Andaman Islands

For some of the most magnificent maritime views from almost every angle, try a holiday in Koh Yao. This “Big Long Island” is only a 25-minute speedboat trip from Phuket’s east coast. The mostly Muslim population of the island is conservative and as a result tourism development has been slow here. The advantage of this is a more unspilt destination that gives visitors on holiday in Koh Yao a more authentic experience. With unspoilt shorelines, mountainous backbones, hugely varied birdlife and a friendly population a holiday in Ko Yao is a must for anyone that wants something a little bit more special from their Thailand holiday.

Considered too quiet for backpackers and young partiers, this island is the perfect getaway for families and travellers who aren’t interested in noisy parties that go on until dawn. Located off the Andaman coast of southern Thailand, Koh Lanta is known for its many diving and snorkelling opportunities and long white beaches. The island is best explored on a scooter and it’s easy to rent one from a local shop and take the day to ride the roads and see all that Koh Lanta has to offer. The commute to Koh Lanta can be arduous, so be prepared to relax and settle in for a few days after arriving. With more than 9 beaches on the sunset side of the island, there are endless options of places to stay in a wide variety of budget ranges. The island’s mangroves and white sand beaches offer space for adventuring and trekking while the coastline dotted with more than 70 small islands gives visitors a stunning landscape to look upon while relaxing and catching rays on the beach. Be sure to get a little deeper into the Thai culture by taking a cooking class and learning how to make the traditional Thai dishes and bring some new knowledge home. Getting there: The nearest airports are Krabi, Trang and Phuket. Krabi and Trang have direct road and boat connections to Ko Lanta, and are the best options if you're only visiting Ko Lanta. Flying into Phuket is a better option if you're intending to spend time in Phuket and nearby islands, or, since Phuket has many more international flights, if you don't want to have to organize a domestic flight to Krabi or Trang from Bangkok. As an alternative to Bangkok, there are daily flights to Krabi directly to and from Singapore, as well as Kuala Lumpur.When to go: Weather in the region is tropical and there are two basic monsoons: During the months of November - April the island experiences the dry monsoon, northeasterly prevailing winds come overland and bring dry air. Temperatures rise during March/April and it get's quite arid and dusty on the island after many months of no rain. May - October is the wet monsoon season, where southwesterly winds bring wetter weather from the indian ocean. Around April the season changes and the increase in rain helps revitalise the island to its tropical lushness, everything regrows and the cool wet spells brings relief from the heat of the dry season. Temperatures during the year average 25ºC to 32ºC (77ºF to 89.6ºF) and the yearly rainfall averages 2569 mm. Unlike in say Europe, the rain in this region comes down heavily and quickly over short periods. The sea stays at a warm 29°C all year round.