What to See in Southern Thailand

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Southern Thailand has no sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Cities and Cultural Heritage

Warning: The far south of the country, from Hat Yai to the Malaysian border, is currently advised against for security reasons by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ban Krut ★★
A small seaside resort on the Gulf of Thailand coast, primarily frequented by local rather than international tourists.

Cha-am ★
This is a beach resort on the Gulf of Thailand, more popular with Bangkok residents than with foreign tourists.

Chaiya ★
Touristically, this small town near Surat Thani has several temples and archaeological sites.

Chumphon ★
While the surrounding coast will delight beach and diving enthusiasts, Chumphon offers few tourist attractions beyond its national museum. It is primarily a stopover city between Bangkok and the South.

Hat Yai-Songkhla ★
Two distinct cities often associated due to their proximity. Their tourist appeal is limited (especially considering security concerns), and the area mainly serves as a stopover for travelers en route to or from Malaysia.

Hua Hin ★
Thailand’s oldest beach resort... despite what its waterfront might suggest. It remains very popular.

Khao Lak ★★
This cluster of villages along the west coast forms a seaside resort renowned for its beautiful beaches. It's also the departure point for many dive boats heading to the Similan Islands.

Krabi ★★
A major tourist hub, known more for its location and services for the Andaman Sea islands than for its own attractions, though there are beautiful nearby beaches like Ao Nang, and climbing enthusiasts can tackle the hills and peaks surrounding the town.

Nakhon Si Thammarat ★
One of Thailand's oldest cities and the second largest in the southern part of the country. Touristically, Nakhon boasts several remnants of its past.

Phetchaburi ★★
The capital of the province of the same name, Phetchaburi is one of Thailand’s oldest cities. For tourists, it offers several temples and a 19th-century royal palace, as well as the stunning Tham Khao Luang cave and its Buddha statues on its outskirts.

Islands and Archipelagos

Ang Thong ★★★
This archipelago forms the national marine park of the same name and is popular with visitors for its landscapes, including cliffs and caves, its beaches, diving and sea kayaking opportunities, and its wildlife (birds, monkeys, snakes, turtles).

Ko Lanta ★★
Part of an archipelago that shares its name, Ko Lanta actually consists of two islands connected by a bridge. Its main attractions are its beaches and diving.

Ko Lipe ★★★
A small island in the Andaman Sea near Malaysia, inhabited by the Sea Gypsies. It is known for its white-sand beaches and diving opportunities.

Ko Pha Ngan ★
One of the islands in the Gulf of Thailand, known for its beaches and especially its "Full Moon Party". Snorkeling is also popular here.

Ko Phi Phi ★★★
These are actually two islands—Ko Phi Phi Don (the larger, inhabited one) and its satellite Ko Phi Phi Leh (uninhabited)—which together form a national park of the same name. The area is highly touristy, known for diving, postcard-perfect beaches, and towering cliffs you can climb.

Ko Samui ★★
Located just below Ko Pha Ngan, this is the largest island in the Gulf of Thailand and the third-largest in the country. It’s also one of the most well-known and popular among tourists, who flock here to enjoy its beaches.

Ko Tao ★★★
Once a penal colony, the island has become the world’s diving mecca. Ko Tao is also a favorite spot for deep-sea fishing enthusiasts.

Phuket ★★
With its beaches, diving spots, varied landscapes, and fishing villages, Phuket is the country’s best-known beach resort island—but this also means mass tourism in some areas and correspondingly high prices.

Similan Islands ★★★
Offshore in the Andaman Sea, this national-park archipelago is renowned, beyond its beaches, as one of the world’s top diving spots and draws numerous "liveaboard diving trips" departing from the mainland.

Surin Islands ★★
These five islands form a national park open only from mid-November to mid-May. Like many others in the region, the site is renowned for diving and hosts numerous "dive cruises.".

Tarutao ★★★
A group of around fifty islands forming the marine park of the same name. The area is known not only for its beaches and landscapes but also as a great diving spot. Ko Tarutao, the largest island, hosts all the services and facilities of the archipelago.

Natural Heritage

Phang Nga Bay ★★★★
Between Phuket and Krabi, the town of Phang Nga is renowned for its bay, one of the most beautiful in Southeast Asia. This unique landscape is formed by countless limestone karsts and caves that can be explored by boat or sea kayak.

Ton Nga Chang Waterfalls ★★
Located about thirty kilometres from Hat Yai, these waterfalls are among the most impressive in the country.

Kaeng Krachan National Park ★★
Thailand’s largest national park. Amidst stunning landscapes, it is home to a rich wildlife, including tigers and elephants. Several rivers run through the park, some of which are ideal for rafting. It is also a great spot for hiking.

Khao Luang National Park ★★★
Beautiful landscapes, the highest point in southern Thailand (1,835 m), waterfalls, forests, and orchids offering a stunning setting for hiking enthusiasts. The park is home to monkeys, numerous birds, as well as tigers and panthers.

Khao Sok National Park ★★★
One of the country's most beautiful parks, renowned for its landscapes, caves, and waterfalls, as well as its rich wildlife (birds, monkeys, various mammals, etc.). It's also a great spot for trekking.

Thale Ban National Park ★
Located on the border with Malaysia (not always the safest), the area is known for its landscapes, waterfalls, and caves.