Thailand's islands are rich in hidden treasures and one such is Koh Si Chang, a charming historical island offering a treasure trove of delights such as ruins of summer palaces, great architecture and lots more! Koh Si Chang is the biggest island in the Chon Buri Province, off Pattaya in the Gulf of Thailand.The small islets of Koh Kang Kao, Koh Kham Noi, Koh Prong and others surround Koh Si Chang.

About 3 hours from Bangkok, you can get to Koh Si Chang by catching a boat from Charin Pier of Sri Racha in Chonburi. From Sri Racha it's about a 45 min ride to Tha Lang Pier of Koh Si Chang. Plenty of local taxis called Tuk Tuks help you get to other parts of the island from Tha Lang Pier.

Thailand's Koh Si Chang is a rock island with a tropical climate. A vacation place of three former kings of the Chakri dynasty, the island is a popular tourist destination owing to its associations with royalty and beautiful architectural marvels.

Koh Si Chang will charm you with its many attractions, such as:

Chudahdhuj Palace, former summer residence of the royal family. Here there's the octagon stone base which was once the intended site of Vimanmek Mansion that you see in Bangkok.

Wat Thamyaiprig, a peaceful meditation temple where monks and nuns lead their holy life away from the world

Chao Pho Khao Yai Shrine of Buddha on a northern hill of the island, some 192 m above sea level from where you can observe the island in all its glory.

Some places connected with royalty worth visiting are: Phra Chuthathut Ratchatan and the intricately designed garden palace of Si Chang.

Mondop atop Buddha's Footprint replica installed by King Rama V on a hill from where you get glorious views of the island

The Assadang Nimit Temple in which a pagoda has been built atop a Western style domed church.

The secluded beach of Haad Saai Kaew on Koh Si Chang and the surrounding islets like Koh Kang Kao offer great snorkeling opportunities and a chance to view a variety of coral and fish.
You can explore Koh Si Chang on a day trip and be back in Pattaya before nightfall. Many tour operators in Pattaya offer such trips. If you want to stay over for the night, there are many hotels with affordable rates on Koh Si Chang itself.

If you want to be touched by royalty, come to Koh Si Chang, the preferred summer destination of kings!

How to get to Ko Sichang

Train: There is one train daily from Hualompong Train Station in Bangkok to Siracha town, a journey of 117 Km. Upon arrival in Siracha take a “tuk-tuk” to Ko Loy Pier. Ferries leave every hour to Ko Sichang. The first ferry is at 07.00 and the last is at 20.00. The journey takes approximately 45 minutes and costs 40 Baht per person.

Bus:Air-conditioned buses leave Ekamai Bus Station(East) and Morchid Bus Station(North) in Bangkok to Siracha town, every hour starting at 06.50. The last bus leaves at 21.00.

Source Photo:
Akira Banno

Royal Varuna Yacht Club, Pattaya
www.varuna.org
Located on an exclusive bay in South Pattaya, the Royal Varuna Yacht Club is one of the world’s leading beach sailing clubs, and has hosted numerous world championship events. The club’s main focus is dinghies and beach catamarans, but it is also a treasured stop for many yachts cruising in the Gulf of Thailand. The club has 24 rooms, full bar and restaurant services, and offers sailing instructions for both beginners and advanced sailors.


Ocean Marina, Jomtien, Pattaya
www.oceanmarinayachtclub.com
Ocean Marina Yacht Club boasts a five-star hotel and is the largest world-class yachting centre in Asia, providing a full range of marina facilities, services and water activities. With an enormous u-shaped wave breaker, the marina covers 50 acres, or 80 rai, and has berthing for 500 yachts. It also provides dry docks for 200 boats of up to 35 feet.



Koh Chang Marina
www.kohchangmarina.com
Currently the only yacht marina in Koh Chang Marine National Park, it offers launching and retrieving services, wet and dry berths, supplies and maintenance services. Gulf Charters operates from here on the island.




Yacht Haven Marina, Phuket
www.yacht-haven-phuket.com
Situated on Phuket’s northeast coast and only fifteen minutes from the international airport, Yacht Haven Marina markets itself as “the perfect port-of-call” to base oneself for sailing expeditions in the area. It can handle craft of up to 80 metres. The marina accommodates over 200 vessels, and features newly renovated docks and boardwalks, and all manner of landside facilities. The marina overlooks Phang Nga Bay, and enjoys steady fresh breezes all year.


Royal Phuket Marina
www.royalphuketmarina.com
Tucked away quietly, but strategically located on the centre of Phuket's eastern flank, Royal Phuket Marina is on the doorstep of Phang Nga Bay and close to the international airport, as well as Phuket’s main town, a number of top golf courses and other attractions. Covering over 30 hectares, or 190 rai, the marina has 350 berths for yachts of up to 35 metres. Apart from its size, Royal Phuket Marina has a boat lock, a non-tidal deepwater basin and private moorings on the doorstep of residences. Alongside are 400 luxury villas, penthouses and condominiums. Further dining, shopping, park and club areas, hotel and convention facilities are being developed.

An exhibition centre is opening in December in time to host “Asia’s favourite boat show,” the annual Phuket International Marine Expo (PIMEX). The initiative is a joint venture between Royal Phuket Marina and Informa (www.informa.com). The largest publicly-owned organizer of conferences and courses in the world, Informa stages over 10,000 events annually.


PIMEX (Phuket International Marine Expo)
www.phuketboatshow.com
Now in its sixth year, Pimex 2008 is a marine and lifestyle exhibition held at the Royal Phuket Marina Exhibition and Conference centre in a 2,500-square-metre airconditioned display space located adjacent to the marina basin with over 40 yachts in the water. The show is one of the largest on-water boat shows in the region, and a major showcase for boating and marine leisure. Even with the economic downturn, event organizer Andy Dowden is forecasting the largest PIMEX event yet (4-7 December).


Big Buddha Marina
www.bigbuddhamarina.com
The Thai government is reviewing the possibility of installing a 100-berth marina on Koh Samui near Big Buddha Beach. This new development is a response to the success of the Koh Samui Regatta, which attracted 33 boats and over 300 crew in 2008

Jazz lovers know exactly where they should be come mid-June. They will be catching an invigorating sea breeze and dining on fresh sea food at Hua Hin’s famous beachside restaurants.

But only when they are not soaking up the serious stuff – musical concerts delivering the very best in jazz, compliments of a variety of local and international bands.

Hua Hin shakes off its low season blues, 13 to 14 June, every year for its international jazz festival at sites on the beach and in the centre of this lively resort town that graces Thailand’s western coast of the Gulf of Thailand.

Hua Hin is approximately 220 km from Bangkok and is noted for being the country’s first beach resort discovered by royalty and nobility in the post in the 1930s when the only feasible way to reach its golden beaches was by steam train.

Today, it is a popular beach town with more than its far share of five-star hotels.

One of the main jazz festival stages is set up close to the Sofitel Central Resort, a heritage property dating back to early 1900s and Marriott Resort and Spa.

In all, there are three stages custom-built for the jazz festival on the beach and in the town near the historical railway station and another near Phone Kingpet complex.

Of course, the beach venue serves up a winning ambience, as thousands of jazz lovers sit on deck chairs or mats laid out on the sand and enjoy the very best selections of traditional and modern jazz.

The beach venue will feature world-class jazz artists such as the Kenny Garrett Quartet, Mike Stern, Dave Weckl and Chris Minh Doky. Thai singers join international celebrities such as Kop Songsit, T-Bone, Luk Pad Cholanan, Surachai Jantimatorn, Rudklao Amaraditra and Jirasak Panpoom.

In town at the railway and shopping complex stages Thai artists such as Viyada Komarakul na Nakhon, B Crescendo, Monotone Group, Calories Blah Blah, Lula, ETC, Doobadoo and Tewan Sapsanyakorn will perform.

All performances during the three-day festival are free and continue from 1530 until midnight.

No wonder this “Royal Town” is sometimes renamed “Jazz Town” when its streets are packed with music lovers of all ages, who gather to enjoy the best of jazz from both international and Asian musicians. Definitely, this is a festival that adds value for any holiday maker visiting Hua Hin during the 13 to 14 June weekend.

More Information :
TAT Central Region Office : Region 2
Tel : 0 3247 1005-6

In the country's easternmost province of Trat, the Mu Koh Chang Marine National Park comprises 52 islands scattered along the coastline close to the Kampuchean border. Estsblidhed in 1982, it covers just over 650 sq.km. and is one of Thailand's least visited national parks. Koh Chang is the second largest island in Thailand, with a footprint covering 240sq.km.

Blanketed in almost impenetrable virgin rain forest, the hilly interior rises to a peak at Khao Join Prasat, which climbs to reach 744m. as it dominates the centre of the island. Although wildlife is sparse, there are wild boars, hornbills, parrots and sunbirds, all of which can be seen in the forest.

Most of the island's inhabitants still make their living from fishing. Tourism has just started to make its mark, and nowadays many of the once-familiar small resorts of bungalows and bamboo huts are being replaced, or joined by, high-end hotels, resorts and spas.

The islands amenities mainly focus around the perimeter, particularly the larger beaches which are all easily accessed by road. Getting around the island is simple as there are plenty of pickup trucks and taxis, as well as minibus travelling to and from Trat airport. There are also tourist amenities and accommodation on the island of Koh Mak.

Diving around Koh Chang
The diving here still has an exciting exploratory fell to it. As it's spread over a large area, the sites are uncrowded. Mu Koh Chang Marine National Park has large selection of healthy fringing reefs, pinnacles and walls, as well as several very enjoyable snorkeling sites. In general, visibility averages around 10m. although it can be in excess of 20m., especially at the sites further south. Marine life is also more prolific in these areas. There plenty of colorful reef-dwellers, form minute invertebrates up to giants clams. The waters also attract many large pelagics, rays and - quite regularly - ehale sharks.

source Reference : DIVE SITE Thailand

Most of Koh Samet, including all of the good parts, is a national park and has an entry fee. Foreigners pay about 400 baht - a classic example of Thai dual pricing. If your ferry arrives at the main pier and you take a songthaew (local open air taxis) to the beaches, there will be a stop at the main ticket checkpoint. If your ferry arrives at one of the beaches, an officer will collect the fee as you step out of the surf. Note that there is plenty of foot traffic in and out of the park to the 7-Eleven, ATM or other shops and restaurants and if you have no bags you can nonchalantly walk into the park without anyone checking your ticket. There is a road via the temple which avoids the checkpoint entirely.

The 1st class bus from Bangkok's Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai) to Ban Phe usually takes just over 3 hours, costs 276 baht, and terminates opposite the ferry piers (there's no direct service to Ban Phe from Moh Chit - nearest alternative is to Rayong, from there you can take a Song Thaew to Ban Phe). If you take a regular bus from Pattaya or Sattahip, you'll need to take a songthaew or charter a tuk-tuk to the ferry piers. Minibus services go straight to the piers.

Ferries from Ban Phe to Koh Samet take around 30 to 45 minutes. Only buy a one-way ticket, as there's no discount on round-trip tickets and you won't have to worry about losing it. The ticket sellers may also offer to sell you the national park ticket - don't bother.

The nearest airport fielding commercial flights is U-Tapao, just east of Sattahip - about 45 km from Ban Phe.

Many of the resorts and guest houses around Hat Sai Kaeo (Diamond Beach) - the most developed beach on the northeast cape, are linked by a local path. Diamond Beach is also only a 10 minute walk from the ferry port at Na Dan. You can also hike the shoreline path between beaches. This tiny island (about 7 km long, and 5 km wide) lies about 6 km off Thailand's east coast in the province of Rayong. Ferries leave the small fishing village of Ban Phe (about 20 km east of Rayong town) to Koh Samet daily from 06.00 - 17.00 hrs. The trip takes about 30 to 45 minutes depending on which part of the island it goes to. It's possible to hire a local "long-tail" boat which makes the trip in about half the time. There is also a 20 baht entry fee to the National Park.

Traditional on almost every South-East Asia beach, Ko Samet has started featuring "Full/Half/Dark Moon" nights. These should not be confused with the massive Full Moon Parties on Koh Pha Ngan or other parts of Southern Thailand - here they are simply an excuse for drink specials, which are present every night of the year anyway.

Source Photo :
Kris_B
lubow

The natural splendour and mystical charm of sheer limestone cliffs with awe-inspiring stalagmites and stalactites characterise the landscape of the Mu Koh Ang Thong National Park. Most of the islands consist of limestone mountains which rise from the sea to 10-400 metres above sea level, with many strange erosion-formed cliff faces, deserted beaches and rainforest areas. The islands are visible from Koh Samui but they are geographically quite different, rising much more dramatically upwards.

The Park covers 42 picturesque islands with white sandy beaches, hidden lagoons, fertile coral reefs featuring sea anemones, soft corals and sponges. The park does not encompass the entire island chain, its jurisdiction covers only about 82% of the total area.

Koh Wua Ta Lap island on which the Park headquarters is located has pristine white beaches.

Tham Bua Bok has fascinating stalagmites and stalactites and offers an exhilarating mountaintop vantage point.

Koh Thai Phlao and Koh Wua Kantang islands are also impressive dive sites while Koh Sam Sao island, with a stone bridge leading towards the sea, is another good coral site.

Koh Mae Koh island is famous for its astounding emerald inland lake surrounded by piercing limestone outcrops.

CLIMATE :
Mu Koh Angthong National Park receives approximately 2,000 mm. of rain fall in a year. The best time for visiting the islands is between February and October, when the sea is calm, suitable for swimming, snorkeling and sailing. The water is clearest around March/April time. This is also the hottest time of the year.

During November and December the Gulf of Thailand can experience large waves and strong wind, making boat travel to Ang Thong National Park hazardous so the park office is temporarily closed each year from 1 November to 23 December.

HOW TO GET THERE :
Join a tour programme or rent a boat from Koh Samui island. Boats leave from Na Thon Pier and Bo Phut Pier at 08:30 hours and arrive at the archipelago after an 1 hour 30 minutes cruise.

ACCOMMODATION :
The Park provides 6 houses on Koh Wua Ta Lap island at a rate of 400 to 1,000 Baht per night. A camping area is also available.

Contact Information:
Mu Koh Ang Thong National Park
Phone : (66 77) 286 025 (mainland)
(66 77) 420 225 (on the island)

source Reference : National Parks of Thailand
source Photo :
mureena

Koh Samet is the miracle glass island, made famous by the legendary Thai poet - Sunthorn Pu.

approximately 220 kilometers from Bangkok, is another delightful resort on Thailand’s eastern coast. A late bloomer, the province is well known for its pristine beaches stretching along a 100-kilometer coastline and scenic waterfalls amidst exotic surroundings


It is the island of great natural beauty of Rayong province. It is famous with both local and foreign tourists and is comprised of 2-3 hills that are arranged in an interesting manner on the northern and western parts of the island.

It is known as Koh Samet becuase of the 'Samet' specie of plant that bears red and white seeds.

Previously, villagers would use them to light fires for living. The island does not have any water source with 80% of the island coverd with stony hills and deciduous forest. The raint season starts in May to September.

The island faces some rough weather in May and rains mainly in August.

Source Photo : Kris_B

Holiday package in a tropical resort in Koh Chang. Pamper yourself in a spa and learn Thai cooking in a tropical atmosphere. Full board including transfer from Bangkok to the island.

Note : Minimum 2 persons.

Day 1 - Bangkok – Trad (Lunch, Dinner)

Pick up from major hotels in Bangkok in the early morning for an overland journey to Trad, the westernmost province of Thailand. En route stop is made at Chantaburi for refreshment. Continue to Koh Chang, upon arrival at Ao Thammachat Ferry, boarding the ferry to Koh Chang (30 minutes). Check in at Koh Chang Tropicana Resort & Spa. Thai lunch is served at the restaurant in the hotel and rest of the day is free at your own leisure. You can take the optional tour of elephant riding, canoeing or island hopping to near by snorkeling sites. Dinner and overnight at Koh Chang Tropicana Resort & Spa.

Day 2 - Yoga & Thai Cooking & SPA (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Warm lemon juice is served before yoga session (40 Minutes).

After a yoga class, enjoy American breakfast at the hotel followed by free consultation with Yoga teacher. Thai cooking class, learn how to cook Thai food such as Phad-Thai (Fried noodle in Thai style) and Tom Yum Kung (Hot & sour spicy shrimp soup) or others. Thai lunch will be provided. In the afternoon, pampering yourself with a 1.30 hours aromatherapy or traditional Thai Massage. Dinner & overnight at the resort.

Day 3 - Yoga – Depart for Bangkok (Breakfast, Lunch)

Serve warm lemon juice before yoga practice for health (40 Minutes). After the yoga class, take a short break before having breakfast at the resort. After breakfast, rest of the day is free until departure transfer to the jetty for ferry crossing to Trad and transfer back to Bangkok.

Upon arrival in Bangkok, drop off at your hotel or at Bangkok International Airport.

Source : Thailandwonders

Koh Kham is a small island near Ko Mak, on Trat Province, Thailand. It can be reached with a sea kayak from Ko Mak or by walking during low tide. Ko Kham has nice places to snorkel, depending on the direction of wind. Especially the south beach has a calm sea, nice sand dune, black lava rocks with shells and crabs (or crayfishes or shellfishes). Near rocks, you may see (or swim over) black sea urchins that have 15-30 cm radius and many thin black pipes about 30-50 cm long (don’t know the name, help wanted). Locals say that the pipes contain small needles and poison: if one touches the pipes and gets the needles, the needle should be crushed with a rock. The poison is only irritating and not lethal. In Thai, the name is Hoi Ment.

The Gulf Of Thailand and the waters around Koh Tao is unique, with the majority close the island. allows us to offer divers variety for each trip.

SHARK ISLAND

One of the most varied dive sites around Koh Tao in terms of marine life, Shark Island is one place that you'll definitely wish to return to. Located 300m southeast of Koh Tao this small, uninhabited, granite peak rises clear of the water from a sandy bottom at 20m.Divers can enjoy an enormous variety of hard, encrusting corals and a similar variety of sea fans and whip corals.
The renowned "fish junction" off the northern end of the dive site provides excellent photographic opportunities.Shark Island occasionally plays host to visiting Reef and Leopard sharks. The more usual residents include Blue Spotted Rays, Scribbled Filefish, Starry Pufferfish, and Titan Triggerfish that sometimes like nibbling the fins of visiting divers who get a little too close to their nesting sites!

WHITE ROCK

White Rock boasts a large coral garden situated between two distinct granite pinnacles to the north and south sides of the site, and a vast array of both daytime and nocturnal inhabitants. With a depth range of 26m to 5m, and an average depth of 12m, White Rock is suited to everybody's experience levels.White Eye Morays and Blue Spotted Rays are commonly sighted, as is one of Koh Tao's legends, "Trevor" the Triggerfish who has been the boss of White Rock for many years.

Several species of Barracuda routinely visit here and it is particularly impressive to see them hunting on night dives, when they will actually follow divers using the torch beams to spot their dinner.

Night dives also unveil many different kinds of Feather Stars, hunting Cone Shells and feeding Stingrays, in addition to sleeping Parrot fish and Rabbit fish!

GREEN ROCK

One of the outlying dive sites to the north of Koh Nang Yuan island; Green Rock has its own special attractions for divers in the form of many varied swim throughs and the lunar like landscape created by nesting Yellow Margin Triggerfish.

With a depth range of 3m to 30m most divers will find this site within their capabilities. The insides of the caverns and the undersides of outcroppings are home to many brightly colored soft corals and sponges, while the outer parts of the site play host to shoals of electric Blue Damsel fish, Tube Anemones with tiny translucent shrimps (for those with keen eyesight) Emperors, Angel fish and the occasional Turtle.



KOH NANG YUAN

Nestled in a bay between the three islands of Koh Nang Yuan, Twins consists of two main pinnacles, and a smaller, deeper "little brother".

A perfect site for both training activities, and a leisurely fun dive, the pinnacles range in depth from 5m to 18m, and are surrounded by soft white sand dotted with the unusual symbiotic relationships of Goby fish and their blind-shrimp housemates.

Twins offers divers the chance to see the larger groupers normally only spotted at depth on the more remote dive sites. Blue-Ringed angelfish and the striking yellow Raccoon Butterfly fish are abundant, along with a host of varied Parrotfish and wrasse. Combined with green, blue, and red anemones this is one of the islands most colorful dive sites.

Venture south a short distance across the sand to encounter "Mork" and "Mindy", a friendly pair of the uncommon Saddleback Clownfish, then back to the East pinnacle for the best safety stop on the island with a school of around 500 curious, small Yellowtail Barracuda.

Source photo :

takau99 , artinbangkok , Henry & Tersia's and mureena

Koh Tao translates as “Turtle Island”, so named because of it’s shape and also there were many of turtles living around. It’s only about 21 sq km and is remotely located about 70 km far from the mainland.

From 1933 to 1947 Koh Tao was used to jail political prisoners of the Bowaradech Uprising. Many were transferred from Koh Tarutao to Koh Tao by reason of its location lonely in the middle of the Gulf of Thailand.

The community in Koh Tao was settled at the first time when the villagers from Koh Samui and Koh Phangan immigrated and were on the land of Koh Tao in 1947. Before that there were some people who came and used the land for coconut plantation and small fishery.

During the past ten years the reputation of Koh Tao’s natural beauty, especially its marine life and coral reefs due to the island’s distance from the mouth of Mae Nam Tapi, which affords high visibility and an abundance of marine life. It soon became one of the major dive sites of South East Asia.

Getting Here

The trip from Bangkok to Koh Tao consists of two part traveling: from Bangkok to Chumphon and from the pier at Chumphon to Koh Tao by boat. And for the tourists who want to visit Koh Samui and Koh Phagnan at the first, you can take a boat from Suratthani instead of Chumphon.

The most popular journey to get here from Bangkok – Chumphon - Koh Tao is to use the bus/boat combination trip where the tickets are available from many travel agencies on Thanon Khao San.

Photo : http://www.ekapon.com/

The Gulf Of Thailand and the waters around Koh Tao is unique, offering over 20 dive sites, with the majority close the island. The close proximity of these sites, combined with their depths, allows us to offer divers variety for each trip.

CHUMPHON PINNACLE

Northwest of Koh Tao, Chumphon pinnacle is widely regarded as one of the Gulf's premier dive sites. The site itself is comprises of one huge main granite pinnacle and a series of smaller pinnacles rising from the bottom at 36m to within 14m of the surface.

On the main part of the site divers can expect to encounter Batfish, Trevally, large Groupers, as well as huge shoals of Fusiliers and Rabbit fish. Less common, but still available to see, are the Spanish Mackerel, and some Paddlefin Trigger fish.
For those with keen eyes it is also possible to see Scorpionfish lazing on the rocks. Chumphon pinnacle also plays host to seasonal visits by Whale Sharks and their attendant Cobias and Remoras, plus the occasional Manta. A memorable experience for every diver!

SOUTH WEST PINNACLE

South-west of Koh Tao, this site is also widely acclaimed as another of the Gulf's premier diving destinations, with depths ranging from 30m upwards.

The series of seven pinnacles form an underwater mountain range, with the largest peak rising to within 5m of the surface.

Like Chumphon, this site features a carpet of anemones on the upper levels with an abundance of whip corals and large sea fans arrayed along the lower edges of the site.

Impressive Barracuda over a meter in length can be seen patiently waiting whilst tiny Cleaning Wrasse perform their underwater valet service. To the south-east of the main site lies a smaller pinnacle, which is home to two resident, if somewhat shy Leopard sharks.


To be continues : SHARK ISLAND, WHITE ROCK, GREEN ROCK, KOH NANG YUAN


For Detail : Crystal dive resort
Picture : Taucher.net