2 Best Sights in The Gulf Coast Beaches, Thailand

With a quarter mile of fine white sand, this isolated beach on the island's north coast is a sunbather's paradise. The vibe is decidedly young and funky, and there are several places to grab a decent meal. Get here by longtail boat from Chaloklum pier (B250 per person) or Thong Nai Pan. Another option is to hike the track that starts at the end of the paved road at Haad Khom, also known as Coral Beach. The route over the mountain takes around 90 minutes and is one of the island's best activities. Haad Kuat might be more difficult to reach than other beaches, but it's one of Koh Phangan's best and definitely worth the effort. Amenities: food and drink; water sports. Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

Vaguely resembling Koh Samui's Overlap Stone, this massive, gravity-defying rock hides in Surat Thani's Khiri Rat Nikhom district in the middle of the rainforest. Drive a car or ride a scooter to this rock, and you'll find yourself surrounded by nothing but rubber trees, cacti, and the calming sounds of coucal birds and the nearby waterfall.