Although the lion’s share of tourists tend to gravitate to Koh Samui, Phuket and Chiang Mai in Thailand there is a lot to recommend Phang-Nga Province in the south of Thailand. It is an area that has several great places to visit and things to do. For those who regularly make it out to Phang-Nga Province they are probably more than happy that tourists are not descending on the area in droves.
The most famous beaches in Phang-Nga are in Khao Lak. This is an area of long powdery sand beaches that stretch on as far the eyes can see. The main beach of Nang Tong is where most of the shops, bars, banks, dive shops etc. are found. Just north of Nang Tong is the slightly quieter Bang Niang beach. North of this beach are Khuk Khak, Pakarang and Bangsak. They are all idyllic spots far from the madding crowds. Here you will find miles of deserted beach interspersed by a few mid-range resorts. For those interested in surfing, Pakarang has a fairly good beach break.
North of this beach area is Kho Khao Island that has great beaches, ancient monuments and rare species of birds to spot. The island above called Koh Phra Thong is even more remote and contains fantastic pristine nature for those who get there.
70- km off the coast of Khao Lak are the Similan Islands. This is an archipelago of uninhabited islands with the best diving in South East Asia nearby. People usually do 2 or 3 days liveaboard journeys out to the Similans for diving.
Just south of Bang La On is Khao Lak Lamru National Park that has both rainforest and coast to explore. It is worth spending at least one day discovering the waterfalls, flora and fauna of the park.
Phang-Nga Bay is a natural wonder. In the bay are hundreds of karst mountains and small islands. It is a sailing paradise. Here you will find the iconic James Bond Island as well the artificial island of Koh Panyi made from homes on stilts.
These are just a few pointers to the highlights of Phang-Nga Province. It really is a wondrous place worth visiting before it gets ruined.