Ko Samui
The only rum distillery in Thailand produces Caribbean agricole-style spirits (distilled from fresh, fermented sugarcane juice) in a variety of all…
Must-see attractions in Gulf Islands
Ko Samui
This tiny museum is a nod to Ko Samui's history as one of Thailand's premiere coconut supplying islands. As well as the chance to become educated on Samui…
Ko Pha-Ngan
The terrific Domsila Viewpoint – offering a rocky perch with superb, panoramic views over the island – is a 15-minute, root-choked climb up from Nam Tok…
Ko Samui
This golden pagoda – gloriously illuminated at night – sits on top of the hill north of Chaweng Lake, offering spectacular panoramic views over the island…
Ko Pha-Ngan
Than Sadet has a string of waterfalls down to the beach at Ao Thong Reng, and this is the best. Deang features a sequence of falls, a pool for swimming in…
Ko Samui
A short walk up dilapidated wooden steps and past the Mae Nam Viewpoint is this lovely waterfall, spilling down through tendrils of green foliage…
Ko Pha-Ngan
A short walk or scooter ride east of Ban Chalok Lam in the island's north, Hat Khom is a little-visited and desirable 500m length of sand. Water taxis…
Ko Samui
Near the wát þàh (forest temple) of the same name, this waterfall is reached after a mildly strenuous 30-minute hike over streams and boulders. The reward…
Ko Tao
With glorious vistas from up high, this viewpoint can be reached by motorbike but it’s not advisable for inexperienced two wheelers. Arguably it’s more…
Ang Thong Marine National Park
With an ethereal minty tint, the Emerald Lake (also called the Blue Lagoon or Inner Sea) on Ko Mae Ko is a large lake in the middle of the island that…
Ko Tao
Come sunset, this terrace across from Ko Nang Yuan in the northwest of the island offers pleasant views over the islands as they are bathed in the crimson…
Ko Tao
This lovely bay on the east of the island across from Sairee Beach is boulder-strewn and the water is beautifully clear with excellent snorkelling. The…
Ko Tao
Way down in the south of the island on the eastern shore of Ao Chalok Ban Kao, this beach is quiet with much smaller crowds and offers excellent…
Ko Samui
For the best views over the island, take your scooter up to the View Top near the Mae Nam Viewpoint. There are some pretty steep switchbacks, but you'll…
Ko Pha-Ngan
Also known as Sunrise Beach, aka Full Moon Party Beach, this is actually one of Ko Pha-Ngan's cleanest and most pleasant beaches, because much of the…
Ko Samui
This great viewpoint, a short distance south from Dr Frogs at the top of the hill on the way to Lamai, looks out onto supreme views of the Gulf of…
Ko Samui
This lovely beach at the southwest corner of the island is even lovelier at low tide, when the water recedes to reveal a huge plateau of sand stretching…
Ko Samui
Fronted by a pair of golden Chinese lions and adorned with bright coiling dragons, this is probably the most colourful Chinese temple (and guildhall) on…
Ko Tao
This lovely little sheltered bay with coral reefs on the east coast is a charmer and the snorkelling is excellent for exploring its sandy depths and…
Ko Pha-Ngan
This lovely white-sand beach can only be reached on foot or by boat, lending it a gorgeous sense of seclusion. Most visitors arrive by boat, as the walk…
Ko Pha-Ngan
This slim, pretty beach on the northwest coast is fronted by shallow, blue water – a clutch of photogenic long-tail boats tend to park at the southern end…
Ko Samui
This 5km stretch of sand sees relatively low visitor numbers, making it easy to find somewhere to sunbathe or go swimming. It's a standout beach, with…
Ko Tao
This superb viewpoint in the middle of the island affords gloriously sprawling views of the west and northwest of the island from near two large boulders…
Ko Samui
The mummified remains of the temple's former abbot who foresaw his own death in 1973, Luang Phaw Daeng, is the key reason worshippers visit this small…
Ko Samui
With four dragons coiling up its pillars, two inside and two outside, this very colourful temple in the heart of the village is worth a visit; the Chinese…
Ko Samui
Lovely for sunrise, by evening this is the busiest and loudest beach on Ko Samui, and during the day it's often hopping too, thanks to the sheer number of…
Ko Pha-Ngan
This lovely beach south of Hat Rin, on the southeastern tip of the island, basks in gorgeous sunsets. At the southern end of the beach, you can follow the…
Ko Pha-Ngan
This small and traditional settlement has a very small one-hall temple at its heart next to the Chedi Wat Nai; there are no other standout sights, but the…
Ko Pha-Ngan
This not-so-secret, palm-fringed, soft-sand cove (aka Hat Son) sits at the bottom of a steep road in the northwest of the island. It's a popular spot for…
Ko Pha-Ngan
With several bungalow operations, Hat Yuan, near the southeastern tip of the island, is a remote and pretty choice. The trek from Hat Rin takes around two…
Ko Samui
When the tide is out, it's fun picking your way along the sand flats around Na Thon, especially south of the scrawnier beach near the pier. These really…
Ko Pha-Ngan
This temple is one of the less visited on the island, and is therefore a haven of tranquillity (bar the occasional growling canine). Highlights include a…
Ko Samui
A dark Buddha is seated under a golden pavilion up a long flight of steps lined with glittering green dragon banisters at this quiet wát away from the…
Ko Pha-Ngan
Than Prawet is a series of chutes that snake down for several kilometres and can be accessed from Thong Nai Pan Noi on the eastern coast. Don't expect a…
Ko Samui
The high drop at Nam Tok Wang Saotong is in the hills above Ban Hua Thanon. There are signs warning visitors not to climb the falls as there have been…
Ko Samui
Stretching along several kilometres of the island's northern shore, this beach is a quiet length of sand and an excellent choice for escaping the crowds.
Ko Tao
Looking out over Ao Chalok Ban Kao, this viewpoint is on the road to Tao Thong Villa that runs west off the road between Mae Hat and Chalok Ban Kao.
Ko Samui
Near the waterfalls of the same name, this temple houses two beautiful white Buddha statues surrounded by naga (snake god) heads – one overlooking the…
Ko Samui
This high-drop waterfall is just north of the ring road near Ban Hua Thanon and visitors love exploring the trail leading up to it. There are signs…
Ko Pha-Ngan
Upon arrival, these falls will seem a tad disappointing with all the visible plastic piping. To appreciate them better, clamber down the rocks to the…
