Types of Tourism in Thailand
Beach vacation.
Sandy beaches, sea warm all year round, tropical landscapes have made Thailand a paradise for a beach holiday. The most popular resorts are Pattaya, Rayong, Cha-Am, Hua-Hin, Krabi, the islands of Koh Samet, Koh Chang, Koh Samui, Phuket, Phi Phi, Lanta.
Pattaya
Pattaya is located 2.5 hours from Bangkok. This is the most active and party resort in Thailand. Although the sea and beaches here are not the cleanest, the best hotels are located in this area. and a lot of entertainment is concentrated for every taste: bars, discos, restaurants, various shows, bowling alleys, shooting galleries, shopping arcades, shops and shops. Pattaya is a constantly bustling city where an atmosphere of fun, recklessness and permissiveness reigns. Check top-medical-schools.org for travel information in Thailand.
Rayong
Rayong is located 180 kilometers southeast of Bangkok.. It is famous for its pristine beaches, stretching for 100 km along the Gulf of Thailand. Here you will see majestic mountains covered with forests, picturesque plains, plantations of rubber and fruit trees. There are many small quiet bays and fishing villages with picturesque markets in this area, which you should definitely visit to appreciate the wide selection of shell souvenirs, seafood, seafood products. The waters of the Gulf of Thailand are ideal for swimming, snorkeling and fishing. In addition, Rayong is the only resort with geothermal mineral springs.
Cha-Am and Hua-Hin
Cha-Am is a new, rapidly developing resort. It is located 173 km southwest of Bangkok. Hua Hin, located 25 km from Cha-Am, is the oldest resort in Thailand., a favorite vacation spot of the royal family. Hua Hin is famous for its white-sand beach, stretching for 3 km. These two resorts are suitable for those who want to spend time in peace and quiet on the cleanest uncrowded beaches. The great thing about these places is that natural splendor is successfully combined with luxurious service. All conditions are created here for active pastime; you can practice water sports, horseback riding, scuba diving, fishing, tennis and golf.
Krabi
Until recently, it was a small, unknown town. Today, Krabi is a rapidly developing resort in the south of Thailand, popular among windsurfers. It is located 170 km from Phuket. In Krabi the beaches are covered with white, fine as powder, sand. Here is one of the three limestone deposits known in the world, 75 million years old. In Krabi, tourists are attracted not only by well-maintained beaches, but also by other attractions. For example, the Wat Tham Sua cave monastery, the Tham Lod and Tham Phi Hua To Tham caves, the picturesque Bokkhorani Park.
Koh Samet
Island Samet Island is located in the Gulf of Thailand, near the resort of Rayong. The southern part of Samet has the status of a nature reserve, and the northern part is a fishing village with a pier and a monastery with a temple. There is no such vibrant nightlife as in nearby Pattaya, but you can enjoy the silence on the uncrowded beaches. Koh Chang island Chang Island is located southeast of Bangkok. “Chang” is Thai for elephant. Indeed, the island with its outlines resembles the head of an elephant. The main factors that attract tourists here are the untouched nature of the tropical jungle, many waterfalls, a high level of service and the availability of all the necessary infrastructure.
The main local entertainment is diving, visiting Buddhist temples, as well as the local national park.
Koh Samui
Island Koh Samui is located in the western part of the Gulf of Thailand, 560 km south of Bangkok. This island, covered with dense jungle in the central regions, is rightfully called a tropical paradise. An interesting feature of this island is that the local law prohibits the construction of buildings that would be taller than coconut trees.
On Koh Samui, there are absolutely all the opportunities for both active recreation and solitude and a relaxing pastime in the shade of palm trees on the ocean. The best beaches are in the east of the island. The most famous and largest beach of the island is Chaweng with fine white sand. There are many bars and restaurants, there are several discos and clubs. It should be borne in mind that there are low tides on the island. There are few convenient beaches on the western coast; the coast here is very rocky and shallow, so that it is almost impossible to swim. Phuket Island Phuket is located in the Andaman Sea and is connected to the mainland by a causeway. Almost 77% of the island is covered with forests; and the rest of the territory is occupied by parks and coconut plantations. Phuket is known all over the world and is considered one of the best and most prestigious resorts in Asia. The main resort areas are concentrated on the west coast – these are Patong, Karon and Kata. Patong is the most noisy and party beach in Phuket, the rest are calm. The island is home to Asia’s most famous amusement park, Phuket Fantasea.
Phi Phi and Lanta islands Phi
Phi and Lanta are ideal for fans of diving, as well as lovers of secluded relaxation.
Phi Phi Island is located in the Andaman Sea, not far from Phuket Island., from which ferries regularly leave for Phi Phi. Phi Phi consists of several islands. The most famous of them are the islands of Phi Phi Le and Phi Phi Don, which are considered one of the most beautiful islands on the planet. Phi Phi Le is uninhabited, but you can go around it by boat to look at the impregnable cliffs rising right from the depths of the sea. Koh Phi Phi Don is a small island with bungalows and several hotels where you can stay overnight or relax during a day trip from Phuket.
Koh Lanta escaped the massive influx of tourists. There are no skyscraper hotels here: local law prohibits the construction of buildings that would be taller than coconut trees. Also, there are no modern roads, shopping centers and boutiques. The whole “civilization” is represented by a small street in the north of the island, where there are several restaurants, shops, a fruit market and a bank branch. But for lovers of tropical exoticism, there is everything here: the clear sea, nature untouched by civilization, secluded tropical beaches, and an abundance of tropical fruits and seafood. Lanta includes two islands: Lanta Noi and Lanta Yai. Lanta Noi is uninhabited; Lanta Yai is a young resort that began to receive tourists only 2 years ago, and therefore retained the atmosphere of a tropical village.
Diving.
In Thailand diving centers can be found almost everywhere. The most beautiful dive sites are located on the Similan Islands, not far from Koh Samui and near Phuket. Phuket Island
Off the west coast of the island, you can dive directly from the shore. But more popular are one-day tours on slow diving boats to the islands of Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Koh Phi Phi, the Koh Surin archipelago and Richeliu rock and on speedboats to the Similan Islands, which are located 100 kilometers north of Phuket. Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Koh Surin and Richeliu rock are north of Phuket. Koh Tachai is known for its abundance of rays, turtles, leopard and whale sharks. Richeliu Rock is regarded as the best place in the world to swim with whale sharks. The Similan Islands are located south of Phuket.. They are considered one of the ten best dive sites in the world. The islands amaze tourists with huge cliffs, white coral beaches, palm forests and real wild jungle. These islands are a national marine park in which animals are not yet used to being afraid of humans. One of the most amazing features of this place is the presence of two completely different ecosystems on both sides of the islands. On the west coast you can see entire coral gardens; most often here they swim with the flow and watch the inhabitants of the reefs. The east coast is huge boulders, sometimes the size of a house, and fast-moving whirlpools. The view of giant stones through clear water is unique, there are few such places on Earth. In the vicinity of the Similan Islands, a large number of fish are found, you can see rays, whale and leopard sharks. Although diving on the islands is possible all year round, the recommended time to visit is from October to May, when the water in the sea is clearer. On average, visibility on the Similans is 18 – 25 m, and sometimes reaches 40 m.
Pattaya
Although Pattaya was settled much earlier than other tourist areas in Thailand, its coastal waters remain one of the most popular diving destinations. The water in the Pattaya area is not so clear, but the unique wildlife attracts divers from all over the world. One of the firstdiving courses in Thailand for both beginners and experienced divers has been created and operates here. Local areas suitable for scuba diving stretch along the entire east coast from Pattaya Bay to the border withCambodia. In these waters, you can see the German cargo ship Bremen, which sank in the 1930s, and the Japanese ship Hardeep, sunk during World War II. Except for herself Pattaya interesting diving sites are located near the islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao in the south, Koh Chang in the northeast. Visibility in dive sites depends on weather conditions and varies from 5 to 20 m.
Excursions.
In addition to an unforgettable holiday on the beaches and vibrant nightlife, in Thailand you can see a large number of attractions, both historical and natural. The most interesting historical places include Bangkok, Chiang Mai, provinces in the northeast of the country. Unique natural landscapes can be seen on the islands of Phuket, Phi Phi, Koh Samui, Koh Chang, as well as in numerous parks and reserves.
