Tag Archives: krabi

Thailand, Travelinds

Koh Lanta

15 August 2015

A tropical island off the west coast of Thailand, Ko Lanta offered us long stretches of beach, exquisite scenery and lots of sunshine. A week here felt like a month-long holiday and we returned home sun-tanned, refreshed and little fatter from all the delicious Thai food.  Surprisingly easily accessible from the Krabi main land, it’s a fantastic option for a hidden getaway and also gives you easy access to the remote southern islands like Koh Mook.

Thai Green Curry
Thai Green Curry

Accommodation

We stayed at Lanta Palace Resort and Beach Club, an amazing spot halfway down the west coast of Lanta Yai (the bigger of two Lanta islands). Google maps clocks the journey from Krabi Airport to our hotel at under two and a half hours, which is accurate. This includes two (short) car ferries – we took a taxi from the airport (2500 Baht).

Activities

The week was spent relaxing, swimming, eating, resting and exploring. Motorbikes were easily available for hire and provided a great way to explore the island from end to end.  There are a few places to shop, like the market, restaurants to try along the way and Thai massages, too!

Since it was rainy season, we did not take any snorkelling tours out into the Andaman Sea.  The visibility at this time of year is poor and the sea conditions can be rougher than usual, especially when you’re on a long-tail boat.  One rainy day, one of the families staying near us took a long-tail to Phi Phi and back, in the rain.  They said it took them days to find their land-legs again after the bumpy ride which liberated them from both their breakfast and then their lunch on the way back; but they still thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Rented motorbikes took us to the nature reserve on the southern point with it’s iconic lighthouse, Old Lanta Town and the market.    The Mu Koh Lanta National Park was beautiful!  It’s a 400 baht entrance fee.  There’s a circular walk, an isolated and beautiful beach for swimming and of course, the lighthouse.  Walking shoes are recommended.  Also, take heed of the TripAdvisor reviewers who warn against the monkeys and safeguard your bags – it seems that bags are targets for inquisitive and relentless monkeys, especially if they contain food items!

Kayaking Day Tour

We booked a day trip (8:00-15:00) with one of the many travel companies (Lanta Eco Tour) to kayak and swim off the east coast of Koh Lanta – the islands are Ko Bubu, Ko Talabeng and Ko Por.  The van picks up everyone from the hotel, takes them to the pier in the mangrove swamps, with millions of colourful crabs, hands you over to a guide who leads you over a rickety boardwalk to the pier, then shows you some huge fish in the “fish farm” before loading you into the longtail boat.

The trip out to the islands is about 45 minutes long and the tourists kayak first, get back on the boat, go to the next island, swim and have lunch and then head back towards the mangroves. We didn’t realise that there was only one kayaking opportunity and were disappointed that we had only taken a few pictures of the kayak experience. Other than that, it was a most enjoyable day and a beautiful place.

Restaurants

There’s an array of restaurants around Koh Lanta. In Koh Tob beach, where we stayed, there were at least 20 along the road. We enjoyed Bobby Big Boy Seafood & Bar. Bobby is a dynamic host with a big personality, his menu is great, his prices are competitive and his restaurant is spacious and relaxed.  We went back every day.  And then carried on down the road to the massage parlour before heading back to the hotel each night.

Beaches

Our stay was on the smaller Klong Tob beach (at the northern end of Klong Nin beach). It was clean, almost private and amazingly different at high tides and low tides.  One day of high winds brought jellyfish, but the rest of the week was lovely for swimming, especially at high tide.  The main beach, Klong Nin, is the next long stretch of sand, which would be stunningly beautiful if it weren’t so littered with rubbish and debris after heavy rains and high tides.

The beach at the Mu Koh Lanta National Park is also stunning, and great for swimming.

Low Season

Since this is during the low season, the rates for hotels and activities are lower and we were especially happy with the value for money we received at Lanta Palace Resort and Beach Club, at less than $15 per night.  The rain was intermittent (as it has been the last few times we’ve been in rainy season) and we only had one afternoon that was pouring.

Koh Lanta Sunsets were truly remarkable!
Koh Lanta Sunsets were truly remarkable!

Recommendations

Stay beautiful, Koh Lanta.  We miss you already.

More Information

Thailand, Travelinds

Ao Thalane – Travelinds go kayaking in Thailand

Leave a comment

12 September 2013

As we ate a leisurely breakfast at our marvellous hotel, we caught up with french tourists who had been around for a couple of days and were great for exchanging ideas for daily activities around Krabi.

They had done kayaking the afternoon before at Ao Thalane and thoroughly enjoyed it. Their enthusiasm convinced us to try it and we headed out on the afternoon tour after having found a travel agent who was actually willing to sell us an afternoon tour.  The problem was that they were worried we would have to get out and push the kayaks at certain places because of the very low tide but we convinced them to at least let us have a go!

There were only 7 of us all together on the tour (4 of us, another couple and a guide) and this was so much better than being stuck in a large group of noisy tourists while trying to enjoy the nature around us.

The first 20 minutes was in the hot sun as we paddled down the wide lagoon towards the ocean before taking a left to go back into a mangrove river and upstream.   From the lagoon we could see Hong Island in the distance (another day trip we had considered doing but ran out of time).  There were also fisherman standing waist deep in the lagoon catching fish.  Our guide said they were commercial fisherman and could be found here most days.

As we entered the mangrove river, we suddenly found ourselves in a quiet, calm stream with shade provided by the sheer cliffs rising up out of the water.  At the base of the cliffs were mangrove trees and muddy banks sticking out because of low tide.  We were mesmerized by the majestic beauty of this place.

We spotted monitor lizzards, mud-skippers and crabs from the first minute.  There were also amazing plants and jungle settings high up on the cliffs.  Unfortunately, we didn’t spot any monkeys but our guide assured us that they were watching us from hidden places at the tops of the cliffs.  The sun danced on the water where it could reach it and the shady spots allowed us to notice the smaller creatures in the water and the muddy patches.

Our entertaining guide caught a couple of crabs and mud-skippers for us to get a close up and explained a little about the environment and habits of these little mangrove creatures. The funniest moment was when my sister was looking into the 500ml bottle containing a mudskipper to see the turquoise spots on his brown skin when he jumped right out of the bottle almost into her eye. Shrieks of surprise and then laughter broke into the quiet surrounds while we all recovered.  Life-long fear of mudskippers begins in 3,2,1….

We had stuffed some Subway sandwiches into our backpacks (best decision ever!) and enjoyed a little picnic on our kayaks when we could go no further up the stream.  Despite the low tide, we did not get stuck and had a great view of all the little mangrove crabs and fish which we wouldn’t normally have seen in high tide.

Photos could not capture the essence of this place.  Beautiful, completely untouched, thriving with life and yet also accessible to those who want to experience it.

The afternoon ended with a little bit of fun as our guide showed us a small hole in the rock, “the cave” that we could kayak through by lying back so as not to bump our heads.  The best thing about this little activity was watching the other couple in our group attempt to do this about 3 or 4 times without success!  They could not keep the kayak straight! Eventually after a little skill lesson from our guide and lots of encouragement from the rest of us, they made it through! Such fun!

What a great afternoon!

Thailand, Travelinds

Looking for Secret Beach in Phi Phi, Thailand

Leave a comment

26 August 2013

A Secret Beach? Yes please.

After reading Travelfish’s blog post called Koh Phi Phi Beach Getaways, we decided to try and find this “Secret Beach” while we were on Koh Phi Phi Don. It sounded simple enough to follow the instructions — walk here, turn there etc. However, in the end, we were glad to have taken along some lunch, water and gear on this “short hike.”

Secret Beach 1
Coastline road after Sunflower Bar

Find Phi Phi’s Secret Beach

We began the journey by leaving from Phi Phi beach. This was from Loh Dalam Bay, the one on the opposite side to the main port of Tonsai Bay. We headed towards Sunflower Bar as directed.

The tide was at its highest, so there was not much beach visible at all in the direction we thought we were going in. The instructions said to walk past Sunflower Bar on the back road. So, we headed over the bridge and kept along the coastline road up quite a steep hill.

The instructions then said to find a small path beyond the thatch buildings, but this seemed somewhat impossible with all the new construction happening. Someone was building a whole new resort here. It’s understandable, as the traveller had written the blog two years before.

Navigating these buildings with care, we reached the top of the hill and found ourselves in the middle of a new resort. We had to turn around. It was only when we got about half way back down the hill that we found our route to the Secret Beach — maybe.

1272314_10152368036841992_1365437797_oSecret Beach Hunt: Updated Instructions (and Some Tips)

As at August 2013, here’s how we got to Secret Beach on Phi Phi Don in Thailand:

  • Head up the steep hill after Sunflower Bar. Be sure to look for a left turn about midway up the hill.  For us, this left turn was sign-posted by a small “Phi Phi Sea Sky” sign, nailed to a tree.
  • Head through a well-hidden pathway on the left. At the time, this path went between two building constructions towards the beach. Let it take you parallel to the beach.
  • Look for signs to Sunset Bay and Sunwaree Resort. Somewhere along this path to Secret Beach was where Travelfish mentioned that “a road appears out of nowhere.” It did, quite literally.

Note: We never did come across the 10 foot high rocky ridge that Travelfish mentioned. Maybe we missed something.

1262626_10152368036731992_1632840248_o

Secret Beach 4
The rugged coastline at high tide.

Once you’ve located this path, keep to it. You’ll be walking alongside the ocean until you reach Sunset Resort.  Here, we headed down towards the beach and turned right to keep going along the coastline.

At this point, we started walking on the rocks and sand. At low tide, it might have been possible to walk the whole way to Secret Beach over rocks. However, at high tide, we had to go back up onto another steep pathway into the grass.

Keep Going: Secret Beach in Sight

Up the hill, we passed a sign that said, “Tonsai bay 20 minutes Phi Phi Outrigger.” When we reached a small Thai shack at the top of the hill, there was a meditating monk. We tried not to disturb him and carried on down another small path to the beach. There was a swing in a tree here!

Swing in the tree
Swing in the tree before the coral-covered beach

We clambered over some rocks at the bottom to get onto a coral-covered beach.  We had been walking for about two hours, mostly on the cliffs and pathways.

Just after the coral-covered beach, we breathed a sigh of relief. At last, we found Secret Beach. Of course, it only really opened up once the tide subsided. Then, it was absolutely beautiful! As described by our informative Travelfish guide, this discovery was so worth the tedious hike!

Finally! Time To Cool Down On our Secret Beach and Enjoy Phi Phi Don

We were the only people around and enjoy ourselves snorkelling, picnicking and relaxing in the shade provided by the only small tree on the beach. With so many cowries and other interesting shells to be found, time flew by. Reluctantly, we headed back to the main beach later that afternoon.

On the way back to Loh Dalam Bay, the trip was about a million times easier. We knew our way, so it was much quicker. Plus, it was low tide, so we could walk most of the way on the sand and rocks rather than going on and off of steep pathways or through the bush.

Do you only have a few days in Phi Phi? Make this a day trip for some great photo opportunities and some exercise.

Happy exploring!

Travelfish Phi Phi

Check out the original blog at Travelfish – Best Beaches in Phi Phi.

Thailand, Travelinds

Koh Phi Phi Don (a Thai Island)

Leave a comment

25 August 2013

Phi Phi Don is fun to say, to be sure, but it isn’t all about the partying.

Phi Phi consists of a group of 6 islands in the Andaman sea which belong to the Krabi province in Thailand.  “Koh” means “island” in the Thai language so many of the Andaman sea locations begin with this word. In this case, Koh Phi Phi Don is the largest of the six islands and Koh Phi Phi Leh is the second-largest one.

Both are very popular tourist destinations and accessible by boat. Another of the six islands is Koh Mai Pai (Bamboo island), a stunning little island with turquoise and emerald waters along the white sandy beach. This place is almost guaranteed to be packed with tourists, and that’s on any given day, even in the low season.

The other islands are Koh Yung (Mosquito island), Koh Bida Nok and Koh Bida Noi. These other three are not much more than limestone cliffs stretching up out of the water.

Koh Phi Phi Don Fun in the Sun

With Koh Phi Phi Don being the biggest of the islands, all the excitement is concentrated in this little spot. There are hotels, motels, inns, resorts, hostels and a village. You’ll also find all sorts of restaurants to satisfy any craving and a buzzing stream of tourists day in and day out to sustain all these small businesses.

The lifeblood of Phi Phi Don would be its boat tours, which start lining up on Tonsai beach from the early morning until the evening hours. If you’d like to go on a boat tour or get to your boat-access-only hotel, there are an abundance of longboat operators available as long as there’s daylight.

What To Expect From Phi Phi Year-Round

The vibe here definitely feels like that of a ‘party island’ and it seems like this is what attracts so many people of all walks of life from all around the world. The island’s hotels and bars compete heavily. We wondered if there was a championship cup for who could play the loudest music.

As you walk around, you’ll see “special prices” available all week, every week.  We also saw an abundance of foreigners advertising and handing out flyers for the various restaurants and bars on Phi Phi Don. No doubt, these are travellers who need to make an extra buck so that they can fund their dives, travel plans and endless parties. That’s what a few of them told us, anyway.

On the other side of the coin, there were a few reminders that the tsunami of 2004 devastated the Phi Phi islands. Still, it was quite astounding to see how well the administration has been able to recover and rebuild in just over a decade. When you look at photos after the tsunami that reveal the extent of the damage, it’s quite accurate to say that everything was well and truly flattened. Many people lost their lives and these names appear at the Tsunami Memorial, which Phi Phi’s community has put near Sunflower Bar.

To Phi Phi or Not?

Overall, Phi Phi is a beautiful place. Its natural locations will make you think you’ve landed in heaven when the sunshine hits that water just right.  It wasn’t difficult for us to take photos that looked like they belonged in National Geographic — no special skill required!

If you love sparkling water that varies along the entire spectrum of blues and greens, amazing sea life, white beaches and sunshine, go to Phi Phi once in your life.

Thailand, Travelinds

Krabi Four Island Tour

Leave a comment

17 August 2013

Amazing day enjoying a “Four Island tour” in Krabi, Thailand, including a longtail boat, snorkeling, sunshine, beach time and plenty of photo opportunities!

Krabi 4 islands tours
Krabi 4 islands tours

The Four Island tour took us from Aonang Beach to these lovely stops:

1. Seal island

This limestone cliff stretches out of the water near Poda island and makes for a good snorkeling spot. Beautifully clear water.

2. Poda island

Stunning! The snorkeling right off the beach was beautiful, there are limestone cliffs in the sea like on postcards and there are ’ Langkawi’ eagles soaring at the top of the cliffs. Fine white sand and turquoise water made for fantastic photo quality too!

3. Chicken island and Tup island

Very nice water quality, fun sea path walk/wade between the two islands, lots of shady nap spots and great scenery for photos.

4. Phranang cave

Interesting, busy, beautiful and impressive. Highlight definitely the cave and sheer limestone cliffs with of varied colours and textures. Phranang beach is far more beautiful than the popular Railay West and East beaches.

The Final Take on Four Island Tour

We’re not usually prone to taking touristy tours if we can help it. However, after some local research and weighing the other options, this one seemed like a good way to see the islands and have a day of snorkeling. As it turned out, it was so worth the 300 baht!

If you don’t mind a few boats in one location at one time, you’ll be okay. We’d recommend the Four Island tour to anyone who is spending a few days in the Krabi area. If you’re wanting a more relaxed day out on a boat and a chance to really take in what the ocean has to offer here, this is a good opportunity to do so.

4 Islands Krabi
4 Islands Krabi
Aonang Beach Resort
Aonang Beach Resort
Krabi
Krabi