The Cream of the Andaman

Based on the information provided by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thaiways proudly presents to you the six-part cream of the Andaman Sea.

1. Similan Islands,
Phang-nga Province
This archipelago consists of nine islets. Thanks to their location in the deep sea, the Similans are blessed with crystalline water whose hue is light blue where the sea bed is shallow and aqua blue where the water is deeper. This yields a perfect visibility while diving. Strolling along the beach here, you will find that the sand under your feet is so delicate that it is well worth being described as powdery.

The Similans were once ranked as the fourth most beautiful dive site out of the Top Ten of the world. Even though they are not so anymore, the Similans are still number one in the hearts of many scuba divers. The underwater world with colourful coral formations as well as schools of lovely fish will cast its spell upon you. The Similans possess a great number and variety of tropical marine creatures. Once you go down there, time seems to standstill. So, arrange your itinerary well or you may regret to have such a short holiday.

Read more about Phang-nga

Best travelling period:
16 November-15 May
How to get there:
1. From Phuket: Hire a boat at Patong Pier. It takes about four hours.
2. From Phang-nga: You can take a boat from either Thap Lamu Pier or Khura Buri Pier. It takes about three to four hours.

2. Surin Islands, Phang-nga Province
For those who are fond of snorkelling, Surin Islands are a must. It is safe for this activity because the currents do not swirl much. Surin Islands are well known for their magnificent fringing reef formations which are the largest in the country with a width of 1,200 metres. They are rich in biodiversity.

More than 200 species of fish have been discovered around Torinla Island alone.You may also see unusual marine lives such as frogfish and ghost pipe fish. Besides snorkelling, Surin Islands are also famous for scuba dive sites around the Richelieu Rock, situated 8 km to the east of the Surin Islands. It is one of the best places in the world to dive with whale sharks in clear water.

Best travelling period:
16 November-15 May
How to get there:
Boats can be chartered or individually booked from several dive operators in Phuket, or from Thap Lamu and Khao Lak in Phang-nga Province.

Ko Phai

3. Phi Phi Islands, Krabi Province
The archipelago lies on Krabi's emerald sea about 45 km east of Phuket. The Phi Phi Island group is composed of several islands such as Ko Phi Phi Don, Ko Phi Phi Le, Ko Yung and Ko Phai. The first two islands are most famous. What attract people around the world to visit the islands are its wide range of diving possibilities, sheer cliffs and wild unspoiled beaches. Several Hollywood movies were shot here, introducing Phi Phi Islands' attractiveness to the world. The latest movie is The Beach, starring Leonardo Dicaprio.

In many places, hard-coral gardens grow profusely, providing home to a vast array of tropical creatures including five species of anemone fish. Apart from this, Phi Phi Islands' cliffs are rated among recommended cliffs of the world. The challenging cliffs have been photographed by famous climbers to publicize worldwide.

Read more about Krabi

Best travelling period: November-April
How to get there:
To reach Phi Phi Islands, tourists can go by boat either from Krabi (Chaofa Pier or a pier at Noppharat Thara Beach), which takes about two hours, or from Phuket, about two and a half hours.