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Thailand islands
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Phuket |
Thailand' s largest island is a wonderland of wildlife and rainforest
fringed by white sand beaches with some of the world' s premier resorts.
Wild Interior
Visitors to Phuket Province generally head for the sea, but the interior
is worth exploring for its vivid patchwork of plantations and rice
paddies, crowned by the island's last rainforest in Khao Phra Thaw Royal
Wildlife Reserve. Here, rainy season hikes provide the best views of Ton
Sai and Bang Pae waterfalls, with possible sightings of resident
wildlife such as flying foxes and slow loris: visit the Gibbon
Rehabilitation Center near Bang Pae falls and see how they reintroduce
captive gibbons to the jungle.
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Koh Samui Island |
Despite its popularity, Koh Samui remains one of the country's more
beautiful island destinations.
Popular Resort Areas
Originally settled by Hainanese from China in the mid-19th century,
well-developed Koh Samui has a rather different culture to other parts
of Thailand. The descendants of those pioneers now live mainly in the
villages, as outsiders populate most tourist-oriented resorts. Known as
Chao Samui (Samui folk), many of them still do the trade of their
forebears - coconut farming. Indeed, the island is covered with palms,
and coconut is a common ingredient of many local dishes.
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Koh Phangan Island |
Koh Phangan is probably better known as an island of a full moon party
where both young Thai and foreign tourists become quite inebriated and
party on into the night in gay abandonment. The party is periodically
held at Had Rin, a beach on the southern tip of the island.
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Koh Tao Island |
The most famous southern province in the Gulf of Thailand, Surat Thani
has several world famous islands under its territory; namely Koh Samui,
Koh Phangan, Ang Thong archipelagos, Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan. The last
two are best known among intrepid travellers as the best dive site in
the gulf of Thailand.
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Koh Lanta Island |
Koh Lanta consists of two adjacent islands: Koh Lanta Yai and Koh Lanta
Noi. Koh Lanta Yai is full of tourist facilities while Koh Lanta Noi is
the location of the district office. Most of the beaches on Koh Lanta
Yai lie in the west and offer a wide range of accommodation. These
beaches include Kho Kwang, Khlong Dao, Phra Ae, Khlong Khong, Khlong Nin
and Ba Kan Tiang, all can be reached by road. Sala Dan Pier in the north
is where tour operators, shops and banks are situated.
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Koh Similan Island Phang-Nga |
Koh Similan Island is by far the most beautiful group of dive sites in
Thailand and one of the best areas for diving in the entire world. Many
people comment that the most fantastic thing about the Similan Islands
is that we have two radically different types of environments all rolled
together into one destination. Nowhere else in the world will a diver
find such diverse topography in such a small area.
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Koh Surin Island Phang-Nga |
Mu Koh Surin National Park is paradise - fine white sandy beaches, thick
jungle, crystal-clear waters, and the most extensive coral reef in
Thailand. It is also home of the Moken Sea Gypsies. The park is the
ideal place to go for people wanting to connect with nature in its most
beautiful and pristine form, escaping traditional touristy beaches with
their bars, noise, and crowds.
Many adventurous visitors to Thailand who has ever strapped on an
aqualung knows that the islands of the Andaman Sea, near Phuket, exert a
magnetic pull on diving enthusiasts and that the diving sites of the
Similan National Park offer some of the best and colorful dives in Asia.
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Koh Hae Island Phuket |
Coral Island, known locally as Koh Hae, is a beautiful getaway
destination located 9 km southeast of Phuket, Thailand. The snorkeling s
thrilling and if you go out far enough you will also have a lot to
discover, at its impressive coral reef. From Sauvanok.
Koh Hae is a small island situated 9 km southeast of Phuket. It
stretches 3 km from east to west but is only 800 metres from north to
south. Apart from a fisherman's village, much of the island is clad in
jungle, and has not changed much for decades.
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Koh Nang Yuan Island Koh Tao Island |
The most famous southern province in the Gulf of Thailand, Surat Thani
has several world famous islands under its territory; namely Koh Samui,
Koh Phangan, Ang Thong archipelagos, Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan. The last
two are best known among intrepid travellers as the best dive site in
the gulf of Thailand.
Located around 120 kilometres from the Surat Thani coast, Koh Tao and
neighbouring Koh Nang Yuan, occupy an area of almost 18 square
kilometers. With mountains and rocky cliffs accounting for 70% of its
land area, the island has eight kilometers of coral reefs around its
coast. The island's half-moon-shaped western coast is where most of the
beaches are found.
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Koh Chang Island |
Koh Chang the largest among the 52 islands of Trat, is also the nation's
second largest island, after Phuket. Covering an area of 429 sq. kms.,
it features fine beaches, coral reefs, and plentiful marine life. It is
also rich in natural resources, teeming with hills, forests, waterfalls
and streams, the latter being an important source of freshwater. Dotting
the island are many fruit orchards.
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Koh Naka Yai Island Phuket |
Naka Yai Island is located on the top east side of Phuket, just 25
minutes away from Phuket International Airport.
The designation of the island "Naka Yai" means big serpent. Since its
shape is in the form of the naka, mythical Sea-Serpent in Buddhism and
Hinduism.
Just a few years ago, Koh Naka Yai, the larger of the twin Naka islands,
was only inhabited by a small village of fishermen and their families.
However, recently, the island has been developed into an eco-friendly
tourist destination. Environmentally conscious developers are turning
this Phuket island into a paradise getaway for eco-tourism.
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Koh Racha Yai Island Phuket |
Koh Racha Yai (also spelled Raya or Raja) is the larger of the two
islands south of Phuket. Lying about 20kms south of Phuket, the Racha
Islands comprise two islands, Koh Racha Yai and Koh Racha Noi. To
confuse matters they are also known as Koh Raya Yai and Koh Raya Noi.
The better diving is off the east coast where good drifts can be done
along the hard coral walls. Many species of coral can be spotted here
with staghorn predominating in many places.
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