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Tag - Andaman Sea

Exploring the BEST Diving Spots in Thailand

Two fish at a coral reef in Thailand

Guest post by Michelle Williams

Diving in Thailand

D

iving is one of the major activities when visiting the islands and beaches of Thailand. The combination of clear and warm tropical waters, and the overall variety of marine flora and fauna makes Thailand a great destination for exploring the wonders of the underwater world.

A lot of the great dive spots are right off the beach, along rocky shorelines which makes diving in Thailand very beginner friendly. On top of that, you have numerous Thai dive spots that include old underwater wrecks.

All of Thailand’s top diving destinations will have dive shops and schools, making it unnecessary to bring your own equipment. Especially for snorkeling though, it is nice to have you own equipment when the opportunity arises. There are numerous options, should you want to use your own diving gear and perhaps you would also want to bring some underwater camera equipment to store your underwater memories.

Choosing the right diving location

It can be overwhelming to choose a holiday destination when you start researching, as you will surely be presented with numerous dive options in Thailand. Many of the diving destinations in Thailand are seasonal, meaning your time of travel will help determine which area to explore. Here, we break down the top dive spots to help you decide.

Koh Tao

Koh Tao is located in the Gulf of Thailand, not far from two other famous islands Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. Among these islands, Koh Tao is particularly popular among divers.

The diving in Koh Tao is recognized for its relatively easy waters and friendly reefs, perfect for beginner scuba divers. The island is one of the top destinations for scuba diving instruction in the world and the number of open water dive certificates handed out here each year is staggering. You will find an abundance of PADI certified diving schools. Another important factor in Koh Tao being the go-to diving destination in Thailand is the fact that the island offers year-round diving in good conditions.

On a lot of the islands beaches, you can snorkel or scuba dive from right off the beach, as the island provides plenty of rocks and reefs teeming with life.

Koh Chang

Koh Chang lies in the eastern part of the Gulf of Thailand, not far from the borders of neighbouring Cambodia. Koh Chang and its surrounding islands are known for their lush green environments, being part of the Mu Koh Chang National Park.

Weather plays a role in this area, as the summer months and beginning of autumn sees a lot of rain. This means that from June to September the visibility decreases, so this is not the best time to go diving around Koh Chang.

Koh Chang has a number of wrecks for some exciting diving, as well as rocks in the shallow waters and reefs. The dive sites are mainly located to the west and south of the island.

Similan Islands

The Similan Islands is a cluster of islands in the Andaman Sea, east of Khaolak. These islands have maintained their charm with only very basic camping grounds and bungalows on a couple of the islands.

Usually visitors to the area stay overnight on liveaboard packages or daytrips from the mainland, where the main theme is diving, snorkeling and some romantic castaway experiences. So while getting to this divespot may require a bit more planning, you will get fantastic memories to take back home.

The diving season is seasonal here, spanning from October to May, while the best conditions for diving are between November and February.

Phuket

Phuket is Thailand’s most famous beach holiday destination, so naturally the area offers much more than just diving. This makes it a great vacation choice if you want a lot of activity options for you stay.

Phuket mostly serves as a hub for multiple diving sites in the area, where you jump onboard a boat and go on day trips to the best diving spots.

Just like the Similan Islands, the diving in the Phuket area is best from October to May, where the waters are more calm and visibility is highest.

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Diving in Thailand Resources

For more information about Thailand, head straight to our main Thailand travel guide. For more information on diving resources, here are some excellent links:

PADI’s Diving Guide to Thailand

DivingSquad’s Diver’s Guide

Ithaka’s Beginner’s Guide to Diving in Thailand

For a quick and easy overview of when to dive in each of Thailand’s top diving destinations, take a look at this table from Asia Dive Site:
dive seasons in Thailand

Malaysia or Thailand?

Malaysia or Thailand? Malaysian beach with a boat with the Malaysia's flag and a Thai beach with longtail boats and Thailand's flag

Where to Spend Your Beach Holiday – Malaysia or Thailand?

For those of us who are lucky enough to have the opportunity to go on beach holidays, the first question we ask ourselves is often which country should we go to. As promised when we presented our new Malaysia travel guide, we want to help you compare two of the big tropical beach holiday destinations, Malaysia and Thailand, to make your holiday choice easier.

Why Malaysia or Thailand?

If you wonder, why we have chosen to compare these two great beach destinations, here is why. First of all, travel agencies and travel professionals often receive this as the initial question from their customers: “Should we choose Malaysia or Thailand for our holiday?”. Secondly, these countries are very often competing for the same visitors, since they both bring some of the same great beach holiday opportunities, and being neighbouring countries, travel seasons and travel distance is similar.

The Malaysia and Thailand Showdown

Malaysia or Thailand - a comparison between Malaysia's and Thailand's beaches, hotels, prices, food, diving, and wildlife.

Before we go through each of the scores and compare Malaysia and Thailand on the chosen parameters, we want to remind readers that the evaluations represent a general evaluation of the two countries. Here we have considered Malaysia to be both Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo, although the characteristics of these two areas are rather different.

You may seek a family-friendly beach or a surfing beach-bum paradise. Ultimately, which beach destination is best for your holiday, depends just as much on your personal travel preferences as the destination itself.

Beaches: Malaysia vs. Thailand

Both Malaysia and Thailand have fantastic beaches, ranging from popular tourist magnets to secluded beaches on “untamed” islands. With a great variety and number of beaches within easy geographical reach, Thailand has a small edge here.

Malaysia Beach Score     

The number of islands and beaches of Peninsular Malaysia is relatively low in comparison to Thailand, and given strong seasonal limitations on the east coast, the options can be rather limited. However, if we add Malaysian Borneo to the mix, we suddenly have a hundreds of stunning islands in different development stages and in more or less accessible areas.

Thailand Beach Score     

Southern Thailand has an abundance of islands and beaches fitted with fine sand, dramatic rock formations, swaying palm trees, clear water, and everything you could ever wish for in terms of services and conveniences. Additionally, the beaches of Thailand cover all activities and adventures you can think of and it doesn’t take much to go from one type of beach or island to another one.

Aerial view of palm-fringed beach in Thailand with boats at the shoreline, clear blue water, and small tropical islands in the background.

It’s hard to beat the islands and beaches of Thailand.

Photo credit: Tourism Authority of Thailand

Hotels: Malaysia vs. Thailand

It is not uncommon that tourists stumble upon a hotel that enchant them to such a degree that the host country is of little importance. Whether this is the case or not, one thing is certain: The hotel has a significant role in tourists’ beach choice. To receive a high hotel evaluation, the diversity, price, and value for money is taken into account. Without question, Thailand is a world leader in this category.

We used to write small warnings in our Malaysia travel catalogues that customers should not expect a 3-star Malaysian hotel to measure up to a 3-star Thai hotel. This is more due to Thailand’s superiority on this parameter than Malaysia being under international standard.

Malaysia Hotel Score     

You can find exclusive eco-retreats on small tropical islands and you can find uncharming concrete hotels with uninspiring designs. The portfolio of beach accommodation is improving, but the value for money is not on par with Thailand. Furthermore, it is harder to find budget and mid-range charm among Malaysian hotels. For a real good hotel experience, you have to move into the four and five star range.

Thailand Hotel Score     

The competition among hotels in Thailand is fierce. This coupled with a good sense of quirky design and high service standards make Thailand score maximum on hotel quality and value. A 3-star hotel in Thailand can often be compared to a 4-star hotel in Europe or America. You can easily find accommodation for all budgets, and even in the cheapest beach bungalows you can find charming architecture and design wit.

Stilted hillside bungalows overlooking the Gulf of Thailand at the rugged Koh Tao Island.

Not the worst place to spend your holiday in Thailand.

Prices: Malaysia vs. Thailand

No doubt relative prices continue to rise, as both Malaysia and Thailand continue a path of economic growth and investments both in and outside the tourism sector. Prices fluctuate a lot between city and rural areas and between touristy and non-touristy destinations. Overall, however, Thailand still offers superb value for money.

While cheaper than European countries and North America, Malaysia is generally more expensive than the other Southeast Asian countries.

An excellent resource in finding user generated price information in destinations worldwide is NUMBEO.

Malaysia Prices Score     

Traveling through Malaysia, you will find that food is quite cheap, while accommodation is more expensive and less value than other Southeast Asian countries outside of Singapore. Malaysian Borneo’s unique position in terms of experiences and natural wonders have pushed prices upwards. The good news is that it is still possible to experience Malaysia on a backpacker budget, but you will have to sacrifice some convenience and luxury along the way.

Thailand Prices Score     

With the rise of the Thai middle-class, expatriates, and tourists from near and far, both financial and tourist hubs of Thailand are now much more expensive than just five years ago. This means that Bangkok, Hua Hin, Koh Samui, and Phuket can come off as expensive.

But don’t despair. Instead of going to Starbucks and Domino’s, go to a local pad thai restaurant. Instead of sleeping at Hyatt, sleep at one of the many charming boutique guesthouses. Go a little off-beat to avoid the price traps. Thailand has great prices for those who look for them, and the most beautiful thing is that being a beach bum here is one of the cheapest lifestyles you can dream of. Food is cheap, transportation is cheap, accommodation is cheap, and adventures are often free. For documentation, see our previous notes on daily beach holiday costs in Thailand.

Local Thai restaurant with signs in Thai and fresh food on display.

Eat local, stay local! Thailand offers tremendous value.

Food: Malaysia vs. Thailand

How good is Malaysian food? How does it compare to Thai food? This is obviously a very subjective topic, but at least we are not alone in thinking that both countries serve some of the world’s best food. Thailand and Malaysia are both in the top 10 food destinations in the world in this CNN poll.

Malaysia Food Score     

What makes Malaysian food great? The variety of choice and fresh ingredients! Since Malaysia consists of major cultural and ethnic groups, you can find excellent Chinese, Indian, Western, and of course Malay/Indonesian dishes in abundance. For vegetarians eating is easy because of the Indian vegetarian cuisine and the fresh fruits and vegetables grown locally.

Thailand Food Score     

The popularity of Thai food is now covering the world with Thai takeaways and restaurants from Buenos Aires to Sydney. But the best Thai food is found in Thailand. Food is an integral part of Thai social life, and when a common greeting in Thailand is “Have you eaten yet?”, food has to be a top priority. What is fantastic about the Thai cuisine is the harmonious blend of spices, sweet, sour, and salty. But if you don’t like chili, lemongrass, and galanga, you will mostly be limited to the “foreignized” and international dishes.

For vegetarians, Thailand has a lot of vegan and vegetarian restaurants that particularly sprung up in response to the tastes of visiting backpackers. In standard restaurants, however, ordering a vegetarian dish often means that fish sauce, oyster sauce, and shrimp paste will be used in otherwise meatless dishes.

Wooden signs on a tropical island in Thailand saying fruit shake, vegetable food, seafood, and Thai food.

You won’t leave thirsty or hungry!

Diving: Malaysia vs. Thailand

Both Malaysia and Thailand are wonderful places to learn and practice diving. Almost every popular beach has at least one dive operator, and the quality, equipment, and safety is good.

Malaysia Diving Score     

In Peninsular Malaysia the east coast is your best bet for diving. Perhentian Islands, Redang Island, and Tioman Island all have good and very accessible diving. Diving here is seasonally limited from roughly March to September.

The Sabah region of Borneo is the real reason why Malaysia must be considered a top dive destination in the world. The bio-diversity, visibility, and beauty is of supreme quality with dive destinations such as Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai, Lankayan, Layang Layang, and Sibuan leading the way.

Thailand Diving Score     

Hands up if you took your PADI Open Water Diver certificate in Thailand. Keep them up, if you took it on Koh Tao! Koh Tao is a world hub for budding scuba divers. The small island in The Gulf of Thailand offers year-round courses with dive sites right off the beaches or a small boat ride away. The water is generally clear and currents are beginner friendly. Corals and marine life around Koh Tao has deteriorated a bit although a number of organizations and awareness programmes are fighting to rejuvenate the seas.

For the best dive sites in Thailand, you have to travel to The Andaman Sea. Here you will find stunning diving between small tropical islands. It is not uncommon to find leopard sharks and manta rays. Among the best diving sites are Similan Islands, Richelieu Rock, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, and the Surin Islands. November to April has the best visibility and sea conditions.

A nemo fish among green sea plants seen while diving in Malaysia.

Malaysia’s Sabah region offers formidable diving.

Photo credit: Tourism Malaysia

Wildlife: Malaysia vs. Thailand

Despite an increasing number of areas being designated as national parks in Malaysia and Thailand, the primary and secondary forests are diminishing. Farming, plantations, logging, and “development” is threatening natural treasures and wildlife in both countries. That said, Malaysia has some of the world’s oldest rainforests and extraordinary wildlife to match it. Thailand does not have the grand old rainforests, but there is still plenty of wildlife to experience under and above water.

Malaysia Wildlife Score     

Orangutans (literally men of the jungle), proboscis monkeys, tarsiers, pygmy elephants, hornbills, turtles and much more roam the natural habitats of Malaysia, particularly Borneo. Malaysia has around 500 endemic species and it’s hard to find destinations that can match the natural richness of the country. Unfortunately, there is great pressure on the natural habitats of Malaysian wildlife. Although a magical experience, it is frightening to see how the palm oil plantations are slicing through ever thinner rainforest areas.

Thailand Wildlife Score     

Thailand has impressive marine life and no less than 127 national parks with a diverse range of flora and fauna. You do not find the grand old rainforests and hallmark wild species as in Malaysian Borneo, but there is plenty of wildlife to enjoy in Thailand.

Male Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus) from Borneo.

Only in Borneo – Malaysia’s wildlife is marvelous!

Photo credit: Tourism Malaysia

More comparisons between Malaysia and Thailand?

Malaysia or Thailand? We hope you found this head to head comparison between Thailand and Malaysia useful. There is no one winner in such a battle. It all depends on what you are after. One thing is certain though: Both Malaysia and Thailand are magnificent travel countries, so we can only suggest you visit both!

If you are interested in seeing more comparisons between these two countries, we suggest you take a look at the following links.

Koh Chang Noi (Andaman) – the unknown Elephant Island

Seaview from Full Moon Bungalows at Koh Chang Noi (Andaman Sea side)

Another Elephant Island in Thailand

The elephant is a central national symbol in Thailand, so it is only fitting that the country has not one or two,  but three islands called Elephant Island or Koh Chang. Most people know about the big Koh Chang, Thailand’s third largest island, situated in the Gulf of Thailand not far from neighbouring Cambodia. Also in the Mu Koh Chang National Park just off the northwestern tip of Koh Chang is a small uninhabited island called Little Koh Chang or Koh Chang Noi (Noi meaning small).

Here, however, we will concentrate on the third Elephant Island which is situated in the Andaman Sea between mainland Thailand and the southern tip of Myanmar. This Koh Chang Noi is only now starting to emerge on the radar of the more adventurous travelers.

KOH CHANG NOI (Andaman Sea)
Area:
  18 sq. km² (7 sq. miles)
Location: 20 km southwest off the mainland coast at Ranong
Population: Can’t be many
Weather: Hot and humid – best season weather-wise is November-March
Industries: Rubber, cashew nuts, fishing, tourism
Facilities: Very basic 



 You will love Koh Chang Noi if you love…

  • hammocks
  • simplicity
  • wilderness

  • tranquility
  • nature
  • animals

  • solitude
  • budget travel
  • thick books

 Avoid Koh Chang Noi, if you prefer…

  • accessibility
  • entertainment
  • fine dining
  • pampering

  • tours
  • partying
  • air-condition
  • shopping

  • nearby hospital
  • comfort
  • swimming pool
  • WiFi and connectivity

Arrival at the Koh Chang Noi Southern Pier

We took the little public ferry boat from neighbouring island Koh Phayam. We were the only ones getting off at Koh Chang Noi, while the rest stayed on the boat bound for the pier at the outskirts of Ranong. Our first encounter with Koh Chang Noi says a lot about this island. It must have been low tide, since the tiny arrival pier was well above our heads as we stood on the roof of the ferry. We threw our luggage up onto the pier and hoped that we were able to follow. With a few monkey climbing moves we made it withouth dumping into the water. Koh Chang Noi is not for luggages on wheels, stilettos, and luxury travelers expecting to get pampered.

There was one person on the pier. He had a motorcycle with an attached cart. That was our ride. We rode on a small gravel road through rubber plantations. We had read that there was a village with a supply and snack shop, so when we saw a couple of houses we asked our motorcycle guy to stop, so we could inquire about its whereabouts. Well, that was it. This was that village. And sure enough, there was a small shop with supplies.

Rubber plantation in Thailand with small buckets gathering sap from the trees.

Rubber plantation, a common sight on Koh Chang Noi.

“Take us to the best beach”

Take us to the best beach, I told our driver. On all other Thai islands, this would have been a rookie mistake. In local understanding, the best beach usually means the beach with most tourists, the most international fastfood restaurants, and the most fancy tourist facilities. After all, this must be the best beach, since everyone chooses to go here, right! In this particular case it didn’t matter, since the scale of tourism is so small that there are no such places.

The main stretch of beach is called Ao Yai (Big Bay). It is a 3-4 km stretch on the west coast of Koh Chang Noi, separated into two main stretches by a canal flowing to the sea. This is where our driver let us off. We chose to head south. It didn’t take long before we had to practise our balancing skills as we had to tightrope walk on a narrow concrete log that crossed a stream. Some parts of the beach are rocky, while others have green vegetation and trees all the way to the shoreline; since we arrived at high tide.

After a few attempts to find accommodation, we found a simple, but spacious concrete bungalow at a family-run resort called Full Moon Bungalows. Like other small bungalow resorts on this island, facilities are scarce but sufficient if you like it simple, and if you are not afraid of a little wilderness and darkness. You will find most accommodation on the island to be prices from 200 to 500 Thai Bath, probably cheaper if you rent long-term.

Full Moon Bungalows

Simple concrete and wooden bungalow with decorative sea shells from Koh Chang Noi (Andaman)

Simple and charming accommodation at Full Moon Bungalows

Interior of budget bungalow hotel on Koh Chang Noi

Full Moon Bungalows interior

Budget bungalow bathroom at Full Moon Bungalows, Koh Chang Noi (Ranong, Andaman Sea)

Simple bathroom at Full Moon Bungalows

Speaking of darkness, as I showered that evening, the lights went off just as I had applied shampoo. It was exactly 9 PM. The resort provides electricity from 6-9 PM. After that the island sleeps. Scrambling in the dark, I found a something to dry myself with – hopefully a towel.

The next day we bought some candle lights and match sticks from the small supply shop. We found a rock which we used as our candle light holder. We were prepared for night number two.

White candles on a rock used as light source

Our only light source after 9 PM

Simple facilities in natural surroundings

The wind is you fan, the lukewarm shower water or the sea is your cooler. Beds have mosquito nets and come with clean blankets. The mattresses are the typical budget bungalow types – they are hard. As you are parked in the wilderness, you should expect sounds from the jungle at evening and nighttime. Most likely, you will have a few resident geckos doing their best to keep the insect population in check. We heard of two separate cases of visitors finding snakes in their living quarters.

Some people leave the island after one sleepless night, others come back year after year for extended periods to connect with themselves and nature.

Black hornbill bird with yellow beak sitting on branch in Thailand

Koh Chang Noi offers good chances to see wildlife

Exploring Koh Chang Noi on foot

During the day we explored the area on foot. The atmosphere on Koh Chang Noi is very relaxed. There is not much activity along the Ao Yai beach stretch. There are no big resorts and no apparent development on the way. You can tell that there are a lot of long-term visitors on the island.  There is a community of people who know each other well, and whichever bungalow they are staying at, they have personalised it with their own beach art creations, wall paintings, and hammocks.

There are a few beach bars and restaurants. The small resorts serve Thai and a few Western dishes at prices below 100 Thai Bath per serving. If you want Italian, you can visit Little Italy and try their stone oven pizzas. If you want vegetarian food, try Crocodile Rock’s restaurant on the rocky southern end of Ao Yai. The village shop has daily necessities, snacks, and fruits. This is where you get your mosquito coils, tissue paper, and shampoo.

In the evening we visited the Tsunami Bar in the southern end of Ao Yai. This is a “cast-away” bar decorated with driftwood, old fishing gear, and sea debris. We were three customers during the two hours we spent there, but the cocktails were superb.

Sign of Tsunami Bar on Koh Chang Noi's Ao Yai Beach

Great cocktails but not many visitors at Tsunami Bar

The beaches of Koh Chang Noi

The beaches have smooth sand. The sand is mostly light brown and yellow with pads of black sand in between. The width of the beach is very tide dependent. You will find plentiful natural shade from casuarina trees and other vegetation at the beaches. When we visited in March, the water was clear and suitable for swimming and snorkeling. There are rocky areas along some stretches, but you can easily avoid these by taking a short walk to a sandier stretch.

The beauty of the beaches may not live up to that of nearby Koh Phayam, but that may just be one of the reasons that Koh Chang Noi is still as pristine and relaxed as it is.

Wonderful view fo the sea with casuarina trees giving shade in the foreground at Koh Chang Noi, Thailand.

Plenty of shade along Koh Chang Noi’s Ao Yai Bay

Rowing boat lying in clear water near the shore of Koh Chang Noi Island in Thailand

Koh Chang Noi offers loads of tranquility

Some further readings on Koh Chang Noi (Andaman Sea / Ranong)

There are not many resources on Koh Chang Noi, but the ones that are, are superb.

Tezza’s Beaches & Islands
Tezza takes us through his personal encounters with Koh Chang Noi with detailed descriptions of accommodation and restaurant options, various beaches, and general information. Tezza’s accounts of (mostly) Thai islands and beaches are some of the best and most insightful out there.

t-GLOBE
The Koh Chang Noi section from t-GLOBE has great maps of beaches and accommodations on the island, along with area descriptions.

Travelfish
Read this for a quick overview of what you can expect to experience on Koh Chang Noi. As usual, Travelfish provides great info on accommodation, restaurants, getting there and away, and the overall vibe of the island.

This is Thailand’s Most Beautiful Island!

Koh Tachai (เกาะตาชัย), also called Virgin Island, in Mu Koh Similan National Park, Thailand. Perhaps Thailand's most beautiful island.
Update!

See update on the island below…

Where is Thailand’s most beautiful island?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right? But what if the beholder is a true Thailand expert? Beachmeter.com has talked to Morten Djorby, a Danish tour leader who has taken tourists to every corner of Thailand through the last 15 years. Morten is an expert on Thai language, culture, history, and of course the country’s number one attraction, islands and beaches!

So what did Morten answer, when we asked him to share his view on Thailand’s most beautiful island? See his response here:

The most beautiful island in Thailand? The island Koh Tachai in Ranong province is surely in the competition to be the winner. It takes 1½ hour with speedboat to reach the island, and it is certainly worth the boat trip. A beautiful white sand beach and crystal clear water awaits you. If you want to stay for a few nights you have the option to rent a tent near the little wooden restaurant, which mostly provide the food for tourists, who are visiting the island every day.

Images from Koh Tachai (Virgin Island)

Koh Tachai Information



Tachai Island (เกาะตาชัย), also called Virgin Island, is one of 11 islands in the Mu Koh Similan National Park in the Andaman Sea. Koh Tachai is the northernmost island in the national park, and covers 12 km² (4.6 sq. mi.). There is an entrance fee of 500 Thai Bath for foreigners to Mu Koh Similan National Park, and it is only officially open from November to mid May. Tachai Island is sometimes called the “Maldives of Thailand” because of it’s white powder sand and clear blue water.



 

In the season, the island receives daily visitors on day trips and sometimes snorkeling or diving liveaboards. If you like to visit the island, grab a local fisherman on the coast of Phang Nga or ask a travel agent or hotel to arrange the trip for you.

More about Koh Tachai

If you like to read more about Koh Tachai, we suggest you take a look at the Medsye Travel & Tours website’s section on Koh Tachai along with their Facebook page. You can also check VisitKhaolak for some great images. And more beautiful Koh Tachai images from phuketmeedee1 on Flickr, which give a good impression of the island experience on what is perhaps Thailand’s most beautiful island.


Update on Koh Tachai – Island to be closed off from tourists

According to the Bangkok Post, the small island of Koh Tachai will be closed off for tourist visits from October 15th 2016. The closure is a result of overcrowding from the vast amount of daily visitors, who come to enjoy the beautiful island for a few hours. Koh Tachai has been a common item on travel itineraries from local and international travel agencies, but according to Thai authorities, the island can no longer endure the stress. Koh Tachai serves as an example of the modern tourism dilemma – that the very presence of tourists compromises the touristic value and core qualities of a tourism destination.

There is no news as to how long the small island will be closed off from guests, but according to Tunya Netithammakul from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Conservation, the island needs time to regenerate as part of a larger marine resource management plan. Two dive sites near Koh Tachai will still be open to divers.

What’s Next?

Koh Tachai is by no means the only Thai island which endures excessive stress from thousands of visitors. Indeed, a standard comment about Thai islands is that they are “overly touristy” and “not as they used to be”. The big question is, whether the closure of Koh Tachai will only be the first of many Thai island closures in an attempt to rejuvenate the islands’ natural beauty and resources.