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…
Must-see attractions in Ko Samui & the Lower Gulf
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…
Songkhla Province
The must-see Thaksin Folklore Museum actively aims to promote and preserve the culture of the region. The pavilions here are reproductions of southern…
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…
Songkhla Province
You'll see the reclining Buddha in this temple the minute you arrive on Ko Yo, as it sits right next to the bridge linking the island to Songkhla. The…
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 Lower Gulf
Towards the southern end of Th Pichitbumrung stands Yum Iyah Mosque, a mosque built in the Sumatran style and known locally as the 'old central mosque'…
Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
For splendid postcard-worthy vistas of the undulating coastline, head to Dat Fa Mountain (732m), about 5km west of the coast along Hwy 4014 (look out for…
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 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 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 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…
Surat Thani
This tall grey statue of the Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion (associated with the Mahayana tradition) is quite a sight, looking down from its elevated…
Nakhon Si Thammarat
The intriguing and well-kept remains of the historic red-brick city walls can be seen in several sections close to one another along Khlong Na Meuang…
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…
Nakhon Si Thammarat
Off the long, main thoroughfare of Th Ratchadamnoen, Sanam Na Meuang with the canal and ancient city wall ruins situated close by, is a delightful place…
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…
Pattani
One of Thailand’s largest mosques, the Matsayit Klang is a traditional structure with a green hue and is probably still the south’s most important mosque,…
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 Lower Gulf
Just north of town is Hat Narathat, a 5km-long sandy beach fronted by towering pines, which serves as a public park for locals. The beach is only 2km from…
Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
The scenic Hin Lat Falls southwest of Hat Nai Plao is the smallest of the cascades in the area, but the easiest to reach. There are pools for swimming and…
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 & the Lower Gulf
Five kilometres east of town, Ao Manao is a superb strip of palm tree-fringed sand. You'll likely have it all to yourself, unless it's a public or Muslim…
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.
