Thailand Guide
Southern Thailand: the Gulf coast
Ao Thong Nai Pan
AO THONG NAI PAN is a beautiful, semicircular bay backed by steep, green hills, which looks as if it's been bitten out of the island's northeast corner by a gap-toothed giant, leaving a tall hump of land dividing the bay into two parts, Thong Nai Pan Noi to the north, Thong Nai Pan Yai to the south. With lovely, fine, white sand, the longer, more indented Thong Nai Pan Yai has marginally the better beach, but both halves are sheltered and deep enough for swimming. The bay is now developed enough for tourism to support a few Internet shops, travel agents, dive outfits, bars, stand-alone restaurants and ATMs.