ASIA SOUTHERN THAILAND DESTINATIONS
LEFT: Mu Koh Chumphon National Park
FAR LEFT: Ngao Waterfall National Park
with tamarind sauce and soft- shell crab with garlic. The seafood is spectacularly
fresh. On the other side of the city at Haad Thung Wua Laen
beach, coconut trees bend towards the ocean and the sparkling blue water is shallow for a long distance offshore, making it a perfect place
for families to splash about. At Haad Sairee – hop on a songthaew (public taxi) for added adventure – there’s a battleship shrine to Prince Chumphon, and the beach itself faces west for perfect pink sunsets. Play: At Chumphon Pier, board a converted fishing boat for a day on the high seas. An early start to avoid afternoon rain means passing squid fishermen on their way home from a night on the ocean, and bigger fishing trawlers unloading their catches; Chumphon is famous for the quality of its fish. On our way to Koh Ngam Yai for a day snorkelling on a pristine reef, we pass limestone karsts rising dramatically from the ocean. With an imposing cliff face shaped like the right hand of Buddha, the island is considered sacred. In the crystal-clear water below, a treasure trove of colourful marine life darts
about the reef, including blue starfish, angel fish and parrot fish. Chumphon Cabana Resort has a popular diving and snorkelling centre that runs trips from £24, including lunch.
Getting there
Thai Airways flies twice- daily direct from Heathrow to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport, with return fares from £543 in economy, using an Airbus A380 and Boeing 777.
thaiairways.co.uk There are regular onward connections from Don Muang airport in Bangkok to Ranong and Chumphon airports with Thai AirAsia and Nok Air. Find out more from the
Tourism Authority of Thailand.
tourismthailand.co.uk
2 August 2018
travelweekly.co.uk 49
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