Gulf of Thailand

If you’re looking to really get away from civilizations or just to tell your boss that you can’t be reached, this is the place to do it. With limited infrastructure, meaning minimal cell reception and Internet, spotty electricity, no landlines and no banks or ATMs, this island is definitely not on the map for many tourists. Though the amenities are not all there, this is a great place to relax and settle in with a book or to explore nature by kayaking up the river estuary. As a town where the palm trees outnumber the buildings, and likely even the population of 2000 people, there is not a lot of tours to take or restaurants to eat in. Koh Kood is the best island for getting into nature and away from modern life. As the easternmost island before Cambodia, prepare yourself for virtually no nightlife and fantastic beaches that you’ll have practically to yourself and won’t have to share with other tourists. If you’re looking to shop while visiting South East Asia, you’ll be hard pressed to find much outside of your resort on Koh Kood and the one souvenir shop in Ao Salat. Be sure to enjoy the beautiful scenery and to swim in the pools fed by waterfalls. Getting there: From Koh Chang take the Kai Bae Hut Express speedboat which operates daily from Kai Bae pier on Koh Chang at 9am. The Boonsiri High Speed operates from Bangkok via the pier at Laem Sok. The return trip will also stop at the Lat Krabang airport link station, which is just one stop away from BKK Suvarnabhumi Airport. Beware of elastic time if you are trying to connect to a flight, the 12pm boat from Koh Kut has been known to leave up to 1.5 hours late.

By walking 10 minutes around the island, you can pretend you’re Robinson Crusoe, having landed on a deserted island. Koh Munnork is for the traveller who wants to feel like an indulged castaway, alone on the island but still just a 10-minute walk away from a hot shower. This small island has just one resort where all the beachfront bungalows have their own strip of private beach. Even when the resort is full, there’s never a crowd on the beach. From your room you can watch the sunrise in the morning and then in the evening you can recline in the infinity edge pool with a cocktail in hand as you watch the sunset. The private resort on Koh Munnork even offers packages that include all your meals right in their restaurant which serves both Thai and western-style foods. To reach the island, you’ll take the resort’s ferry from the mainland, which can take up to an hour. The ferry leaves and returns to the island only once a day, though you can rent a speedboat to get to the mainland if necessary.

This is the quintessential island for getting your dive certification or, if you already have it, just for enjoying the coral reefs. Koh Tao is a must visit island, located off of the west coast of the Gulf of Thailand. With 100,000 visitors per year, the busy vibe and laid-back nature of the island attracts travellers of all ages and budget ranges. The island offers some nightlife, but the bars usually close down early allowing visitors to get a good nights rest before starting their active tomorrow. The name Koh Tao translates to Turtle Island. Though actually named for the shape of the island, you’re likely to see hawksbill and green turtles on your visit as well as other wildlife such as sharks, rays and a rainbow selection of corals. Koh Tao remains enchanting through its lack of infrastructure. While staying on the island, try to remain eco-conscious as all un-burnable trash must be removed from the island and resources such as water and electricity are scarce and expensive for local businesses. Whether you stay in the nicest resort or the cheapest hostel, you’re likely to enjoy an active stay full of adventure and new skills learned under the water in sight of some of the most picturesque corals and sea life. Getting there: Lomprayah High Speed Catamaran is the fastest and most comfortable way to get to Ko Tao. They run twice a day from Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan, Surat Thani, and Chumphon. Nok Air operate two daily flights between Don Mueang Airport (DMK), Bangkok and Chumphon Airport, Pathio with van transfer for the 55 minute ride to the ferry terminal. Nok Air sell an integrated Fly 'an' Ferry combi ticket from Bangkok to Ko Tao via Chumphon Airport which combines flight, transfer and high speed ferry in a single ticket. Ko Samui airport is fairly well connected to major cities in the region such as Bangkok, Penang and Singapore.

Located in the Gulf of Thailand, 200km from Bangkok in the Gulf of Thailand, Ko Samet holidays take you to a T-shaped island of is famed for its white sandy beaches, exotic coral and crystal clear waters. Although a holiday to Ko Samet has become more popular over the past decade or so, it hasn't been the victim of over zealous construction which has hit the likes of Ko Samui. A Ko Samet holiday offers splendid beaches and white silky sand, surrounded by tropical coral reefs and crystal clear sea. Enjoy a plethora of delicious cuisine and fine nightlife whilst on your Ko Samet holiday.Getting there: Bangkok Airways operates a flight daily from Phuket and Ko Samui to Pattaya's U-Tapao Airport. Ferries from Ban Phe or Nuan Thip  to Ko Samet take around 30 to 45 minutes.When to go: Even though Ko Samet is only a few kilometers from the mainland, the island with its micro-climate (the driest archipelago in Thailand) gets much less rainfall than the rest of Eastern Thailand. The rainy season is May to September but even then it still has significantly less rain than the other islands in Thailand. Tourists should, however, be careful of occasional storms.