The area southeast of Bangkok, between Pattaya and Rayong is very touristy. But as you travel east, the area becomes less and less crowded. The first good beaches can be found on Ko Samet and east of Banphe, about 200 km outside of Bangkok. On the mainland, the beaches in the eastern part of the Eastern Seaboard are still undiscovered by Western tourists. During the weekends, some beaches are visisted by locals. Most of them are good places to relax. The islands of Ko Samet and Ko Chang are touristy, but you will also find good beaches here. Ko Mak is the first laid-back island in the region and we think the beaches in Ko Kut are a real paradise.
A diurnal tide cycle in the Gulf of Thailand means there’s one high and one low tide each day. Depending on the time of year, either one of these tides may last up to an entire beach day. You can check www.tide-forecast.com to get information about the tide in various areas in Thailand.
The best time to visit this region is from mid-October to the end of April. The rainy season lasts from May to mid-October, with more than 300 mm of precipitation per month. Exceptions are the island of Ko Samet and Banphe. There is less rain here in the months of June, July and August.
Klong Koi, Ko Chang
Ao Ka Noon, Ko Mak
Hat Takean, Ko Kut
Klong Hin, Ko Kut
Thap Thim, Klong Yai
