Gulf of Thailand

On the western side of the South China Sea lies a paradise called the Gulf of Thailand.  Set between the coastlines of Vietnam and Cambodia to the East, and Thailand enveloping it to the north and west, it features a vast expanse of turquoise and clear warm sea.  Its prime jewels are the islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao and a myriad of other islands and national parks, nestled on the western side of the bay.

Sailing can be very good here, with a chance to do long passages on calm, sheltered waters

Weather
With the dry season ending in March, the summer season sets in from April to September before the monsoon rains come in from October to December.  Mary Ann will be there from April to September to enjoy the dry, warm weather and the sailing in usually calm waters.  Average air temperature is 32 degrees Celsius while the balmy 28 degrees Celsius water temperature makes water sports comfortable yet refreshing.

Koh Samui
Known for its pristine beaches and serious nightlife at Chaweng Beach, Samui provides us with the opportunity to mix with the land loggers for some of the usual tourists’ pleasures.  Choose a little tour of the island to discover the mummified Buddha or a visit to one of the many scenic waterfalls, but a tour of the coastline on Mary Ann is a must, stopping for a stroll on one of Samui’s many sandy beaches.  Island hopping to discover the rocky outcrops and coral formations that dot the waters around the main island gives us a great excuse for sailing and to get away from the crowds.

Diving is a definite possibility here, with a chimney well worth exploring, some good vertical drop-offs, and the usual variety of marine life that is a photographer’s delight.

Angthong National Park
About 30 nautical miles northeast of Samui lies Angthong National Park.  A collection of 42 limestone islands and hundreds of caves and coves, this is a chance to explore the mangroves with the dinghy.  Venture into the slightly eerie forest as you meander around the slow flowing waters and see how juvenile fish and crustaceans shelter here until they are ready for a life’s struggle in higher seas.  This is not your usual diver’s territory.  The waters can be murky, but the stunning rock formations more than make up for that.  Try a blood red sunset over a limestone pinnacle for a memory!

Koh Phangan
Lying just 16 km north of Samui, this is the site of world-famous Full Moon parties, which draw thousands of people from all over the world.  Loud and wild and stretching into the morning hours, this is not for everyone.  You’d like to experience it?  No problem.  The next day you can take a respite from the noise by visiting one of those idyllic sandy beaches only accessible by boat for some lazy afternoon snorkel.  Our special anti-stress hammock may also come in handy here…

Koh Tao
A great day’s sail over flat waters 48 nautical miles north of Phangan lies Koh Tao.  Here we are in the Mecca of diving in the Gulf of Thailand.  The island is not very developed although backpackers have discovered it in the past few years.  No mass tourism here and the beaches are usually empty.

Koh Tao (Turtle Island in Thai) and its little sister, Koh Nang Yuan, are too far out for most day-trippers from the bigger islands further south.  In the vicinity, beaches galore, pinnacles aplenty, islands sprinkled here and there – it’s just magic!

The giant whale shark visits often.  Rays and sailfish are also frequently sighted.  Excellent night anchorages will provide good rest from the day’s activities, unless you’d like a moonlit swim in the shallow bay that Mary Ann has stopped in for the night?