We’ve traveled the world to find places that spark romance and connection. These destinations aren’t just beautiful, they’re where adventure, relaxation, and culture blend into unforgettable memories. Whether it’s a honeymoon, anniversary, or simply quality time together, these spots deliver.

Why Romantic Getaways Matter for Relationships

Travel strengthens bonds by creating shared experiences away from daily routines. Exploring new places together reveals different sides of your personalities, builds appreciation, and creates “firsts” you’ll remember forever, from sunrise hikes to tasting local delicacies.

Komodo Island, Indonesia

A komodo dragon

Komodo Island enchants with its pink sand beach, prehistoric Komodo dragons, and vibrant underwater world. Couples can snorkel or dive among manta rays and turtles, hike to stunning viewpoints, and visit Padar Island for iconic panoramas. Local villages add cultural depth, while sunset boat rides bring magical moments of connection.

Things to Do

Exploring Komodo means spotting dragons in their natural habitat, hiking to breathtaking viewpoints, and immersing yourself in local village culture. The highlight for many couples is experiencing scuba diving in Komodo island, where manta rays glide gracefully through coral gardens.

Big Island, Hawaii

Hawaii’s Big Island offers dramatic variety, black sand beaches, active volcanoes, lush rainforests, and alpine peaks. Couples can snorkel with dolphins at Kealakekua Bay, stargaze from Mauna Kea, and savor fresh poke bowls or Kona coffee. Hidden waterfalls and bamboo forests balance adventure with peaceful retreats.

Things to Do

Adventure here ranges from exploring Volcanoes National Park and snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay to stargazing atop Mauna Kea. Coffee farm tours, hidden waterfalls, and bamboo forests add balance, blending discovery with peaceful retreats.

Koh Lanta, Thailand

Stunning aerial view of Koh Lanta, Thailand

Koh Lanta blends authenticity with comfort, offering quiet beaches, charming Old Town, and vibrant coral reefs nearby. Couples can enjoy Thai cuisine, yoga retreats, and scooter rides through rural landscapes. Sunset viewpoints and wellness experiences make it a perfect mix of relaxation and exploration.

Things to Do

Spend mornings on Long Beach or Kantiang Bay, wander Old Town’s stilt houses, and take snorkeling trips to Koh Rok’s coral gardens. Add in Thai massage courses, scooter rides through plantations, and sunset viewpoints, and you’ve got the perfect mix of relaxation and exploration.

Paris, France

Paris lives up to its romantic reputation with iconic landmarks and intimate local moments. Couples can wander Montmartre at sunrise, picnic along the Seine, take cooking classes, and explore hidden museums. Evening river cruises and day trips to Versailles or Champagne add variety to the Parisian magic.

Things to Do

From the Eiffel Tower and Montmartre to hidden museums and Seine river cruises, Paris offers endless romance. Cooking classes, market tours, and day trips to Versailles or Champagne region add depth to the Parisian experience.

Niagara Falls, Canada

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls delivers awe with its thundering cascades, best viewed from the Canadian side. Couples can ride the Hornblower boat into the mist, explore tunnels behind the falls, and enjoy wine tastings in Niagara‑on‑the‑Lake. Evening dining with illuminated falls views creates unforgettable romantic ambiance.

Things to Do

Get drenched on the Hornblower boat, walk through tunnels behind the falls, and sip wine in Niagara‑on‑the‑Lake. Add thrilling views from the Whirlpool Aero Car and romantic dinners overlooking illuminated cascades for a complete experience.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh captivates with medieval Old Town, elegant Georgian New Town, and dramatic landscapes. Couples can explore Edinburgh Castle, hike Arthur’s Seat, and wander the Royal Mile. Ghost tours, whisky tastings, and festival season performances add culture and excitement to this historic city.

Things to Do

Discover history at Edinburgh Castle and along the Royal Mile, hike Arthur’s Seat for sweeping views, and join ghost tours of underground vaults. Whisky tastings and festival season performances add culture and excitement.

Vietnam

Lively street scene in Hanoi’s Old Quarter

Vietnam combines natural beauty, rich culture, and incredible food. Couples can cruise Ha Long Bay, wander Hanoi’s Old Quarter, and take cooking classes in Hoi An. Lantern‑lit streets, rice terraces in Sapa, and Mekong Delta boat trips showcase the country’s diversity, while Vietnamese coffee culture adds daily charm.

Things to Do

Cruise Ha Long Bay’s limestone karsts, explore Hanoi’s bustling Old Quarter, and take cooking classes in Hoi An. Trek Sapa’s rice terraces, boat through the Mekong Delta, and savor Vietnamese coffee culture for a full immersion.

British Columbia, Canada

British Columbia offers ocean, mountains, and vibrant cities. Couples can bike Stanley Park in Vancouver, explore Whistler’s alpine trails, and visit Victoria’s Butchart Gardens. Tofino’s rugged coast, Okanagan Valley wineries, and Indigenous cultural experiences add depth to this diverse Canadian destination.

Things to Do

Bike Vancouver’s Stanley Park, hike Whistler’s alpine trails, and wander Victoria’s Butchart Gardens. Surf in Tofino, tour Okanagan Valley wineries, and explore Indigenous cultural experiences for a diverse Canadian adventure.

Rome, Italy

Rome overwhelms with history and romance. Couples can wander Trastevere’s trattorias, marvel at the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel, and explore the Colosseum. Tossing coins into the Trevi Fountain, savoring Roman cuisine, and enjoying sunset views from the Borghese Gardens make the Eternal City unforgettable.

Things to Do

Step back in time at the Colosseum and Roman Forum, marvel at the Sistine Chapel, and toss coins into the Trevi Fountain. Savor Roman cuisine, stroll Borghese Gardens, and watch sunset from Pincio Terrace.

New York City, USA

New York pulses with energy and endless experiences. Couples can picnic in Central Park, explore world‑class museums, and discover Brooklyn’s neighborhoods. Broadway shows, diverse food, the High Line, jazz clubs, and sunset views from Top of the Rock showcase the city’s dynamic charm.

Things to Do

Picnic in Central Park, explore world‑class museums, and discover Brooklyn’s neighborhoods. Catch a Broadway show, stroll the High Line, sip cocktails in jazz clubs, and watch sunset from Top of the Rock for iconic city romance.

Conclusion

Romantic getaways don’t have to be complicated, they’re about finding places that spark connection and create lasting memories. From seeing manta ray in Komodo Island to enjoying a bustling city vibe in New York, each destination offers its own way to bring couples closer together.

Whether you’re chasing adventure, savoring culture, or simply enjoying quiet sunsets, these spots prove that the best vacations are the ones you share.

The post 10 Best Vacation Spots for Couples appeared first on Asian Itinerary.

Are you looking for a tropical paradise? Do you want to see something more of this enjoyable region washed by the Andaman Sea? Do you want to merge with the beautiful sceneries of white sand beaches and crystal clear waters, lush jungles and vibrant resorts? And above all, do you want to get away from the logic of mass tourism that characterises Phuket, Phi Phi Islands and Krabi?

A glimpse of Koh Lanta National Park

Perfect, you are in the right website, the one that takes you to visit Southern Thailand and gets you to know a series of beautiful, little-known and little-explored islands. Let me be clear: do not expect deserted islands. You can though certainly expect places where you will hardly find annoying masses of tourists, where you can find decent hotels equipped with the right comforts and where, perhaps, there is an attempt to generate a form of sustainable tourism.

Enough said. Follow us now along this enchanting journey which, starting from the island of Koh Lanta, just south of Krabi, takes us all the way to Koh Lipe, a short distance from the Malaysian border. An itinerary particularly suitable for those who want to explore beaches that will enchant you with their beauty and that will leave an indelible desire in your heart to come back in your next vacation to see for yourself all that the Andaman Sea has to offer you.

So, let’s get ready to tackle this itinerary, one that develops through three Thai coastal provinces: Krabi, Trang and Satun.

Koh Lanta – (Krabi province)

Koh Lanta National Park

This is the first stop of our tour. It is an island of remarkable beauty off the coast of the Krabi province where visitors can stay in hotels of various categories that often overlook the white, long beaches of the island. The island of Koh Lanta is already a well-known destination and there are several tourists who reach it, scattering along its entire coast.

Many are the activities that can be practiced in Koh Lanta: snorkelling, kayaking and excursions to nearby and equally enchanting islands can easily be organised.

Koh Lanta has its own merit-making corner

And of course sunbathing, relaxing on the beach and swimming a short distance from the shoreline, where you can ‘soak in’ as if there were no tomorrow.

These are the basis of those ‘non-activities’ that you can practice on any of the islands we will descrive.

In Koh Lanta there is no shortage of restaurants serving delicious Thai dishes as well as international cuisine. Most of them are located on the beach, so not only will you not go hungry during your stay, but you can also satisfy your appetite for a panoramic view of the ocean.

Koh Ngai – (Krabi province)

A corner of Koh Ngai beach

Koh Ngai is an Andaman Sea island located off the coast of Thailand. It is a paradise framed by splendid beaches of white sand and by waters so transparent that they look like panes of glass. It is the right place for those who want to get away from it all, who are not afraid of boredom and who feel good about themselves, perhaps not disdaining simply relaxing on a deck chair with a book in hand. Koh Ngai’s luxuriant tropical vegetation, among other things, offers adequate shelter from the scorching sun during the hot hours of the day.

Next, add up the usual activities such as canoeing, fishing, snorkelling and even diving to access those spectacular coral reefs that make up much of the seascape surrounding the island, easily reachable by local boats.

Koh Mook lifestyle… easy

One of the main attractions of Koh Ngai is the abundance of wildlife, including monkeys, monitor lizards and colourful birds that can be seen almost everywhere on this small paradise island.

Not enough? Then let me tell you that on Koh Ngai you will find little of everything (or none), though some shops can be found on nearby islands. Koh Ngai is the perfect place for fantasising. Just walk away from your hotel, close your eyes and imagine being on a desert island. Dream, and reach the night time, leaving worries aside and abandoning yourself to a deep and restful sleep.

Koh Kradan and Koh Mook – (Trang province)

Relax in Koh Kradan

The only difference between Koh Ngai and these two islands is that they are located in different provinces. Apart from this, everything said for the previous island also stands for the latter two. We can only add that Koh Kradan has a remarkable snorkelling site that can be easily reached by swimming from the shore, and that on Koh Mook you can visit the splendid and unmissable Emerald Cave, through which you access a hidden lagoon that will leave you breathless. Seeing is believing.

Last but not least, Koh Mook, being larger than the others, has a greater number of tourist structures and a village, where you can find local shops and restaurants.

Koh Libong – (Trang province)

This is another must-see destination when visiting the southern region of Thailand. This tranquil island offers visitors the chance to experience traditional Thai culture, with local villages filled with friendly people who will welcome you with open arms and traditional smiles. Here you can practice numerous activities, including trekking in the lush jungle and boat trips to surrounding islands or, alternatively, among the mangroves, looking for wild animals. Koh Libong is truly a unique place we will talk about in more details in the future.

Koh Bulon – (Satun province)

Sunset over Koh Bulon

I last visited the island of Koh Bulon about ten years ago. I was headed to Koh Lipe, but in the end I couldn’t resist Koh Bulon sea, its beaches, its tranquility and the cuisine of Gianluca, a friend who had a restaurant on that island: the Panka Noi Pizza, open from November to the beginning April.

Well, after ten years who knows how this Koh Bulon will have developed, you will say. It is legitimate to wonder, though I assure you that Koh Bulon has not had the growth that much better-known Koh Lipe, our next stop, has had. As a result, Koh Bulon has maintained a good part of the beauty of the past.

But if you insist, I will travel back to the island soon, and I will let you know more about it as soon as possible. What I do know is that Gianluca is always there with his restaurant so I’m also sure I’ll be adequately fed… Rather, if you happen to be in Koh Bulon, go find him: it’s worth it.

Koh Lipe – (Satun province)

Koh Lipe dream beach

And finally here we are at the end of our journey. We are in the Koh Tarutao Marine National Park, where the island of Lipe is located. This is undoubtedly the best known destination of Southern Thailand, an idyllic paradise that is slowly becoming a ‘lost paradise’ with once pristine beaches that now attract ever greater numbers of tourists.

Given our initial comments on mass tourism, perhaps Koh Lipe should be dropped from this list of ours. However, I believe that this island should be forcibly inserted into a southern islands itinerary because, despite everything, it remains, in my honest opinion, an amazing place. I would say that Koh Lipe should be awarded an ‘ad honorem green card’.

Koh Lipe by night

Koh Lipe‘s fame is also supported by the beauty of the surrounding islands, great destinations for day trips, and by the coral gardens that surround it, rich in marine life and a natural paradise for those who intend to snorkel or dive.

In all these years of growth, Koh Lipe has also developed a lively nightlife made up of bars, restaurants and clubs where you can have a drink and listen to music. In short, there is something for all tastes on the island. As you can see, there is no shortage of choice and I assure you that we are talking about quality places.

How to reach the islands

At this point the last thing to tell you is how to reach these islands which, although off the beaten track, are well connected to each other, to the mainland and to the main tourist centres.

Sea sand palms and rest

Scheduled speedboats connect Phuket, Phi Phi Islands and Krabi with each of these islands. Certainly some distances can be long and perhaps not very suitable for those suffering from back pain or seasickness, but in this case there are alternative solutions.

You can travel by car or minivan, privately or by public transport, the latter obviously cheaper, until you reach one of the ports of embarkation closest to your chosen islands.  From there, a traditional ‘longtail boat’ carries you to your destination.

Should you arrive from further afield, for example Bangkok, you can fly to one of the three International airports close to the above islands: Krabi, Trang and Hat Yai.

And for those who have the time and the wish, you could hop on a catamaran cruise which touches each of the destinations described, and perhaps some other pearl of the Andaman where you can have an intermediate stops. In short, even in this case there is no shortage of solutions, the choice is yours.

Photos by Guglielmo Zanchi (Pluto)

WATCH FANTASIA ASIA VIDEO OF THE TOUR HERE:

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People snorkelling in the waters surrounding the Koh Rok Islands in the Krabi Province of the Andaman Sea have sighted Manta Rays, a vulnerable species and the largest type of ray in the world, for the first time in about 18 years.

Paradise Koh Rok

The 2 Koh Rok Islands – Koh Rok Nai and Koh Rok Nok – are tiny paradises 30 km south of Koh Lanta, Krabi. Small, rugged and mostly unspoilt, they’re home to an impressive coral reef system, pristine white-sand beaches, a small ranger’s station, a restaurant and very little else. While there’s some accommodation available so that you can stay on the island, this is mostly in the form of tents and a few bungalows.

As part of the Mu Koh Lanta National Park, the Koh Rok Islands have a thriving underwater ecosystem, where divers and snorkelers can encounter sea turtles, moray eels and black-tip reef sharks. On land, on Koh Rok Nai, the beautiful Koh Rok Waterfall is well worth seeing.

The Koh Rok Islands are widely known for their rich marine life, which has regenerated during the COVID-19 tourism hiatus. Snorkelers were excited to encounter the large Manta Rays as, normally, only scuba divers would be able to see them.

A snorkeler swims with a manta ray

The Manta Rays are between 3 and 6.7 metres wide and weigh up to 1,350 kilograms. These rays are often found in tropical waters, especially near coral reefs. Such creatures are also found near the “Hin Daeng Hin Muang” dive site near the Koh Rok Islands, located within the Mu Koh Lanta National Park.

The manta ray is considered to be endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a result of overfishing over the past few decades.

HOW TO GET THERE

There’s no public boat service to the Koh Rok Islands, but there are tour companies operating speedboat or longtail boat day trips there from Koh Kradan, Koh Muk, Koh Ngai or Koh Lanta. You’ll need to pay around 400 baht entry fee on arrival at Koh Rok – the national park entry fee. Tours are not available from May to November as the islands are usually closed during this time because of the rough weather.

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Pimalai Resort & Spa, the authentic and natural five-star sanctuary on Koh Lanta, Thailand, is giving Thai residents the opportunity to take an extended break from their daily routine and discover a new “home away from home” in paradise, combining peace and privacy with world-class facilities and complete connectivity.
Following the Royal Thai Government’s request that all citizens work from home, what could be better than relocating your daily workspace to secluded 100-acre sanctuary, surrounded by lush tropical forests and overlooking the shimmering Andaman Sea? At Pimalai, guests can escape the outside world and unwind in an atmosphere of pure island bliss, without sacrificing any of life’s luxuries.

Guests embrace privacy, nature, grace and serenity at Pimalai Resort & Spa

With a collection of contemporary Thai-style rooms and villas, providing plenty of living space, refreshing bathrooms, panoramic views, working desks and complimentary Wi-Fi, guests can make a seamless transition to their new home office. Then, when it’s time to relax, Pimalai promises a wealth of facilities, including a sea-facing infinity pool, award-winning spa, fully-equipped fitness centre, invigorating water sports, island excursions, superb diving and snorkelling, uplifting activities such as yoga and Thai boxing, and of course, outstanding cuisine either in the resort’s restaurants or delivered straight to the room.
By working in such rejuvenating setting, without any unnecessary interruptions, professionals can even increase their productivity, be inspired to complete long-standing projects or even embark on exciting new ventures.

The Hillside Ocean View Pool Villa could be transformed into the ultimate home office for a week or longer

To help local residents and expats discover their perfect place to work, rest and play, Pimalai has created an exclusive extended-stay promotion that offers a seven-night stay for the price of just five nights. A choice of luxurious rooms and suites are available, ranging from 48 and 650 square metres, and rates start from THB 17,530 for a full week in a Deluxe Room or only THB 42,200 for a Hillside Ocean View Pool Villa (when combined with the “Travel Together” campaign), including daily breakfast and airport transfers. This promotion is valid until 31^st March 2021.

How about working from a secluded 100-acre sanctuary, surrounded by nature and overlooking the sea

For truly immersive experiences, longer stays of 15, 20, 45 or 60 nights can be taken between now and 30^th June 2021. Rates start from just THB 2,150 per night for a Deluxe Room as part of a 60-night residency, rising to THB 21,970* per night as part of a 15-night sojourn in a Three Bedroom Beachside Pool Villa. Thai citizens who participate in the government’s Rao Tiew Duay Kan campaign will enjoy an additional discount.
In accordance with the latest government advice, Pimalai Resort & Spa has created a series of highly effective of health and safety protocols that bring total reassurance to visitors, while also ensuring the highest standards of Thai hospitality. Under the “Pimalai Care” initiative, innovative measures include 24-hour vacancy periods between bookings, three disinfection tunnels, ozone sanitisation in the guest rooms and heat cleaning in the kitchens.

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Following Giants logo

A visit to Following Giants is something that will stay with you forever, it’s a must-see experience you will never forget. Once you step into the lush green jungle home of the residents of Following Giants in Koh Lanta you will immediately see why these beautiful creatures deserve to lead a peaceful life. 

World Animal Protection partnered with Following Giants to create an environment where elephants can go about their day to day lives doing what they should be doing, just being elephants. But at the same time allowing visitors to walk in the footsteps of the elephants without disturbing them, hence creating a better understanding and connection. It truly is the best of both worlds. 

Following Giants offers visitors a variety of activities that not only allows them to watch the elephants but also assist in replenishing their jungle food source, learn more about their habits and lives, and even get a bird’s eye view from the tree-house viewing platform. 

One of the fun and fulfilling activities is taking part in the making and distribution of ‘seed bombs’. Our elephants have big appetites, so they need a constant supply of food, that’s where our ‘seed bombing’ activity comes in. You not only get to help make these seed-bombs you also get to distribute them throughout the jungle.

One of the elephants at the center

There are three resident elephants at Following Giants – Sow, Jahn and Chok –  and they all love living their new lives in peace and harmony. All of them previously lived harsh lives in either logging camps or providing endless rides for tourists. But now they are free to simply live the idyllic lives they were born to live. 

World Animal Protection’s mission is not only to provide a happier and more beneficial life for animals, but it also helps show local communities how they can change their business practices and still proved a profitable service to tourists and visitors. Following Giants is a key example of this mission. 

Interacting with the local community

When you visit Following Giants you are not only showing your support for the wonderful elephants who call this place home, but you are also encouraging the local community to embrace a more eco-friendly approach to tourism activities.

To arrange site visits, please contact the owner, Charae Sangkaow,
directly at followinggiants.lanta@gmail.com  – m: +66 (0)84 744 7060

https://www.followinggiants.net/ 

For more information please contact Vivaldi Integrated Public Relations, Sansiri Sirichotinun (Noke) T: + 669 9426 6547 E:  sansiri.s@vivaldipr.com

About World Animal Protection

World Animal Protection

From our offices in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, India, Kenya, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Thailand, UK and USA, we move the world to protect animals. During 2018 we gave more than 3 billion animals better lives through our campaigns that focus on animals in the wild; animals in disasters, animals in communities and animals in farming. Since the launch of our Wildlife not Entertainers campaign in 2015, more than 1.6 million people have joined our campaign to protect wild animals from abuse and cruelty in the name of ‘entertainment’.

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Trash Hero logo

In Cambridge Dictionary, a hero is described as someone who “is admired for having done something very brave or having achieved something great”. In this case, we can surely describe Trash Hero Koh Lanta volunteers as heroes!

Trash Hero is a great non-profit cleanup organisation founded on Koh Lipe, Thailand, in 2013, and it has been steadily gaining traction for the past few years and is focused on making Krabi province beautiful for generations to come. Arriving in Ao Nang, Krabi, in 2015, the Trash hero group spread its wings and brought schools, government officials, resorts and locals alike together on several annual beach cleaning days.

The community-funded group has then put down its roots in Koh Lanta, the largest island in Krabi province. With the bridge connecting Koh Lanta Noi to Koh Lanta Yai completed, the traffic and growth of the region is increasing exponentially, which will in term inevitably come the more homes, hotels, shops, people and so on. And more garbage scattered all over the place.

Trash Hero in Koh Lanta

Trash Hero Koh Lanta have been informally cleaning beaches on a weekly basis, and it has the support of Lanta Tourism Association, Oasis Yoga, KoHub, Casuarina Resort, Siam Home Bakery, Lanta International Language School, The Living Room and more locals and foreigners alike, all dedicated to a greener island.

THEIR MISSION

The Trash Hero mission is to create sustainable, community-based projects that remove existing waste, and reduce future waste by inspiring long-term behaviour change. They do this through:

• Action and Awareness. They pick up trash. Whether a cigarette butt on the road, or 20,000 kilos from island beaches – if they see it, they clean it! And as they say, actions speak louder than words. By spending just a few hours together picking up trash, people can see the real world consequences of being careless about waste.

• 

  Trash Hero education project

  Education. They back up hands-on experience with educational information about the impact that trash has on the global environment. “The success of our species is in the hands of the youth”, a saying we have all heard before and can agree with. This is the fundamental point for the Trash Hero clean up group, to get the younger generation involved and they will imbue what they learned with their everyday actions. The response in Ao Nang from local schools, and government officials has been great, a number of classes have been brought out to the beaches given speeches on why cleaning up the trash on our beaches is important.

• 

  Trash Hero at work

  Sustainable Projects. They create long-term projects that bring communities together to remove and better manage their waste, and strategies that reduce the amount of waste being produced in the future.

• Inspiration. They motivate people to become Trash Heroes in their everyday lives. Trash Hero Thailand alum have gone home to make their own heroic clean-ups around the world.

ABOUT TRASH HERO

What can be found under the sand

While solving the global garbage problem may be complex, knowing what to do about the garbage that is currently littered on our beaches and in our communities is relatively simple: pick it up. What’s the idea? With the support of local businesses, people come together once a week to pick up trash. When and where is this happening? At the time and location designated each week by the local Trash Hero group. Participating local businesses each week generously donate gloves and trash bags, food and beverages, and transportation when needed. Does it work? As of September 2015, 5000 volunteers have removed 100 metric tons of garbage from the beaches of Thailand and Indonesia.

YOU CAN BE A HERO TOO

Proud to be a hero

Of course, anyone can be  a Trash Hero! A Trash Hero wastes as little as possible, reuses as much as possible, and works to preserve and improve the spaces they are in, wherever they may be. Also, the organization is always in need of additional volunteers; if you would like to spend the day doing something worthwhile, check Facebook for dates and times of their next cleanups! https://www.facebook.com/trashherokohlanta/?fref=ts

To contact Trash Hero in Thailand, call +66 94 585 0251 or LINE trashhero, email info@trashhero.org

Follow Trash Hero on http://trashhero.org/ 

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Lanta October Fun Fair program

Save the date: this year Lanta October Fun Fair is set on Sunday the 9th October 2016. Every year the Lanta October Fun Fair raises money for an important cause on the island. This year they are using all the proceeds to start the much needed Lanta Community Composting Project.

Lanta October Fun Fair is an annual event open to all communities on Koh Lanta, bringing everyone together to have fun, socialise, chill, support and donate to a worthy cause. This year the fair organisers offer more fun and games for both kids and adults, Bring&Buy sale and local crafts area, Trash to Cash competition, BBQ by Chef Daniel from The Frog, Gelato ice cream by Two Scoops, Swedish baked goods by Anna of the Swedish church, Chicken Biryani by Lanta Language school, Live band and 2 DJs, Cocktail Bar by Banana Beach Resort and last but not least beer. At last year’s event, 1,680 bottles of beer were sold.

Lanta October Fun Fair stalls available

If you would like to be involved, there is retail space in exchange for a 1000 thb donation. You can use the space to sell your products (anything except food or drinks) and promote your business. Retail space can be shared by more businesses.

Join Lanta October Fun Fair on 9th October 2016 at Banana Beach Bungalows, Klong Dao Beach, Koh Lanta.

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food waste is deposited

Rubbish, garbage, waste or whatever you want to call it is a huge problem everywhere, and Koh Lanta is no exception. The overall objectives of Lanta Community Composting Project is to demonstrate the possibility of reducing organic waste going to landfill by composting both on-site and off-site. Given the small scale of this pilot project, while it will reduce organic waste and produce income, it is not expected to solve Koh Lanta’s waste problem at once. The intent is for the project to serve as a learning center, to inspire and empower individuals, business owners and community leaders to set up small scale composting stations throughout the island. The project will be set up, co-ordinated and overseen by a volunteer committee, committed to transparency and open books with the financial plans and collections for this project.

banner Lanta Community Composting Project

Lanta Community Composting Project will secure a reliable source of food and yard waste by Membership drop-off system. Training will be provided with regards to what can and cannot be composted. Local businesses and individuals who are interested are registered as members; they will need to put food waste into covered container provided by the project to be dropped off daily to the composting station. All new members should receive a basic orientation in how to compost, and the quantity of members should be regulated to ensure that the bins are neither significantly underused nor overused. The project will recruit local sea gypsy in Nai-Rai community, preferably elderly members to perform the day-to-day composting operations, maintenance and monitoring of the composting station.

Khun Teerapoch Kasirawat, chairman of Lanta Tourism Association

A big thank you goes to Khun Teerapoch Kasirawat, Chairman of Lanta Tourist Association, who offered the use of his land at Boat Leaf Resort to start the project. The land measures approximately 1600 sqm of land, or one rai in Thai standards, and the pilot project has been given a 2 years lease  free of charge, with the possibility for longer period. Boat Leaf Resort is an ideal location for a small to medium scale off-site composting station being situated behind Saladan School, with the road leading to many restaurants and resorts in the area. The site would be a drop off location of organic waste from restaurants around the community and serve as a central station for composting. It is also at a central location to engage and educate students, local residents and businesses, and it is on the main road so it can be seen by all passers by who can then visit the station.

compost usage

Koh Lanta will benefit in different ways: in the Short term, the development of a pilot project will demonstrate the possibility of individual home composting as well as small scale community composting stations; also, the project will raise local awareness of the value and opportunities of composting through education in schools and community outreach. In the Long term, the future chance to develop small composting stations throughout Koh Lanta in partnership with community leaders and business owners; the reduction of organic waste going to landfill; the usage of organic waste for growing local products; and the potential to create jobs and revenue for communities through sale of high quality compost.

If you have any question, wish to receive news and updates or you wish to donate to the project, you can contact them at https://www.facebook.com/cashtotrashlanta

Check out details on the method used at Lanta’s first Community Compost Station here: https://www.facebook.com/lantaoctoberfest2015/posts/1127425760652678

Composting without turning

Composting without turning 2

Lot of questions were posted on their Facebook page about how the compost system works and what system they are using. Here is the breakdown on the compost without turning plans. The best part is: no smell and very little work! After studying a number of composting options that are available, ’Composting without Turning’ is the best method to use. An innovation in food waste and green waste composting method, developed by Maejo University in Chiang Mai, composting without turning allows for organic waste to be managed at individual household scale up to industrial scale with minimum labour and equipment. This method of composting have been widely used since 2009. Composting without turning is an Aerobic type of composting where a large amount of oxygen is needed and moisture is crucial to support the micro-organisms. The method is therefore suited to this pilot project for the following reasons:

– The compost rings/bins to contain the waste for composting are economical and readily available

– The compost rings/bins can be placed in the open and requires very little space

– Very low tech

– Low maintenance

– Can be adjusted to any scale of users; community, hotels, resorts, restaurant/bar, home

Composting without turning 1

The rings/bins are set up to allow generous air flow and waste is layered lasagna style, alternating between kitchen wastes, green wastes( leaves, grass clipping) and animal manure. Once full, the rings/bins are left to stand for approximately 60 days during which time the rings are watered at intervals. In conversations with the head of Compost project at Birds & Bees resort and Maejo University, and testing the method at Costa Lanta, this system does not create nuisances to the surrounding community. When layered correctly, the compost rings/bins do not attract rodents, flies or other pests. Check out these photos of how Costa Lanta Resort, Ko Lanta, Thailand has already implemented the system.

This year Lanta October Fun Fair, set on Sunday the 9th October 2016, will raise money for Lanta Community Composting Project. Follow them on fb  https://www.facebook.com/lantaoctoberfest2015/ and check their article HERE !

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The proper rudder!

I had been planning a day out at sea in Koh Lanta and finally, on a stunning morning not so long ago, I got the chance to hop on my friend Didier’s wooden boat.

I had carefully planned the trip from Ao Nang, on the mainland; I set off in the early morning and my car and I managed to board the first set of ferries to the Lanta islands. We reached Koh Lanta Yai at 8am, I stopped in the village of Ban Saladan to buy some breakfast fritters from one of the local vendors and arrived at Didier sea-front wooden house on stilts soon after. My friend was busy talking to his captain and checking the boat for the forthcoming trip.

I drunk a coffee and socialised with a group of tourists who were joining the tour, before being summoned by Didier; we boarded the boat via a bamboo floating jetty and off we were, cruising towards the Koh Lanta straight. On the Ban Saladan shores, a series of private piers hosted boats on which staff loaded air tanks and diving equipment, and divers chatted with their instructors, excited about the day’s programmed dives.

Didier on his boat

The water on the straight was calm and the tides high, and the captain headed towards the maze of mangroves. The program then proposed cruising south through the islands of the straight, with Koh Mook, in the Trang archipelago, as the southernmost destination. As the captain cruised skillfully, I took my time to check up the back of the boat. It was different from the traditional longtail boat that characterize the Andaman, which uses an overboard engines attached to a long iron stick that ends with a propeller. This was a bigger boat, with an onboard stored-away engine and a proper rudder. Captain Bang Sod, an aged local with white hair and a witty smile, with his several years experience at the command of large diving boats, looked quite proud to be the captain of such a boat.

With my exploration completed, I turned my attention to the mangrove forest; their environment is so complete, so quiet and peaceful especially at that time of the day. Thailand only has a few areas that have been recognised as wetlands of the world and the mangrove forest of Krabi Province is ranked in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance. Lots of plants and wildlife live in the mangrove environment, including monkeys, birds, and fish.

The boat’s slow pace then allowed us to enjoy the magnificent views of the gulf, and to take on the healthy sea breeze. The magic of the sea is always appealing to me. I love slow boats, drifting in the vastness of the water masses, watching the horizon line and never reaching it, evoking past navigations of intrepid seafarers.

View of Koh Lanta east coast

At 9am we exited the mangroves canals and the sun started to get stronger; the sky was a nice shade of blue. The boat cruised along Koh Por island with its nice bays and a picturesque fisherman village, passed Lanta’s southernmost point, then a few islands: Koh Ngai, where several boats discharged sunbathers; Koh Ma and Koh Chuak, well-known diving and snorkeling sites; Koh Kradan and Koh Mook, the most popular islands in the Trang province, part of Had Chao Mai National Park.

Koh Mook is home to several local communities; it features high cliffs and rocks facing the open sea at its western face, and is well known thanks to Morakot (emerald) Cave, a unique attractions part of the Unseen in Thailand tourism campaign that takes its name from the color the water assumes in the proximity of the cave.

Captain Bang Sod anchored the boat in proximity of the cave entrance, where one by one we jumped in the water. The exciting thing about this hidden lagoon is that in order to reach it you need to swim through a narrow fissure a few meters wide, a sea tunnel inside the majestic limestone rock, carved by the sea. Didier swam at the helm, holding the torch and making the way through the pitch-dark tunnel accessible only during low tides. At that time of that day the tide was so high tough that it forced us to lower our heads in order to avoid hitting the rock ceiling. After a short while, a ray of light filtered in from the end of the tunnel, and soon we entered the small lagoon.

A snorkeling destination

Enclosed in a shell of sheer rocks several hundred meters high covered in tropical vegetation, a small beach was lined with huge beech trees and plants that sprouted massive foliage from a red earthy ground. We got out of the water; the sand there had the consistency of powder. We spent some time in peace, had another swim, explored the jungle-ridded sides of the encircling mountain, and left for the swim back.

Captain Bang Sod was waiting for us, ready to cruise on. On the way back, we had lunch: a simple yet delicious rice and vegetable ratatouille, followed by fruit and soft drinks. During our trip back, we sailed along the West side of Koh Lanta, stopping to snorkel at a couple of destinations, and taking a break at a semi-desert bay along the coast.

We arrived back in Ban Saladan jetty at 5pm, tired from the several hours of boating but happy and content, amazed by this experience  out at sea in Koh Lanta.

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The Pub is an amazing place that offers just what you need to feel at home: great food, friendly staff with a smile, and an affable owner, a trendy atmosphere and some nice music. We are here today to talk about the food.

The Pub chef hails from Chiang Mai and has a background in big hotels’ kitchens for many years (and it shows!) before deciding to run and help his long time friend Khun Sae, The Pub owner. His menu comprises tasty Thai food and a wide range of refreshing drinks, including Chang draft and Leo draft, plus a range of signature cocktails, as well as the usual suspects. We went for a couple of starters, prawns tempura and chicken satay. Sure, you cannot go wrong with these two dishes, yet they were both a step above average: tasty, not oily and not too salty. Plus the sauces that came with them were exceptionally tasty (and some even spicy!). The mains were two fish: one steamed and the other filleted and stir fried with ginger and herbs. We loved them both, and ate a dish of steamed veggies with olive oil or ‘nam prik’ sauce to accompany them. The tables were good and the dining room spacious and comfortable.

So now you know: whether it’s for a quiet meal, Thai and fusion, chatting with friends with a drink or three, or perhaps you fancy some late music, head for The Pub. Enjoy the warm friendly atmosphere of this genuine Thai night place. Relax inside or seat in the spacious outdoor terrace, and enjoy your time chatting away or looking at your emails (yes, there is WiFi).

At The Pub they offer:

– Large selection of beers

– Draft beers: Leo and Chang

– Good range of wines, cocktails and spirits

– Single Malt Whiskey

– Mouthwatering western, fusion and Thai food

– Food served every day, lunchtime and evening

– Live music (low season sporadically or on request)

– Outside tables and chairs in the terrace

• Large, comfortable, covered Sala for smokers
• Easy accessible location
• Extensive car parking

Find The Pub in the middle of Klong Dao boulevard, right in the parking fronting the entrance of Southern Lanta Resort, behind the  Krung Thai Bank. For reservation or requests call Khun Sae on 080 0796900.

Check them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KohLantaThePub/info

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A roti vendor desk

If you have been to Thailand, you will be familiar with the roti bread pancake stalls, as you will find them simply everywhere, especially on the islands and in the beach resorts. I for one am quite familiar with them. The Thai pancakes called roti, and served in an array of versions by the roti carts all over the country, are round flat breads made of a dough that is slapped on a metal counter and fried in margarine or clarified butter until it becomes a sort of a crepe. Roti looks straight forward to make, though it may take some practice to get it right.

Rotis are usually cooked by Muslims; some can make them really nice, dry and tasty, the secret seems to be either using little margarine, or rubbing off the oil when the roti is cooked. The metal counter used to cook roti is a heavy piece of sheet steel 2cm thick, and it has a slight depression in the middle to hold the melted butter that the roti is fried in. There are different versions, and you can find one in steel shops in Bangkok’s China town.

A roti vendor

Mmmm, only talking about rotis makes me crave them. I usually return to a good roti stall and try to stick to it, rather than trying different ones. Some vendors make them rather spongecake, others very oily and greasy, the traditional way. I love the banana version and often rave about it. The vendor cuts the banana in slices, lay them over the half cooked dough and folds it over to make a square. Once the roti is properly cooked, they remove it from the pan, cut it in 9 squares and drizzle sweetened condensed milk over its top.

Other versions include coconut, Nutella, egg, cheese, raisins, chicken curry, you name it, and may come topped with chocolate syrup and other sauces available on the cart. It is, finally, eaten with a wooden skewer. Delicious! next time you are in Thailand make sure you eat plenty. If you ever need a recipe, you should be able to find one on the Internet. Roti vendors sell pancakes in many Asian countries, not only in Thailand, so alternatively get to your local roti vendor and ask him!

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TWIN LOTUS – Koh Lanta

199 Moo 1, Klong Dao Beach, Koh Lanta 81150 Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 7 560 7000, Fax: +66 (0) 7 560 7049
E-Mail: reservation@twinlotusresort.com
url: www.theuniquecollection.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/twinlotusresort

This stunning resort on Koh Lanta, Krabi, is set on a magnificent set of gardens. A total of 81 accommodations ranging from Superior and Deluxe rooms to One and Two-Bedroom Villas boast minimalistic styles with spacious layouts with both indoor and outdoor space that will please both the eye and the convenience thanks to the facilities the resort has on offer and to the natural tones used, consistent with a resort environment. The Twin Lotus Resort has recently undergone a complete renovation including the addition of brand new one and two-bedroom villas and accompanying facilities.

Twin Lotus Resort is located on a 3km white sand beach and is spread across 12 acres of stunning gardens with a picturesque canal running through the grounds. Also new are the Spa & Wellness Centre, offering a variety of relaxation therapies and treatments, in addition to the Beachfront Bar & Restaurant.

Honeymoon swite

Services include: Barracuda Beach Bar / Bua Fah – All Day Dining Restaurant / Bua Luang Spa & Wellness Centre / Indoor Meeting Facilities / Outdoor Venues for Banquets & Events / 2 Swimming Pools / Sports Centre / 24-Hour Reception / Airport Transfers / Complimentary Newspaper / Complimentary Wi-Fi

The Bua Luang Spa & Wellness offers a variety of treatments providing guests with the opportunity to relax, rejuvenate, and recharge. Detox programs, exercise and diet consultations and traditional Thai therapies are only some of the treatments in the extensive range.

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Monitor Lizard

Lory is not a squeamish kind of woman. She was raised on a farm, riding horses, milking cows and selling calves to the market for slaughter. She raised cats that were half pet, half ratters. Not squeamish at all, really. So this story may surprise you…

We had been at the Rawi Warin Resort on Koh Lanta, Krabi for about a week. Part of our morning ritual following a two-hour walk, a twenty lap swim and breakfast on the balcony restaurant of the hotel. Lory throws pieces of bread from the balcony into the pond below. Fish of various sizes immediately attack the bread, and we anxiously await the arrival of the arapaima fish, a seven-foot long import from South America, that is the prize fish of the pond. This is Lory’s morning entertainment, consistent with the farm girl described earlier.

The morning ritual following the fish feeding frenzy is the deliciously decadent period of sunbathing and reading by the lap pool. You really know you are on holiday when your biggest decision in a four to six hour period is when to roll over. On the morning of our story, Lory rose from her poolside lounging chair to return to our hotel room, a mere thirty paces. Whether her purpose was to get a cold drink from the minibar, or to tend to some other personal business is now forgotten.

When she arrived at the room, Lory noted that the door stood open, a sign that the hotel housekeeping staff was on the job. However, she also noted that on the step outside the room, a monitor lizard was on his way into the room. Lory stood her ground and called out for the attention of the housekeeping woman, Khun Ming, whom we know on the casual basis of her tending to our room every day. No answer came from inside the room, but Lory’s calling out inspired the lizard to slither into the room at lightning speed, cross the length of the room and climb two and a half feet up the curtain of the patio doors. Lory entered the room tentatively, keeping the lizard at a safe distance, once again calling out to our friend Khun Ming.

Khun Ming did indeed respond and appear from outside the room at our doorway. Lory informed Khun Ming in English that the monitor lizard had entered the room, pointing at the beast, where it hung from the curtain. Khun Ming, who speaks little to no English, fully comprehended madam’s concern and responded to this cry for help by wisely keeping Lory between herself and the lizard. As the two women communicated their strategy, Lory in English and Khun Ming in Thai, I remained somewhat oblivious to the event, lounging poolside, deeply ensconced in a novel. However, I can attest to the fact that the communication referred to above emanated from room to poolside in the form of women screeching with what I interpreted as hilarity. Perhaps not.

Back to the scene of the intrepid intruder. Lory had cleverly climbed onto the countertop, which houses the television and some shelving space. Khun Ming was still poised on the floor holding her mop. Lory requisitioned the mop and leapt from the countertop onto the bed, positioning herself nearer to the lizard’s curtain. As Lory stealthily moved the mop toward the curtain, the lizard turned its scaly head, darting out its slithery tongue and undulating its bulbous throat as with breath and cunning. Lory winced as the mop handle made contact with the lizards tail. In a flash the lizard was down the curtain and across the floor! Khun Ming shrieked in alarm and leapt onto the bed for protection. The lizard moved toward the open door of the closet and Lory feared it would make its home in one of the drawers containing our unmentionables. Again the lizard reared its ugly head, exposing a long lick of a tongue, and stretched its bulbous throat in defiance. The tail, as if with life of its own, slithered back and forth on the hardwood floor.

Suddenly, a man to the rescue! Thank God! One of the groundskeepers, hearing the cries of damsels in distress entered the room valiantly and chastised poor Khun Ming with the Thai equivalent of “These lizards don’t bite. What are you afraid of?” Then in a disappointingly anti-climactic gesture, the unnamed hero ushered the lizard out of the room. And so ends the story of Lory and the monitor lizard. Except of course for the moral of the story, which is: in the event of an encounter with a reptilian arch-villain… send for the groundskeeper.

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Heading to the mangroves

Mangrove trees live in salty water, like ocean water. Mangrove forests are found along tropical and subtropical coastlines in both the western and the eastern hemisphere. The mangroves have massive root systems that protect the shoreline from soil erosion, even from hurricanes and tsunamis. They also protect a special ecosystem of living species – including mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds. In recent times the mangrove forests have become endangered. Since 1980 we have lost twenty per cent of the world’s mangroves. They have been removed for both urban development and for agricultural purposes. Some of the loss is the result of powerful tsunamis and other natural disasters that wash away the soil that sustains the plants. We are very fortunate to have an extensive mangrove forest on the east side of Koh Lanta.

Adventure on Koh Lanta

We have been vacationing on Koh Lanta for several years, four or five times a year. People often ask, “What is there to do on Koh Lanta?” Now I admit that it takes very little to entertain Lory and I on holidays. We are the quintessential beach people. We like to read and suntan by the hotel pool, occasionally swim laps, go for walks on the beach – “Do you like pina coladas?” you may well ask.

We have never felt any need for ‘adventure’ on Koh Lanta. Yeah, with peer pressure we have done the one-day snorkeling trip to Phi Phi Island, and in a weak moment we hiked down to the south end of Koh Lanta Yai to the Marine Park – a much more rigorous and exhausting hike than we had anticipated – but those were aberrations in our vacationing lifestyle. We have never done the four-island tour, we are not divers, and we don’t care if we ever get up on another elephant.

all aboard

So imagine our surprise when, on a recent Koh Lanta holiday, we had not one but two new adventures. At our urging, our friends Jeff and Susan had agreed to join us on for a week on Koh Lanta. It was a thrill for us to share ‘our island’ with them. But Jeff and Susan are not beach people. How we ever became friends boggles the mind. Our first adventure was a hike up to the waterfall at Klong Jark just three kilometers north of the Marine Park. It was an easy ‘family hike’ and in the green season the waterfall is quite spectacular. We had sent Lory’s mom Doris and her aunt Fran to Klong Jark for an elephant ride and hike to the waterfall in the past, but there was no water to fall in the dry season, so we were delighted with our wet reward.

Our second adventure came about as the result of a drive across the island to show Jeff and Susan the construction site of our retirement home. We were cruising past a sign ‘Mangrove Way’ on the east side of the island. Jeff and Susan are ‘earth people’ as opposed to ‘beach people’. They eat healthy food and live a healthy lifestyle. They are concerned about environmental issues, even if the issue may be in their back yard. They run, rather than walk, and they go on adventure holidays to remote corners of the world that have no beaches. “What do they do for fun?” you may well ask.

sail alongside mangroves

The thing is that ‘fun’ seems to be defined differently by different people. Aristotle claimed that man’s purpose is to be happy. Heidegger argued that Aristotle was a smiling idiot. He said the purpose of the human condition is to contemplate death. From my perspective, Lory and I are definitely Aristotelian, and Jeff and Susan are closer to the Heidegging side of things.

Khun Luen’s Mangrove Tour

Hence it came to pass that the four of us drove down Mangrove Way to discover what wonders would be revealed. The road ends at Tung Yee Peng pier, on the edge of the mangrove forest. A small kiosk advertises eco tourism opportunities. Our first instinct was to jump into kayaks and paddle leisurely up the narrow inlet into mangrove land. We were immediately informed that we would not be allowed to kayak without a guide to ensure we found our way out. So we decided that if we need a guide we might as well save our energy and take the longboat tour.

We crossed a wooden bridge to access a long narrow pier that winds through the mangrove to a boat launch and restaurant on stilts. Here we were greeted by Khun Luen, who would be our boatman and guide. A longtail boat is a small fishing boat. The propeller is at the end of a long pipe extending from the motor at the back of the boat. Longtail boats are also used for low cost tourism ventures in Thailand.

Boarding the longboat, we settled in for our adventure. Khun Luen spoke no English, but this did not stop him from shouting out information to the tourists about the islands we were passing and other information that will remain a mystery. He was charming. The boat followed narrow channels between the mangrove islands, and it reminded me very much of boating on the Bayou in Louisiana. It soon became clear why we would not kayak without a guide. Only experienced guides could navigate these waterways.

We passed a fish farm in the form of houseboat sitting in a wide stretch of seawater, and we spotted Lanta Old Town in the distance to our right. Then we turned back into narrow channels again and enjoyed the magical atmosphere of life in the mangrove forest. We passed local fishermen in other longtail boats. Their relaxed body language suggested that they enjoy an idyllic life on the water. We were unable to identify the two species of water birds that proliferated the area; they flew in great numbers out of the mangrove trees and over our boat. We also enjoyed the flying fish that skimmed along the water close to the boat.

traditional longtail boats, best for navigating the canals

The highlight of the adventure for Khun Luen was his specialty of ‘feeding the friendly monkeys’ (as advertised in the brochure). The monkeys were long-tail macaques that live in the mangrove forest. They are quite accustomed to Khun Luen bringing tourists and fruit for them to enjoy. Khun Luen maneuvered the boat up to the mangrove trees so that a dozen monkeys could jump onto the boat. It quite startled us initially! We know wild macaques from our home in Sumatra and they can be quite vicious.

Surprisingly, these monkeys were almost domesticated in that as Khun Luen moved to the front of the boat, they climbed up his legs, almost pulling his pants down. Khun Luen’s smile was as wide as the macaque’s tail is long! The monkeys were all over him, clambering to get their share of the fruit. It was hilarious!

When the fruit was gone, Khun Luen returned to the helm and backed the boat away from the mangroves. The monkeys instinctively leaped from the boat, flying through the air to latch onto a mangrove branch and scamper to shore. Another successful monkey feeding expedition!

On the way back to the pier, we passed a group of kayakers and we felt quite relieved that we had not opted for that option. They were working very hard and would not cover anywhere close to the area we were able to see and enjoy. A beautiful thing about the Mangrove Way experience is that you really feel you are supporting the local economy. Your money goes directly into the hands of the locals who run this little eco tourism enterprise.

Epilogue

In a small way, the Tung Yee Peng community is preserving the world’s mangrove forests. You cannot do this tour without increasing your awareness and appreciation of the special ecosystem of the mangrove forests.

TO READ MORE ABOUT MANGROVES:

The Krabi Bay and Estuary

Santubong Mangroves Swamps River Cruise – Kuching

Mangroves replanting ceremony 2016

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The Island of Koh Lanta is home to the ancient people called Sea Gypsies – or Chao Ley in Thai. A few hundred Thai-mai, as they are officially called, have their homes and their heritage here. These people are the oldest inhabitants of Lanta, a unique feature of Koh Lanta parentage. Nomadic seafarers of Indo-Malay origins, they arrived on the island more than 500 years ago with their unique language, matriarchal social system and animist beliefs. Today they are struggling to preserve their traditional culture in the face of growing tourism and the influence of western culture.

No written or other testimonies exist to verify the real origin of the Sea Gypsies as their culture developed without writing tools. Their only historic records are legends and fables about man’s connection with nature. The Sea Gypsies of former centuries were said to be feared as pirates. One theory holds that they are descendants of the Malaysian colonies that evaded the Muslim invasion of Burma. Some Chao Ley in the extreme south of Thailand are from a tribe called Urak Lawoi, who according to local legends are relatives of Morgan, another group of Sea Gypsies on Surin Island in Phang Nga. Both groups migrated along the coast of Saiburi, now Malaysia ‘s Kedah state, around Gunung Jerai Mountain. They later separated and established separate settlements on various islands in the Andaman Sea.

Today the Sea Gypsies are a mixed people with their own unique language and brand of animism. Their belief in supernatural and traditional spiritual worship is still influential in the Lanta community. Dead bodies are deposed of on cemetery islands where the spirits of the dead live on. Two of the most important animistic rites still celebrated are the worshipping of spirits by raising two high poles as a door or threshold, and the twice a year launching of the wooden spirit-ships during the Loy-Rua festival.

The Sea Gypsies are traditionally nomads who roam the sea. However, their colony of Koh Lanta is an exception from the usual nomadic life-style. They have established themselves in Baan Sang Ka U, a village on the southeast coast of the island. Many of them have been granted land, surnames, and citizenship in Thailand. These unique people blend into the local population but they retain their own language, culture and close ties with the sea. They hold a subsistence-based fishing livelihood, like they have done for ages.

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Amazing miracles of nature

For travelers wishing to explore the wonders of nature in Southern Thailand, National Parks provide the best resources to achieve this goal. High-end, middle-range or a budget holiday, Koh Lanta embraces all kinds of travelers, at any time, any season. If you are in Koh Lanta, paradise is where you are now.

Blessed with an amazing wealth of flora, fauna, reefs and pristine beaches, the Krabi region makes appreciation of its natural beauty easy via the showcasing of its National Parks. These designated national parks offer the perfect opportunity to see nature as it was intended; they were established to conserve natural resources for future generationKoh Lanta National Parks and for educational and recreational purposes. After World War II, the population of Thailand increased rapidly and this boom led to an increase in the demand for natural resources. The purpose of Thailand’s National parks is to preserve natural resources for the education and recreation of the public. National Parks are a living showcase of natural treasures, and managing a National Park is a balancing act between conservation and the economy. Put simply, it is eco tourism.

A cliff within Mu Koh Lanta National Park

At the southern part of Koh Lanta Yai sits Mu Koh Lanta National Park, Thailand’s 62^nd National Park. Established in 1990, according to the order of Mr. Chuan Leekpai, Prime Minister and supporter of the Wild Animal and Plant Foundation of Thailand (www.warthai.org), it covers an area of 134 square kilometres, or 83,750 Rais. Unprecedented views, white sandy beaches and boat trips are three main reasons to drop by Mu Koh Lanta National Park. It is great destination for trekking and animal spotting, for a picnic, day-trip swimming, a one-hour jungle trek, or just to sit and chill out. Maybe even just to breathe.

The route to the National Park is a tad dusty and bumpy to say the least. A normal city-car will have a hard time climbing up and down the mountainous dirt passage, but more recently the last three kilometres have been paved. Many still choose to visit on motorbike, but it does take a little experience, especially in the wetter months. With an immense variety of tropical evergreen to mixed deciduous forests, the trip is enhanced by a richness of flowering trees and plants all providing endless botanical discoveries. Arriving at the designated parking area you are greeted by an imposing rock formation that is guarded by its overseeing lighthouse. The headquarters of the National Park are located here. This lighthouse itself overlooks two small bays, with the southernmost one Ta Nod Beach, being one of Lanta’s prettiest gems.

Mu Koh Lanta National Park beach

Ta Nod Beach is said to be the last piece of paradise on Koh Lanta Yai, and is actually a cape. Thais call it ‘Laem Tanod’ – ‘laem’ being cape in Thai. This wonderful beach is delightful and tranquil, protected as it was on our day there from the nor-westerly winds, by the lighthouse cape. Ta Nod Beach is usually un-crowded as not many people have the time or the enthusiasm to come to this place and when they do, they don’t stay all day. As picturesque as Ta Nod beach is, you should take some time to climb up to the Lighthouse via the designated track, to see the views from the top that can prove to be far more striking, exquisite and dramatic. From the high cliffs you will see turquoise water from a birds-eye view, the neighbouring Koh Ngai, Koh Rok Nok and Koh Rok Nai. Once up, you’ll get a better panoramic view of the park. Here you will realize that Koh Lanta offers the best of both worlds with exotic beaches and tropical forest.

The spacious open parkland comes complete with an array of shaded picnic tables, large Thai salas and some of the cleanest toilets you will ever find in Thailand. It is of a triangular shape, with one tip protruding into the sea and has prominent sugar palms on it, while the other side has high cliffs covered with the monsoon forest. The contrast to the beach at your left and right is also evident, with many rocky tidal pools on the northern side for observing numerous marine-lives at low tide. For the more energetic bush walking trails also criss-cross the park.

For our group it was a day of fun and relaxation and one that is highly recommended for inclusion in your discovery of the island of Koh Lanta, one of Thailand’s best-kept secrets. Whether it is chilling out at a quiet retreat or full-throttle action that visitors are looking for, Koh Lanta has something for everyone.

FACT-FILE

Activities: Beach, Camping, Nature trail study. Bungalow accommodation is available. Camping in the Mu Koh Lanta National Park is allowed but you must notify the park in advance at N. 5, Tambon Koh Lanta Yai, Amphoe Koh Lanta, Krabi, 81150, Tel. 075 629018-9. Alternatively, contact the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Flora, Tel. 02 5620760 or visit www.dnp.go.th

The page on Koh Lanta is the following: www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/forprint.asp?npid=49&lg=2

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