Ko Wiang: A rugged karst island in remote Thung Maha Bay

[Thailand Explore]

Ko Wiang: A rugged karst island in remote Thung Maha Bay
David Luekens

 

A look at Ko Wiang, alongside Ko Yor and Ko Phra, from Ban Bo Samrong on the mainland.

Previously I wrote about Ko Phitak, a serene fishing island in southern Chumphon province. Today we’re heading to another sleepy corner of Chumphon, this time in the far north. There, at the center of Thung Maha Bay, the mid-size island of Ko Wiang towers beside several islets, mainland cliffs and mangroves. Few travelers know about this remote yet gorgeous part of the Mid-Southern Thai Gulf.

 

During our latest visit in January, a local tour operator told us that whale sharks are spotted more often than foreign tourists. Why isn’t Ko Wiang more popular?

 

The island’s far-flung location near Chumphon’s border with Prachuap Khiri Khan is one factor, with no public transport servicing the area. Coconut, rubber and palm trees fill out most of the surrounds. Expect an hour’s drive up from Chumphon town, or down from Bang Saphan Yai. In both directions, the coastal scenery is lovely.

 

The biggest reason for its low profile, perhaps, is that Ko Wiang lies uninhabited apart from a few stilted shacks used by swallow nest hunters. Though the island is not part of any national park, the only way to stay overnight is to arrange beach camping through one of the tour operators. The steep cliffs, rugged interior and minimal beaches, which often flood at high tide, have kept developers away.

 

Continue reading: https://thaiislandtimes.substack.com/p/ko-wiang-a-rugged-karst-island-in

 

 

[Nout]

Nice info

[SiSePuede419]

Nice to know not every island is overrun with development. ????