T.I.C.D.: Intro to the Mid Southern Gulf
Some of the most popular Thai islands come with plenty of quieter beach areas in a hefty and well-traveled coastal zone.
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 900 islands and all 24 coastal provinces. An upgrade of $5 USD monthly gets you the T.I.C.D. and many other in-depth articles.
Spanning the provinces of Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat and most of Surat Thani, the Mid Southern Gulf’s popularity is second only to the Central Andaman out of Thailand’s 7 coastal zones. Its 160+ islands include the headliners of Ko Samui, Ko Phangan and Ko Tao, but also some brilliant NP islands joining alternative-stay isles and scenic clusters of mountains.
Mid Southern Gulf: the TIQ take
Graced with the archipelagos of Mu Ko Samui, Mu Ko Ang Thong and Mu Ko Chumphon, the Mid Southern Gulf fills a key role for Thai tourism. Its top draws take pressure off islands like Ko Phuket and Ko Lanta over in the Thai Andaman Sea, while also granting relatively dry beaches to travelers during mid-year months when much of coastal Thailand is often getting smacked with rain.
It is no surprise that Ko Samui, given how it is the second largest and second most popular island in the country, was my first Thai island back in 2007. It remains a huge draw that, although well known for luxury resorts and a ‘White Lotus’ air of exclusivity, is in fact broadly varied and draws all types of travelers. I prefer to chill around its low-key W points, including Lipa Noi and Mae Nam.
Legend among hippies, ravers and yoga fans, Ko Phangan has long been Ko Samui’s unruly younger sibling. The Full Moon Party makes it a hit for some and a turnoff to others, but I’ve never paid much attention to this monthly beach bash, instead hiking to glorious vistas and isolated beaches. At Hat Thian and Hat Kruat, some might say the backpacker ways of the late 20th century still thrive and evolve.
Though few of the beaches on Ko Samui and Ko Phangan make it into my ‘brilliant’ category, brilliant snorkeling coves dot the W and S of Ko Tao, which is the third and last of the ‘Silly Islands,’ to use some Travelfish lingo, that are the main islands of Mu Ko Samui. As Thailand’s most popular scuba hub and with its share of partying, Tao fills a role that is similar to Ko Phi Phi Don over in the Andaman.
