Koh Phra Thong

Ko Phra Thong is an 88 sq km island in Phang Nga’s Khura Buri district, reachable by a roughly one-hour boat from Khura Buri pier, 2km off the mainland. It’s known locally as “Thailand’s Serengeti” for the open savanna grassland at its centre — a landscape unlike almost anywhere else on Thailand’s islands, most of which are covered in dense rainforest to the shoreline. Entry is free; you pay only for the boat crossing.

The interior is what sets this island apart: rolling grassland studded with stunted samet (paperbark) trees, more reminiscent of an African savanna than a tropical island. It turns from green to gold through the dry season, roughly December to April, and deer graze visibly across the open ground — sunrise and sunset are when the light does the most for the colour. The east coast is lined with mangrove forest and tidal creeks; the west side has sandy beach backed by casuarina trees. The island is also one of Thailand’s last known breeding sites for the lesser adjutant, a large, vulnerable wading stork, which draws a small but steady stream of birdwatchers alongside the general nature-tourism crowd.

Getting around is part of the experience. There’s no paved road network — visitors cycle, walk, or ride in the back of a local pickup or “e-taek” (a converted farm tractor used as informal transport) between the grassland, the beach, and the handful of small lodges scattered around the island. A handful of simple eco-resorts and guesthouses offer overnight stays; most travellers treat this as a one- or two-night stop rather than a day trip, since the boat schedule and general pace of the island reward slowing down rather than rushing back to the mainland.

Insider Tip: Base a visit around a sunrise or late-afternoon walk into the grassland — the flat light of midday washes out the colour contrast that makes the savanna comparison work in photos.

Watch out: Infrastructure is minimal — expect limited electricity hours at guesthouses, patchy mobile signal, and few if any ATMs. Bring cash from the mainland and confirm your accommodation’s generator/solar hours before booking.

Boats also run from Khura Buri pier to Mu Ko Surin National Park further offshore, and Si Phang-nga National Park sits inland in the same district — useful if you’re building a multi-stop Khura Buri itinerary rather than a single-island trip. View on Google Maps.