EASTERN GULF COAST © From here youcancontinueeastalongpristinecoastlinetotheCambodian border. For even more islandsquietlywaitto beexplored. isolation,ahandfulofotherspectacular then island-hoptothefriendlysandsofKoMakordecadentisolated coves ofKoKood. jungle andbeachcompete foryourattention. Trek throughthevastrainforests onKoChang secluded beach. allnightatatechno-thumping beachshackorcatchuponyourreading onato party When youwanttorelax againheadtothepowder-white sandsofex-pat favourite KoSamet duringtheday,whilenightsoffer fantasy. every sports packed variationofneon-litkinky crete, tourbusesandteetering highheels. There’s afeast ofsights,safarisand adrenaline- Ko SiChang’santitheses,where anyhintofwholesomeThailand hasbeenoverrun bycon- Onlyafewfishing villagebobbinginaseaofsupertankers. hoursdowntheroadisPattaya, the real alongsidetheir beach. worldandtoexperiencesomeaction the Andamanorsoutherngulfcoasts;eastern gulfisfortravellers whowantapeekat infamous ’s high-octane debauchery. Ifyouwantglamouranddaydreams, headto This isThailand’s wildcoast,fromitslabyrinthinerainforests anduncrowdedbeachesto Coast Gulf Eastern 116 

L But theundisputed jewelintheeastern gulf’scrownistheKoChangArchipelago, where inlittle-visited KoSiChang,theclosestislandtoBangkok,foralazystayinThai Start

     HIGHLIGHTS o DRY SEASON:NOVEMBER-APRIL n Notfeeling atouristwhileeating like onlow-lying Beach-hoppingbybike Watching atransvestite cabaret before Gazing acrossdazzlingsandsandem- throughbuzzingrainforest Trekking to e village on roadside noodlesinanauthenticfishing tocooloff snorkel Mak Pattaya ( p120 ) atnight hitting thestreets ofludicrouslywild from yourbungalowon erald waters withnaryatouristinsight in themountainsof andgiant spidersfind hiddenwaterfalls l y

P l a n ( p162 ) thenpoppingonamaskand e t (p119 ) Ko SiChang Ko Chang(p150) (p160) Ko Kood Ko  WET SEASON: MAY-OCTOBER SEASON: WET Chang Ko Si Pattaya Ko Chang Ko Mak Ko Kood EASTERN GULF COAST

, a 117 24hr) A Krong Ko Loi 318 Koh Kong Health Park h Khlong Yai 0 3832 4111; Th 0 3832 4111; Th 3271 Mai Rut C A M B O D I A Hat Lek % Hat Thap Thim ( Hat Sai Kaew Tha Sen 3389 3175

3155 Cheun Ban Noen Sung Hat Ban 3148 Hat Sai Si Ngoen Ruf 3159 Dan Kao Pier Hat Mai Trat 00 50 km 30 miles 3157 TRAT Ko Mak Ko Kood 3 Laem Sok Ko Whai (cnr Th Surasak 1 & Th Jermjompol) 317 Laem Ngop (40km) Khlung Ko Rang (Th Jermjompol) Ko Chang National Park To Aranya Phratet Ko Chang Marine Chanthaburi (Th Jermjompol; internet per hr 20B; SA KAEW Laem Singh CHANTHABURI Hin Luk Bat Information Information short walk from the pier. Weeknights group at around 6pm a massive local aerobicisers gather at the of near the jetty to work out as one giant colour- Other than this unit – it’s surreal. coordinated Sri Racha’s piers, and the wobbly waterfront only other downtown attraction is interconnected stilt buildings housing hotels, stilt buildings housing hotels, interconnected Though ships wait- and markets. restaurants ing to dock at nearby port stud far enough away not to the horizon, they’re days gone by. spoil the illusion of Ice Net Krung Thai Bank Post office Sriracha Hospital Jermjompol soi 8) Sights & Activities from from (or 40 minutes by bus Airport), most International Suvarnabhumi is dull and modern but behind the town of floating city on hides a veritable the concrete and piers wooden – a maze of the waterfront Hin Lap Khao Wong National Park Khao Chamao/ Hin Pholueng Ko Man Klang Ko Man Nok Klaeng Ko Man Nai Laem Mae Phim 3 CHACHOENGSAO Gulf of Ko Samet 344 Ban Phe National Park RAYONG Laem Ya/Ko Samet Rayong 3245 3191 Thong Hat Sai Hat Mae Rumphung 36 331 Samaesan Hole Airport U-Tapao Hat Jomtien Pattaya EASTERN •• SriCOAST GULF Racha 3 Sri Racha Ko Krok Chonburi Ko Sak Sattahip Ko Chuang (75km)

Ko Samaesan To Bangkok Ko Laan

Ko Si Chang Ko Phai

HMS Khram

Ko Kham Yai

EASTERN GULF COAST GULF EASTERN Climate Sri Racha (also called Si Racha) is easy to pass through a glance but lingering without Two hours an hour or so is recommended. Liuik(k pop 141,400 which also includes many small areas. also includes many which SRI RACHA its siblings, Ko Mak and Ko Kood, fall within its siblings, Ko Mak ), p148 ( National Park Ko Chang Marine rounding islands belong to Laem Ya/Ko Samet Samet rounding islands belong to Laem Ya/Ko further east Ko Chang and and National Park, Almost every island in the region is in a na- Almost every island in the region ) and the sur- p139 tional park. Ko Samet ( National Parks National Parks season, the easternmost islands are usually not season, islands are the easternmost waves. accessible due to choppy drop a smidgen to welcome the monsoons that drop a smidgen the monsoon In the height of last till October. November to February are milder months milder months are to February November March are months with little rain. The hottest the temperatures while in mid-May, to May, The eastern gulf coast experiences three three gulf coast experiences eastern The hot. seasons, variations of or rather, three lonelyplanet.com