Explore Southern Thailand: the Andaman coast
The small town of KHURABURI, 110km south of Ranong on Highway 4, is the main departure point for the magnificent national park island chain of Ko Surin. Much closer to Khuraburi are the islands of Ko Ra and Ko Phra Thong, which offer empty beaches and decent snorkelling and bird-watching, or there’s the chance to participate in typical village life at homestays in mainland coastal communities.
Khuraburi’s commercial heart is a 500m strip of shops and businesses either side of Highway 4. Most travellers use the town just as a staging post en route to or from the Surin islands: the main pier for boats to the islands is just 7.5km away, and Khuraburi’s tour agents sell boat tickets and offer transport to the pier. Though lacking in famous attractions, the local area is nonetheless scenic, both offshore and inland: with an afternoon or more to spare, you could either rent a motorbike, mountain bike or kayak to explore it independently, or charter a motorbike taxi or longtail boat.
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Ko Ra
Ko Ra
Hilly, forested Ko Ra (measuring about 10km north to south and 3km across) sits just off Khuraburi pier’s mangrove-lined estuary and is graced with intact rainforest full of towering trees, hornbills and wild, empty beaches. The island is home to some two dozen chao ley people, plus just one place to stay, the rather special American–Thai Ko Ra Ecolodge. On offer are half-day guided tours to the nearby Moken village on Ko Ra; kayak rental and guided day and multi-day sea-kayaking trips; guided and self-guided hiking and bird-watching; yoga classes and retreats; snorkelling trips to nearby Ko Surin (B2900 per person, all-inclusive), as well as to the little-visited islands of Laem Son National Park; and diving to the Surin islands (B6900 for two dives, not including national park entrance fee and equipment rental) and Reef Check courses to monitor the local coral.
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Andaman Discoveries homestay programme
Andaman Discoveries homestay programme
Khuraburi is the headquarters of the community-based tourism initiative Andaman Discoveries, which runs a recommended day-trip and homestay programme in several local villages, as well as interesting trips to Ko Surin. It was established after the tsunami to help the area’s many devastated fishing communities get back on their feet and has since developed a range of stimulating one- to five-day packages featuring all sort of village jobs and activities, from soap-making and batik design to cashew nut-farming and roof-thatching. The office is just east off the highway (south of the bus station), up the soi beside the police box, across from the post office.
