lion city. This town also grew to prominence during the Srivijaya period. In the past it had a reputation for being a base for pirates but as of now, it traders are mainly a mixture of Muslim, Indian, Chinese and Khmer descendents. So much so that the cuisine, culture and language of Songkhla reflex a multicultural heritage.

Shark Fin Soup Restaurant in Hat Yai

More of the Deep South

Though the southern commercial and transport capital of Thailand, Hat Yai won't win any major prizes for it's beauty and coupled with the fact that there are few cultural attractions here, most visitors tend to spend their daylight hours either shopping or dining at the reasonably priced restaurants. There is another side to Hat Yai but that normally begins after the sun goes down and it's mainly for men. The only real cultural attraction can be found at Wat Hat Yai Nai in the form of a reclining Buddha, said to be the third largest of it's kind in the world. Other than than that, there are some friendly markets and a few shark fin soup restaurants.

Rubber, palm oil and fishing are the main ingredients to the economy of Trang as tourism has yet to cause a major impact here. However the many islands in this region off the coast of the Andaman Sea have begun to show imminent signs of intense development leaving little doubt as to what's coming. The charming town has a strong Chinese characteristic with it's equally excellent Chinese restaurants to boot. Attractions around Trang include cave exploring, beautiful beaches and cascading waterfalls while sporting activities include snorkelling and scuba diving.

James Bond Island in Southern Thailand

Islands in the Gulf of Thailand

Phi Phi Don Island in Southern Thailand

Islands of the Andaman Sea

Hat Chalathat Beach at Songkhla

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