A main concern when visiting Thailand’s southern provinces is the weather. The Andaman Coast receives more rain than the southern gulf provinces – with May to October being the months of heaviest downpours. During this time, passenger boat frequency to the islands slows, and in many instances ferries suspend their service (most in the far south).
National Parks
This region has more than its share of national parks. Ao Phang-Nga offers limestone cliffs, islands and caves to explore by sea kayaking, scuba diving or snorkelling. Khao Sok has endless hectares of prehistoric rainforest. Khao Lak/Lam Ru offers hiking past cliffs and beaches, while multiple islands and throngs of mangroves and jungle make Laem Son perfect for birding. The Similan Islands Marine National Park is a world-class diving and snorkelling destination,
as is the Surin Islands Marine National Park . The islands in the Ko Lanta archipelago are well worth a visit,as are the jungly islets surrounding Ko Phi-Phi . Sa Nang Manora Forest
Park has a fairyland setting of moss-encrusted roots and rocks, as well as multilevel waterfalls.
Getting There & Away
Frequent flights from Bangkok land in Phuket and Krabi, making travel to the Andaman Coast a breeze. Phuket also services a slew of domestic and international destinations like Chiang Mai, Ko Samui, Pattaya, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul,Sydney and several destinations in northern Europe. A well-trodden network of trains and buses are a popular (and only slightly cheaper) way to explore the rest of Thailand or head down to Malaysia and Singapore.
Getting Around
If you’re planning to play ‘connect the dots’ and travel from island to island, you will be pleased to know that there’s a solid (but expensive) transportation infrastructure in place. In fact, these ferry links improve every season – it’s now possible to islandhop from Phuket to Langkawi (in Malaysia) without ever setting foot on the mainland. Those who do travel along the mainland will find manageable bus and train links through the provincial capitals (which all have the same name as their parent province).
