T.I.C.D.: Intro to the Upper Gulf of Thailand
A busy coastal zone with low-key surprises woven in between the 'Big Mango' and a bunch of busy beach towns.
Welcome back to the Thai Island & Coastal Directory, a book-in-progress that promises to be the most complete guide to coastal Thailand ever written in English, covering more than 800 islands. For info on how to use the T.I.C.D. and a working Table of Contents, paddle over here. Thank you for reading!
Also known as the Bay of Bangkok, the Upper Gulf of Thailand includes the provinces of Chonburi to the east along with Prachuap Khiri Khan and Phetchaburi over near Myanmar to the west, as well as the four small provinces cradled along the muddy coast near Bangkok, which has a slight coastline of its own. The Upper Gulf zone has at least 65 islands and dozens of notable mainland coastal areas, including Pattaya and Hua Hin, two of Thailand’s busiest beach towns.
Upper Gulf: The TIQ take
Many travelers don’t prioritize the Upper Gulf, viewing it as more of an area to pass through. The vast majority of inbound travelers do spend at least some time in Bangkok, whose two airports make it the most common entry and exit point in Thailand. But with so many islands and beaches to choose from elsewhere in the country, are the Upper Gulf’s shores and isles worth a look at all?
