Southern Thailand is known for the islands Phuket, Ko Phi Phi, Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan and Ko Tao with its palm-fringed beaches and some of the best diving in Southeast Asia. On the mainland (isthmus of Kra) there are a number of national parks (primeval forests) to visit.
Regions
places
- Has yai - largest city in the southern region, center of traffic, trade and industry
- Krabi
- Nakhon Si Thammarat - one of the oldest cities in the region, formerly the capital of its own kingdom and the center of Buddhism
- Phang-nga
- Phatthalung
- Phuket town - Capital of the holiday island, old town with residential and commercial buildings in the Sino-Portuguese colonial style
- Songkhla - Historical trading town between the lagoon and the open sea
- Surat Thani
- Trang
Other goals
- 1 Ao Nang (อ่าว นาง)
- 2 Khao Lak
- 3 Khao Sok National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติ เขา สก)
Well-known islands on the Andaman Sea coast:
- 4 Ko Lanta (หมู่ เกาะลันตา)
- 5 Ko Lipe (เกาะ หลี เป๊ะ)
- 6 Ko Phi Phi (หมู่ เกาะ พี พี)
- 7 Phuket (เกาะ ภูเก็ต)
- 8 Ko Raya Yai (เกาะ รา ยา ใหญ่)
- 9 Similan Islands (หมู่ เกาะ สิ มิ ลัน)
Well-known islands on the Gulf Coast:
- 10 Ko Pha-ngan (เกาะพะงัน)
- 11 Ko Samui (เกาะสมุย)
- 12 Ko Tao (เกาะ เต่า)
background
General
If you compare the shape of Thailand on the map with an elephant's head, southern Thailand represents the trunk. It extends over the Malacca Peninsula, between the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, for a length of over 700 kilometers. At the narrowest point - the isthmus of Kra - there are only 44 kilometers from sea to sea.
The beaches and islands of the two coasts of southern Thailand are among the most popular tourist regions in the world. Many coastal towns have developed from hard-to-reach insider tips into mass tourism destinations. Of course, this means easy accessibility and the best infrastructure that is precisely tailored to the needs of international travelers, on the other hand, in some places also large castles and a lack of consideration for the environment. Nevertheless, there are still enough small bays and islands that the tourist caravan has not discovered for itself, with the finest white beaches and fabulous blue sea, just like you know it from Thailand postcards.
The region of southern Thailand, formed for the purpose of administration and tourism marketing, consists in scenic, historical and cultural terms of right different sub-regions. While in the provinces closest to central Thailand you can hardly find any differences to the heartland, the further south you penetrate, the more you come across other traditions.
Around 30% of the residents of southern Thailand are Muslims. In the four southernmost provinces (Narathiwat, Pattani, Satun, Yala) they even make up the majority, but they are also strongly represented in other provinces. On the other hand, almost 70% are Buddhists. Other religions only appear as tiny minorities.
In some cultural areas there is a fluidity Transition to Malaysia: so the southern Thai cuisine borrows from the Malay, that Nang Talung- Shadow theater with figures made of leather is similar to the comparable Wayang kulit-Tradition in Malaysia and the sport Sepak Takraw (a variant of volleyball in which the rattan ball is kicked over the net) is equally popular on both sides of the border.
The Moken and Urak Lawoi who have lived on the Andaman Sea coast for centuries. They do not have a permanent place of residence, but move from island to island in their boats, which is why they are known as "sea nomads" (formerly also "sea gypsies").
Ornate Nang Talung- shadow theater figure
A boy is practicing Takraw-Game
Moken boat on Ko Surin
history
Nakhon Si Thammarat was probably the center of a kingdom named as early as the middle of the 1st millennium AD Tambralingawhose culture was shaped by the Indian, but which was also in contact with China. It was one of the first areas of present-day Thailand to adopt Buddhism, which spread here from Sri Lanka and then further to the other parts of Thailand. In the 8th century parts of southern Thailand belonged to Srivijaya, a network of Buddhist city-states that were linked by sea trade - a kind of "Hanseatic League" of Southeast Asia. Chaiya in the province Surat Thani was one of the capitals of this league.
Since the 13th century, the presence of the Thai, who presumably immigrated from the north, has been documented in large parts of southern Thailand, which became dependent on the central Thai kingdoms of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya. In the extreme south, the area around Pattani, on the other hand, Malay have lived for many centuries and adopted Islam by the 14th or 15th century at the latest. Due to their important location between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the port cities of southern Thailand played an important role in overseas trade. Japanese, Persians, Arabs, but also European trading companies (especially Portuguese and Dutch) founded branches from the 16th century.
The Pattani Sultanate experienced its heyday in the 16th and 17th centuries when it was one of the most important and richest economic, cultural and educational centers in the Malay cultural area. However, it subsequently lost its importance and became increasingly dependent on Siam (Thailand). However, the population of the three southern provinces was never assimilated (although some Thai governments tried to do so). There is still an ethno-religious conflict between the Muslim Malays and the predominantly Buddhist Thai, which is partly carried out with armed and even terrorist means.
Since the 17th century, plans to build a canal through the Isthmus of Kra, which would have shortened the travel time from the Indian to the Pacific Ocean considerably, were never realized. Most recently, at the end of the 19th century, a French project was thwarted by the intervention of Great Britain, which feared the loss of importance of the then British-controlled ports of Malacca and Singapore.
During the 19th century there was a massive influx of Chinese. At first they mostly worked as workers in the rich tin mines, but increasingly also as traders. Even today, the larger cities of southern Thailand are clearly characterized by the ethnic Chinese population. There are Chinese shrines and Chinese festivals (e.g. Chinese New Year, Moon Festival, and the Festival of the Nine Emperor Gods - better known as the "Vegetarian Festival") are celebrated.
Chedi Phra Borommathat in Nakhon Si Thammarat
Wat Phra Borommathat Chaiya from the 8th century
Central Mosque Pattani - one of the most important Islamic sites in southern Thailand
Typical Sino-Portuguese architecture in Phuket Town
language
English is of course widespread in the areas that are heavily frequented by tourists, but often with limited vocabulary and a typically Thai accent (“Tinglish”). Of course, Thai is also spoken everywhere. The southern Thai dialect Dambro is known for speaking very quickly, some sounds are swallowed, sometimes even whole syllables. It is therefore considered to be the most difficult to understand of Thailand's four regional languages. In the three southernmost provinces it is Malay or Jawi (a Malay dialect) the most widely used language.
getting there
There are several major traffic in southern Thailandairports. Phuket has the largest international airport in the region, which - at least seasonally - is also served directly from Central Europe. The airports of Has yai, Krabi and Samui are also international, but are mainly served by Asian countries, so you need a transfer connection from German-speaking countries. There are also larger regional airports in Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Trang.
In addition, the southern line of the Thai railroad through this region (Bangkok–Has yai–Su-ngai Kolok or Butterworth (Malaysia)). Important stations on the way are Chumphon, Surat Thani and Phatthalung. As the journey takes a long time (from Bangkok to Hat Yai, for example, it takes at least 14 hours, but usually even longer), night trains with sleeping cars are mainly used. You can also get here by train from Malaysia (Butterworth – Bangkok or Johor Bahru–Kuala Lumpur-Hat Yai). However, the high-speed trains of the KTB end at the border and you can only get further with normal (slower) trains or shuttle buses.
Long-distance busThere are connections from Bangkok to all important places in southern Thailand as well as from Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh after Hat Yai. There are combined bus and ferry offers to the holiday islands.
Most important roadThe traffic axis is the Asian Highway 2 (Bangkok – Chumphon – Phatthalung – Hat Yai – Kuala Lumpur), which is mostly motorway-like (four or six lanes with separate lanes), but not free of intersections.
mobility
You can get around southern Thailand by train, bus or minivan. Ferries run from the mainland to the islands.
Tourist Attractions
- Central Gulf Coast
- Nakhon Si Thammarat: Wat Phra Borommathat, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Thailand
- Wat Borommathat Chaiya (40 km northwest of Surat Thani), also very old Buddhist temple (8th century AD) and Chaiya National Museum with historical Buddha statues from the Srivijaya period
- Chiao Lan Reservoir in Khao Sok National Park (Surat Thani Province)
- pristine islands of the Ang Thong Archipelago
- Northern Andaman Coast
- Khao Phing Kan Island with "James Bond Rocks" (Phang Nga Province)
- Phuket
- Phuket: Old town with Sino-Portuguese residential and commercial buildings from around 1900
- Krabi
- Wat Tham Suea ("Tiger Cave Temple") with a huge Buddha statue
- Huai-To waterfall (23 km north of Krabi town) and other waterfalls
- South Andaman Coast
- "Emerald Grotto" (Tham Morakot) Ko Muk (Trang Province)
- South Gulf Coast
- Pattani: Central Mosque
- Thale Noi in Phatthalung Province: Bird sanctuary and countless lotus flowers on the lake
- Songkhla: worth seeing old town and statue of the mermaid
- Has yai: Communal park and huge Buddha statue Phra Phutthamongkon Maharat
activities
The coasts of southern Thailand have worldwide fame mainly because of them Diving areas. The most famous diving spots are on the Andam Sea coast. The reefs that are quite far from the mainland Hin Daeng and Hin Muangthat best of Ko Ngai or Ko Lanta are often among the top diving spots in the world. Also the Similan Islands and the little known ones Surin Islands (with the Richelieu rock) are considered ideal diving areas. Here you can see big ocean fish, manta rays and with a little luck even a whale shark. The surroundings of Phuket as well as the Phi Phi Islands (in front of Krabi) are also popular diving areas.
Ko Tao In the Gulf of Thailand, on the other hand, it is recommended for beginners - it is ideal for learning scuba diving and preparing for diving in the open sea. The local diving schools have produced many later professional scuba divers.
The months of November to April are recommended as the preferred season for diving on the Andaman Coast. The diving courses on Ko Tao, however, are possible all year round.
- Further
- On both coasts, of course, bathing tourism is also very popular
- Boat tours (sailing, canoe, motorboat) through the island worlds
- Buddhist meditation, e.g. B. in the internationally known Suan Mokkh near Chaiya (Surat Thani Province)
kitchen
Southern Thai cuisine is influenced by Malay and Indian. Curry dishes with coconut milk are characteristic of them. However, they are typically spiced much more sharply here than you know from most Thai restaurants abroad, even more spicy than in central Thailand. In the tourist resorts, however, consideration is often given to the taste of foreign guests. While off the beaten path you may have to say that you don't want it so spicy, you often have to express a special request at the beach resorts if you want the authentic flavor and not just a "lax" tourist version.
Due to the proximity to the sea, you can get excellent dishes with fresh fish and seafood.
nightlife
Phuket - in particular Patong Beach - is one of the party strongholds in Thailand with a wide range of bars, clubs and discos. Famous worldwide, but also notorious due to the crime in their area, the full moon parties in Haad Rin are on Ko Pha-ngan. Other islands and coastal towns want to benefit from their popularity and also offer full moon parties, but these do not reach the extent of the original.
security
The three southernmost provinces Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala as well as two districts of the province Songkhla are the scene of a separatist conflict. You are under emergency law and the German Foreign Office urgently advises against traveling there.
In the tourist strongholds such as Phuket and Ko Samui in particular, a considerable amount of crime can be recorded, which can also be directed against travel guests (this includes theft, rape, robbery, sometimes resulting in death).
The cooperation of criminal gangs with corrupt police officers is unfortunately not uncommon, especially in places that are heavily frequented by tourists. Often tourists are assumed to have damaged rented objects (especially jet skis or scooters) or they are accused of petty offenses (e.g. theft of imitation watches). Certain police officers then help to enforce the payment claims. Such cases are said to have decreased since the military junta took action - how sustainable this is remains to be seen.
