The neighbouring provinces of Krabi and Phang Nga offer equally fine beaches and lushly tropical offshore islands. Indeed, island-hopping is a popular pursuit. Both the Phi Phi and Similan islands feature magnificent underwater coral gardens teeming with multi-hued tropical fish. Phang Nga Bay, to the northeast of Phuket, offers great adventure trips. Long-tail launches transport visitors through mangrove swamps, caves dripping with stalactites, and out into the bay where scores of tiny volcanic islands soar hundreds of feet skyward.
Samui island is also approximately one hour south of Bangkok by air.
The palmfringed and mountainous Samui is the major island in a sparkling archipelago that includes the Ang Thong Marine National Park. Samui offers the broadest imaginable range of accommodation, fine sandy beaches, several 'hideaway' coves and relaxed ambience equally well attuned to lazy days and a vibrant nightlife. On the southern mainland, Hat Yai, just 50 kilometres from the Malaysian border, and Songkhla, offer very contrasting lifestyles. Hat Yai is a major commercial, entertainment and shopping area. Songkhla is a somnolent beachside town with a scenic beach and a freshwater lake containing Thailand's largest waterfowl sanctuary.