このアンダマン海に浮かぶ群島は、5つの島々から成り立っている (別名 スリン諸島) 。北スリン島と南スリン島が島の面積の大半を占め、それに加えてカイ島、クラン島、リ島の3つの島々がその周りを取り囲んでいる。
スリン諸島は自然保護のため、1981年に国立公園 に指定された。タイの南西岸を約60キロ行った僻地に位置するこの島は、ボートのみでアクセス可能だ。
54平方マイルの国立公園の80パーセント は海面下にあり、サンゴの群生や海洋生物を求めてダイビングやシュノーケルを楽しむ人々を魅了する。またこの島には澄み切った入り江や手つかずのビーチ、珍しい野生動物が住む緑豊かなジャングルもある。
遠く離れた地にある美しいビーチ……好きにならない理由があるだろうか？
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Thailand's Beaches
Phra Nang(01 of08)
Near the holiday center of Krabi, the stunning Phra Nang beach is presided over by the massive limestone karst that stands in the shallow blue water just offshore. Because it is only accessible by boat, this bay stands out as one of Thailand\'s least crowded swimming spots. When not enjoying the gorgeous view, wander over and visit the Tham Phra Nang Nok or \"Princess Cave,\" which local fisherman claim the cave houses, well, a sea princess. Makes sense.\r\n\r\nWhere to stay: There is a large selection of resorts both cheap and expensive near the beach that offer easy transport and travel guides for exploring the Krabi islands. A good bet is the Phra Nang Inn, which has an attached spa and rooms from $70. The only drawback is Ao nang is commercialized, so it make an excellent base for exploring but a poor \"secluded getaway.\" \r\n\r\nGetting There: For those coming from the USA, book a flight from Bangkok\'s Suvarnabhumi International Airport to Krabi Airport, then hop on a local shuttle bus to Ao Nang. The ride takes about two hours.\r\n\r\nPhoto: plusgood/Flickr (credit:plusgood/Flickr)
Ao Phang Nga Marine Park(02 of08)
Ao Phang Nga Marine Park stretches over 150 square miles, encompassing a crowd of karsts and not a few tiny, gem-like beaches. You\'ll need a boat to get in, but the trip--reminiscent of a voyage to Vietnam\'s famed Ha Long Bay is more than worth it. Would-be spelunkers and SCUBA divers will also find themselves with option aplenty as toothy, stalactite filled caves and healthy reefs are common here.\r\n\r\nWhere to Stay: Most of the non-camping options are on the mainland, where Le Meridien Khao Lak offers the most complete package for $150 plus. The crazy expensive option is the Six Senses Yao Noi, the local offering of one of the world\'s great luxury hotel chains. (If you have to ask, it is too expensive.) Layered in bamboo, mosquito nettings and pressed sheets, this island paradise delivers the sort of pampering it is impossible to deserve.\r\n\r\nGetting There: Buses and Taxis service Ao Phang Nga from Krabi via Thailand\'s Highway 4. Krabi\'s airport hosts frequent flights to and from Bangkok and several other regional hubs.\r\n\r\nPhoto: feserc/Flickr (credit:feserc/Flickr)
Chaweng, Koh Samui(03 of08)
One of Thailand\'s most popular beaches, Chaweng is very big and very busy. Sunbathers will be offered drinks and foods by wandering vendors, providing vacationers with a perfect opportunity to become totally inanimate. For those that save their energy during the day, there is always plenty to do at night. The town is renowned for its bustling main strip. What visitors here call a Tuesday night, most people would call a bender.\r\n\r\nWhere to Stay: With its playful kindergarten meets pop art stylings, the Akwa Guesthouse offers sun seekers a playful and very cheap option for $25. The Anantara Lawana Resort and Spa, with its clear pool and shaded pavilions, offers a more traditionally lovely oasis for over $300.\r\n\r\nGetting There: Fly into Koh Samui and grab a taxi for the short ride south.\r\n\r\nPhoto: royster00/Flickr (credit:royster00/Flickr)
Railay(04 of08)
The sand is soft, the beach is wide and the locals are friendly. The only complication here, other than finding a boat to bring you, is a total lack of good reasons to leave. For those that manage to pull themselves off the beach, Railay is also famous for rock climbing and there are day kayak tours and full-day boat and snorkeling trips to Koh Poda available.\r\n\r\nWhere to stay: Visitors can stay in Krabi and head out to Railay for a day at the beaches and rock climbing, or choose from an excellent assortment of resorts including the Railay Village Resort, the Sand Sea Resort and the recently renovated Railay Bay Resort (from $120, 100 and $90 respectively).\r\n\r\nGetting There: Regular long tail boat service from Ao Nang and Krabi makes this area quite accessible for those who don\'t mind a brisk motorboat ride.\r\n\r\nPhoto: Argenberg/Flickr (credit:Argenberg/Flickr)
Haad Rin Beach, Koh Pha Ngan(05 of08)
This heavily trafficked half-moon bay is famous (read: infamous) for its full moon parties, when thousands of revelers descend on the beach to dance to house music and alter their states. The monthly party attracts mostly a younger crowd that unfortunately leaves garbage cairns to mark their path. Nonetheless, the beach is located near a beautiful headland and makes for a relaxing stop so long as long as there is some waxing or waning going on.\r\n\r\nWhere to Stay: There are tons of hostels of highly varying quality near the beach and hotels will fill up prior to the party so booking a room here can be a little tricky. A good bet is the Best Western Phanganburi Resort ($150), which is located in a quiet area and offers a quiet place to relax, or detox -- whatever you need.\r\n\r\nGetting There: There is a ferry service between Haad Rin and Koh Samui as well as frequent pick-up taxis. Koh Samui has an airport that is serviced predominantly by flights from Bangkok and occasionally by flight from various cities in Malaysia.\r\n\r\nPhoto: ToGa Wanderings/Flickr (credit:ToGa Wanderings/Flickr)
Kata Beach, Phuket(06 of08)
This 12.5 mile gem provides an option for travelers eager to hit the beach, but less than thrilled about rubbing tribal-tattooed shoulders with the backpacker tribe that can dominate the southern island of Phuket. The nearby towns are not nightlife centers, but they have plenty of shopping for the whole family and even a dinosaur-themed miniature golf course.\r\n\r\nWhere to Stay: The Kata Beach Resort and Spa offers all the amenities of a Club Med, in a shiny gold-leafed package starting at $180 while the Sugar Palm Grand nearby offers clean, modern lines in contrast to the verdant shore for a little less, $60 and above.\r\n\r\nGetting There: Flights from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore regularly land at Phuket\'s international airport. Take a taxi to the beach.\r\n\r\nPhotos: edwin. 11/Flickr (credit:edwin. 11/Flickr)
Koh Lanta(07 of08)
Off Thailand\'s Andaman coast, in waters renowned for strange creatures and empty horizons, Koh Lanta has become a popular playground for Europeans looking to get beyond the backpacker scene. The larger of the two islands that share the name Koh Lanta is where the vast majority of visitors head to take advantage of broad white sand beaches, excellent diving and a picturesque coastline dotted with mangrove forest and backed by waves of forested hills. Visitors here can also witness the Sea Gypsy communities that still subsist just off the coast.\r\n\r\nWhere to Stay: The Houben Hotel is an architectural marvel, with cantilevered pools sticking out over a modernist shell and over a neatly kept palm grove ($115). Another excellent option is the Lanta Sand Resort and Spa ($100 to $200 depending on room size and season). Request a room on the bottom floor so you can roll out of your bed and into the pool.\r\n\r\nGetting There: Use the express transfer, a boat and minivan service that runs from Krabi and Phuket airports and you\'ll make it to the island in a little less than two hours and probably be only a little worse for the wear.\r\n\r\nPhoto: Pretre/Flickr (credit:Pretre/Flickr)
Maya Bay(08 of08)
Maya Bay is just far enough out of the way--a boat ride or roughly 20-minute walk through the woods--that it feels secluded even though it really isn\'t. This beach has been attracting a bigger and bigger audience since it served as the backdrop for the Leonardo DiCaprio movie The Beach in 2000. (The set was finally washed away in 2004 by the Indonesian tsunami. Swimmers here can lay on their backs and look up across plains of limestone and scrub that almost always give way to clear skies. \r\n\r\nWhere to Stay: Koh Phi Phi island has lots of options for the crowds of tourists it attracts. The Zeavola Phi Phi Resort (from $250) is a good bet for those looking to salt an authentic Thai vibe with touches of luxury. A nice option further downmarket at $180 is the Villa 360 Resort, which overlooks the ocean and, beyond that, the mainland.\r\n\r\nGetting There: Boats are available in Phi Phi Don, where you can choose by variety, speed, and apparent seaworthiness.\r\n\r\nPhoto: tinabasgen/Flickr (credit:tinabasgen/Flickr)