 Mu
Ko Angthong National Marine Park
Situated about 35 km. west of Ko Samui,
this archipelago of 42 islands fits everyone’s image of a tropical
paradise, with huge limestone rocks covered in virgin rainforest
rising out of the aquamarine waters. Most people come here for a
day trip tour from Ko Samui, which is easy
to organise. There is a fantastic viewpoint on Ko Wua Talap, just
above the park headquarters, looking out over the uninhabited, pristine
islands. Trips around the park usually include a visit to a delightful
concealed lagoon on Ko Mae Ko, as well as the opportunity to paddle
a sea kayak around the strange limestone formations.
Ko Pha-ngan
 Just
20 km. north of Ko Samui and a short boat
trip away, Ko
Pha-ngan is a mountainous island ringed by secluded bays that
offer ideal getaways. Its only town of any size, Thong Sala, has
a bank, a post office, supermarket and shops selling beach equipment
and souvenirs. Many of its beautiful beaches are accessible only
by boat, though pick-up trucks and motorbikes also ply the island’s
rough roads. Its most famous beach is Hat Rin, in the southeast
corner of the island, which is the location for the world-famous
full moon parties that attract thousands of visitors each month
to dance the night away on the beach. The island’s most picturesque
beach is Thong Nai Pan, a double bay in the northeast of the island,
which has good swimming and snorkelling, as well as the island’s
most comfortable accommodation. A little south of Thong Nai Pan
is Than Sadet, the island’s most impressive waterfall, which
was once King Chulalongkorn’s favourite place.
Ko
Tao
 “Tao”
means turtle, and the island is named for its shape when seen from
out in the waters of the Gulf. Smaller than Samui and Pha-ngan,
Ko Tao
lies about 40 km. northwest of Ko
Pha-ngan, and is also easily accessible from Chumphon. The island
is particularly popular among divers, and has a reputation for some
of the most exciting underwater excursions in the entire Gulf. Several
dive companies based at Mae Hat, the island’s only town, can
arrange underwater excursions for beginners and experienced divers.
There are many peaceful and idyllic beaches on the island such as
Hat Sai Ri, the island’s longest beach on its west coast, Hat
Chalok Ban Kao and Hat Sai Daeng on the south coast. There is also
a unique geological phenomenon at Ko Nang Yuan, a tiny cluster of
islets just off the northwest coast of Ko
Tao, where stunning causeways of sand join the islands, offering
visitors the choice of two seas to swim in.
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One
of the island’s most appealing features is the loop road, which
makes a 50 km. circuit around the island, giving a glimpse of superb
beaches on the north, east and west coasts. It runs past sleepy
fishing villages and through seas of coconut palms, passing Samui’s
most impressive waterfall and tempting turn-offs into the highlands
along the way. Other attractions on or near the road include a butterfly
garden, a snake show, a monkey training centre, and health spas
dedicated to pampering the body.
Situated
on Samui’s east coast, this is the island’s longest and
most beautiful beach, a 6-km. strip of powder-soft sand fronted
by crystal-clear water. At Chaweng Beach, there is plenty of accommodation,
ranging from five-star resorts to simple bamboo bungalows. In the
day time, Chaweng Beach is the centre for water sports such as windsurfing
and jet-skiing and also a great social scene at night, when the
dance clubs pulsate to the latest rhythms.
With
such clear waters and an abundance of marine life, water sports
are very popular on Samui, and the hottest one is diving. Around
a dozen dive companies based on the island offer a chance for experienced
divers to join them and for beginners to learn how to dive, which
can be arranged through the hotels and bungalows. If diving sounds
too challenging, then snorkelling is your second choice. Join a
trip to one of the nearby coral reefs, put on a mask, a snorkel
and fins, then go floating above the reefs and discover colourful
fish. For those who would rather keep their head above water, then
maybe sea kayaking is the sport for them. Once they have mastered
how to propel this small light craft, they can explore the shoreline
in perfect peace. For more thrills, try windsurfing, jet-skiing
or paragliding, and feel the tropical breeze. For those who are
watershy, just hang around the beach in the evening and join in
one of the spontaneous games of beach volleyball, or even Takro,
a traditional Thai take on the game, using feet, elbows and shoulders.
If exploring the island’s interior sounds like fun, hire a
4WD vehicle and try off-road driving on the bumpy trails leading
to the highlands.
Hin
Ta and Hin Yai
There
are plenty of shops behind Chaweng Beach where visitors can buy
beachwear, and tailors will measure them and make up a suit or dress
while they are relaxing on the beach.
By
Air
