East Thailand
Most visitors planning a beach holiday in Thailand head straight down the peninsula to the south, but it’s worth considering islands off the Eastern Seaboard; some are real gems and they’re easy to get to from Bangkok.
Towns in the east
Though Pattaya is renowned as a city of sleaze, it also boasts lots of attractions that appeal to families, and boat trips around the bay bring a sea breeze. Further east, Chanthaburi is not only Thailand’s gem town but also a multi-cultural centre with a sizeable population of Vietnamese Catholics.
A choice of islands
As an island escape near Bangkok, Ko Si Chang offers a taste of slow Thai life but no beaches to speak of. Beach bums should make a bee line for Ko Samet, which has a dozen gorgeous bays on its east coast. Further afield, Ko Chang is the country’s second-largest island (after Phuket), with some great west-facing beaches and a rugged interior to explore. Beyond Ko Chang, near the Cambodian border, idyllic Ko Kood has all the qualities to make it Thailand’s next big destination. Get there now before it’s overrun with tourists.
Air There are two airports in East Thailand. U-Tapao Airport is 25km south of Pattaya, while Trat Airport is convenient for Ko Chang and Ko Kood.
Bus Bangkok’s Eastern, Northern and Southern Bus Terminals all run services to east-coast destinations. Ask at your hotel for the most convenient.
Boat To get to the islands, take a ferry from the nearest town on the mainland. These run regularly most of the year, but services are sometimes suspended during the rainy season (June-October).