Andaman Coast of Thailand

Cycling the karst landscapes and lush forests

The North Andaman Coast of Thailand is a very special area of natural beauty, extraordinarily undeveloped and home to many communities who still survive in their traditional ways. The coast is dotted with villages of Muslims, Buddhists and Moken Sea Gypsy people who live alongside each other in harmony and earn their living from small-scale fishing and farming. Two of the oldest and richest ecosystems in the world, the coral reefs and the Southeast Asian rainforest are still preserved here.

Many of the mountainous and coast zones of the Andaman Region have been officially designated as protected areas. The Andaman Sea is rich in coral reefs and offshore islands with absolutely stunning topography, such as the islands of Phuket, Phi Phi and Ko Tapu.

Visiting the tiny, traditional villages within the Andaman region, and hearing the incredibly stories of the local people there, as well as marveling at the lush abundance of the natural environment, is a travel experience to remember. Phang Nga Bay

Karst topography refers to a landscape shaped by the dissolution of a layer of bedrock. This effect creates subterranean limestone caves which are carved over the years by the groundwater. Phang Nga Bay is a particularly impressive example of Karst landscapes, with limestone formations jutting dramatically out of the sea.

One of the most popular of these limestone formations is a huge rock about 20 meters tall that sticks straight up out of the ocean. It is thought to have been formed by tectonic movements in the Permian period when the area was a barrier reef. The area came to be well known when it was featured in the 1974 James Bond film “The Man with the Golden Gun” as the hideout for the villain Francisco Scaramanga.

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park is one of the most beautiful natural areas in Thailand. It is home to the largest area of protected virgin forest in Southern Thailand, and it is older and more diverse than the Amazon Rainforest. It is home to many wild animals, including the Asian Elephant, Tiger, Wild Boar, Sambar Deer, White Handed Gibbon, Malayan Tapir, and more. It is also the natural habitat of many rare bird species. This carefully preserved natural region showcases the abundance of nature in all its beauty.

The People of the Andaman

Most areas in the Andaman region claim a Muslim majority, with Buddhist temples few and far between. This is a unique culture to the rest of the country. Also, there are the Moken people, also known as “sea gypsies” who are a semi-nomadic seafaring tribe that make their home on many of the tiny, remote islands in the Andaman. Delicious Andaman Food

The cuisine of the Andaman region, and of Thailand as a whole, is fresh, flavorful and very spicy. The dishes are lightly prepared and very aromatic, and Thai cooking is concerned with the balance of the sensations of spicy, sour, sweet and salty. In the Southern region of Thailand, expect to find a wide variety of meat and seafood dishes cooked to perfection in creamy coconut milk curry sauces, with fresh turmeric and rice or noodles. You will be amazed at the different flavors that you didn't even know existed, as Thai cooking uses a number of different herbs, spices and leaves that are rarely found in the West.

Another tasty delight to exploring Thailand is the abundance of fresh and juicy tropical fruit available. Many people will be familiar with pineapples, watermelons, bananas and even papayas, but the more exotic offerings such as pomelo, mangosteen, lychee, guava and sweet tamarind will delight and intrigue. Visiting Thailand is truly a culinary adventure.

A Cycling Adventure Through this Remote Region

You can experience the beauty of the Andaman region on one of our bike tours through its spectacular landscapes. Our Bike Across Southern Thailand takes in the region from the Gulf of Siam to the Andaman Sea and all the wonders in between. In addition to oustanding cycling through the dramatic landscapes, we take to the sea on two days to explore the karst caves out in Phinag Nga Bay and spend a couple of night in the floating hotel inside Khao Sok National Park.

Imagine riding past ancient Buddhist Temples, oil palm and rubber tree plantations, dramatic limestone caves, and tiny traditional fishing villages all surrounded with lush flora and fauna unlike anything you have ever seen before. On the coast, groves of coconut palms and rice paddies form the backdrop for the towering Karst limestone outcroppings. The final day of this adventure is celebrated on a picture-perfect white sand beach, enjoying the freshest seafood you have ever tasted while watching the sunset. Our bike tours are a fun and friendly way to explore the gorgeous landscapes and rich culture of the Andaman Region of Thailand.