| As Highway 4 switches from the east flank of | | | | everyone, however, and many travelers opt |
| the Thailand peninsula to the Andaman coast it | | | | instead for the slightly less mainstream but very |
| enters a markedly different country : nourished | | | | popular beaches around the former fishing village |
| by rain nearly all the year round, the vegetation | | | | of Krabi. Nearby the stunningly beautiful Ko Phi Phi |
| down here is lushly tropical, with forests replacing | | | | attracts a lot of attention considering its size, and |
| up to 80m in height, and massive rubber and | | | | is beginning to crack under the strain, so many |
| coconut plantations replacing the rice and | | | | travelers have moved on again, searching out |
| sugar-cane fields of central Thailand. In this | | | | hideaways on Ko Lanta and bringing custom to |
| region's heartland the drama of the landscape is | | | | the tiny retreats of Ko Jum and Ko Bubu. |
| enhanced by sheer limestone crags, topographical | | | | Getting to Andaman coast destinations is made |
| hallmarks that spike every horizon and make for | | | | easy by Highway 4, also known as the |
| stunning views from the road. Even more | | | | Phetkasem Highway - and usually called Thanon |
| spectacular and the main crowd-puller - is the | | | | Phetkasem when it passes through towns. The |
| Andaman Sea itself : translucent turquoise and so | | | | road runs from Bangkok to the Malaysian border, |
| clear in some places that you can see to a depth | | | | and frequent air-con and ordinary busses ply this |
| of 30m, it harbors the country's largest coral | | | | route, connecting all major - and most minor - |
| reefs and is far and away the top diving area in | | | | mainland tourist destinations. There is no rail line |
| Thailand. | | | | down the Andaman coast by bus before |
| Unlike the Gulf coast, the Andaman coast is hit by | | | | preceding southwards. Ferries to the most popular |
| the southwest monsoon form May to October, | | | | islands usually leave several times a day (with |
| when the rain and high seas render some of the | | | | reduced services during the monsoon season), but |
| outer islands inaccessible. However, conditions | | | | for more remote destinations you may have to |
| aren't generally severe enough to ruin a holiday on | | | | charter your own or wait for islanders' trading |
| the other islands, while the occasional mainland | | | | boats to pick you up. Alternatively, you fly direct |
| cloudburst is offset by the advantage of notably | | | | to the Andaman coast: there's a busy international |
| less expensive and crowded accommodation. | | | | airport on Phuket, plus useful local ones in Krabi |
| Although some bungalows at the smaller resorts | | | | and Ranong. |
| shut down entirely during low season. | | | | Highlights |
| Eager to hit the high-profile beaches of Phuket | | | | Khao Sok National Park - Sleep in a tree-house |
| and Krabi, most people either fly over the first | | | | and wake to the sound of hooting gibbons. more |
| three-hundred-kilometer stretch of the west | | | | ... |
| coast or ass through it on an overnight bus, | | | | Ko Similan - Remote chain of islands with some of |
| thereby missing out on the lushly forested hills of | | | | the best diving in the word. more ... |
| Ranong province and bypassing several gems: the | | | | Reefs and wreaks - Dive Thailand's finest |
| tiny and still idyllic island of Ko Chang (not to be | | | | underwater sights from Phuket, Ko Nang or Ko |
| confused with its larger, more famous namesake | | | | Phi Phi. more... |
| off the east coast); the Ko Surin and Ko Similan | | | | Phuket - Thailand's largest island and p province in |
| island chains, whose reefs rate alongside the | | | | its own right. There are many activities of |
| Maldives and the Great Barrier Reef; the | | | | watersport, diving more... |
| enjoyable Khao Sok National Park, where you can | | | | Sea-canoeing along the Krabi coastline - The |
| stay in a tree-house beneath the shadows of | | | | perfect way to explore the region's myriad |
| looming limestone outcrops; and the mid-market | | | | mangrove swamps and secret lagoons. more... |
| resort of Khao Lak, which hugs the rugged | | | | Rock climbing on Leam Phra Nang - Get a bird's |
| mainland coast on the edge of Khao Lak National | | | | eye view of fabulous coastlal scenery. more ... |
| Park. Tourism begins in earnest on Phuket, | | | | Ko Lanta - The loveliest white sand beach. more ... |
| Thailand's largest island and the best place to learn | | | | Ko Jum - Tiny island where there's nothing to do |
| to dive. The high-rises and consumerist gloss that | | | | but chill out. more ...reference info. |
| characterize much of Phuket don't appeal to | | | | |