Koh Adang is a small island ("koh" means "island" in Thai) located off the southwest coast of Thailand, in the Andaman Sea. It's part of Tarutao National Park, which is made up of 51 islands and -- at 3.7 miles long and 3 miles wide -- it is the second-largest island in the park. Because it's farther from the mainland, it's less plagued by day-trippers than other Thai island destinations. When our ship visited, we had Koh Adang to ourselves.
Needless to say, it will be a "wet landing" when you come into the beach here, since there is no dock. You'll have to hop off a tender or Zodiac into shallow water. But it's worth getting wet: This is your classic island paradise. The fringe of beach is surrounded by dense jungle, which can provide shade if you need a break from the sun. There are two hiking trails, one that leads to a viewpoint and another that goes to a waterfall -- but accessing them will depend on where you land. There's very little else, aside from a campground and bungalows on one tip of Koh Adang.
That said, the surrounding reefs are home to plentiful marine life and, if you snorkel or dive, you might see anemones, parrotfish, clown fish, starfish, puffer fish and sea turtles.
Why go to Koh Adang?
A nice, non-touristy beach, with clear water and good snorkeling
There's nothing to do here but bask in the sun and snorkel
Great for beach-lovers seeking fun in the sun
Currency & Best Way to Get Money?
Currency on Koh Adang is the Thai baht. There are no ATMs and no place to spend any money, but for up-to-date currency exchange rates, visit www.xe.com.