Southern island drive

What could be better than exploring coconut plantations and deserted tropical bays at your own pace? You can see the real Thailand during this self drive Thailand tour, escaping the thronging tourist crowds on your own foru wheels.

You'll begin your road trip on the island of Ko Samui and travel from the southeast to the southwest of Thailand in 5 days (or vice versa). The car is air conditioned and the road conditions are very good. En route, you'll see behind-the-scenes Thailand, unseen by tourists on the beaten path. You can spot monkeys in the thick jungle of Khao Sok National Park, and visit the rocky bays and idyllic beaches of Phang Nga Bay. It's isn't too far between overnight stops, giving you plenty of time to absorb the scenery. You'll return the rental car at Khao Lak, just two hours away from the golden beaches of Phuket.

Duration	5 days/4 nights Departs daily	Accommodation	One night in a comfortable hotel, one night in a jungle house, and 2 nights in a beach resort. Comfort level 3 (see accommodation)
Price	£ Contact Us - per person- based on 2 people	Includes	Accommodation with breakfast. Transfer to and from Khao Sok. Rental car
Transport	Car hire Click here for terms and conditions.	Excludes	Other meals and excursions. Extended car insurance

Day 1: Ko Samui - Nakhon Sri Thammarat

Most travellers will opt to spend a few relaxing days on Ko Samui before starting their self-drive in Thailand. After a taste of laid back island life, you can begin your road trip well-rested and ready to go. At 9am this morning, you will collect your car from the rental office. Your rental contract includes basic insurance for the driver. You can, if you wish, reduce your personal liability and insure extra drivers at the rental office when you collect the car. The office will give you some road maps of the area, and our local agent will provide a very detailed route description. Most of the cars are automatics.

On the first day of your self drive in Thailand, you'll cover a distance of only 130km, so you can take the journey at a leisurely pace. The roads are usually quiet and smooth with high quality tarmac. You'll start by driving to the car ferry about 20 minutes away. From here, you'll cross over to the mainland - a trip that takes roughly two hours. Once on the mainland, you will take the coast road southwest via Nai Plao Beach. It's a beautiful place to stop for a refreshing swim and a bite of lunch. After this, you're self drive in Thailand will follow the road to Nakhon Sri Thammarat, a large city with some beautiful temples- Wat Mahatat is especially worth visiting. You'll spend the night in a central hotel in Nakhon Sri Thammarat. The area around Nakhon is breathtakingly scenic, with high mountains and green forests.

Self drive Thailand - breathtaking scenery

Day 2: Nakhon Sri Thammarat - Krabi

Zig-zagging through Thailand, your self drive will cross from east to west today. Now and again, you can turn off into rural villages, where you get a good view of everyday Thai life away from the tourist hotspots. On the way, you can also enjoy the Thai scenery- panoramic views and tropical bays. Thai cuisine is delicious, and you will have plenty of opportunities to eat lunch in authentically quirky restaurants and meet the friendly locals. Today's drive ends in Krabi, where you will stay on the beach at Ao Nang in a comfortable hotel. The tropical landscape, with its numerous plantations and rugged hills, provides a terrific backdrop for a cycle trip or a leisurely strolling along the boulevard during your Krabi tours. As you're on the west coast of Thailand, you can watch the spectacular sunset from your balcony with a well-deserved cocktail in hand.

Day 3: Krabi - Khao Sok National Park

Today, you'll have a early start on your self drive in Thailand, giving you as much time as possible to enjoy the freedom of the open road. This section of your route is absolutely awe-inspiring. It will take you through the mountains to Phang Nga Bay, mystical and majestic limestone rocks. A great place to stop for lunch is Tan Bokkharani Park, with fairytale waterfalls, caves and extensive mangrove trees. The drive will be stop–start, stop-start, with lots of ooh-aah! moments. Every corner will reveal another natural beauty and your camera will be working overtime.

Your Thailand self drive destination is Khao Sok National Park with giant trees, bamboo groves, monkeys and colourful birds. You'll stay in a simple jungle cabin by the river. You can take a walk through the dense rainforest or float down the river in a giant rubber tube. In the evening, you can have dinner in a floating restaurant on the river. Tomorrow morning, you can arrange a jungle hike with a guide from the hotel. You'll learn a great deal about the flora and fauna and spot exotic animals along the trail.

Self drive Thailand - Khao Sok National Park

Day 4: Khao Sok National Park - Khao Lak

You will wake up this morning to the chattering of monkeys and the rustling of tropical leaves. Enjoy your breakfast on the river as the jungle slowly awakes around you. You are not travelling far today, so the morning is free to explore incredible Khao Sok.

After lunch, you will continue self-drive in Thailand to Khao Lak. This journey will take about two hours. No doubt will stop many times to take photos of the scenery that will unfold around you. Your accommodation tonight is a lovely hotel with a swimming pool, close to the beach. Khao Lak is small and its beautiful beach surrounded by tall palm trees and thick jungle. With your rental car, you can take a look at the Tsunami Monument, just north of the village. In 2007, there were still volunteers at the Tsunami Volunteer Centre working on restoring the villages and surrounding hamlets.

Around 5pm, you will return the rental car at the centre in Khao Lak. Please remember that the car has to be returned with a full tank of fuel.

With your Thailand self drive over, you can settle into one of the loungers on the beach and watch the sunset. Khao Lak sees some of the most colourful sunsets in the whole country, with burning oranges, vivid pinks, and stunning scarlets. Khao Lak is a little sleepy in the evenings, but the small village has enough bars and restaurants to keep you occupied. The nearby diving shop rents equipments and runs excursions to the island of Similan.

Day 5: Departure from Khao Lak

Today your Southern Thailand self drive tour comes to an end. If you are interested in diving, or wish to spend a few more days relaxing on the beach after your trip, we would be happy to extend your stay in Khao Lak. Otherwise, you can now set out to Phuket Airport for your journey home, or continue your journey through Southern Thailand with our Secret Islands and Snorkelling Lagoons, which begins within easy reach from Phuket. Click here for a map of Thailand to help you plan your route.

It is also possible to start this module on the west coast at Khao Lak, finishing up on Ko Samui. Should you choose to do this module in the reverse order, then we recommend you consider starting your trip with the Secret Islands and Snorkelling Lagoons trip. This will give you a few days to relax before embarking on your road trip.

A peek at your accommodation

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