Best beach/island to visit towards end of June: Krabi/Phi Phi or Ko Chang? | Thailand - Lonely Planet Forum

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Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:53:46 +0000

I was hoping someone could recommend a beach/island to visit this June. The info is a bit overwhelming. I've heard/read that the weather is much better in the Gulf of Thailand than in the Andaman Sea in June? Is that accurate?

Should we go to Krabi and/or the Phi Phi islands or Ko Chang? From Bangkok, the flights to Krabi are really cheap; conversely, we could take a bus to Trat and then ferry to Ko Chang. I've ruled out Phuket b/c it's the most touristy and while someone recommended Ko Samui, the flights are ridiculously expensive.

Can anyone help with a recommendation? We have about 4 days and we'll be leaving from Bangkok.

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Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:59:26 +0000

You could always fly to Surat Thani,then catch the bus(after a taxi ride into the town centre) which will take you to one of the ferries to Ko Samui.Or,do as we did and get the overnight train from Bangkok to Surat Thani,then the bus and boat.Fantastic and very cheap too!
Ko Chang is definitely worth going to as well though-less touristy and again very easy to get to from the new airport.Just catch the bus to Trat,then a songthaew to the ferry which will take you to Ko Chang.Klong Prao beach is a real favourite of ours-somedays we were the only ones on the beach!Beautiful island!

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Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:17:21 +0000

I've heard/read that the weather is much better in the Gulf of Thailand than in the Andaman Sea in June? Is that accurate?

I believe that statistically, this is true. I have spent parts of the last two Junes on both sides of the peninsular, and have generally seen more sun in the southern Gulf.

Of those islands, I prefer Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Tao to Ko Samui - it depends what sort of a vibe you are after. The first two islands are a lot more "backpacker", and the latter more "package tourist".

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anonymous

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Tue, 08 Apr 2008 06:02:29 +0000

Yeah, the southern Gulf is short of its normal Oct into Jan wet season in June. More info in the first link below. You can travel cheaply to the area by getting a sleeper train from Bankok to Chumpon and then hopping on an early ferry to Tao, Phangan. There is also and express bus/fast catarmaran combo - I have a link on my Tao and Phangan pages in the first link below.

Chang is normally one of the wettest places in Thailand in June, averaging over 900mm and 26 wet days.
Ko Samet is much closer to Bangkok, and averages just over 100mm and 12 wet days. Nice island, make sure you are booked if arriving Fridays and Saturdays because the Bangkok Thais like to weekend here.
I have info on Samet and big Chang in the first link below.

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