Golden Buddha Beach Resort

Culture Tours & Trekking

Golden Buddha Island offers some of the most diverse and unique terrain in all of Thailand. Treks and village visits can range from a simple walk down the beach to a half-day trek through rainforest. Knowledgeable guides will take you through mangrove forests, across sprawling savannah and across Koh Ra’s hilly rainforest to reach a secluded beach. Even guides from Chiang Mai, Thailand ‘s trekking and adventure epi-center, come to Golden Buddha to experience the luxury of being alone with nature.

Koh Ra Rainforest Trek & Lions Village Visit

Travel from Golden Buddha by long tail boat to Koh Ra, Koh Phra Thong’s neighbouring island. Koh Ra’s hilly rainforest terrain is in stark contrast to Koh Phra Thong’s flat savannah. Our trek starts by ascending up into Koh Ra’s rainforest. We cross the island protected from the sun under the rainforest canopy. Along the way your guide will point out the local wildlife including butterflies, frogs & spiders. We then descend to a secluded beach where you can relax and cool off in the Andaman Sea. We then walk back across the island to meet our long tail boat for the return journey to Golden Buddha.

En route to Koh Ra we also stop for a brief visit at Lions Village. This village was developed after the devastating Tsunami of 2004.

The trek is suitable for people at all levels of fitness and can be taken at your pace. Walking boots are not required; however we recommend robust sandals, not flip-flops. Swimwear is also worth taking. Water is provided. This trip is usually conducted between breakfast and lunch at the resort, subject to tide times, and takes about 4-5 hours.

Island boat trip through mangroves & fishing village visit

On this trip you will circumnavigate Koh Phra Thong in a long tail boat. Your guide will share fascinating information about the local mangroves and their importance to the local coral reef eco-systems. As we ride through the mangroves, keep an eye out for rare birds.

En route we stop at Tae Pah Yoi, a traditional fishing village. Cashew nut trees can be seen growing by the school. We can also stop in the south of the island for a refreshing dip before heading back up the long pristine beach to Golden Buddha. Swimwear is therefore worth taking. A packed lunch and water are provided. The timing of the trip is subject to tide times but takes about 5-6 hours.

Savannah and Thung Dap Orchid Farm Visit

Koh Phra Thong’s savannah interior is a very interesting habitat – more reminiscent of Kenya than Thailand. On this trip we cross the savannah on a tractor. As we head south through the savannah keep an eye out for deer, birds & carnivorous plants.

Southern Koh Phra Thong is home to the rural village of Thung Dap. There your guide will escort you to an orchid farm, where you can see a range of these beautiful delicate flowers being cultivated. Water is provided. This trip is usually conducted between breakfast and lunch to avoid the afternoon heat and takes about 4 hours.

Bird Watching

The bird watching on Koh Phra Thong must rate as possibly the best in Thailand. Wide expanses of savannah dotted with trees, lined by tropical forest and tidal rivers and of course bordered by the ocean makes for superb bird habitat. Over 100 different species were recorded by a single pair of guests a few years ago and include many rare species such as the Asian open-billed stork, lesser adjutant, Indian roller and brown fish owl. Indeed an island resident has reported seeing the magnificent adjutant quite frequently of late.

The vast savannah makes fantastic viewing for both keen bird watchers and those who just like to admire beautiful fauna. Many of the birds boast striking plumage and can be commonly seen both at the resort and its surrounding area, including a large variety of bee-eaters and kingfishers. Guests are free to walk almost anywhere on the island.

Recently one of our guests from the UK described a day of “accidental” bird watching:

“On my way to breakfast one morning I heard a ruffling in the tree outside my beach house. Peering through the foliage I saw a pair of Oriental Pied Hornbills enjoying a feast of newly ripened fruit. They didn’t seem perturbed by my presence at all. It must have been one of those days because as soon as I sat down in the restaurant, a Peregrine Falcon perched itself on the tree opposite my table. However, he didn’t hang around for long. I guess toast and jam wasn’t to his liking. Later that morning, I witnessed several bee eaters playing tag (or so it seemed) at the back of the club house. I am not sure of the species, but apparently they are there each day. That evening I headed for the bay. There searing above the ocean was a white bellied sea eagle. With a wing span of around 2 metres, this truly is a magnificent site and proved a thrilling end to my day here at Golden Buddha Beach Resort”