Hotels Guide Thailand
Southern Thailand travel guide
Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0

Southern Thailand travel guide

Updated |Editorial policy

The Andaman coast, the Gulf islands and the deep south. How Southern Thailand is laid out, when each coast is at its best and where to base yourself.

Southern Thailand is the long, narrow peninsula that runs from Chumphon down to the Malaysian border. It has two coastlines with different weather, and for most visitors that is the single most important fact about the region.

Two coasts, two seasons

The Andaman coast on the west (Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, Trang, Satun and Ranong) faces the Indian Ocean. It is driest and calmest from roughly November to April. From May to October the southwest monsoon brings heavier rain and rougher seas, and some island boat services are reduced or stop.

The Gulf of Thailand coast on the east (Chumphon, Surat Thani with Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Tao, and Nakhon Si Thammarat) follows a different pattern. Its wettest months usually fall around October to December, while January to August is generally the better window. If your dates are fixed, pick the coast to match them.

Where to base yourself

  • Phuket has the widest choice of hotels in the region, an international airport and beaches that range from busy Patong to quieter Kata, Kamala and Mai Khao.
  • Krabi works well for limestone scenery, island-hopping from Ao Nang and quieter stays on Railay or Ko Lanta.
  • Phang Nga covers Khao Lak and the bay of limestone islands; it suits families and divers heading to the Similan Islands.
  • Ko Samui is the main Gulf island, with its own airport and a strong resort scene. Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Tao are reached by ferry from Samui or the mainland.
  • Hat Yai in Songkhla is the commercial hub of the deep south and a transport junction for the border.

Getting around

International and domestic flights serve Phuket, Krabi, Surat Thani, Ko Samui, Trang and Hat Yai. Overnight trains from Bangkok run to Chumphon, Surat Thani, Trang and Hat Yai, and combined bus-and-boat tickets connect the mainland with the islands.

Travel advisories issued by several governments have for years advised caution in the far-south provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat. Check your own government’s current advice before travelling there.

Provinces

  • Krabi

    Ao Nang, Railay, Klong Muang, Krabi Town, Ko Lanta and Ko Phi Phi compared. Where to base yourself in Krabi province and when to go.

  • Phang Nga

    Khao Lak, Natai, Ko Yao Noi, Ko Yao Yai and Phang Nga town compared. A guide to the quieter Andaman province next to Phuket.

  • Phuket

    Patong, Kata, Karon, Kamala, Bang Tao, Mai Khao and Phuket Town compared. Which part of Phuket suits you, when to go and how to get around.

  • Surat Thani

    Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan, Ko Tao and Khao Sok compared. How to choose a Gulf of Thailand island, the best months to go and how to get there.

  • Satun

    Ko Lipe, Ko Tarutao, Pak Bara and Satun town compared. A guide to Thailand's southernmost Andaman province.