Asia : Southeast Asia : Thailand : South
South (Thailand)
Southern Thailand includes many of Thailand's most famous resorts on both the west-facing Andaman Sea coastline, and the east-facing Gulf of Thailand coast south of Chumphon.
Provinces
- Chumphon
- Krabi
- Nakhon Si Thammarat
- Narathiwat
- Pattani
- Phang Nga
- Phatthalung
- Phuket
- Ranong
- Satun
- Songkhla
- Surat Thani
- Trang
- Yala
Cities
- Chumphon
- Hat Yai - the largest city in the south
- Krabi
- Nakhon Si Thammarat
- Narathiwat
- Pattani
- Phang Nga
- Phatthalung
- Ranong - border town with Kawthoung, Myanmar
- Satun
- Songkhla
- Surat Thani
- Trang
- Yala
Islands
- Ko Chang (not to be confused with the more famous Ko Chang in Trat Province) - small and peaceful island near Ranong
- Ko Lanta
- Ko Lipe
- Ko Nang Yuan - group of three tiny inter-connected islands near Ko Tao Surat Thani Province
- Ko Ngai - small, quiet island, home to some amazing reefs for snorkeling and diving
- Ko Pha Ngan - home to the infamous Full Moon Party Surat Thani Province
- Ko Phayam
- Ko Phi Phi - devastatingly beautiful setting for "The Beach", starring Leonardo DiCaprio
- Ko Rawi
- Ko Samui - quickly moving upmarket Coconut&Paradise's island Surat Thani Province
- Ko Siboya - rural Thailand
- Ang Thong National Marine Park is a fascinating archipelago of 60 or so islands to the north west of Ko Samui, Surat Thani Province
- Ko Tao - one of the best places in Thailand for diving Surat Thani Province
- Similan Islands - national park with spectacular views over and under water
- Tarutao National Park - includes Ko Adang and Ko Tarutao and 49 other islands
Beaches
- Ao Nang - Krabi's top destination
- Khao Lak
- Rai Leh - a peninsula with a stunning beach and no motor vehicles
Understand
Parts of the west coast of Thailand were hit hard by the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004, but all infrastructure has long since been repaired and it takes a careful eye to spot any remaining damage.
Talk
Get in
Get around
See
Do
Eat
Drink
Stay safe
In 2004, long-simmering resentment in the southern-most Muslim-majority provinces burst into violence in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala provinces. All are off the beaten tourist trail, although the eastern rail line from Hat Yai to Sungai Kolok (gateway to Malaysia's east coast) passes through the area and has been disrupted several times by attacks.
Hat Yai (Thailand's largest city after Bangkok and its Nonthaburi suburbs) in Songkhla has also been hit by a series of related bombings, however the main cross-border rail line connecting Hat Yai and Butterworth (on the west coast) has not been affected, and none of the islands or the west coast beaches have been targeted.
In September 2006, three foreigners were killed in bombings in Hat Yai. Some rebel groups have threatened foreigners, but while targets have included hotels, karaoke lounges and shopping malls, westerners have not been singled out for attacks.
Get out
- East Coast Malaysia - to Kedah, Perak, or Perlis
- Myanmar - to Tanintharyi Division, via Ranong and Kawthoung
This page was last edited at 20:39, on 25 August 2008 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Wandering, Jani Patokallio and Gobbler, Wikitravel user(s) Episteme and Jake73, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.