Thailand’s paradisiacal Andaman Coast

Posted by admin on December 23rd, 2008 filed in Day tripping, Tourist tips

Thailand features one of our planet’s most stunning coastlines along the Andaman Sea’s eastern shores. Images of azure waters and glistening white beaches, with majestic backdrops of impressing karst pillars, are much seen in the South East Asian’s nation exotic-looking travel brochures.

The Andaman shoreline stretches from the Thai border with Myanmar at the Isthmus of Kra, 93 miles north of the country’s largest island of Phuket, all the way to the border with Malaysia and it’s bestowed with some of the globe’s most breathtaking scenery. The creation of a bizarre karst landscape made out of numerous rocky outcrops and limestone pillars that dot the ocean give this part of the Andaman coast its unique character.

Positioned at the Thai Andaman Coast’s centre is Phuket with its glitzy resorts, flourishing tourist trade, superb beaches and extensive range of convenient facilities. Farther north however, the shoreline retains equally gorgeous but less much developed in locations such as Khao Lak and tinier, more exclusive resort areas, characterised by long stretches of beach lined with coconut and casurina  trees, and mangrove flat inland.

Two groups of islands can be found off shore in the Andaman Sea offering tranquillity, outstanding diving and a wonderful retreat from mass tourism. Notable for their undeveloped beaches and boulder landscape, the Similan Islands boasts abundant lush flora. Similan Islands guide. Located farther north are the Surin islands that are equally known for beach camping and great diving. Live aboard yachting trips are an ideal way to explore these islands.

On the east side behind Phuket, lies one of the shore’s most breathtaking areas, stretching from the stunning theatre of Pha Nga Bay to the touristy family-orientated resort destination of Krabi and including the calmer Yao islands. This whole section of the Andaman coast is charecterised for its concentration of the unique karst landscape for which the coast is renowned.

Farther south of here is a well visited holiday island, Koh Lanta, which does not feature similar high rising backdrops but boasts charming beach areas at affordable prices.

And finally, the Andaman crown’s jewel is the Phi Phi archipelago. These islands are mind-boggling in their natural creation and starred in the Hollywood movie The Beach, mostly due to their paradisiacal lagoons of azure water and coconut lined exotic white sandy beaches.