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Two seas
Coasts
Islands and beaches
Two seas, not one beach holiday. The Andaman coast and the Gulf ask for different boats, different seasons, and different bases.
Andaman or Gulf
The Andaman side in this edition is Phuket, Krabi, Koh Phi Phi, and Koh Lanta. The Tourism Authority of Thailand describes Phuket as Thailand’s largest island, on the Andaman Sea, and describes Krabi through Ao Nang, Noppharat Thara, Railay, and the national-park islands of Phi Phi and Lanta. The Gulf side is Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao, with Pattaya and Koh Larn as the beach choice closer to Bangkok.
AndamanLimestone, national-park islands, and a swim flag that matters. Read Phuket, Krabi, Koh Phi Phi, and Koh Lanta.
GulfSamui’s beaches and ring road, Phangan’s split between parties and quiet bays, and Tao’s diving. Read Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao.
Near BangkokPattaya is the Gulf resort TAT places about 150 km southeast of the capital. Koh Larn is covered as a day trip from there, not as a separate resort city. Read Pattaya.
How to choose
Choose the Andaman coast when the trip is about beaches and boat days and you can accept that a rough forecast cancels the plan. Choose the Gulf islands when you want a ferry chain that runs Samui, Phangan, and Tao, and you will check the operator on the day. Choose Pattaya and Koh Larn when the coast has to stay within a short trip of Bangkok.
TAT’s Koh Lanta page says smaller islands in and around Mu Ko Lanta National Park are typically closed from May through October. TAT’s Phi Phi page points to November through April as the more temperate months. Treat both as prompts to check the current notice, not as a guarantee.
What this section does not do
It does not rank beaches, quote ferry fares, or sell day tours. Boat tickets belong with the operator you choose. Where this edition found an official ticket page, the guide says so. A Tourism Authority page is labelled as information.
Sources for this page
- TAT — Phuket — Largest island, Andaman Sea; Patong, Kata, Karon and Mai Khao; Laem Phromthep; south coast typically busier than the north; look for a red flag before swimming.
- TAT — Krabi — Ao Nang, Noppharat Thara, Railay and Phra Nang; Phi Phi and Lanta named inside Krabi’s national-park landscape; one-way ferry tickets suggested as more flexible.
- TAT — Ko Samui — Third-largest Thai island; Ang Thong; Chaweng, Lamai, Taling Ngam, Natien and Bo Phut; helmet warning for motorbikes.
- TAT — Pattaya — Gulf resort about 150 km southeast of Bangkok; Koh Lan as a day trip; Khao Chi Chan opening hours published on the page.
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