Thailand – The Land of Smiles and Cheap Travel

Thailand is known as the land of smiles, which is amazing considering the traffic jams in Bangkok. For budget travelers, Thailand simply can’t beat on price alone.

Thailand

Thailand is an odd mix of contrasts. It can be extremely stressful while trying to get around in Bangkok and gloriously relaxing while laying on practically any of the beaches that populate the coast of the country. Regardless of the situation, the Thais have a habit and custom or smiling regardless of what you ask or how you ask it.

Beaches

The beaches of Thailand need no introduction. Used as the setting for hundreds of movies, they come in a variety of styles. The beaches of Phuket and Phi Phi fall along the lines of traditional beach resort areas like you might find in a place such as Cancun, Mexico or Tamarindo, Costa Rica. On the other end of the scale, you can find more rustic beach areas in places like the island of Ko Chang where you’ll have a few beach bungalows, a couple of bars and one or two stores. If you’re looking for a little of both styles, just ask around.

Da North

Infatuated with the beach life, many people fail to head up country when in Thailand. This is a mistake as the north is the host to such locations as the city of Chang Mai, the Summer Palace of the King of Thailand and interesting little villages. For the outdoor enthusiasts, rafting, hiking and mountain biking are very popular and widely available.

Prices

If you’re on a budget, Thailand is a perfect travel destination. For some reason, flights to Thailand are particularly cheap with my recent flight on Korean Airlines running roughly $650 round trip. Once in country, your money will go a long, long way.

I think a note of caution is need at this point. Please beware. If you decide to take a trip to Thailand, you won’t want to come back to your native country. You will, however, definitely come back to Thailand!

Koh Samui Overview

The largest province of the South located 685 kilometers from Bangkok is Surat Thani the province with a name that literally means “City of the Good People”. A former capital of the Srivijaya Empire, the province covers an area of approximately 12,891 square kilometers. Surat Thani Province borders the Gulf of Thailand to the north and east, Chumphon Province to the north, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Krabi Provinces to the south, Phang-Nga and Ranong Provinces to the west and Nakhon Si Thammarat Province to the east.

High plateaus and forested mountains are located to the west of the province, while there are low basins in the center and along the eastern coast. This topography has created 14 river basins including Tapee, Pum Duang, Tha Thong, Tha Krajai, Chaiya, Tha Chang which are the most important basins. All rivers in Surat Thani flow east of the province to the Gulf of Thailand.

The numerous islands along the coast makes Surat Thani (often known as Surat in short) a perfect hideaway for vacationers from around the world. Luxury villas in Samui are internationally renowed and featured in television programs and magazine regularly. The ideal destination for many is the Penang-sized Ko Samui, Thailand’s third largest island, and its neighbour Ko Pha-ngan a celebrated island that hosts the biggest beach full moon party. North of Ko Pha-ngan is Ko Tao, renowned for its excellent coral reefs.

To top it all is the dazzling 250-square-kilometer Ang Thong Marine National Park, where a stunning archipelago awaits to greet visitors with their charming palm-fringed beaches, crystal clear water and colorful coral reefs. These destinations are a short journey from many of the beachside luxury properties and therefore make popular excursions. The best time to enjoy one of these islands to the fullest is from April to November. The diversity of this coastline makes it a great choice for guests seeking something different to Phuket. Villa rentals cater for discerning travelers who desire luxury and convenience yet a sense of tranquility not often experienced on Phuket.

Surat Thani is a city with a long history. Archeologists believe that it was once a community of prehistoric tribes of indigenous people including the Saemang and original Malays who built their communities on the Tapee River Basin and Ao Ban Don. Later on, the Indians migrated into the area and gradually spread out their culture, as evidenced in the discovery of ruins of ancient communities in Tha Chana and Chaiya Sub-districts.

In the 13th century, the city became a part of and, as some historians might claim, a center of the glorious Srivijaya Empire the kingdom that dominated the whole Malay Peninsula and much of Java. It was during this period that Mahayana Buddhist reached its height of influence. The empires grandeur can still be admired in many areas of Chaiya District.

When the empire hit the bottom, it was divided into 3 main cities namely Chaiya, Tha Thong and Khiri Rat. They were all under the jurisdiction of Nakhon Si Thammarat until King Rama IV decided to move Tha Thong City to Ban Don and required that it report directly to Bangkoks administration. The name Ban Don was, at the time, changed to Kanchanadit. It was with the establishment of the Monthon, a former administrative unit, that all three cities were merged into one under the name Chaiya. In 1915, King Rama VI changed the name Chaiya to Surat Thani.

The seal of Surat Thani says a lot about its history. Featuring the pagoda of Phra Boromathat Chaiya, the seal is proof of the influence of Mahayana Buddhist on Surat Thani. Phra Boromathat Chaiya is the most revered and important historical place in the province. It is believed that the pagoda contains Buddha relics.

Today, Surat Thani is an important commercial and shipping hub for rubber and coconut trading. Surat Thani also serves as a hub for many vacationers traveling to their Samui villa by boat, or a stop off point to destinations further afield.

Seeing Green: Sustainable Property Developments

Seeing Green: Sustainable Property Developments

Thailand is well known for its natural beauty. The country is blessed with long stretches of sandy beaches, lush tropical forests and evergreen hills. It is no wonder tourists from all over the world flock in their thousands each year to visit Thailand to soak in its natural splendor. This natural beauty is also the very reason we have seen a huge holiday property boom in the country, particularly in tourist hotspots where developers, both big and small, are establishing real estate projects to keep up with the constant demand. This exponential growth in places such as Phuket, Hua Hin and Koh Samui has inevitably experienced some detrimental effect on the natural beauty of the country’s ecosystem. It is difficult to ignore the peculiar sense of irony in all of this but Thailand is fast learning from the mistakes of massive over-development seen in the tourist resorts of Spain and are taking serious environmental measures to maintain sustainable property developments in the country.

Why is it Important?

We’ve all seen or at least heard about Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth and despite individual opinions on the matter; it is hard to ignore the effect it has had on the mindsets of people today. Environmental issue is now at the forefront of every political platform in all the developed and developing nations where people are opting for greener alternatives and finding ways to reduce their carbon footprints. The issue has been around for decades but it is only recently that it has had such immense mass appeal. Consumer choices are beginning to affect the way goods and services are produced and this includes the way properties are being built. Discerning buyers are now looking, and at times, demanding for properties to be built in a responsible and sustainable manner. This, in turn, is changing the way property developers conduct their business.

Thailand’s Environmental Standards

The shift towards greater sustainability in property construction also stems from Thailand’s greater public awareness of environmental issues. Many individual tourist hotspots began implementing its own regionally specific laws in relation to zoning and urban planning. The most renowned example is the Phuket Town & City Planning Ministerial Regulation B.E. 2548 which assigns zoning areas for specific types of developments. Nationwide, more environmental regulations were springing up to cater for the future impact of major projects in the country. This is also where the old Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) steps in.

EIA had its humble beginnings in the US in 1969 and is now implemented in over a hundred countries worldwide. Thailand adopted the use of EIA some twenty years ago but it has always been met with mixed success. The main problems with EIA in the past were the lack of personnel, expertise and funding which made it very difficult to properly maintain and administer the system. It was often seen as a heavy burden on the bureaucracy with little compensation in comparison to the value the housing projects themselves brought in. As such, it became just another administrative procedure to go through with little or no participation from concerned parties.

The Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONREPP) is the agency responsible for the administration of EIA in Thailand. Since 2005, it has made moves to improve the efficiency of EIA by implementing various new measures which included more funding and greater local community participation. There are currently 22 types of projects which need to obtain an EIA. Property development is in one of these categories. There are also two levels of EIA depending on the scale of a project. Projects deemed to have less environmental impact will only be required to obtain an Initial Environmental Evaluation (IEE) while projects with greater impact will be required to do the full EIA.

IEE vs. EIA

If you are buying a property off-plan in Thailand, check with your developer whether the development requires either an IEE or an EIA along with its status. IEE can be done in much less time as most of the assessments are gathered from secondary data. EIA on the other hand, requires primary field data and a much more comprehensive analysis of major as well as minor impacts on the environment. It will also end up costing the developer more in terms of time and money and this is why some developers try to avoid the need to obtain an EIA by reducing the size of the project to just under the requirement criteria. This may save them some time and money in the short term, but more sophisticated buyers are now more willing to pay more for a greener property and may shun any properties that they think may have taken short cuts.

Both an IEE and IEA will also list any pertinent Green Areas of the project which will require special attention. IEE and EIA are best described as an anticipatory environmental management tool. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the developer you choose have not circumvented any of their obligations to obtain an IEE or EIA. This will also ensure that the property you buy supports sustainability and have been built with the environment and local community in mind.

Final Word

It is beginning to get more and more difficult to ignore the impact we have on the environment. We as responsible citizens feel there is something we should do to help lessen the impact we have on the ecosystem. Certainly, we don’t live in an ideal world where altruism in itself can pay the bills. There is a sensitive balance between sustainability and commerce which has traditionally been at odds with one another. Today, however, we are starting to see an emergence of sustainable development and commercial interest being integrated into a fully marketable product. As buyers like us become more sophisticated, the supply in the markets for more sustainable development will inevitably follow. In the near future, we would expect eco-labeling and EIA to be a common standard for all properties in not just Thailand, but the rest of the world.

http://www.siam-legal.com/realestate/thailand-property.php

similan island

A Similan Island is where you want to go if you want to dive in Thailand. The Similan Island chain is a group of nine islands that are located off the Southern coast of Thailand and are known for being the best places for deep sea diving in Asia.
The Similan Island chain is actually now a national park that was established in Thailand in 1982. If you want to got to any of these nine islands, you can visit by boat. There are many boat rides available to the islands from Phuket Island as well as the mainland of Thailand.
Although the area is known for the many diving sites where diving enthusiasts visit each year, it also boasts some of the most beautiful tropical foliage in Thailand and is the home for much wildlife that is native to this area. Many of the people who visit the Similan Island go for the scenery such as waterfalls, tropical gardens and rare bird life.
The largest island of the Similan Island chain is Ko Similan. Ko Similan has some of the most beautiful underwater rocks and coral reefs in the world. In addition to diving, people visit this island for snorkeling as there are sites to be seen under the water that cannot be viewed anywhere else in the world.
Those who want to lounge on the beach can do so at Ko Huyong which has the largest beach in the Similan Island chain. This beach is known for that where the giant sea turtles migrate each year to lay their eggs. The eggs are protected by the park officials, but visitors can view these eggs if they visit in the fall.
There are two different types of deep sea diving practiced at the Similan Island National Park. They consist of East side diving which gives you a view of coral reefs and West side diving that has large underwater rocks and swim through tunnels. The most famous East side dive site in the Similan Island chain is East of Eden which is located just off of the seventh island.
While two of the larger islands are named, most of the islands just go by numbers. The natives know them as “island seven” or “island four.”
The most famous West side dive site in the island chain is Elephant Head Rock. Elephant Head Rock is also the name of one of the oldest diving shops that is located in Phuket Island. To actually see whale sharks while diving, you will have to go to Richelieu Rock which is also part of the Similan Island chain. Many people feel that this is the ultimate deep sea diving spot in the world as, in addition to the whale sharks, other underwater life is abundant in this area.
You do not have to be a diving enthusiasts, however, to appreciate the Similan Island chain. When on holiday in Thailand, make sure that you a day to explore this beautiful chain of islands located off the southern tip of Thailand.
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Phuket – the gateway to the Indian Ocean

To be the only yacht in sight from horizon to horizon, anchored off a pristine, deserted, tropical island beach, may seem like a distant dream to most sailors – but sailing in Phuket it is everyday reality.

Unique, too, among cruising destinations is Phuket’s climate. There is no winter; there are no hurricanes and no typhoons. Temperatures range between 25° and 32°C throughout the year, and the sea rarely varies from 28°C.

Located in the Andaman Sea (off Thailand’s southwest coast) Phuket is best known amongst regional sailors for the most advanced sailing infrastructure in Thailand. As a cruising base, Phuket is unbeatable. The mystical waters, islands and limestone karsts of Phang-nga Bay are just a few hours’ sail east from the major anchorages; the stunning Similan Islands are a day’s motor-sail to the west, while Myanmar’s practically unexplored Mergui Archipelago is easily accessible to the north.

To the south is the almost uninhabited Butang Group – part of the 51-island Hat Chao Mai National Park – teeming with an abundance of fascinating and unusual wildlife. A short sail east brings you to the mysterious unspoiled island of Tarutao, just 6 km (4 miles) from the Malaysian island of Langkawi, and just one day out of Phuket. A former penal colony, Tarutao abounds with interesting caves and hidden creeks leading into the mountainous interior; a primeval world where time stands still.

Phang-nga Bay itself, bounded by Phuket, Phang-nga and Krabi provinces – boasting over 100 islands and sheer-sided mountains rising vertically out of the sea – has produced some of Thailand’s most spectacular tourist images. As a result, it is a popular destination with day tours and kayakers exploring the bay’s islands and sea caves. Yet, despite its international renown, the bay is practically deserted by mid-afternoon.

For enthusiasts who prefer as much luxury and convenience as possible combined with their sailing, Phuket is already home to three international-standard marinas, The Yacht Haven Marina, Boat Lagoon Marina and the recently-opened Royal Phuket Marina, which was voted “The Best of the Best Marinas” by British Airways’ First Class in-flight magazine, First Life. Many more marinas are planned.

Yet, for those who prefer to sail away from civilisation, just a couple of hours sail from Phuket – will seem like a world away.

Boasting only one regatta until a few years ago, there is now a multitude of choice, in terms of time, style and location, for those who prefer to mix a touch of action with their sailing holiday in Thailand.

The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, now in its nineteenth year, attracts around 100 yachts and is held in early December. Phang-Nga Bay Regatta, bringing together up to 40 competitors for a more relaxed week, takes place at Chinese New Year, against what must be the most dramatic scenic background of any regatta in the world. Phuket Race Week in its second year also plays an important part in the regatta calendar, being staged in the windy month of July during the southwest monsoon.

Whilst the competitive fun of racing in tropical waters is why people take part in Phuket’s regattas, they all leave with fond memories of the beachside regatta parties. These relaxed, informal parties have become a keynote feature of yachting events in the kingdom.

Whether racing in a tropical regatta or simply cruising among Phuket’s pristine islands, the warm Thai welcome, superb cuisine and the cultural charm – that together make Phuket one of the world’s favourite cruising destinations – make for an unforgettable experience not to be missed

Get ready to experience this wonderful area yourself with a sailing charter in Thailand

Thailand – The Land Of Smiles And Cheap Travel

Thailand is known as the land of smiles, which is amazing considering the traffic jams in Bangkok. For budget travelers, Thailand simply can’t beat on price alone.

Thailand

Thailand is an odd mix of contrasts. It can be extremely stressful while trying to get around in Bangkok and gloriously relaxing while laying on practically any of the beaches that populate the coast of the country. Regardless of the situation, the Thais have a habit and custom or smiling regardless of what you ask or how you ask it.

Beaches

The beaches of Thailand need no introduction. Used as the setting for hundreds of movies, they come in a variety of styles. The beaches of Phuket and Phi Phi fall along the lines of traditional beach resort areas like you might find in a place such as Cancun, Mexico or Tamarindo, Costa Rica. On the other end of the scale, you can find more rustic beach areas in places like the island of Ko Chang where you’ll have a few beach bungalows, a couple of bars and one or two stores. If you’re looking for a little of both styles, just ask around.

Da North

Infatuated with the beach life, many people fail to head up country when in Thailand. This is a mistake as the north is the host to such locations as the city of Chang Mai, the Summer Palace of the King of Thailand and interesting little villages. For the outdoor enthusiasts, rafting, hiking and mountain biking are very popular and widely available.

Prices

If you’re on a budget, Thailand is a perfect travel destination. For some reason, flights to Thailand are particularly cheap with my recent flight on Korean Airlines running roughly $650 round trip. Once in country, your money will go a long, long way.

I think a note of caution is need at this point. Please beware. If you decide to take a trip to Thailand, you won’t want to come back to your native country. You will, however, definitely come back to Thailand!

Where to Take a Padi Open Water Scuba Diving Course in Thailand

Ever wonder what it would be like to jump into the water and look around 40m below the surface? The underwater world is mysterious and yet inviting, the experience of diving it provides and addictive sense of zen. There’s no better place to have your first dive experience than Thailand – with good conditions year round.

Most dive shops in Thailand offer PADI certification but it’s also possible to find a few offering NAUI and SSI certifications. Beginners may be more comfortable diving in the calmer and shallower waters off the east coast of Thailand, with destinations such as Koh Tao, Koh Samui, Pattaya, Koh Samet or Koh Chang being the most popular on that side.

More advanced divers and those beginners who are confident in their abilities will have a better time diving around Phuket and the Similan Islands. Hotspots for diving around here include Phuket, Phi Phi and Khao Lak.

Phuket has the most upscale dive operations but if you are watching your budget, you might be more comfortable taking a course at Phi Phi or Khao Lak. Phi Phi is quite popular among the younger crowd but there are hotels catering to older couples and families, which also offer scuba diving courses. Khao Lak offers an excellent choice of dive shops and also has a good range of accommodation to suit most tastes. It is also the closest jumping off point to the Similan Islands.

The Similan Islands, technically located in Phang Nga province, provide some of the best dive sites in the world. Protected within a marine national park, the nine islands are still pristine and rich with wildlife above and below the water. Most dive operators will take you ashore at one of the islands, where you can enjoy the powder-white beaches and see exotic birds and monkeys.

Under the waves, the colourful reefs and boulder formations are teeming with coral and a variety of marine life. Sometimes whale sharks are even spotted in the waters, as well as rays and other sharks. Visibility is good, varying from 30-50m. The best way to see the Similans is by liveaboard, and most dive operators will allow you to do your Open Water dives from the boat if you’ve completed the paper and pool work ashore beforehand.

Much like Phi Phi, Koh Tao is a fun place for backpackers to learn how to scuba dive. This may well be the most affordable place in Thailand to take a PADI Open Water course and to build up your dive log. Unfortunately it’s not the best diving in Thailand – but it’s not yet the worst either. Koh Tao used to offer frequent whale shark sightings but they are relatively rare these days. It’s also conveniently close (2 hours by speed boat) to Samui. In fact you can do diving courses on Samui too.

The number of dive boats on a site is not restricted, so you may find there is too much company around peak dive times. You may find yourself surrounded by 50 to 100 divers at a time, with most of them being Open Water students or day trippers from Samui.

Needless to say, Koh Tao might be great for learning and for progressing to instructor – but it’s not all that great for just recreational diving. Many people come here specifically to advance through courses and proceed with PADI Advanced, Rescue Diver, Dive Master/Master Scuba Diver and Instructor courses.

There are so many choices on Koh Tao that you should look carefully at each dive shop and make sure they offer you the best value for money.

Not all dive instructors are the same, and some are downright scary. Likewise, equipment standards can vary, and you’ll want to make sure any shop you choose has quality equipment and maintains it properly and hygienically. You should also check into the insurance policy of the dive shop and enquire as to if you should purchase your own dive insurance for the hyperbaric chamber if you have an accident.

Most the dive operations in Thailand are run by foreigners, which is just as well since Thais have a rather different approach to safety and responsibility, but you’ll find yourself diving with plenty of Thai staff who are their usual friendly easy-going selves.

KRABI – The Emerald of the East

KRABI – The Emerald of the East

They say that Hawaii is the Emerald of West and Krabi of the east. Welcome to travelonguide.com , where we are going to explore the scenic and untouched beaches of Krabi. If you are a honeymoon trip to the Far – East, then make sure that you to add Krabi in your itinerary, and we suggest that Krabi should be in the top 3 slots.

Krabi is a small town in Thailand which is based on the banks of river Krabi, very close to the river mouth which opens in the Andaman Sea. When you are at Krabi you have a great choice of activities like Snorkeling, Scuba Diving, Kayaking etc. And if you are one of those who love adventure then the lush green jungles, provide the perfect ambience. Vast areas of Krabi are a part of the natural reserve, and Elephant Trekking could be the best option to explore it. Did you know that to explore the islands around Krabi one would require more than a year.

The Phi Phi islands, Koh Lanta, Klong Muang Beach & Railey beach are amongst the most popular tourist destinations in Krabi. Ao Nang is the most developed beach in Krabi where you could find many beach resorts and hotels. One could stay on this beach and easily explore the nearby islands.

Krabi has 2 predominant seasons, one called the summer and the other Rainy. From January to April it’s the summer season and from May till December it’s the Rainy Season. The months of May until July are pretty comfortable and raining most in the evenings. Day time it could be cloudy, but overall the weather is pleasant. April could be the best season as you might witness lots of sun along with some rains, which could be a mixture of hot and cold. Ideally the temperature is Krabi ranges from 16.9 degrees to 7.3 degrees.

Getting to Krabi is not so difficult. If you are on a backpacker journey then you could take a train from Hualamphong Railway Station in Bangkok until Sakhon Si Thammarat and then take a bus or taxi until Krabi, which is a very scenic route. If you plan to travel by road then from Bangkok it’s approximately 900 kms and from Phuket it is approx 4 hours drive. Take the hourly Bus service from Phuket, which is so convenient and comfortable. You could also rent a car, but make sure that the car you hire is insured. If you are in Phuket, then you could also take a Boat ride until Phi Phi Islands then take a taxi until Krabi.

Shopping is also an activity in Krabi, and will indeed be a pleasurable experience for anyone. The markets of Krabi offer beautiful handicrafts, sarongs & silk scarves at very reasonable rates. Make sure that you bargain on every purchase, since most of the times the prices are doubled. Since Thailand is famous for clothing, you will get some very cheap but really fashionable clothing in every city of Thailand. Gem stones and antiques are also found in abundance. Don’t forget to purchase some orchids, for which Thailand is so famous. They are nicely packed with a small water container to make sure that the Orchids reach your home safely, whatever you shop in Thailand and where ever you shop, make sure you bargain.

So don’t think, just pack your bags and head to Krabi. We hope you found this small article about Krabi as interesting as Krabi itself is and don’t forget to log onto our site www.travelonguide.com to know more about some of the best exotic locations of the world.

Xcellent Day Trips From Huket Sland Hailand

Phuket is named the Jewel of the Andaman. Or is it maybe the prime gem in the crown of Thailands tourism? However, Phuket is just the core of a spacious wonderful playground. And the other part of the crown is worth discovering, even if the tropical fabulous beaches youre sunbathing on seems so great you never want to get away from them. Phuket sightseeing tours are a must.

Making day trips from Phuket Island is definitely a must when you visit this South East Asian tropical piece of Heaven. Within a few hours ride or trip by boat are several mind-blowing landscapes including the renowned Phi Phi islands, the wonderful Khao Lak coast, the eye-opening Pha Nga Bay, exclusive scuba diving off the Similan islands, and the breathtakingly beautiful karst-scapes of Krabi. There are national parks boasting lush forests, picturesque fishing villages, spectacular waterfalls, crystal clear waters, private tiny islands, pristine mangroves and exclusive beaches to seek out.

Phuket is without a single doubt Thailands best developed and most popular island, a high standard, jet-set travel destination that has become a very upmarket place during the last decades. If youre travelling to Phuket for your next holiday youll invariably find yourself based at one of several wonderful bays lined along the West Coast. From this location you can either rent a private car or use the option taking one of the available day trip tours to a destination of your choice. This is highly recommendable and there are both many travel agents and opportunities.

For first time visitors exploring the island itself is absolutely a great idea. There are numerous exciting and splendid beaches. Towards the south from Kamala youll find a cluster of the best, past the popular and crowded Patong, and onwards to the posh Kata and sweeping Karon. Every beach is worth making a stop for a few hours to sunbath or sample a spicy Thai papaya salad (som tam) for lunch. Keep travelling south and youll finally reach the untouched Nai Harn beach, a good spot for avoiding the crowds. All beaches on Phuket have their own special ambience.

To reach the islands north takes about a one-hour drive. This area has not been developed and tourists do not dominate the scene. The east coasts mangroves offer an altogether different look of Phuket. While visiting this area you might want to cool off in Khao Phra Thaeo National Parks Bang Phrae Waterfall or drop in on the singing gibbons at the Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre. Tours to this area of Phuket are very rewarding.

The best scenery can be found offshore, the first thing on you itineraries list should be a trip to Phi Phi. This distinctive craggy island is formed like a butterfly. The island featured in the Hollywood movie The Beach and was world news because of the Tsunami tragedy. Actually there are several islands, and the majority of the available trips stop off for some mind-boggling snorkelling adventures en-route. Food is mostly served once you arrive at Phi Phi Leys paradisiacal Maya bay. Only campers and park rangers are allowed to spend the night here so youll have the immaculate beach all to yourself. Phi Phi Don is more dramatic and was drastically overdeveloped before the gigantic Tsunami washed it all away. On a tiny sandwich of coconut palms the resorts are found between two gorgeous bays, with rising to the blue sky karst cliffs all around. Once youve reached this spot you probably not want to make the trip back to Phuket!

Similarly popular and impressive is Pha Nga Bays unique karst seascape, enjoyed free promotion in the James Bond movie, The Man with the Golden Gun. Now also known as the James Bond Island, this is a must-see on all trips from Phuket but its all part of a gigantic theatre of pillars, dotting this vast bay and must be ranking as the most photogenic spot in the whole Andaman. Lunch will be served at the idyllic fishing village of Koh Phan Yee, which is positioned in the water on stilts. Dont forget purchasing some souvenirs and stroll around this remarkable community. Kayaking among the karst cliffs and caves is especially rewarding.

If diving is your thing and you have just one opportunity to see the finest, then you may want to join a few days lasting trip to the Similan islands which are located West of Phuket. There is also a protected marine reserve and diving excursions or day trips are the only way to reach the areas unspoilt reefs, or swim in the clear blue ocean. If you do not have a dive certificate, no worries there are plenty of available courses. As an alternative you could take a tour to Hong Island, between Krabi and Phuket and simply enjoy underwater snorkelling and unwind. This unique island boasts a hidden lagoon inside, reachable at low tide only through a cave tunnel.

Renting a car for a drive into the hinterland is also a great option. Phuket is by a short causeway linked to the mainland and after that you have the freedom, roaming the lush isthmus provinces of Southern Thailand. Travel to the north to Khao Lak, to explore a more untouched and wild shoreline, and some fabulous coastal parks. Khao Sok National Park is a bit beyond this with its vast lake, magnificent rainforests and distinctive landscapes. In the park chalets you can even stay overnight. Thai tropical national parks feature fantastic ecosystems full of streams, waterfalls, nature trails, a few animals and varied birdlife.

Even Krabi is a popular tourist destination attracting many visitors, it can conveniently be reached within a 90 minutes drive from Phuket and features some of most distinctive landmarks in the region. But this is a completely other destination!

Jumeirah Private Island Phuket To Be Home To Most Exclusive

Designed to top international specifications, the fully-inclusive superyatch marina phuket is being built in a protected lagoon on the east coast of the island and will offer a range of top-notch facilities including 101 larger than standard berths (from 10-70 metres) capable of accommodating super yachts of up to 70m with 24-hour security, electronic surveillance and fully lit walkways. There is no tax on luxury yachts in Phuket and fuel, crew and dockage costs are up to 80 percent lower than those in Europe. These luxury villas phuket, Jumeirah island phuket and private islands will attract tourists from all over the world.Sales enquiries can be directed to Anthony Franklin, Partner & Marketing Director, For more information regarding Jumeirah Phuket, luxury villas phuket, beach villas phuket and yatch marina phuket, visit:http://www.tgr-asia.com.” target=new>