Beyond Phuket

Phang Nga Province

Leaving Phuket over the bridge, heading north, is Phang Nga province where you will find Khao Lak and Khao Sok national park and the stunning marine national park that forms the magnificent Phang Nga Bay.

Tours leave daily to all these areas (see tours and excursions for details).  Read More...

Phang Nga Bay

Spectacular limestone scenery rising from the sea, mangroves, sea caves with crystalline interiors and hundreds of tiny islands make up Phang Nga Bay, one of southern Thailand's most fascinating and scenic areas.

Find more information here, or see tours to Phang Nga Bay.

Khao Lak

Located in the mainland province of Phang Nga just north of Phuket Island, Khao Lak has only recently been "discovered." The area stretches across three national parks and offers nature lovers an unspoilt landscape of beaches, hills, mountains, forested valleys, mangroves and estuaries.

Eco-tours operate daily and include elephant trekking and in season, kayaking along the river. More information is available on our Khao Lak website.

Where to Stay in Khaolak: Discover some exclusive luxury resorts with excellent offers with La Flora Khao Lak and Le Meridien Khaolak Beach and Spa Resort

Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park features outstanding natural beauty, with giant limestone mountains, cliffs, caves, rivers and waterfalls. The forest is home to many species of tropical birds, animals, insects, reptiles and plant life, the most famous (yet elusive) being the Rafflesia - the largest flower in the world.

Eco-tours from Phuket run almost every day and include hikes through the jungle, elephant trekking and canoeing down the Sok river.

Outlying Islands

Phuket has many outlying islands that can be visited either by hiring a local boat or taking a tour. These include Koh Racha, Koh Naka, Coral Island, Ko Rang, Koh  Yao and Koh Samui. Tours usually include lunch, transfer from your accommodation, use of snorkelling equipment and Marine National Park fees where applicable. Find details here or visit tours & excursions for info on visiting the islands. Read More...

Background

Thailand has seen a great economical and technological surge over the past decade. The result has been that the rich have become richer and the poor, poorer. The victims of such a disparity are, as always, the children - child labour; child prostitution; and sexual abuse by adults results from the race for money and child abuse by parents is a result of the frustrations of poverty.

Prince of Songkla University, Phuket became involved in the concerns of abused children after one of its foreign teachers was convicted of sexually abusing young children. These 7 to 11 year old Sea Gypsy boys were easy prey for foreign paedophiles because they craved affection in a loveless society and were abjectly poor.

The local legal, social and educational systems although well meaning, were painfully inadequate to help abused children in the province. It was only through intervention from outside that the above case was prosecuted at all and the follow up is still grossly inadequate. Local people do not report cases of abuse because there is no channel for such reports and most residents are wary of contact with the authorities. There was a glaring need for a local community group to co-ordinate with the authorities and provide help for children in need.