Southern Thailand is one of the most beautiful places in the world. If you are traveling through Thailand you will probably fly into Bangkok and from there go to a beach or famous resort. Phuket is one Island in the south and is very popular with tourists, particularly Patong Beach but there are other great places in the South. Here are the top 5 things to do in Southern Thailand.
1. Take a boat trip around Krabi and the surrounding islands
Krabi province is one of the most spectacularly beautiful places to visit in Thailand. The main town is quite ordinary and really nothing too exciting happens here, it's like a normal Thai town, not really catering for the tourists. When you move to the beaches you find an array of resorts, restaurants, bars and beaches. One of the most popular beaches in Krabi is Ao Nang. This is a vibrant resort but also where boats usually pick up and drop off on route to the many islands. There are a number of islands to visit including Phi Phi, Chicken Island and James Bond Island.
2. Float through the “hongs”
The Hongs are open air caves that are located around Krabi, Phuket and Phang Nga. There are many ways to experience these natural areas of beauty, you can take an excursion, kayak through it or take a romantic night time boat ride through. There are so many tour companies that offer ways to view the hongs.
3. Snorkel
If you visit Southern Thailand you cannot leave without visiting at least one island or beach that offers amazing snorkeling conditions. Tour companies will take you out on half day or full day trips to find the best sites, you can snorkel straight off the boat or on the white sandy beaches that hug many of the outstanding islands in the south.
4. Cook and Eat
The South of Thailand has a huge variety of local food. The Malaysian and Indian influence becomes apparent as you walk along the streets. Indian food is everywhere and there are numerous Halal restaurants with its proximity to Malaysia. Plenty of places will offer cooking classes either as one off or regular courses. Some luxury hotels make it part of their offering now so you can learn to cook a true Thai dish while you are on vacation.
5. Party
Phuket is by far one of the most over developed and commercialized areas of Thailand so if your idea of a vacation is to party hard all night and sleep all day then Patong Beach in Phuket is the place to go. There are numerous beer bars, clubs and go-go bars along one big stretch of road, but this is expanding all the time. Prices in Patong area quite expensive, even more than Bangkok but it is the 1 place in the south that everyone goes to party.
Martin Wynn
