Thailand (Lonely Planet, 13th Edition) - China Williams [478]
Step 3. An intensive detox session is a must after your lunar romp. Ko Samui is the ultimate place to pamper yourself silly, and five-star luxury is the name of the game.
If the triple threat of gulf island paradises didn’t quite do the trick, then add on one of Ang Thong Marine National Park’s 40-odd islets. Each craggy fleck peppering the azure ocean boasts sandy bays that gingerly await your footprint. This ethereal realm, forever immortalised in backpacker lore, is the last frontier for unbridled castaway fantasies.
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HIGHLIGHTS
Finding Nemo in the technicolour kingdom off the coast of Ko Tao ( Click here)
Dimpling the virgin sands on the hidden bleach-blonde beaches of Ang Thong Marine National Park ( Click here)
Joining the masses of party pilgrims and trancing the night away at the Full Moon party on Ko Pha-Ngan ( Click here)
Purring like a kitten during a five-star massage session on Ko Samui ( Click here)
Smiling while spotting an elusive pink dolphin gliding along the shores of Ao Khanom ( Click here)
BEST TIME TO VISIT: DECEMBER–APRIL
POPULATION: 2.46 MILLION
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Climate
The best time to visit the Samui islands is during the hot, dry season from February to April. From May to October, during the southwest monsoon, it can rain intermittently, and from October to January, during the northeast monsoon, there can be strong winds. However, many travellers have reported sunny weather (and fewer crowds) in September and October. November tends to get some of the rain that affects the east coast of Malaysia at this time.
The overall lack of tourism south of the Samui archipelago can be explained by the fact that the southwestern Gulf’s best season (climatically) runs from April to October –the exact opposite of Thailand’s typical tourist season (which coincides with the European and North American winter).
National Parks
There are a couple of notable parks in this region.
Ang Thong Marine National Park ( Click here), the setting for the perfect beach in the movie The Beach (although much of the movie was actually filmed on Ko Phi-Phi Leh; Click here), is a stunning archipelago of 40 small jagged limestone islands.
Khao Luang National Park ( Click here) is known for its beautiful mountain and forest walks, waterfalls and fruit orchards. It is also home to a variety of elusive animals, from clouded leopards to tigers.
Getting There & Away
Travelling to the lower southern Gulf is fairly straightforward. It’s extremely easy to hop on a bus or a train in Bangkok and then catch a ferry to the Gulf islands. Several daily flights connect Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya to Ko Samui. Bus and train travel from Bangkok is generally cheap, relatively efficient and mostly takes place overnight.
Getting Around
Numerous boats shuttle back and forth between Ko Samui, Ko Pha-Ngan, Ko Tao and Surat Thani, while buses and trains link Surat Thani with destinations further south. Consider using the port in Chumphon ( Click here) to access the Gulf islands from the mainland.
SURAT THANI PROVINCE
Surat Thani Province features southern Thailand’s ultimate holiday trifecta, Ko Samui, Ko Pha-Ngan and Ko Tao – three idyllic island paradises hidden behind dozens of jagged islets peppered throughout the stunning Ang Thong Marine National Park.
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KO SAMUI
pop 45,800
At first glance, Ko Samui could be mistaken for a giant golf course floating in the Gulf of Thailand. The greens are perfectly manicured, sand traps are plentiful, and there’s a water hazard or two thrown in for good measure. Middle-aged men strut about donning white polo shirts that contrast with their cherry-red faces, while hired help carry around their stuff. But Samui is far from being an adults-only country club – a closer look reveals steaming street-side food stalls,