Budget WorldClass Drives PHUKET, SAMUI & KRABI LOOP Highlights of the Drive 4006 KO PHANGAN G U L F O F T H A I L A N D his drive links Southern Thailand’s T two premier island destinations, A N D A M A N Ban Chaweng Mu Ko Ang Thong Phuket and Ko Samui. Section 1 of the S E A KAPOE THA CHANA KO SAMUI drive begins in Phuket and goes north Ban Nathon to Takua Pa, passing Khao Lak Lamru 4169 CHAIYA 4170 National Park and the increasingly Phum Riang 4 Ferry popular beach resort of Khao Lak. DON SAK THA CHANG 4142 From the old provincial district KANCHANADIT 4142 KHANOM KURA BURI 41 PHUNPHIN 4232 town of Takua Pa, section 2 strikes east- 4 401 4014 Hat Nai KHIRI SURAT 4010 wards to Surat Thani through one of RATTANIKHOM THANI Phlao 401 3 the most scenic areas along the drive. 4134 4100 Khao Sok Rachaphrapha 41 The route passes Khao Sok National KHIAN SA SICHON TAKUA PA Dam SAN NA DOEM 2 401 4106 Park, which offers eco-adventure BAN TAKHUN 4009 401 4133 amidst the stunning scenery that 4032 PHANOM BAN NA SAN 4188 4186 characterises the park. Krung Ching NOPPHITAM KAPONG 415 4140 THA Khao Lak WIANG SA (roads closed) SALA Section 3 begins at Surat Thani, a 4090 Lam Ru 4035 PHRA PHIPUN 4141 bustling provincial capital and harbour, 4240 4090 PHLAI PHRAYA 4016 4 4197 SAENG PHROMKHIRI 4013 4133 4015 5 and goes to car-ferry ports serving Ko 4 PHANG NGA 4035 CHAI BURI NAKHON SRI Hat Thai THAP PHUT 4228 Khao Samui and Ko Phangan. Muang THAM PHANNARA 4094 Luang THAMMARAT TAKUA 415 AO LUK 4037 CHAWANG CHANG THUNG 4196 4015KLANG Tha Dan Than Bok Khorani 4038 LAN SAKA 4013 From the port linking Ko Samui THAI MUANG 4 4039 4239 Ban Khok Kloi Khao Phanom KHAO PHANOM 4019 PHRA PHROM Ao Phang Nga 408 and the mainland, Section 4 of the drive 402 Bencha 4156 THUNG YAI 41 403 passes beach resorts close to Khanom 4037 4110 RON PHIBUN 4035 NA BON Sirinat 402 KO YAO 4038 CHALOEM and Sichon on the route south to THUNG PRAKIAT 4027 4034 NUA KHONG Nakhon Sri Thammarat, the ancient 4202 SONG CHULAPHON THALANG Khao Phra Thaeo 4 4038 4161 Buddhist capital of the south. Formerly Ban Choeng 402 6 KRABI 4151 Thalae 4025 4036 BANG KHIAN known as Ligor, the city has much for 1 Hat Nopparat Thara & RATSADA Patong PHUKET Mu Ko Phi Phi KHLONG THOM 41 visitors interested in culture and cui- 4233 4021 4206 Ban Chalong HUAI YOT sine. 4239 KO PHI PHI 4063 4164 Heading west from Nakhon Sri 4046 Thammarat to Krabi, section 5 first Marine National Park passes Khao Luang National Park, National Park 4 where impressive waterfalls highlight Oliver Hargreave the influence of the 1835m peak on the geography of the area. The drive then continues through rolling back- ROADS IN THAILAND country filled with rubber and oil-palm plantations. All main and most minor roads are sealed. Signs and reflective markers warn of hazards on major highways, and sodium lighting illuminates major The route from Krabi in section 6 intersections. Bilingual (English/Thai) road signs indicate destinations, high- once again strikes the march of karst way numbers and distances before and after intersections. Kilometre stones formations which give Phang Nga Bay show highway number and distance along the road on the front face, and its spectacular identity. After passing distances to destinations in the direction of travel on the side. The police and Phang Nga itself, the drive turns south military set up road check-points on highways, especially at night, but there for the final run back to Phuket. are no security problems. For instructions, please see the back Please remember to drive on the left! page. Happy trails! Emergency Assistance 1-800-BUDGET, Phuket Airport Office (0) 7620 5396 Samui Airport Office (0) 7742 7188, Krabi Office (0) 7569 1938 Online Bookings: www.budget.co.th Our fastest way to rent a car www.budget.co.th 1 PHUKET SECTION 1 : 134 kms. TAKUA PA North 1 POINTER ONE PHUKET to TAKUA PA to Ranong Khao Sok Intersection of Thung Khra Rd and National Park Thepkrasatri Rd, Phuket Town. Go north 4 Õ.µ–°—Ë«ªÉ“ 1 on the main route (H402) out of Phuket To Surat Thani TAKUA PA City. (see Phuket City detail map) 8 Ban Talat Takua Pa 401 Bangsak 2 POINTER TWO 4032 (section 2) Beach Resort H4022 comes from Ha Yaek Chalong (the fastest route from Kata, Karon, and Similana 4022 2 Rawai beaches) joining H402 from Chalong Phuket City Phuket City. Go North. (see Phuket Is- Õ.°–ªß land map) Khao KAPONG Lak Beach Lam Ru 3 POINTER THREE Khao Lak Lam Ru Falls National Park 4025 4027 H4025 joins H402 from Ban Choeng Thap Talae at the Heroines Monument. Go Lamu Poseidon 4090 3 north. H4027 east passes the National Ban Thung 402 Museum and the Gibbon project. Maphrao 4240 4090 4 4 POINTER FOUR 7 ®.æ—ßß“ 4 Lam Pi Falls 402 H4030 from Laguna, Surin and Patong Hat Thai Muang PHANG NGA Manohra Phang Nga Valley Resort 4030 National Park beaches joins H402 at the intersection and Khao Lam Pi Falls Ton Sai Falls to National Park Wat Tham Suwankhuha with traffic lights in Thalang. Go north. Krabi 6 415 4 The road east goes to Ton Sai Falls in Tha Dan (section 6) Thai Muang THAI Õ.µ–°—Ë«∑ÿàß the Khao Phra Taeo National Park Beach Golf MUANG TAKUA THUNG Phang Nga Bay Õ.∑⓬‡À¡◊Õß Resort Hotel KM40 left turn on H402 (old road) to the Sirinath Na- 4 tional Park and local restaurants at Mai Kao Beach. Cross the strait on the older Sarasin bridge to rejoin the main 5 highway. Ban Khok Kloi Ao Phang Nga 3 kms north of the bridge an east turn offers an alter- Marine National Park Phisalai 402 Resort native route to Phang Nga Bay for via Khlong Kian. A west turn takes you to local coastal roads via Dusit Hot Springs, House on The Bay Bo Dan Beach and Thung Sai beaches to the district town Ban Khlong Kian (amphoe) of Thai Muang. 402 Sirinat Marine 5 POINTER FIVE National Park Takua Pa Nai Yang 4 H4 KM7. H402 joins H4 - the Petchkasem 4027 (H4) Highway - at Ban Khok Khloi. The high- beach Phang Nga Khao Phra Thaeo Krabi way goes north to Takua Pa and east to 4031 National Park 5 Phang Nga. Go north at Ban Khok Kloi 4 THALANG Laguna Õ.∂≈“ß if following the route in the order laid 4030 402 Phuket (H402) Ban Choeng 4025 out in this guide. Thalae 3 2 Õ.°√–∑Ÿâ Takua Pa 6 POINTER SIX National Park. KATHU 4 Patong 1 ®.¿Ÿ‡°Áµ Thai Muang KM24 Thai Muang. Go north (right) at 4028 PHUKET Beach Golf 4233 5 the lights on main highway. The road Karon Local coast road west leads to the beach and Hat Thai 4021 4021 Phuket (H4) Muang Lam Phi National Park HQ. Ban Chalong 10 kms Kata KM32-33 Lamphi Falls. Right turn 2 kms. 4239 Rawai Oliver Hargreave 2 www.budget.co.th Takua Pa 7 POINTER SEVEN PHUKET ISLAND 4 (Ban Thung Maphrao) H4 KM39. H4 bypasses Ban Thung to Takua Pa 4240 Kapong Sirinth Nation Park Phang Nga Club Med To Chalong Phang Nga Maphrao and the turn off on H4240 east. Kata Beach Roundabout (local style restaurants) H4240 offers a shorter alternative inland 500 m 7 route via Kapong to Khao Sok National Mai Kao Beach The Boat thouse Phuket Park, missing Khao Lak and Takua Pa 402 (see Kapong Area map and section 2. Fill up with gas before to Naiharn & Promthep to Kata Noi Beach taking this route). Budget Airport Office R Tel: (0) 7620 5396 Yacht Haven KM51-52 Left (west) turn for Thap Lamu, the starting Nai Yang Beach point for boat trips (usually booked in Phuket) to the Similan Islands. One-day trips to the Similans are available starting at 07:30 am from Met Sine Travel & Tour, Thap Lamu 0 1 2 3 4 kms. 402 Tel: (0) 7644 3276 KM53-54. Left turn to Poseidon Bungalows $ - offers 1 Nai Thon three-day live-aboard boat tours to the Similan for 4031 G Gibbon Project Ao Po Beach Bang Pae Falls snorkelling. Tel: (0) 7644 3258. www.similantour.nu KM56 Khao Lak Lamru National Park Headquarters (of- Õ.∂≈“ß 4 fers inexpensive huts, a day-hike into the forest to Chong THALANG Ton Sai Falls Laguna Khao Phra Thaeo Fah Falls and a pleasant restaurant in a shady grove over- 2 G National Park 4027 looking the sea). Bang Tao Beach 4030 Surin & Pansea 8 POINTER EIGHT Beach Ban Choeng 3 4025 Ranong Thalae Heriones & Surat Thani Laem Sing Beach Boat Lagoon Follow the highway left at the traffic Phuket Fantasea National Museum Kamala lights in Takua Pa by the Phra Narai Dulwich International College S 2 (Vishnu) monument (see detail map). Right on H4032 goes to Ban Talat Takua Kathu Falls 8 4032 3 Pa, a small, sleepy market that was a G (H4) Nakalae Beach Õ.°√–∑Ÿâ former centre for tin-mining. Kalim Beach KATHU Patong 4028 Si Rae Soi Bangla R 1 G 4 ACCOMMODATION Budget Patong Office 4233 (Club Andaman) Tel: (0) 7629 6592 • Khao Lak Bayfront Resort. (H4. KM57-58)$$ - $$ $ PHUKET TOWN Tel: (0) 7642 0111-17. E-mail <[email protected]> 4021 • Khao Lak Palm Beach Resort.