Koh Samet is the most famous islands of Rayong.With an oblong shape,most of the beaches of Koh Samet are located in the east, with an exception of Ao Prao.As a result,all accommodations are also located at the east of the island. Following are outstanding beaches of the island. Located: About 6 kilometers from Ban Pae How to get there: From Nuantip Port at Ban Pae, there will be passenger boat to Koh Samet,which leaves every 30 minutes. Most of Ko Samet, including all of the good parts, is part of Khao Laem Ya and Mu Ko Samet National Park and has an entry fee. Thais pay 40 baht for adults, 20 baht for children (current as of 6/09); foreigners pay 200 baht for adults, 100 baht for children (current as of 11/09). This two-tier pricing policy is applicable to all national parks. If you can explain, however, that you actually live or work in Thailand, then you may not have to pay the ‘tourist’ price. One excuse for the difference is that "Thai pay taxes". If your ferry arrives at the main pier and you take a songthaew 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. Note: some bungalows might give the impression that the entry fee is included in their booking, but it is not.
Most beaches are on the eastern side of the island. The beaches hide in small bays and stretch some 200 metres. From the north, there are Ao Noi Nha,Haad Sai Kaeo,Ao Phai , Ao Phutsa, Ao Thabthim, Ao Naun, Ao Cho,Ao Wong Duan, Ao Thian, Ao Wai, Ao Kiew Na Nok and Ao Pa-Karang. The only beach on the western side is Ao Phrao. One of the famous beaches is Ao Wong Duean in the middle of the eastern side. This beach stretches in the shape of an almost complete circle. Both Ao Wong Duean and Hat Sai Kaeo have very fine white sand.
The name "Koh Samet"is well- known among tourists as the most beautiful island of all the attractions of Rayong. Actually this province in the east of Thailand owns a great number of long beaches and wonderful islands. It is a very popular province for Bangkokian due to its location,which is only 179 kilometers from Bangkok.Although some parts of Rayong nowadays become industrial areas,the natural beauty of the coasts and the islands is still there, just like in old days. Rayong is a province of Thailand.One of the most popular beaches, with more than 100 kilometre-long coastline. There are beautiful beaches and scenic waterfalls amid natural surroundings. Rayong is also rich in sea-life resources and considered a major agricultural and industrial province. There are three distinct attractions, firstly white sand beach on the mainland and islands. Secondary, it has a variety of fresh seafood. Lastly, regional fruits such as durians rambutans mangosteens and pineapples. The way of lifestyle and local culture are also attracted to other people especially to foreigners as they will find themselves having a wonderful trip here in Rayong.
How to Get There
There are 3 ways to travel to Rayong from Bangkok. By bus, car / taxi and airplane.
By Bus Rayong is the gateway from East to the North and Northeast of Thailand. As such, there are many regular Bus services connecting Rayong, Bangkok and other province such as Chiang Mai, Nong Khai, Nakon Ratchasima, Ubon Ratchathani.
The new airport Suvarnabhumi Airport (the new BKK)., is located east of Bangkok, 150 kilometer from Rayong, Transport by car / taxi and bus take about 2 hours.
Intercity Bus from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Rayong. Service hours from 06 to 21.
Take a Shuttle Bus from Suvarnabhumi Airport at Level 2 or 4, Entrances 3, 6 and 9 to the Public Transportation Center, free of charge, go to the Intercity Bus Counter and buy your ticket to Rayong. Take care of hustlers.
Bus from Bangkok City to Rayong City, Bus leaves from Eakamai bus station and Morchit bus station, Start from 04 until 22, every 40 minutes and take about 3 Hours. VIP Bus - Air Condition Bus - Non Air Condition Bus.
By Car / Taxi From Bangkok City by main road No. 3, Sukhumvit road, in 3 Hours. You can hire a Taxi from the Bangkok area to Rayong province for about 3.000 bth. Only use Taxi by meter.
By Air Plane 45 minutes from Bangkok airport to Utapao International Airport by Orient Thai Airlines and Bangkok Airway. For more information contact travel agencies in Rayong.
Koh Lan Location: Around 7.5 Kilometers away from Pattaya. To get there: There are passenger boats from Pattaya Tai Port ( Ball Hai Port ) to Koh Lan all the day.The boat operates between 07.00 am - 6.30 pm from Pattaya to Koh Lan,and 06.30 am - 6.00 pm from Koh Lan to Pattaya. The journey take about 45 minutes.
Koh Lan covers an area of 5.6 square kilometers. It is Quite a large Island and is quite popular for foreign tourists nowadays.Around Koh Lan are well as beautiful beaches.The central of the island is at Na Ban Port,where you can get motorcycles or mini bus to the beaches.
Koh Lanisland has many beaches, such as Haad Ta Waen,Haad Smae,Haad Tian,Haad Nuan,Haad Ta Yai
Ta Waen Port Haad Ta Waen is the most beautiful and the longest beach of the island.There are restaurants and watersport equipments for rent here, as well as motorboat service to other parts of the island.Haad Smae
Haad Smae Location in the southwest of the island,this sandy beach is long and very serene.
Haad Tian
Haad Tian:Location a little bit further to the west from Haad Smae,Haad Tian is a 500 - meter -long sandy beach lively with sea activity services similar to Haad Ta Waen.Besides,Haad Tian is also another good spot to do skin diving.
Haad Nuan Haad Nuan Location in the south of the island,this 250 - meter - long beach is pretty serene too.
Chonburi is a provine for tourism for a very long time. Only 81 kilometers away from Bangkok,it is very convenient for Thai and foreign travelers to visit Chonburi although they have only 2 days and a night during the weekend.Most popular beaches of Chonburi are Haad Bang Saen,Haad chom Tian,and Haad Pattaya,where travelers may enjoy the lively nights at clubs,bars or resturants. As for the islands,Chonburi also has many islands not very far from the land,those are Koh Lan,Koh Krok,Koh Sak,Koh Si Chang.and Koh Kang Khao,for example.
Chonburi, Bangkoks nearest seaside town, is located on the eastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand, only 80 kilometers from Bangkok. The area boasts abundant natural resources, which are highlighted by delightful beaches, local colors, traditions, delicacies and fresh seafood. This is a popular resort among Bangkokians who seek the nearest escape from hectic weekly schedules as Chon Buri has something for everyone. In addition, Chon Buri is the center of the Eastern Seaboard Development Project, with its industrial parks and fishing villages.
Popular Beach is Pattaya The half-moon-shaped Pattaya Beach is 4 kilometers long with a road running parallel to the beach. From the mid-section to the southern end of the area, there is a vast array of restaurants, bars, department stores, souvenir stores, as well as other places of entertainment. To the north of the beach are various mini-resorts and hotels in a quieter atmosphere.
It's actually free to stroll along the beaches, but operators will charge you for the services they provide, i.e. the beach chair. A price is roughly $0.5 per chair, though bargaining is rather customary in Thailand.
How to get there:
By car Pattaya can be reached in a 2.5-hour drive along Bangna-Trat Highway via Bang Pakong, Chon Buri and Si Racha. However, visitors can avoid Chon Buri by opting for Highway 36, the new Chon Buri - Pattaya - Rayong route or taking the motorway from Rama 9 Road.
By bus Air-conditioned and regular buses depart from the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai) and Bangkoks Northern Bus Terminal (Mochit 2 Bus Terminal) on Kamphaengphet Road daily. Buses (air-con) depart the Eastern Bus Terminal every 30 minutes from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and from Mochit II (Northern Bus Terminal) from 5.00 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Departure times and fares may be obtained from the Eastern Bus Terminal, tel. 0 2391 2504, 0 2391 8097 or the Northern Bus Terminal, tel. 0 2936 2852-66.
There are also minibuses that travel directly from Bangkok Airport to Pattaya at 9.00 a.m., 12.00 p.m. and 7.00 p.m. daily. For more information, contact the Bangkok International Airport, tel. 0 2535 1111.
In addition, most hotels in Bangkok provide bus services to Pattaya. Contact the tour desk at your hotel for details.
By train The State Railway of Thailand offers a daily train service departing Bangkok's Hua Lamphong Station at 06.55 a.m., tel. 0 2621 8701. It takes about 5 hours to reach a station located near the Siam Country Club.
By Air Bangkok Airways provides daily flights connecting Ko Samui and U-Taphao Airport. (Approximately 30 kilometers south of Pattaya).
Travelling in Pattaya
Pattaya City is divided into four major zones: North Pattaya, Central Pattaya, South Pattaya and Chomthian. It should be noted that there is a small mountain known as the Hill, located between South Pattaya and Chomthian. For a visual illustration take a look at the Map of Pattaya and Chomthian with the Hill.
Motorbikes are the most popular mode of transport in Pattaya. However, transportation in the city is facilitated through the use of special cars (song taew), customized pickup trucks with passenger seats in a covered overhead back cabin. These pickups, known as Bahts-Bus, can easily carry 8-10 passengers in the back, plus 1 or 2 passengers in front. They circle around the city and are allowed to stop anywhere. In addition to motorbike-taxis, the Bahts-Buses are the only form of public transport permitted in Pattaya. If not occupied, they also can be hired as private taxis. In fact, they are private vehicles in most cases belonging to the drivers. There are so many of them that they end up looking for passengers.
This compact city consists of 3 major roads that parallel each other. Right along the beach is Beach Rd., which is a one-way road from the north to south that is a few kilometers long. Second Rd. is a hundred or so meters away and carries city transport mainly from the south to north, although it is partly a two-way road. The last road is Sukhumvit Rd, a continuation of the highway leading to Bangkok. Many small streets called Soi(s) cross the roads. And it's advisable to walk some of the small streets, which are enumerated from north to south, although some have names. Second Rd. continues on to South Pattaya and turns to Chomthian reaching Chomthian beach within 5 minutes, and continues alongside Chomthian beach, which is approximately 20 kilometers long with some secluded escapes.
Chomthian Beach Rd., which is a two-way road, also parallels Sukhumvit Rd and is the only road in the Chomthian area, except for some connecting streets. On the other side of Sukhumvit road are several country clubs, golf courses and typical Thai rural villages, providing charming escapes on the banks of sweet-water lakes and small streams in the leisurely and relaxing countryside.
Many kinds of motorbikes, convertible monster Jeeps, sport and passenger cars are offered for rent. A driver's license is not required for driving around Pattaya and vicinity, so many tourists are tempted get behind the wheel. It should be noted that in Thailand drivers drive on the left lane, as in England and Japan.
* infomation: more http://www.tourismthailand.org/destination-guide/chonburi-20-1-1.html
Surat Thani is the largest southern province of Thailand.The famous place also has another name called a hundred islandtown.with Koh Samui as the major island.Surat Thani is 644 kilometers away from Bangkok and can be reached within 8 - 10 hours. In general the South has a climate of tropical monsoon which can be divided into two periods.They are summer (between January-May) and rainy season (between August-December)
How to get there:
By Car Surat Thani can be most conveniently reached by car from Bangkok by taking Highway No. 4 to Chumphon Province via Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan Provinces and then taking Highway No. 41 and Highway No. 401 directly to Surat Thani City.
By Bus Air-conditioned buses depart from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal to Surat Thani Province everyday. Call the southern Bus Terminal tel: 0 2434 5557-8 or visit www.transport.co.th
By Train Trains leave Bangkok's Hua Lamphong Railway Station 10 times daily from 12 p.m. until 10.50 p.m. The trip takes approximately 12-13 hours. Ask for the train from Bangkok to Phun Phin, the closest station to Surat Thani. For further details, please call 1690, 0 2223 7010, 0 2223 7020 or visit www.railway.co.th Surat Thani Railway Station is 12 kilometers from town. A bus service between the station and the town is available.
By Air
Thai Airways International has 2 daily flights connecting Bangkok with Surat Thani. The flight time is approximately 70 minutes. For more information, contact their Bangkok office at tel. 1566, 0 2280 0060, 0 2628 2000 or get your on-line e-ticket at www.thaiairways.com
One-two-Go also operates flights to Surat Thani. For more information please visit www.fly12go.com or contact call center 1126.
Air Asia offer flights Bangkok-Surat Thani. For more information please visit www.airasia.com or call 0 2515 9999
By Boat
Seatran (077 275060, 136 Na Meuang Road) operates a bus/boat combination to Ko Samui. The fee is 150 baht.
Phantip Travel (077 272230, 293/6-8 Talat Mai Road) offers tickets to Ko Tao (500 baht), Ko Pha-Nhan (250 baht), and Ko Samui (140 baht). The operator is Raja Ferry (07 314523, 077 371151 or 077 371206) who offers bus/boat combinations to the islands.
Getting around the city Apart from the local orange bus (9 baht / trip / person),songthaews are another option to get around the city. It costs 10 baht / trip / person. Samlors will cost approximately 20-30 baht. The orange bus departs from the Phu Phin train station to the city every 10 minutes from 6.00 a.m. until 8.00 p.m. The same ride by taxi will cost approximately 100 baht.
Koh Tan (1)Air-conditioned vans connecting the airport and town costs 70-80 baht / person / trip. Tickets can be purchased at travel agencies or THAI office (077 272610).
Laem Tian is a cape where you can drive to see the beauty of the marine world, especially on a sunny day like today.
Laem Tian is a cape stretching out into the sea with a small lovely bay.It is a small sandy beach with a pile of stone at the head,and the water is not very deep.The fish around this beach is abundant and very friendly to tourists.Moreover,at the protruding end of the cape is also the best place to see Black - finned sharks.These are why Laem Tian is quite popular among trvelers. Location & Get there visit...Koh Tao
Ao Tian Oke is a clean and beautiful beach, So many travelers choose to visit this place for diving
The beach at Ao Tian Oke is gradual slope and the water is not very deep.It is called Shark Point,because only about 10 meters from shore,ones can see sharks in various sizes very well.These sharks are not harmful,so it another attractions travelers do not want to miss.You could find diving masks, fins and lifebouys for rent along the beach.
Koh Tao has only a small area of flat land,so some of the accommodations must be buit along the hillside,like New Heaven Resort in this picture.
Hi friend, go to ..... Koh Tao is an island with the most beautiful shallow-water coral reel in the Gulf of Thailand.Whit the shape concaved like a mung bean that makes bays and beaches all over.The bay lines serve as shelters against wind and waves, which the protect the coral reefs in the monsoon season.It is said that Koh Tao is the heaven for both skin and scuba divers,with beautiful landscape,popular among local and overseas tourists.
Koh Tao has very snaky coasts that helps keeping the shallow corals
Location: Koh Tao is about 110 kilometers away from Ban Don Port,Surat Thani,and 45 kilometers away from Koh Pha Ngan.
To get there: From chomphon,starting at Thayang Port about 9 kilometers away from the city of Chomphon,there is a high-speed catamaran of Lomrayah Co.Ltd.It takes around 1.30 hour from Chomphon to Koh Tao,and another 1.30 hour from Kho Tao to Koh Samui.
Haad Mae Haad is the center of traveling to Koh Tao.
Haad Mae Haad: Eventhough Haad Mae Haad is a port,it is crowded only in one area.Try walking along the beach to the north,you will find more peaceful atmosphere in a fine setting.shady with rows of coconut trees and there are accommodations along the beach. Being the island's center,you can hire the motorboats to the surrounding islands for touring or diving very well.
Koh Samet is the most famous islands of Rayong.With an oblong shape,most of the beaches of Koh Samet are located in the east, with an exception of Ao Prao.As a result,all accommodations are also located at the east of the island. Following are outstanding beaches of the island.
your ticket. There is a road via the temple which avoids the checkpoint entirely. Note: some bungalows might give the impression that the entry fee is included in their booking, but it is not.
