Thai Islands Adapted from: Thai Street Food in my Area by Gor (Panrit "Gor" Daoruang) a Thai Teenager and his webite:
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Thai Islands - Beaches
Left: Ko Phi Phi, Krabi
Right: Ko Samui, Surat Thani
Left: Ko Samui, Surat Thani
Right: Ao Patong, Phuket
Left and Right: Hat Bangsaen, Chonburi
Islands in Thailand
Tropical Islands in South Thailand
Searching for the most gorgeous tropical island? the ultimate in idyllic beaches and the most breathtaking scenery? Look no further than the south of Thailand.
Just beyond Bangkok, the Kra Isthmus, provides an extensive coastline with hundreds of tropical islands and perfect beaches on both sides. On the west coast the Andaman Sea has the well known islands of Phuket and Phi Phi, while on the opposite coast in the Gulf of Thailand - you'll find Samui, Koh Phangan, Pattaya and some of the upcoming and lesser known islands like Koh Chang.
Difficult to choose? Take a look below and check out our quick guide to the islands....
The Andaman Sea
The Andaman sea is home to Phuket, Thailand's largest island, which offers great beaches, international facilities, good hotels and delicious food. Phuket also makes a good base for visiting some the many outlying islands located close to Phuket's east and south-east coast and the great dive sites around the Similan Islands. Just north of Phuket is Phang Nga - an area of wild mangroves and limestone scenery. Definitely worth a visit.
The Phi Phi islands (think picture postcard beaches - white powder sand, crystal clear water and sundowners) are just a 90 minute boat trip away from Phuket. The utimate in idyllc beaches. Stay in a beach bungalow or small resort by the sea and simply relax under a shady tree. Excellent shallow water snorkelling around the sister island of Phi Phi Ley.
Within a day trip from Phuket is Coral Island (only 30 minutes by boat.) Known locally as Koh Hae, it's one of the most popular destinations for day and overnight stays. The colourful coral reefs that surround the island, and easy access from the beach make it perfect for novice snorkellers. Other water-sports are available.
Popular with divers and snorkellers, the two Racha Islands have wonderfully clear water and close offshore coral reefs. About 45 minutes by speedboat south of Phuket, its a great place to to read books, sleep and simply relax. Not developed with only a small track and a few bungalows. Gets quite busy, at lunchtimes with diveboats and day-trippers, but this doesn't last long and the tranquility at night is perfect.
Off the tourist trail, Lanta Island, between Krabi province and Phuket island, offers relaxing beaches and little coves surrounded by rugged mountains. Not as easily accessible as Phi Phi, there's no crowds, no hustle and bustle - just peace and quiet. Lanta is also home to a community of ethnic sea gypsies who still follow the old ways and traditional customs.
The stunning coastal province of Krabi about 3 hours by road from Phuket, also has outstanding natural beauty, great beaches, waterfalls, caves, and strange limestone rock formations. Much of the province has been designated a national park which incorporates many of the mainland beaches and over 80 islands. Great for snorkelling, scuba diving and relaxing. Head for the main beaches at Ao Nang and Rai Ley for a beach lifestyle which can be basic or 5 star. It's also a popular destination with rock climbers. Instruction and equipment is available.
Not an island, but long stretch of coastline just north of Phuket, in the mainland province of Phang Nga. The area, relatively new to tourism, has miles of untouched beach fringed by forest, on the edge of 3 national parks. Most accommodation is brand new, low rise and comfortable. Nightlife very low key. Much quieter than Phuket - it's an ideal getaway. It's also a convenient departure point for the Similan islands, one of the world's top 10 dive sites.
Divers, don't miss the opportunity to see the unique Similan Islands Brilliant underwater scenery varying from soft corals to large boulders; big fish Sharks, Rays, Groupers plus, visibility of up to 30 metres give the Similans a top 10 rating in the world. Many local diveshops in Phuket offer on board (liveaboard) trips on well equipped dive-boats lasting from around 4-7 days. PADI dive courses also available.
Travel south down the Adnaman coast and you'll find even more islands!. Off the coast of Trang province in the far south you find islands well out of the grip of tourism. Undeveloped and demanding more finely tuned travel skills, the island of Tarutao , recently the location for the "Survivor" TV series, is beautiful but basic. If you watched the series, you'll know. Limited accommodation but you'll have the beach to yourself.
Gulf of Thailand
On the east coast in the Gulf of Thailand, is Ko Samui . Once on the backpacker's trail with basic facilities, the island has developed into an international resort. Despite development Samui still retains its friendly charm, beach lifestyle and local flavour. The main beaches of Chaweng and Lamai, have a great nightlife with clubs, discos, live music, cool bars and restaurants while Bophut, Maenam and Buddha beach are for those who enjoy a simpler, less hectic lifestyle.
Just north of Ko Samui and about two-thirds its size, Ko Phangan has beautiful beaches and inexpensive, basic bungalows. It's the simple beach life which attracts many tourists each year, and also the island's reputation for full moon parties and hedonistic culture. Popular with budget tourists seeking paradise and cheap accommodation, the Full Moon parties, once a spontanous event, now attract up to 7,000 party-goers. Although there have been changes caused by development, Koh Phangan still has plenty of remote beaches, surrounded with beautiful coral and protected by the spirits of old temples.
Ko Tao, north of Phangan and about 2 hours by boat from Samui is becoming popular, thanks partly to Hollywood films like "The Beach," and also to the Full Moon parties established some years ago which still continue to draw visitors. Faster and safer ferries are making both Ko Tao and Ko Phangan, more accessible. Lots of coconut lined beaches. The mainland opposite the Ko Tao has a number of "seaside towns" the favourite of local Thais and Europeans seeking a more local flavour. These include Chumporn and Hua Hin.
Gulf of Thailand East Coast
Located on the mainland on the Gulf of Thailand, Pattaya has always been a traditional holiday getaway for Bangkok residents. Only two hours drive from Thailand's capital city, this multi-facted resort with neighbouring Jomtiem beach has lots to offer. Famous for its hedonistic night life, Pattaya has good beaches, windsurfing, and lots of family attractions. It also has lots of offshore islands with good coral reefs - for snorkelling, diving or exploring in glass bottomed boats.
Less developed than Pattaya, the island of Ko Samet is the centre of one marine national park, has been a favourite with young Thai's and international travellers for several years. Still unspoilt, it has a few resorts, restaurants and entertainment.
Further away towards the Cambodian border in the Gulf of Thailand is Ko Chang, part of the Koh Chang Marine National Park and the second largest island after Phuket. Recently promoted by the Tourist Authority of Thailand, there are now more ferries, better infrastructure and more upmarket hotels. The area is quietly being upgraded to accommodate activities including diving, fishing and elephant trekking.
Part of the Ko Chang Marine National Park which incorporates some 52 islands. Many are covered in forest and surrounded by spectacular coastlines with gorgeous beaches and offshore coral reefs. Ko Kood is the fourth largest island in Thailand and the closest to the Cambodian border. The island is covered by tropical rainforest (about 70%) with development mainly around the coastal areas. Most resorts generate their own electricity as fuel and solar energy are the primary sources of electricity. The west coast is lined with a series of lovely beaches and wonderful views.
The Similans, located about one hundred kilometers northwest of Phuket, in the Andaman sea. are composed of nine granite islands with an amazing variety of underwater scenery and fish. Soft corals and huge boulders combined with varying sea conditions make it one of the worlds top 10 dive sites.
Phuket's west coast has a number of good divesites, accessibel year round. South of Phuket, the twin islands of Koh Racha Yai (big) and Koh Racha Noi (small) offer gentle drift dives, schools of false barracudas, octopus, cuttlefish and the more common tropical fish. Divers of all levels and snorkellers can visit Racha Yai as the diving is easy and gentle. Water depths range between 3-30 metres. Almost all diving operators offer one day trips to both of the islands.
On the Gulf of Thailand coast, the Ang Thong Marine National Park , close to Samui island, offers good reef diving and submerged rocks. Many dive shops operate trips from Samui, Ko Tao and ko Phangan.
Left: Laem Phrom Thep, Phuket
Right: Ko Samui, Surat Thani
A distinctive feature of Phang Nga Bay is the sheer limestone cliffs that jut vertically out of the emerald green water.
James Bond Island and Koh Pannyi are just two of the more famous spots in this bay. By far the best means of enjoying the spectacular scenery, with only brief encounters with the tourist crowds as James Bond and Koh Pannyi, is to take one of the boat trips from the northern end of Phuket. A leisurely day trip cruising through the dramatic limestone islands, occasionally stopping to enjoy quiet beaches, is far more rewarding than the standard bus-boat tour. Siam Exclusive offers tours on board a Junk through Phang Nga Bay either at daytime or sunset.
James Bond Island
This famous landmark first found its way onto the international map through its starring role in the James Bond movie "The Man With the Golden Gun". And this is where they seem to take all of the tourists - all at one time. The entire area surrounding this island with its signature rocky pinnacle is indeed spectacular, but most of the tours bus visitors up the main highway for an hour on the same well-worn itinerary. An integral part of that tour is lunch at Koh Pannyi.
Koh Pannyi (Sea Gypsy Island)
This is a remarkable village, the whole of it built out over water on stilts and with a giant rock monolith guarding its rear. At lunch time, up to 3,000 tourists on the James Bond Island tours are brought in to eat and shop for handicrafts. As soon as the tourists leave, the community closes up its restaurants and trinket shops and transforms itself from a tourist trap into a quiet community of fishermen.
Other Islands in Phang Nga Bay
Most of the islands are uninhabited. Many of them have spectacular caves (hongs in Thai) which you can only reach by an inflatable kayak. Koh Hong is one of the most popular of these islands.
Phang Nga Bay is also a great place to sail. The interesting limestone cliffs create a picturesque backdrop and there are many safe places to anchor all year round.
Rocky Cliffs
The cliffs are streaked with hues of black, tan, ivory, gray and red. Where do the streaks of red come from? According to some geologists, these stains are the result of iron deposits leached by ground water from ancient river beds. The tops of those islands were once part of a continuous land mass covered with forested hills and carved streams. That would have been long before human beings appeared on the scene. But sea levels have fluctuated significantly in more recent times. Approximately 10,000 years ago, for example, you could have walked between Phuket, Phang Nga or Krabi. And still, at that time, you would have seen these cliffs streaked with red and, perhaps, wondered why.
Basic White, Plus
Limestone is calcium carbonate, which is generally white. Over millions of years, the skeletons from a constant rain of marine organisms, plus the chemical precipitation of yet more calcium carbonate build thick layers of sediment. Eventually, the heat and pressure of their own weight turn these strata, hundreds of metres thick, to stone. A variety of geological forces have then fractured the limestone beds and pushed up the 40 steep-sided islands that provide the exotic scenery for which this shallow bay is noted. Mineral oxides from various sources paint the vari-coloured streaks that characterise the cliffs of Phang Nga Bay.
This area is a sailor's paradise. The fact that it's protected from both the Northeast and the Southwest monsoon seasons means that its waters remain calm year-round, which adds to the appeal of its scenic wonders and abundant wildlife.
Rooms with a View
And there are lost worlds awaiting discovery. It wasn't many years ago that aerial surveys first revealed the Hong , or "rooms", that lie inside some of Phang Nga's islands. These fabulous microcosms, hidden realms rich in unspoiled flora and fauna, are collapsed cave systems open to the sky and surrounded by towering limestone walls. Try sea-canoeing, where you paddle sturdy inflatable boats through caves into the mysterious hearts of islands such as Koh Panak and Koh Hong.
Phi Phi island
Information and travel guide
Phi Phi Island, located just 45 minutes by boat from Phuket, offers a great laid back tropical lifestyle. Soak up the sun, go beach hopping, or simply enjoy the great outdoors in some of the most beautiful scenery in Asia!
Picture postcard perfect, with classic white sandy beaches, surrounded by impressive limestone cliffs and sunlit crystal water, Phi Phi actually consists of two islands, Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Ley, so gorgeous it was used as a location for the Hollywood film, "The Beach."
What to Do
As well as perfect beaches, the islands also offer excellent snorkelling, great diving , challenging game fishing and lots of activities like rock climbing , kayaking and local boat trips.
There's no shortage of restaurants either. Sample some local Thai food on the beach with the sand between your toes, or enjoy a steak under a starry sky. Nightlife is fairly simple, but for the size of Phi Phi Don, is considerable with music bars and local hotspots.
How to Get There
Tours leave from Phuket and Krabi every day, but to really appreciate the islands, you should stay longer, if only to see the magical sunrise and sunset. Most travel agents can arrange transport (see general info for details) Once you're there, getting around is simple. There are no cars, so take a short walk or a local longtail boat from one perfect beach to the next. It's tough!
Phuket, Thailand
Travel Information Guide
Phuket Overview
Phuket's appeal lies in the beauty of the island, and the variety of relatively inexpensive activities on offer. Thailand's largest island has wonderful food, vibrant nightlife, an excellent range of accommodation and great beaches, but there's a lot more to do besides sunbathe!
Diving, fishing, eco-adventure tours in the forests, touring the amazing area around Phang Nga Bay, trips to the outlying islands and elephant trekking are just a few......
Want to know more? Click through our site for comprehensive travel and tourist information. Check out our special offers on hotels , car rentals, etc., Use our maps and photo tours to locate the best beaches and find a place just right for you.
What to Do
Beaches, islands, jungle, great natural scenery. Take a day off the beach and go sightseeing. Hire a car, or better still, take a tour and have everything done for you. Tours and cruises leave regularly to Phang Nga, Khaolak, Phi Phi and the outlying islands and normally include lunch, transfers and park entrance fees. Why not take a tour which includes an activity like sea canoeing , or snorkelling ? Or try something different......bungy jumping, diving , game fishing .....
At night, choose from hundreds of restaurants, take in the Patong scene, check out the amazing Phuket Fantasea show......dancing, music bars, Thai boxing.....
Around Phuket Island
Most sightseeing tours will take you to the well known beauty spots and viewpoints around Phuket. Laem Promthep in the southern tip of the island (super sunsets) Karon viewpoint (vista over the Andaman sea) and the Khao Phra Thaew National Park. (See tours).The provincial town, also called Phuket, has grown rapidly over the last few years, incorporating new hypermarkets and leisure facilities such as bowling alleys and a new cinema complex. The town has some notable Sino-Portuguese buildings; a legacy from the Phuket's days as a major tin mining centre, plus some good local restaurants as well as the ubiquitous Macdonalds and the usual fast food outlets.
Phang Nga Bay
Spectacular limestone scenery rising from the sea, mangroves, sea caves with crystalline interiors and hundreds of tiny islands make up Phang Nga Bay, one of southern Thailand's most fascinating areas. Located north of Phuket Island tours operate daily, some combining a road/boat trip while others cruise up for the day. Prices vary with the mode of transport, the lunch and schedule. All tours visit Ko Ping Gan or "James Bond Island" where Bond was served a bottle of Dom Perignon in "The Man With The Golden Gun," and Koh Pannyi, an unusual Sea gypsy village perched on stilts above the water against a backdrop of towering limestone cliffs.Khao Lak
Located in the mainland province of Phang Nga just north of Phuket Island, Khao Lak has only recently been "discovered." The area, visited by only a few tourists, stretches across three national parks and offers nature lovers an unspoilt landscape of beaches, hills, mountains, forested valleys, mangroves and estuaries. Eco-tours operate daily and include elephant trekking and in season, kayaking along the river. This area probably deserves more time and accommodation is available. An overnight stay is recommended.Phi Phi Islands
A trip to the Phi Phi Islands is an unforgettable experience. The beauty of the area with sheer cliffs soaring from calm, clear seas is stunning. Phi Phi Don, the larger island, has idyllic tropical beaches lining its southern and eastern shores. Phi Phi Ley, to the south, was made famous as a location for the Hollywood film "The Beach" and has shallow coral gardens, teeming with fish - perfect for diving and snorkelling. Take a day trip or stay overnight.Looking for action or somewhere off the beaten track? Would you prefer an international hotel, or a small unpretentious guesthouse? Can't decide where to stay? Check our beaches guide for more information. Or perhaps you'd prefer to stay on an island like Phi Phi? See the islands guide. You'll find lots to choose.
Phuket's west coast contains miles of white sandy beaches - which is where most of the resort development and hotels are located. The beaches in the north of the island around Bangtao (dominated by the 5 star Laguna complex) and Pansea Beach, contain more upmarket resorts as Amanpuri Resort and less local development.
You'll find some restaurants and a little local nightlife, but there's little need to venture out as the hotels provide everything you could want.
Moving south, Kamala is quiet enough to get away from it all, but only 10 minutes from Patong. Accommodation is limited to small guesthouses and a few international resorts. Nightlife is quiet, eating out under the stars the main entertainment.
In the centre of the western coastline is Patong - a bustling resort with a 3,000 metre beach, a huge choice of restaurants and bars and a hectic nightlife. Patong has a lot to offer. A great beach to chill out and meet people during the day, and the island's main entertainment area at night. You can stay in small hotels, guesthouses or "brand name" resorts like the Holiday Inn Phuket , the Novotel Phuket Resort and Le Meridien which during May to October offer some great deals . South of Patong, Kata and Karon beaches are less developed with hotels spread out over a wider area. More village like than Patong, they're close to the action but far enough to have peace and quiet.
Phuket diving guide
Racha Yai and Racha Noi Dive Sites
Racha Yai and Racha Noi
To the south of Phuket lie the twin islands of Koh Racha Yai (big) and Koh Racha Noi (small) which offer significantly better diving than do Phuket's western beaches. Almost all diving operators offer one day trips to both of the islands (although not on the same day) and some offer a two day live-aboard trip every week.
Racha Yai's best diving is off its east coast which makes it especially attractive during Phuket's off-season in the summer. Although visibility varies, it can be as good as 25 meters or more. A typical dive is a gentle drift along a sloping rocky face that is sprinkled with hard coral forests of many, many varieties. Especially prominent are stag horn corals of blue and tan. Many times there are large schools of false barracudas hovering over the reef, while on the reef itself you'll see octopus and cuttlefish in addition to the more common tropical species. Divers of all levels of experience and snorkelers can visit Racha Yai with no usual hazards as the diving is easy and gentle. Water depths range between 3-30 meters.
Racha Noi is popular for the more experienced diver, as depths are generally greater and the currents frequently stronger than at its sister island to the north. The northern tip features a large pinnacle where spotting larger marine life is distinctly possible, while the southern point is a nice drift dive with the added bonus of having a beautiful little beach to visit during your surface interval. We also have a wooden ship wreck at about 27 meters on the southwest coast of the island which although does not compare to some of the larger wreck dives in Pattaya, is an enjoyable deep dive. Not much grows on the wreck yet, but it attracts large amounts of reef fish. The diving here is definitely more challenging than Racha Yai, but the rewards can be much greater.
Accommodation is available on Racha Yai in both of the pristine little bays on the northern side of the island. Muslim farmers and a few fishermen have lived on Racha Yai for years now, harvesting coconuts and fishing the waters surrounding the islands. For current information, check with one of the dive centres in Phuket.
Phuket Travel Guide
Similan islands diving, sailing and snorkelling
Overview | Phi Phi Islands | Coral Island | Maiton Island | Racha Island | Rang Yai Island
Koh Yao Islands | Khai Nok | Similan Islands | Phang Nga Bay | Lanta IslandSimilan in Focus - Island dreams
Just 52 miles northwest of the deckchairs and the bustling crowds of Phuket's Patong Beach lies a gateway to another world. Koh Similan is one of the best-known island groups in the Andaman Sea, largely because of the wonders that wait beneath the clear blue waters that surround it. Generally counted among the 10 most interesting dive areas in the world, this little archipelago has also become a favourite destination for yachts and tour boats.
Until the mid-1980s, the Similans were a frontier known mainly to a small number of divers and sailors. "I've dived in a lot of areas that are off the beaten track and... a few where they've never even heard of the beaten track," said Carl Roessler in a 1985 Skindiver article. "Still, my recent adventures in Thailand's Similan Islands have redefined remoteness in dive travel."
But the past dozen years have brought big changes. In the early 1980s, you could spend a whole week out among these islands and encounter no one beyond the occasional longtail boat full of Sea Gypsies. By contrast, in the winter season these days, the best anchorages are a forest of masts, and there's a busy traffic in diveboats and day-tours from Phuket.
"Similan" is derived from the Malay sembilan , and means "nine". Each of the Similan Islands has a number as well as a name. These are, running from north to south: Koh Ba Ngu (No. 9), Similan (No. 8), Payu (No. 7), Miang (No. 4, No. 5 and, in some opinion, No. 6), Payan (No. 3), Payang (No. 2), and Hu Yong (No. 1). Hin Pousar, or "Elephant Head Rock", is alternatively designated No. 6 by some. Koh Bon, lying 17 nautical miles north of Ba Ngu, is part of the Similan National Park and may be granted honorary status as No. 10.
What is it that makes these islands so attractive? The Similans aren't as dramatically scenic as the limestone islands of Krabi or Phang Nga Bay which many people have come to associate with the Andaman Sea. Instead, you find low-lying formations covered with thick forest.
Ironwood and gum trees are among the larger trees, while jackfruit, rattan and bamboo form part of the denser undergrowth. The islands are home to crab-eating monkeys, dusky langurs, squirrels, bats, lizards and a good variety of birds (though the monkeys are shy and rarely seen by the casual observer). But the most striking feature of these islands, at first glance, are the huge boulders that litter the western and southern shores on several of the islands.
Another highlight, as the visitor soon discovers, are the white coral-sand beaches, splendidly picturesque and often deserted. The most interesting sights, however, are to be found beneath the waves. Some of the most spectacular coral growths in the world can be found here - and the same boulders that scatter the shores have turned the waters around the Similans into an adventure playground for divers.
At various times in the past - with sea levels fluctuating by as much as 150m with the advance and retreat of the polar ice-caps - these islands have been under water, battered by storms, covered with marine growths, visited by creatures long extinct. Think of that when you clamber up the trail to Sailing Boat Rock, on Island No. 8, for example. As you squeeze through the crevices and archways, imagine them covered with colourful corals, sponges and algae. Where today you find birds and butterflies and squirrels, at one time dense schools, bright streams of fish instead commuted this way and that, with bigger fish and marine dinosaurs cruising through on the hunt.
A variety of forces have given shape to these islands. To begin with, the Similans were intrusions, upwellings of hot magma that found their way through weak spots in the Earth's crust 100-150 million years ago, working their way through thick layers of sedimentary rock already laid down at least 100 million years earlier still. Then, unimaginably powerful movements in the crust cracked the granite substratum into blocks, preparing the way for experiments in sculptural form by wind and wave.
Today, piles of curious stones, some of them as big as houses, lie as though collected and later abandoned in careless heaps by some ancient race of beachcombing giants. Even Sailing Boat Rock, the distinctive formation teetering high above the cove on Koh Similan (Island No.8), has been shaped in this way. And boulders just like these spill in jumbled piles down beneath the surface of the sea to 35m and beyond, where submarine peaks, canyons, caves and passageways provide scuba divers with some of the most interesting submarine prospects in the world. (On the west side of the islands, currents have kept the formations clear of sand; on the coral-covered sandy slopes of the east side, the boulders have been largely buried.)
Underwater, meanwhile, all sorts of marine creatures have helped establish the reefs and the sandy beaches. When you climb up to Sailing Boat Rock, consider the brilliant white sand below. This beach is in large part a product of diligent scraping and nibbling away by organisms such as the parrotfish - an average individual of which species may excrete more than 16 kilos of sand in the course of a year's lunching on hard corals. And there's plenty here to eat.
The conditions for coral growth are ideal, with a minimum prevailing sea temperature of about 28 o C and exceptionally clear waters. More than 200 species of hard coral alone have so far been identified in this area, while these islands have the greatest profusion of reef fish in Thai waters.
In fact, in terms of both marine life and bottom topography, there's more variety than you'll find in most other dive destinations around the world. The Similans has almost everything - coral walls (if we count Koh Bon, to the north, as one of the Similans), big rocks, huge sea fans and barrel sponges, caves, swim-throughs, and plenty of shallows for snorkelling as well. For, although the fringing waters around the islands average from 30-45m dropping down to 70-80m between islands, you'll find coral gardens in as little as six to seven metres.
It's best known as a diving and snorkelling destination, but the Similans' scenic moorings are also becoming increasingly popular with the sailing fraternity. Every year more yachts come to cruise the Similans during the northeast monsoon (November-May, with December-February the peak of the high season), drawn by the lovely anchorages, the beaches and forests, the clear waters and teeming marine life. Bareboat sailing charters and sailing-diving cruises may be booked from Phuket. If you are on a yacht that doesn't have scuba gear or a compressor, you can always hire what you need from the diveboats that come out from Phuket on a regular basis. First-rate scuba instruction may also be available right there in the Similans, although where it's practicable, you might want to book this from Phuket.
Aside from sailing and diving, more and more dayboats are coming out from Phuket and Phang Nga during the high season, bringing with them crowds of sightseers, picnickers, and snorkellers. And Koh Similan National Park has added to its many attractions its role as a stopover on the way to yet newer and more distant undersea frontiers and sailing destinations - areas such as the Andaman Islands, the Invisible Bank and, when they reopen to sport diving, the Burma Banks.
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