Top 5 Thailand Beaches

5: Phuket - James Bond Island

You will feel like "The Man With The Golden Gun" at this famous beach retreat on the island of Phuket. The main striking feature is the single limestone karst outcrop that sticks out of the water here. Although the beach itself is beautiful, the fact that it gets so many tourists and there are so many stalls selling trinkets puts this beach at number 5. Day trips to James Bond Island (real name, Phang Nga Bay) are easy to organise, try here: www.phuketthailandtrip.com

4: Ko Pha Ngan -Haad Rin

In my personal opinion, this beach isn't actually that great but the party is awesome beyond belief. The beach is on the Southern Tip of Koh Pha Ngan and dangerous rip-tides cut through choppy waters that bounce off the rocks.Haad-Rin and the original Full Moon Party should be on everyone's bucket-list. The fire shows are world famous and spectacular. Make the pilgrimage to "mushroom mountain" or buy a bucket and dance at one of the many open bars. Unfortunately Full Moon drownings are common.
 
3: Koh Tao - Nang Yuna Island

One of the less explored areas on the famous island of Koh Tao. Nang Yuna is situated at the North West of the island and features a unique sandbar formation which allows you to walk freely between three islands (one of which hosts a 5 star hotel). Also an excellent diving spot! Koh Tao has more qualified Scuba Divers than anywhere else in the world and the diving is some of the cheapest.
 
2: Phi Phi Leh - "The Beach"

Now we are talking tropical paradise, an uninhabited island situated a sort boat ride from the more famous Phi Phi Don (very badly hit in the boxing day tsunami). This island was the filming location for the film "The Beach" starring Leonardo Di Caprio. The beach itself is called Maya Bay and the setting is stunningly beautiful, but as you can see from my photo it succumbs to the tourist $. You can spend a night on "The Beach" by arranging it from Phi Phi Don or Tonsai and traveling there by boat. http://www.mayabaycamping.com/Programme.aspx

1: Rai-Leh/Tonsai 

 When I visited Tonsai I almost considered living here, that's how good it is. Relatively undiscovered, you can stay in a hut in the jungle and hang out with a unique backpacking community. The topography of Raileh and Tonsai means that despite the fact they are attached to the Thai mainland, you can only access them by boat. The approach by boat to Tonsai is one of the most beautiful sites I have seen in my life. World famous for Rock Climbing, serene, calm. If you visit with a family it might be best to stay at the slightly more resort focussed area of Raileh, watch out for the crabs on the beach at night! http://thingstodo.viator.com/thailand/rai-leh/

First Night in The Land of Smiles

Big 160ft chilled out Buddha

Cycling canines, transgender women and promiscuous Aussie doctors - read on....

I was heavily jet-lagged after my flight, I managed to fall asleep on a bus that cruised along like it was made out of rubber with bricks for suspension. Every now and then the bus would jolt and I would head-butt the glass window with such explosive force that I was surprised the pane of glass stayed in tact. Anyway, point is that I hadn't slept for about 30 hours and it was because of this that I made the irrational decision to go out clubbing.

Touchdown in Bangkok

The famous Tuk-tuk, synonymous with Thailand

After waking up feeling strangely rejuvenated by my slumber behind a sofa I made plans to get my flight from Heathrow. Upon arriving at the airport I was immediately told by the kind check-in lady "your flight has been cancelled." Images of strangulation and over-sized weaponry that would never make it through customs raced through my mind, provoked by this sweet ladies cold calculating face. A storm cloud formed above my head growing in electrical intensity, I stayed the bazooka hidden down my pants that I had ready to pull out like something in Who Framed Roger Rabbit just long enough for her to say.... "you have been upgraded." All malice suddenly dissipated like a healing breeze, I was like a robot in kill mode and she had just flicked my off-switch, the check-in lady transformed, she became reasonable, maybe even....attractive.

I was originally going to fly with Air India with a stopover in Delhi, the whole flight would have taken 15 hours. Luckily with my new upgrade I was now flying with British Airways on a 747 with no stopover, this meant that I would arrive in Bangkok a full 4 hours earlier. That doesn't stop plane journeys being boring though, check-out these inventive ways to quell boredom. It would seem that every plane ride is plagued by