Thailand Natural Reserves
Like many countries in South East Asia, Thailand has some magnificent natural terrain with an immensely rich variety of animal and botanical life. Whether you're interested in a week long hike through the jungle or simply a day trip to see some wild animals in their natural habitat, Thailand has something to offer you. Below we've highlighted just a few of the most popular nature reserves in Thailand.
Khao Sok nature reserve in Thailand
Located in the South of Thailand, this reserve can best be reached by car either from Phuket or Surat Thai. Many tour operators offer kayaking trips to get to and from Khao Sok which adds a fun and adventurous dimension to the visit. The terrain in Khao Sok consists mainly of hills and dense jungle terrain and is probably one of the best places in Thailand to view rare wild animals in their natural habitat. Bears, Sloth and Hornbills are just a few of the interesting species you are likely to see when visiting Khao Sok nature reserve.
Phangnga Bay nature reserve in Thailand
Although not technically a nature reserve, the landscape here is incredibly beautiful and largely unspoiled. Situated in the South of Thailand approximately one hour drive away from Phuket, Phangnga offers some spectacular scenery. Aside from the pleasantly calm waters of the bay there are literally hundreds of tiny islands each raised high above sea level with long sheer face cliffs.
Khao Yai national park in Thailand
Khao Yai is the oldest and probably the most well known and visited national park in Thailand by foreign visitors and Thai people alike. Aside from the indigenous tigers and elephants that roam the national park, Khao Yai is home to an incredibly rich variety of bird life supporting more than 300 different species. The national park at Khao Yai is fairly well maintained with established hiking trails that could last for several days depending on how long you want to stay there. There are also night watchtowers in which you can stay and from where you can observe the jungle come to life at night.
Thailand Beaches
Thailand is blessed with the natural beauty where its beaches and islands are amongst the most scenic and beautiful in the world. You should not miss the simply stunning - clean sand, clear water and wonderful scenery of Thai beaches.
Experience the magic of morning sunrise and evening sunset along the beach accommodations, tours & packages and attractions at the various destinations such as Phuket, Ko Samui, Ko Samet, Ko Chang, Ko Phi Phi, Ko Lanta, Hua Hin, Pattaya and many more.
Jomtien Beach in Chonburi
Featuring a long straight coastline and long white sand beach, Jomtien Beach is located around 2 kms from its less salubrious neighbour – Pattaya Beach. Whereas Pattaya Beach is more geared for the party animal, Jomtien Beach has carved a niche as a more 'family-friendly' environment. Jomtien Beach is popular for water sports such as jet skiing, but with water that is considerably less murky, it is also a much more attractive location for swimming.
How to get there:
Just like everywhere else in Pattaya, Jomtien is easily accessible through the multitude of Songtaews that continually move around the ring roads that encircle the coastal areas. A trip is 20 Baht wherever your start or finish.
Pattaya in Chonburi
Pattaya Beach is at the centre of the half moon crescent that makes up the Pattaya coastline with Nakula Beach to the north and Jomtien Beach to the south. This part of Pattaya is famous for its nightlife.
Although this is the part of Pattaya that has most accommodation available, the nature of the nightlife can put families off. By day, the area is somewhat different – the water is packed with jet-skiers, water skiers, powerboats and the sky is full of parasails! It is also a centre for scuba divers. Although as a dive site it might not meet the excellence of other places in Thailand, Pattaya is convenient for Bangkok and those with limited time who want to experience diving might well benefit from taking a course at one of Pattaya's numerous and inexpensive dive shops.
How to get there:
Pattaya Beach is on the Songtaew route and getting there is 20 Baht from anywhere in Pattaya.
Ao Nang Beach in Krabi
Originally a fishing village, Ao Nang is now a major city beach resort and a travel destination in its own right catering for the full range of foreign tourists. Ao Nang's chief feature is a long white sand beach set against crystal clear water, but people also come here for a full range of activities such as diving, kayaking and trekking. Less developed than other beaches in Thailand, Ao Nang none the less offers guesthouses and hotels that fit any budget. The beach enjoys a vibrant nightlife which includes excellent seafood restaurants dotted along the beach and some bars that offer live music. However, this is not an 'expat' type scene with oppressive numbers of go-go bars, etc. It has a much nicer feel and is a good choice for families.
How to get there:
A taxi from the airport will cost around 500 Baht. Long tail boats run seasonally and cost around 50 baht from Krabi to Ao Nang. Songtaews from Krabi cost 20 Baht during the day and 50 Baht after 18:00.
Railay Beach in Krabi
Railay Beach is about ten minutes from Ao Nang by boat. The beach is a genuinely superb location with golden sand against a limestone cliff backdrop. There is a gentle atmosphere on Railay; absent are bars competing against each other with techno music. As such, the site has become a destination of choice for people trying to avoid crowds in Ao Nang and Phi-Phi. Given that's its chief attraction, more and more people are frequenting the beach, and it's only a matter of time until Railay Beach becomes equally busy!
How to get there:
It takes 30 minutes from Chao Fa pier in Krabi Town to get to Railay Beach by long tail boat. Long tails are also available from Ao Nam. Boats cost no more than 50 or 60 Baht per person per trip.
Naklua Beach in Chonburi
There are three main areas in Pattaya. Pattaya Beach is the central stretch of coastline that supports some of 'raunchier' aspects of local tourism; bars, restaurants, go-go – pretty much a hedonist's paradise!
Naklua Beach is the most northerly of the bays and by far the quietest. Naklua is much smaller than its neighbours and it does not suffer from the mass development Pattaya Beach has experienced. Like Jomtien it is more family friendly. Nakula is also a centre for windsurfers and windsurfing equipment can be hired from the beach.
How to get there:
Once again the Songtaew 'Baht Buses' are the most convenient way to get to Nakula.
Ao Luk (Deep Bay) in Phang-Nga
There are around 10 bays on the Surin Islands with great beaches. Ao Luk on the Southeast coast of Koh Surin Nua (Northern Surin Island) is probably the most visited. It has excellent waters and offers a paradise for snorkelling enthusiasts. The beach features shallow corals and an abundance of marine life making snorkelling and diving straightforward and approachable. In the vicinity of the beach are a number of trails which offer hikes to the more adventurous.
Ao Mae Yai in Phang-Nga
There are around 10 bays on the Surin Islands with great beaches. Ao Mae Yai is probably the best known of them all. Located in the southwest of Surin Nua (Southern Surin Island), Ao Mae Yai has white sand and wonderfully calm, crystal-clear waters. Set against some dramatic scenery, this is an excellent location for swimming, snorkelling and diving. It is also a very calm place just to sit around sunbathing or generally relaxing.
Hat Bang Sak in Phang-Nga
Hat Bang Sak , located in Tambon Bang Muang on Phetkasem Road, on the Thai Mueang - Takua Pa section, between 76-77 kms and going down a side road for another hundred meters.
The beach of Bang Sak has clean white sand and stretches along a grove of shady pines. Accommodation and restaurant are available on the beach.
Hat Khao Lak in Phang-Nga
Hat Khao Lak , 32 kilometres from Takua Pa, is now an interesting destination for domestic and overseas tourists.
It has an advantage of beautiful, long beach of Andaman Sea and green mountain of Khao Lak-Lamru National Park parallel to the coast. The accommodation of Takua Pa along Khao Lak and Bang Sak Beach are built in the original southern architecture style. With the combination of the hospitality of local people who love in nature and environment, seaside town of Khao Lak –Takuapa has its unique and charms of attracting tourists to the area.
Hat Surin in Phang-Nga
About 24 kms from town is Hat Surin , which can be reached on Route No. 402. After reaching the Heroines Monument, turn left and proceed on for 12 kms.
The beach borders on a hillside. To the north are groves of large pine trees and a golf course. Surin beach is not recommended for swimming because of its steepness and heavy seas and winds during the Monsoon season.
Thailand Beach Destinations
Phuket / Krabi / Phi Phi
Phuket is Thailand's largest island and an international resort destination. The small Phi Phi islands are a short distance to the south, while Krabi is the mainland province off which Phuket lies.
Samui
This is an island off the east coast of peninsular Thailand, with a rather laid-back attitude, but a rather high price.
Hua Hin & Cha-Am
"Royal" retreats about two to three hours south-west of Bangkok
Pattaya / East Coast
Pattaya lies less than two hours from Bangkok, and popular for quick weekends away from the city.
Samet & Chang Islands
Smaller islands east of Pattaya popular with backpackers.
Tropical Thailand Resorts
Providing the perfect complement to cultural sites are Thailand's superb beach resorts and tropical islands. The country offers more than 2,500 kms of coastline, generously provided with sandy beaches, sheltered bays, quiet coves and idyllic islands.
Not only do Thailand's shores display marked topographical variety, but they also present enormous diversity in the style of seaside vacations. What remains constant is the tropical climate and year-round sunshine.
The two main resort regions are the east and west coasts of the Gulf of Thailand and the Deep South along both shores of the Kraisthmus.
Just a two-hour drive southeast of Bangkok is Pattaya on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Thailand. It is colourful and vibrant place where a complete spectrum of watersport amenities is combined with a wealth of on-land entertainment to ensure there is never a dull moment, night or day.
For a different mood, the resorts of Hua Hin and Cha-am, on the opposite side of the Gulf present a quieter scene for a more restful enjoyment.
Even more spectacular are the beaches of the far south. Here, off the southwest coast, an hour's flight from Bangkok is the island of Phuket, characterised by truly breathtaking tropical coastal scenery - unspoiled beaches of powdery white sand and the clear blue waters of the Andaman Sea - set against a backdrop of rolling hills and lush green vegetation.
Matching the natural beauty are some of the finest beach resorts in the whole of Asia. Nearby, on the mainland, Krabi offers more pristine beaches backed by palm groves and surrounded by towering cliffs, while off the opposite shores of the peninsula is Samui.
Less developed than Phuket, Samui affords the perfect escape into a Robinson Crusoe world - with, of course, all creature comforts. All the top resorts offer a wide choice of water sports and scuba diving enthusiasts, in particular, will appreciate the rich marine life and colourful coral formations found in Thailand's coastal waters.