Southern island drive

What could be better than exploring coconut plantations and deserted tropical bays at your own pace? See the real Thailand during this self-drive module and escape the thronging tourist crowds on your own four wheels.

You will 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. You can see the daily life of behind-the-scenes Thailand, unseen by tourists on the beaten path. You can go monkey spotting in the thick jungle of Khao Sok, and visit rocky bays and idyllic beaches in the Bay of Phang Nga. It's isn't too far between overnight stops, giving you plenty of time to absorb the scenery around you. You will 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

From £175 per person- based on 2 people

Includes

Accommodation with breakfast. Transfer to and from Khao Sok. Rental car

Travel

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. 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.

Today you will 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 will start by driving to the car ferry, about 20 minutes away. From here, you will 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. This is a beautiful place to stop for a refreshing swim and a bite of lunch. After this, you will follow the road to Nakhon Sri Thammarat, a large city with some beautiful temples- Wat Mahatat is especially worth visiting. You will spend the night in a central hotel in Nakhon Sri Thammarat. The area around Nakhon is breathtakingly scenic, with high mountains and green forests.

Day 2: Nakhon Sri Thammarat - Krabi

Zig-zagging through interior Thailand, you 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. 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

Today you will have a early start, giving you as much time as possible to enjoy the freedom of the open road. This section of your route is absolutely awe-inspriring. It will take you through the mountains to Phang Nga Bay, past mystical and majestic limestone rocks. A great place to stop for lunch is Tan Bokkharani Park, with its 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 destination is Khao Sok, one of the most beautiful national parks in Thailand with giant trees, bamboo groves, monkeys and colourful birds. You will stay in a simple jungle cabin by the river for you. 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.

Day 4: Khao Sok - 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 embark on the part of your self-drive 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.

After leaving your wheels behind, 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

This is the final day of this module. 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 South Thailand with our Hidden Paradise module, 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 Hidden Paradise module. This will give you a few days to relax before embarking on your road trip.

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