Many islands in Thailand, especially the beautiful ones, are mostly located in the southern region of Thailand. The Andaman Sea is also known for having many precious islands such as Ko Tarutao, Ko Adang, Ko Rawi, and Ko Lipe. Most tourists would recognize the latter island right away as it is one of the most famous islands in all of Thailand. However, these islands mentioned are located in one province at the south of Thailand. The province is known as Satun. This province is recognized as a gateway to Thailand?s southernmost islands in the Andaman Sea which is not very far from the province at all.
Satun has more than 22,000 people living inside of the province and majority of them are Muslims. The province is somewhat large as well with more than 2,400 square kilometers in area. It contains high hills, plains, and mountainous forests around the province which is very lovely.
To get to Satun
If you want to travel here, there are a bunch of ways you can choose. The first option is to travel by plane, but not directly. You need to take a plane to Hat Yai first, then you can take a minivan from there to the city of Satun. If you want to come here by train, you can, but again you have to stop at Hat Yai and then take a minivan from there. Another is to take a bus from Bangkok?s Southern Bus Terminal which will take some time for you to get here. Get ready to enjoy the amazing atmosphere here at Satun!
Famous attractions in Satun
Satun contains so many famous attractions that are worth visiting to, but if you have a limited budget or time, you can take a look at the following recommendation for the places that you must go.
Ko Lipe
The first place on the list is called Ko Lipe. If you are thinking about Satun, this is the first place that you should be thinking about. This is an island with many beautiful beaches that are waiting for you to take a stroll. White sand and crystal-clear water are two of the most amazing features that these beaches have. Some people even call this island as the Maldives of Thailand.
You can easily enjoy your time here and relax from the things that are troubling you. You can play in the water, dive to see the coral reefs, sunbath, watch the eye-catching sunset, or just sit back, relax, and watch the vibrant views. If you want to experience some noises and people, the walking street here is a great place to go. Fun fact about Ko Lipe is that it is one of the islands in the Tarutao National Park which means you can take a boat to other islands nearby as well.
Ko Hin Ngam
This is a small island with no sand on the beach, but rounded black rocks. These rocks are weathered by the waves of the ocean and they are a sight that has to be seen in person.
Ko Khai
Another small island is called Ko Khai which is in the middle of the ocean with white sand and a magnificent natural stone gate. It is like a symbol of the Tarutao National Park. Satun?s sea also has a natural phenomenon called Thale Waek or the separated sea.
Thale Waek
What you can see is almost like you are watching the hill near the sea transforming into a backbone of a dragon which is what the locals perceive as. When this happen, you will see millions of sea shells with brownish color. If the sun shines on upon them, it will turn into sparking gold color. You can only see this phenomenon two times per day! At the sea of Satun and Trang, there are seven places that you can see this and each of them has different colors and beauty. The one in Satun is called the Tun Yong Po or the Dragon?s Backbone.
There are more recommended places that you should take a visit at least once if you are here at Satun. These places are highly recommended by the locals which means they are great places! Ko Khao Yai is another island with a great highlight known as the Thousand Peaks Stone Castle. This is the castle where you can really see the true work of art from nature! You are also required to do some kayaking to get in here. The place are 30 meters wide and you can see a nice ceiling of the nature surrounding the place. The castle is more like a metaphor of the stone peaks that are exist in this place that truly resemble a castle.
Other than the islands and beaches that make Satun a great province to come, there are caves you can explore if you are an adventurer who are seeking for some beautiful caves filled with excitement.
Le Stegodon Cave
One of the most famous caves here is called Le Stegodon Cave which has also received an award from UNESCO as a global geopark. You can see many traces of our ancestors up to six stages of human evolution and it is also one of the few places that have this kind of feature in the world. It is also the longest saltwater cave in Thailand with four kilometers in distance. To get inside this cave, you need to row the kayak and while you are on the trip, you can look up and see many beautiful stone formations from weathering. You can also see many showcases of ancient civilization and fossils inside this cave. There is a museum that displays fossils from six periods of Paleozoic era which is around 251 to 542 million years old. However, the highlight is the Stegodon elephant?s jaw fossils which is more than 1.8 million years old.
Phu Pha Petch Cave
This is a cave with more than 20 rooms in which each room is different from each other. There is also a wooden bridge that connects to other rooms. The highlight of this place is the emerald light room which is a room that has light that shines upon a green rock in the middle of the room. This creates an emerald light projection to the entire room and it is a sight to see.
More Information about Satun
The motto for this province is ?Peaceful, Clean, and Pure Nature?.
To get around the province
You can use the motorcycle or take a songthaew.
For accommodation
there are many budget hotels with a price ranges from 400 baht to just less than a thousand baht. However, there are some mid-range resorts you can stay as well. Enjoy your trip at Satun!
Credit video : Amazing Thailand
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