'''Southern Thailand''' includes many of Thailand's most famous resorts on both the west-facing '''Andaman Sea''' coastline, and the east-facing '''Gulf of Thailand''' coast south of Chumphon.
Provinces
Chumphon
Krabi
Nakhon Si Thammarat
Narathiwat
Pattani
Phang Nga
Phatthalung
Phuket <!-- special case, no province suffix (ditto Bangkok) -->
Ranong
Satun
Songkhla
Surat Thani
Trang
Yala
Cities
Chumphon
Hat Yai - the largest city in the south
Krabi
Nakhon Si Thammarat
Narathiwat
Pattani
Phang Nga
Phatthalung
Ranong - border town with Kawthoung, Myanmar
Satun
Songkhla
Surat Thani
Trang
Yala
Islands
Ko Chang (not to be confused with the more famous Ko Chang in Trat Province) - small and peaceful island near Ranong
Ko Lanta
Ko Lipe
Ko Nang Yuan - group of three tiny inter-connected islands near Ko Tao Surat Thani Province
Ko Ngai - small, quiet island, home to some amazing reefs for snorkeling and diving
Ko Pha Ngan - home to the infamous Full Moon Party Surat Thani Province
Ko Phayam
Ko Phi Phi - devastatingly beautiful setting for "The Beach", starring Leonardo DiCaprio
Ko Rawi
Ko Samui - quickly moving upmarket Coconut&Paradise's island Surat Thani Province
Ko Siboya - rural Thailand
Ang Thong National Marine Park is a fascinating archipelago of 60 or so islands to the north west of Ko Samui, Surat Thani Province
Ko Tao - one of the best places in Thailand for diving Surat Thani Province
Similan Islands - national park with spectacular views over and under water
Tarutao National Park - includes Ko Adang and Ko Tarutao and 49 other islands
Beaches
Ao Nang - Krabi's top destination
Khao Lak
Rai Leh - a peninsula with a stunning beach and no motor vehicles
Understand
Parts of the west coast of Thailand were hit hard by the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004, but all infrastructure has long since been repaired and it takes a careful eye to spot any remaining damage.
Talk
Get in
Get around
See
Do
'''Golf''' - see Golf in Thailand - Southern region
Eat
Drink
Stay safe
In 2004, long-simmering resentment in the southern-most Muslim-majority provinces burst into violence in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala provinces. All are off the beaten tourist trail, although the eastern rail line from Hat Yai to Sungai Kolok (gateway to Malaysia's east coast) passes through the area and has been disrupted several times by attacks.
Hat Yai (Thailand's largest city after Bangkok and its Nonthaburi suburbs) in Songkhla has also been hit by a series of related bombings, however the main cross-border rail line connecting Hat Yai and Butterworth (on the west coast) has not been affected, and none of the islands or the west coast beaches have been targeted.
In September 2006, three foreigners were killed in bombings in Hat Yai. Some rebel groups have threatened foreigners, but while targets have included hotels, karaoke lounges and shopping malls, westerners have not been singled out for attacks.
Get out
Central Thailand - to Prachuap Khiri Khan Province
East Coast Malaysia - to Kedah, Perak, or Perlis
West Coast Malaysia - to Kelantan
Myanmar - to Tanintharyi Division, via Ranong and Kawthoung