Holiday in Southern Thailand
Region in Thailand — tips, highlights & best time to visit 🇹🇭
Country
Thailand
Type
Region
Best time to travel
December–April (Andaman), January–September (Gulf)
Budget/day
50–100 €
Getting there from Germany
Flight to Phuket or Koh Samui via Bangkok (total travel time approx. 12–15 hours). Direct flights to Phuket from Frankfurt are also possible.
About Southern Thailand
Southern Thailand stretches from the narrow land bridge at Chumphon down to the Malaysian border and includes two completely different coastlines: the calm Andaman Sea in the west and the lively Gulf of Thailand in the east. This region combines some of the most spectacular beaches, islands, and diving areas in Southeast Asia — from the turquoise bays around Krabi to the limestone cliffs of Phang Nga to the legendary Full Moon parties on Koh Phangan. The western Andaman coast impresses with dramatic karst cliffs rising from emerald green waters. Krabi, Ao Nang, and Railay Beach offer world-class climbing opportunities on over 700 routes right by the sea. The Similan Islands and Surin Islands are among the top ten diving spots in the world with visibility over 30 meters and regular encounters with manta rays. On the Gulf side, family-friendly islands like Koh Samui attract with luxurious resorts, while Koh Phangan draws both backpackers and yogis alike. The province of Nakhon Si Thammarat preserves authentic Thai culture away from the tourist trails. Inland, Southern Thailand surprises with Khao Sok National Park, whose ancient rainforest surpasses the Amazon in biodiversity. The best travel time for the Andaman side is from November to April, and for the Gulf side from December to August.
Top 5 highlights in Southern Thailand
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Andaman Coast
Dramatic limestone cliffs, emerald green waters, and some of the most beautiful beaches in the world between Krabi and Phuket.
Similan Islands
Nine uninhabited islands with crystal clear water – one of the top 10 diving areas in the world.
Phang Nga Bay
The iconic limestone cliffs rise from emerald green waters – known as James Bond Island.
Gulf Islands
Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao offer everything from luxury resorts to Full Moon parties to diving courses.
Khao Sok Rainforest
One of the oldest rainforests in the world with the picturesque Cheow Lan Lake and floating bungalows.
Hotels in Southern Thailand
Vergleiche tausende Hotels, Apartments und Resorts auf Expedia – mit Bestpreis-Garantie, kostenloser Stornierung und Bonuspunkten.
* Weiterleitung zu Expedia.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.
Reise-SIM für Southern Thailand
Günstig surfen im Urlaub mit travSIM
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
Best time to travel for Southern Thailand
Recommended travel time
December–April (Andaman), January–September (Gulf)
Summer
Humid-hot, 28–34 °C, monsoon May–November (Andaman)
Winter
Dry-warm, 26–32 °C, best beach time
How much does a holiday in Southern Thailand cost?
Average costs per person per day
Budget
25–40 €
Hostel, Street food, Public transport
Mid-range
50–100 €
Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions
Luxury
120–400 €
Boutique hotel, Fine dining
Book a package holiday to Southern Thailand
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Compare package holidays now5 travel tips for Southern Thailand
Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.
The Andaman coast and Gulf coast have different monsoon seasons – choose the right side depending on the season.
Longtail boats between the islands are cheaper than speedboats but slower.
Please do not touch corals and use reef-safe sunscreen instead of regular sunscreen.
The Similan Islands are only open from November to April.
There are few ATMs on smaller islands – bring enough cash.
Food & drink in Southern Thailand
These specialties you must try!
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