Ko Samui & the Lower Gulf
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©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd Ko Samui & the Lower Gulf Why Go? Ko Samui .........................174 The Lower Gulf features Thailand’s ultimate island trifecta: Ko Pha-Ngan ...................192 Ko Samui, Ko Pha-Ngan and Ko Tao. This family of spec- tacular islands lures millions of tourists every year with Ko Tao .............................207 their powder-soft sands and emerald waters. Ko Samui is Ang Thong Marine the oldest brother, with a business-minded attitude towards National Park ................. 222 vacation. High-class resorts operate with Swiss effi ciency Surat Thani .................... 223 as uniformed butlers cater to every whim. Ko Pha-Ngan is Ao Khanom .................... 225 the slacker middle child with tangled dreadlocks and a pen- Nakhon Si chant for hammock-lazing and all-night parties. Baby Ko Thammarat .................... 227 Tao has plenty of spirit and spunk – off ering high-adrenaline Songkhla & Around ........229 activities, including world-class diving and snorkelling. Hat Yai ............................230 Travellers seeking something a bit more off the radar Deep South .....................231 than these island brethren will fi nd a thin archipelago of Yala ..................................231 pin-sized islets just beyond. Known as Ang Thong Marine Pattani ............................ 234 National Park, this ethereal realm of greens and blues of- fers some of the most picture-perfect moments in the entire Narathiwat ..................... 235 kingdom. Sungai Kolok ..................236 When To Go Best Places to Eat From February to April celebrate endless sunshine after the » Dining On The Rocks monsoon rains have cleared. From June to August – which (p 186 ) conveniently coincides with the Northern Hemisphere’s summer holidays – are some of the most inviting months in » Five Islands (p 187 ) the region, with relatively short drizzle spells. » The Whitening (p 218 ) From October to December torrential monsoon rains rat- tle hot-tin roofs like anxious fi ngernails, as room rates drop Best Places to signifi cantly to lure a few optimistic beach-goers Stay » Six Senses Samui (p 182 ) » Anantara Bo Phut (p 183) » L’Hacienda (p 183 ) » Sarikantang (p 196 ) » The Sanctuary (p 202 ) KO SAMUI & THE LOWER GULF GULF LOWER THE & SAMUI KO Chumphon 0 100 km Pak Nam 0 60 miles Ko Samui & the Ao Chumphon Lower Gulf CHUMPHON Highlights Ko Tao 1 Find Nemo in the Laem Riu technicolour kingdom Isthmus off the coast of Ko of Kra Chong Tao Tao (p 207 ). Ang Thong Ko Pha-Ngan 2 Dimple virgin Marine sands on the hidden National Park bleach-blonde Full Moon Party beaches of Ang Chong Pha-Ngan Thong Marine 41 Ko Ko Samui National Park Laem Phaluai Sui (p 222 ). Chaiya 3 String up a cotton Ao Ban Chong Samui hammock and toe the Don Don Sak curline tide along a Khanom 401 secluded beach on Ko Surat Ao Khanom Phun Phin Thani Pha-Ngan (p 192 ) Hin Lat Falls 4 Purr like a kitten 401 Sichon during a fi ve-star massage session on To Khao Sok Ko Samui (p 174 ) National NAKHON SI 5 Join the masses Park (30km) THAMMARAT of party pilgrims and SURAT THANI Khao Luang trance the night away National Park at the Full Moon 401 Laem Talumphuk Party (see boxed text, Khao Luang (1835m) p 194 ) in Hat Rin on 41 Nakhon Si Thammarat Ko Pha-Ngan Lan Saka Khiriwong KRABI Thung Song.