Provinces on the Andaman Coast
If we include Phuket, the stunning Andaman coastline is home to 5 provinces, all of which share substantial coastline of the Andaman Sea.
Running from North to South, these provinces are Ranong, Phang-Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun.
Ranong Province
As well as being the least populated province in Thailand, is probably the least visited, with the exception of being the main gateway to Andaman by way of the Highway 4.
Its lack of popularity as a holiday destination may be connected to the fact that it is also the wettest part of Thailand insofar as rainy months are concerned.
For around 32 weeks of the year, it is at least showery. The advantage of this being that it is one of the lushest areas of Thailand. By way of diversion, Ranong is also home to several natural hot springs. We are talking of hot, not warm!
Phang-Nga Province
Phang Nga is the next province down and rapidly re-establishing as a province of note after the horrific 2004 tsunami, which is rarely talked about in the other Andaman coast areas.
Phang-Nga also shares some of the rain that besets its northern neighbour of Ranong. So much so, that it almost - but not quite - closes for most of the rainy season in Thailand.
But, the high season between November through until April, sees it alive and taking advantage of its beautiful white beaches and clearest of turquoise sea. The sun shines of course, as an added bonus.
Phuket Province
Moving past Phuket Province for the simple reason that it has its own section on this website.
Krabi Province
My first introduction to the Andaman Coast was by way of Krabi. I had travelled across country from the south east gulf, when I came across the magnificent rock structures springing up from the greenery.
These rocky pinnacles are not confined to Krabi on this coast, but for me at the first moment I saw them, there was not more beautiful place on earth.
The sheer rock faces bring thousands of would be rock climbers to Krabi each year.
But as I was soon to find out, the rocks are not the sum total of Krabi’s beauty. Beaches, islands and sea caves are gently lapped by the turquoise sea, and the resultant photographs are in most of the Thailand Holiday Brochures.
Trang Province
Trang lies next to Krabi in a southerly direction, and it shares much of the topographical delights. It also has some superb islands sitting in the crystal sea, together with beaches that stand comparison with any in Thailand.
As of yet, Trang is relatively ‘undiscovered’. But entrepreneurs in the travel business are making changes to that, urged on with the relentless tourism that is the financial bedrock of the Andaman coast.
At the moment, the beaches of Trang are little more than convenient places from which to get a boat out to one of the many islands. That will all change, as more and more savour the delights of this slightly traditional area.
Satun Province
Is a place to be aware of and not to be ignored as it has for so many years by mainstream tourism. Abutting the Malaysian border, it is very different to the rest of Andaman, in geographical and cultural terms.
The beaches of Satun are as white as any, and generally unspoiled as of yet with tourism. It cannot escape over time of course, but for the time being, make your way to Satun for a bit of dreamy relaxation.