Koh Kham - Trat

Koh Kham - Trat

It is a small island near Koh Mak, on Trat Province, Thailand.It can be reached with a sea kayak from Koh Mak or by walking during low tide. Koh Kham has nice places to snorkel, depending on the direction of wind. Especially the southbeach has a calm sea, nice sand dune, black lava rocks with shells and crabs (orcrayfishes or shellfishes). Near rocks, you may see (or swim over) black sea urchins that have 15-30 cm radius and many thin black pipes about 30-50 cm long (don't know the name, help wanted). Locals say that the pipes contain small needles and poison: if one touches the pipes and gets the needles, the needle should be crushed with a rock. The poison is only irritating and not lethal. In Thai, the name is Hoi Ment. It is endowed with natural wonders such as crystal clear seas, chie sandy beaches, coral reefs andmost importantly, tranquility and privacy. Ideal for swimming and diving,
the trip to Koh Kham from Laem Ngob takes 2.5 hours.

Samet Island

Samet Island

General Information of Samet Island
Koh Samet, also Koh Samet or Ko Samed or Koh Samed, is an island off the coastline of the Thai province of Rayong.
Popular with foreign tourists and as a weekend getaway for residents of nearby Bangkok, most of the island
(excluding the Na Dan area) belongs to the Khao Laem Ya - Mu Ko Samet National Park.

Ko Samet is not overly renowned for its parties (unlike Ko Pha Ngan) or its diving (unlike Ko Tao), but it has both convenience and quietness in its favor. It's a popular tourist destination for Thais as well as foreigners for its proximity to Bangkok.

Khao Laem Ya - Mu Ko Samet National Park Sparkling white sand and cliffs from an azure sea, the archipelago of Same Island is the setting that inspired classical Thai poet, Sunthorn Phu,to write his most famous epic: Phra Aphai Manee,a story of princes, sages, mermaids and
giants That was 150 years ago, and today you can still enjoy the magical qualities of Samet and surrounding areas.In 1981,the Royal Forest department declared the archipelago of Samet, the headland of Khao Laem Ya and 11 kilometer of Mae Ramphueng Beach to be a national park. Samet island group comprises of several islands i.e. Ko Kudi, Ko Kruai, Ko Ma Kham, Ko Ma Kham, Ko Plai Tin, Ko Thaiu and Ko Chan [Ko means island].One has its’own uniqueness
which visitors should not miss.

Located 200 kilometers southeast of Bangkok in Rayong province, Khao Laem Ya- Mu Ko Samet National Park covers 131 square kilometers of land and sea, and is an easy destination for Bangkokians and world travelers alike. Most come to relax and enjoy the beaches, but opportunities exist for more adventurous: hiking trails and exploring reefs.

How to go
Koh Samet, including all of the good parts, is a national park and has an entry fee. Thais pay 40 baht, foreigners 400 baht - a classic example of Thai dual pricing. If your ferry arrives at the main pier and you take a songthaew to the beaches, there will be a stop at the main ticket checkpoint. If your ferry arrives at one of the beaches, an officer will collect the fee as you step out of the surf. Note that there is plenty of foot traffic in and out of the park to the 7-Eleven
ATM or other shops and restaurants and if you have no bags you can nonchalantly walk into the park without anyone checking your ticket. (There is a road via the temple, take that and you won't get near the checkpoint.

The 1st class bus from Bangkok's Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai) to Ban Phe usually takes just over 3 hours,costs 276 baht, and terminates opposite the ferry piers (there's no direct service to Ban Phe from Moh Chit - nearest alternative is to Rayong, from there you can take a Song Thaew to Ban Phe). If you take a regular bus from Pattaya or Sattahip, you'll need to take a songthaew or charter a tuk-tuk to the ferry piers. Minibus services go straight to the piers.

Ferries from Ban Phe to Ko Samet take around 30 to 45 minutes. Only buy a one-way ticket, as there's no discount on round-trip tickets and you won't have to worry about losing it. The ticket sellers may also offer to sell you the national park ticket - don't bother.

The nearest airport fielding commercial flights is U-Tapao, just east of Sattahip - about 45 km from Ban Phe.

Phuket

Phuket

Located approximately 862 kilometers south of Bangkok is Phuket, Thailand's largest island, which is often dubbed as
the pearl of the Andaman, or the pearl of the south. Its natural resources- rocky peninsular, limestone cliffs, white
powdery beaches, tranquil broad bays and tropical in-land forests contribute to making it the South's wealthiest,
busiest, most visited and most popular island and province.

Nestled in the tropical zone off the west coast of the southern part of Thailand in the Andaman Sea and the Indian Ocean, the province covers an area of approximately 543 square kilometers (excluding small islets). It is estimated that Phuket Province covers an area of approximately 590 square kilometers if its 39 other small islands are included. The islands total length, from north to south, is estimated at 48.7 kilometers and approximately 21.3 kilometers wide.

Phuket borders on Phang-nga Province to the north. The other 3 sides are encircled by the Andaman Sea the place where many of the best diving sites are located. The island is connected to Phang-nga Province by Sarasin Bridge and Thep Krasattri Bridge.

Staying on the island is easy, as there are only two seasons in a year - the rainy season (May to October) and the hot season (November to April). The low season of phuket is between September and October as they are the wettest months. The best period for a visit, is from November to February, when it is possible to see the clear blue sky, feel the fresh sea breeze and marvel at the crystal clear water while lying on powdery, palm-fringed beaches. Average temperatures ranges between 23°C and 33°C.

Phuket's topology is exceptional with 70 percent of its area covered with mountains which stretch from north to south and the remaining 30 percent being plains located in the central and eastern parts of the island. The island does not have any major rivers except for a total of 9 brooks and creeks.

Phuket is divided into 3 administrative counties namely Amphoe Muang, Amphoe Thalang and Amphoe Kathu.

Phuket has a lot more to offer its visitors other than its natural heritage sea, sand, sky, beach, forest, and world renowned diving sites. Sino-Portuguese architecture casts its spell delighting travelers to the city, while Phuket-style hospitality has never failed to impress visitors from all walks of life. In addition, accommodations ranging from world
class resorts to tropical-style bungalows have warmly catered to the different needs of travelers. For seafood lovers, there is a lot more to sample than just Phuket's famous lobster. Altogether, these characteristics have made Phuket a truly unique destination.

Koh Chang - Trat

Koh Chang - Trat

A stretch of long white sandy beach dotted with coconut tree orchards is
a common sight on Koh Chang the largest and busiest island in Trat and the
second largest island in the country after Phuket. Covering an area of 429
square kilometers, Koh Chang, boasts several amazing natural wonders that blend magnificently with the traditional way of life such as 70 percent
undisturbed island rainforest, steep hills, cliffs, waterfalls, and notable
wildlife, fine beaches, coral reefs and an abundance of marine life. In
addition, numerous fruit orchards dot the island. Most of the scenic beaches


and bays are on the west side spreading from the north to the south they include Ao Khlong Son , Hat Sai Khao , Hat
Khlong Phrao and Hat Kai Bae. A road cuts through the western shore almost reaching Hat Kai Bae where there is a
nature trail passing through Ao Bai Lan and Ao Kruat and meandering through wet forestland to Ban Bang Bao, a
fishing community on the foot of the hill in the south. To the east are Ao Sapparot, where a ferry landing is situated
and Ao Salak Khok. In addition, along the eastern shoreline is a road cutting through to Ao Salak Phet, a community
with a boat pier to the south of the island. Coral ranges worth visitingare at Ao Khlong Son near Koh Chang Noi and
around islands south of Koh Chang.

In addition to sea-based attractions Koh Chang has numerous inland attractions including several waterfalls with
reasonable access. They are the Khlong Phlu waterfall, 3 kilometers from Ao Khlong Phrao and a further 20 minutes
on foot; Khlong Nonsi waterfall, a 4-kilometre walk from park headquarters; and Khiriphet and Khlong Nung falls,
which are about 3 kilometers from Ban Salak Phet. As well as the obvious activities Ko Chang offers many other
attractions including waterfalls, temples, the National Park and Museum or the beautiful scenic lookout points, which
are all worth a visit. Divers will find fascinating diving areas off of the shores of Koh Chang and the surrounding
islands. Besides the many coral reefs,sunken warships,a reminder of times past,can be visited in the Salak Phet Bay.

The Koh Chang National Park occupies an area of 650 square kilometers and is comprised of 47 islets, which spread
from Laem Ngob to Klong Yai Districts.The most popular islands includes Koh Chang, Koh Klum, Koh Ngam, Koh Lao
Ya and Koh Rung where natural wonders await travelers. The most popular season for traveling to the National Park
is from November to March. The park headquarters are divided into 4 units namely Tha Than Mayom, Ban Khlong Son
Tha Khlong Plu and Ban Salak which provide useful tourist information. At any one of the headquarters, an entry fee
of 200baht is collected.

Samui Island

Samui Island

General Information of Samui Island
The island was probably first inhabited about 15 centuries ago, settled by fishermen from Malay Peninsula and Southern China.

It appears on Ming Dynasty maps dating back to 1687, under the name Pulo Cornam. The name Samui is mysterious in itself. Perhaps it is an extension of the name of one of the native trees, mui, or it is a corruption of the Chinese word Saboey, meaning "safe haven".Until the late 20th century, Samui was an isolated self-sufficient community, having little connection with the mainland of Thailand. The island was even without roads
until the early 1970s, and the 15km journey from one side of the island to the other involved a whole-day trek through the mountainous central jungles. Today, Samui has a population of about forty-five thousand, and lives on a successful tourist industry, as well as exports of coconut and rubber. It even has its own international airport, with flights daily to Bangkok and other major airports in Southeast Asia. While the island presents an unspoiled image to
the public perception, economic growth has brought not only prosperity and changes to the island's environment and culture, a source of conflict between local residents and migrants from other parts of Thailand and other countries.

Geography
Samui is located in the Gulf of Thailand, about 35km northeast of Surat Thani town(9°N, 100°E). It is surrounded by about sixty other islands, most of which comprise the Ang Thong National Marine Park, but also include other tourist destinations Ko Pha Ngan,Ko Tao and Ko Nang Yuan.The island is roughly circular in shape, and is about 15km across. The central part of the island is an (almost) uninhabitable mountain jungle (peak Khao Pom, 635m) and the
various lowland areas are connected together by a single road, that covers the circumference of the island. There is one town, Na Thon, on the west coast of the island, with a major port for fishing and inter-island transportation. Each of Samui's many beaches is also nominally considered a town, due to the number of hotels, restaurants and bars that have sprung up in recent years

How to go
By plane : Bangkok Airways and (Berjaya Air) are the only public airlines currently serving Ko Samui Airport (USM) private planes are accepted with advance notice. Bangkok Air has near-hourly departures to/from Bangkok; tickets are expensive by Thai standards, but advance bookings can be tolerable (around 2000B), which a walk-in booking may be twice as much. There are also daily flights to/from Phuket for 2200 baht, U-Tapao, and Singapore; four direct
flights a week from Chiang Mai (but no direct flights in the opposite direction); and twice weekly flights to/from Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur (Berjaya Air). Air cargo services from both airlines are also available. Ground transportation from the airport is readily available. A seat in a minibus for the 20-minute ride to Chaweng costing 100 baht/person; a faster taxi will cost 150-300 baht. Be sure to negotiate the rate to your destination before you get into the taxi since
many drivers refuse to use their meters. A cheaper but less convenient option is to fly to Surat Thani or Chumpon and connect by road and then ferry. By boat : Numerous ferry services direct from mainland Surat Thani include an express boat and slow night boats
(taking6-7 hours).Lomprayah offers a combined bus/high speed catamaran ferry service from Bangkok to Ko Samui which takes about 11 hours . The bus pauses in Hua Hin and then stops at Chumphon where it connects with the ferry, which calls atKho Nang Yuan, Ko Tao and Ko Pha Ngan on its way to Ko Samui. The buses and ferry are air-con and very comfortable. From Surat Thani train station, combined bus/ferry services to Ko Samui - some entail a 60 minute bus ride followed by a 90 minute ferry crossing, others a 30 minute bus ride but longer on the ferry.
Tickets are sold by numerous agents who meet each train.

Koh Tarutao

Tarutao National Marine Park

Koh Tarutao consists of 51 islands located in the Andaman Sea, off the coast of Satun Province of Southern Thailand. The Tarutao National Marine Park consists of two island groups: Tarutao and Adang-Rawi , which are scattered from 20 to 70 kilometers distance from the southwestern most point of mainland Thailand. The park covers an area of 1,490 square kilometers (1,260 ocean, 230 island). The southern most end of the Park lies on the border with Malaysia. Tarutao became Thailand's first marine national park on April 19, 1974. The word Tarutao is Malay for "old, primitive, mysterious". The diving sites at the park are considered to be some of the best.

There are essentially 7 islands of note in the Tarutao/Adang-Rawi archipelagoes:
Tarutao Archipelago (located approximately 30 km off the Thai coast) Kok Tarutao - The largest of the islands, Kko Tarutao is 26.5 km long, and 11 km wide. The highest point is over 2,000 feet. Forest covers over 60% of the island. Kok Klang, Kok Lek Adang Archipelago (located approximately 45 km west of Tarutao) Kok Adang , Kok Rawi, Kok Lipe, Kok Dong In the Adang Archipelago, the small (4 sq. km) island of Lipe is the most important. With water available year-round, it is the home of the largest permanent settlement, of approximately 800, and the gateway for boat transportation in and out of the Adang group.

History
The park was established in 1974. In 1982, it was listed as one of the original ASEAN Heritage Parks. It was also submitted to UNESCO for inclusion to the World Heritage in 1990, but its listing was deferred in the fifteenth session of the World Heritage Committee in 1991. The UNESCO requested a stronger management of the area.

Koh Racha - Phuket

Koh Racha - Phuket

The island consists of Racha Yai and Racha Noi islands located south of Phuket. Koh Racha Yai (Big Racha) has an enchanting beach located on the west between the valleys that resembles horseshoes. The area is known as Ao Bungalow which is famous for its white powdery beach and crystal clear water. Visitors can marvel at the delightful panoramic view of the whole island from the vantage point at the peak of the mountain located south of the bay.Koh Racha Yai is the ultimate place to explore the wonders of the underwater world, especially at Ao Siam, Ao Tue and Khon Kae. Accommodations are available.Koh Racha Noi (Small Racha) is located just 10 kilometers from Big Racha Island. Originating from the accumulation of coral stones, the island has more rocky hills than beaches, thus the island is more suitable for fishing. To get there, visitors can charter long-tailed or speed boats from Chalong Pier. Alternatively, they can buy a package tour from reliable travel agencies.