Night golf, park-like golf and jungle golf – Thailand has it all. Thailand has won the hearts of many golfers as a dream golf destination. Great services, well-maintained golf courses, friendly people, tropical climate and diverse beautiful landscape combined with amazing cuisine have shaped the country as a golf paradise. From 1 November, fully vaccinated tourists can go to Thailand without having been quarantined and the golf courses are ready to open their doors to welcome golfers again. Here you can find details how to travel to Thailand from 1 November. For golf instructor Juha-Matti Vuorinen, this means that life returns a little more to normal. Juha-Matti has lived and worked in Thailand for eight years and knows golf in the country in and out. He knows what the Nordic golfers want at the same time he knows which courses to play if you really want to enjoy the absolute best golf experience in Thailand and where to find the hidden gems of golf paradise among approximately 250 courses around the country. Here are Juha-Matti’s personal tips and handpicked courses from north to south Thailand. Phuket Best Course: Blue Canyon Country Club – Award winning golf course (Yoshikazu Kato, 1991, 1998)  At Blue Canyon, there are two high-class 18-hole courses, Canyon course and Lake Course. Canyon Course has been the venue for some memorable international tournaments, including the Honda Invitational in 1996 and the Johnie Walker Classics Tournaments in 1994, 1998 & 2007. The most memorable was in 1998 which witnessed Tiger Woods staging one of the most astounding comebacks of the game to see Ernie Els defeated in a playoff for the final hole. The award winning has since been the ultimate experience for many players. For non-golfing family members, Phuket offers plenty of other activities such as water sports, paradise beaches and if you are interested in rum you can visit Chalong Bay Rum Distillery and learn how to make white rum. The 40 meter high landmark Big Buddha is another popular excursion at the top of Nakkerd Hills. www.bluecanyonphuket.com Koh Samui Best course: Santiburi Golf – Ocean view (Edward Thiele & Pirapon Namatra, 2003) Santiburi is the only 18-hole golf course on Koh samui. It has taken advantage of the level differences and the natural contour through the jungle and hillsides above the beautiful beaches. The golf course has a scenic panoramic view of the Gulf of Thailand and Koh Phangan. Most holes have ocean and beach views. Waterfalls and screens run through the land adding a natural beauty with the hills providing a picturesque backdrop. It’s a very tough course. Each hole has its unique character and challenges, from steep uphill and downhill slopes to winding fairways that are cut into the forest and meander arund cliffs and streams. The course is one of the ultimate golfing experience in Thailand. For anyone who does not want to play golf, Koh Samui is full of beautiful beaches and wonderful scenery such as Namuang Waterfall or Angthong National Marine Park.  www.santiburigolfsamui.com Phang Nga / Khao Lak Best Course: Katathong Golf Resort & Spa – Spectacular course (Wiwatchai Prangpitak, 2015) At the relatively new Katathong Golf Resort, you will be struck by beautiful scenery – perhaps the most spectacular course in Thailand, according to Juha-Matti. It offers mountain views from every part of the course. Most holes follow the natural contours of the land and feature undulating hills through natural waterfalls and streams. Fairways are not long, but very narrow. There are lots of unconventional but interesting holes. It takes just over an hour from Phuket Airport to get here and Katathong is located just north of Phang Nga in incredibly beautiful scenery. There are also a variety of accommodation types overlooking the golf course at the resort. www.katathong.com Bangkok:  Best Course: Summit Windmill Golf Club – Park-like course (Nick Faldo, 1993) Conveniently located near Bangkok International Airport (Suvarnabumi Airport), this golf course attracts lots of golfers thanks to its location, just about 30 minutes from Bangkok. It is a park-like golf course. Nick Faldo’s innovative design has succeeded well with the course and water comes into play on many of the holes. There are a lot of risk-and-reward holes over water. Here you can also play after dark due to the course being equipped with electric lights since 2004 and it is a dramatic feeling to walk around in a tropical golf environment in semi-darkness. The luxurious clubhouse is modern and built like a medieval European castle. www.summitwindmillgolfclub.com Hua Hin: Best course: Black Mountain (Phil Ryan, 2007) Black Mountain, with its three nine-hole courses, is well known among Swedish golfers as it is the Swede Stig Notlöv who created the facility. The golf course has hosted both European Tour and Asian Tour competitions which have been much appreciated by the players since it opened. The course winds its way up the mountain slopes and is always in excellent condition. www.blackmountainhuahin.com Best course: Banyan Golf Club (Pirapon Namatra, 2008) Banyan Golf Club has been voted by Asian Golf Monthly as one of the country’s three best courses for three years in a row, because it has a wonderful clubhouse overlooking the course. www.banyanthailand.com Besides enjoying the golf games, a visit to Hua HIn Hills Vineyard is recommended. The vineyard is home to the award-winning Monsoon Valley label and a range of labels marketed as ‘new latitude wines’ and serves amazing food and wine. For families with kids, there are 2 amazing water parks or a day in a national park in hua Hin would make a perfect holiday for all family members. Pattaya Best course: Siam Country Club Siam Country Club has 4 courses to choose from in the Pattaya area, Old Course, Plantation, Waterside and the latest addition Rolling Hills. It hosts the LPGA Thailand tournament for many years and major international golf championships. At Honda LPGA Thailand 2021 held at Siam Country Club, Old Course, the local Thai professional golfer Ariya Jutanugarn won this championship, the...

Many are dreaming of white sand beaches, sunshines and turquios water, but still are confused where to go. With so many islands to choose from, planning an island trip in Thailand can be overwhelming. The most difficult thing about travelling is about choosing a destination that fits your personality and your own needs. Each island has its own character and style and is suitable for different types of travellers. Wherever you are in the phase of your life, either families with children, just newly married or already in your late midlife, Thai paradise islands can offer different travel experiences for you. With this guide, we aim to give you our in-depth knowledge to help you map an island that suits your type and needs. Here is an ultimate Thailand island guide for your next vacation. Koh Lanta – cozy and convenient Long stretch beaches and laid back atmosphere make this stunning island a favorite island for many. Koh Lanta is not for party-goers or extreme adventurous enthusiasts. Instead the island is for those who are looking for a relaxing vacation in a local Thai lifestyle yet convenient enough to get all you need on a tropical island. There are many activities to choose from; swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, stand up paddle boards, kayaking, bicycling around the island or observing elephants in their natural surroundings. Interested in the local wisdom i.e. learning the versatile bamboo plants, there are a few workshops you can join.  For those who want to combine work and vacation, Koh Lanta has a tropical and modern coworking space for freelancers and entrepreneurs with WiFi and a convenient tropical working lifestyle as well as international schools for families with children who plan to stay longer on the island and combine family life with tropical vacation, school and your entrepreneur life. Koh Lanta Yai is the main tourist island and is about 30 km long and 6 km wide with a bridge connecting to Koh Lanta Noi. Kilometers long beaches are scattered on the west coast of Koh Lanta Yai. Most accommodation and restaurants have located mostly around seven beaches and leave four secluded beaches almost untouched. In general the bays become quieter and more secluded the further south you go. Klong Dao in the north is the most developed area and the beach is almost completely rock free and shallow, suitable for families with young children.  Koh Ngai – authentic simple island life Koh Ngai (Koh Hai) is a small paradise island on Andaman Sea between Krabi and Trang province. It is an unbeatable charming island, almost nothing developed here; no roads, no cars and no 7-Elevens nor ATMs. The island is quieter than Koh Lanta and is perfect for those who are looking for some timeout or relaxing. Make sure to bring enough cash with you.  Basically, there are not many things to do on Koh Ngai but that’s where it gets its charm. There is no need to plan your day. Simply get out of bed and enjoy sunrise, chill out on the beach, go snorkeling. Finish your day with a fresh coconut or a beer, hit the bed early and repeat the next day. The main place to go snorkeling on Koh Ngai is along the east and south coasts off Main Beach and Paradise Beach. You can reach the reef directly from the sand. On the island, there are 3 main beaches. The Main Beach is about 2.5 km long and this is where you find most hotels. Paradise Beach is more secluded and located at the end of the island. Ao Muang is located between Main Beach and Paradise Beach. There is a trail connecting the beaches.  Koh Yao Noi – ecoisland with a sense of luxury Located midway between Phuket and Krabi lies Koh Yao Noi, an idyllic and unspoilt island perfect for a relaxing vacation. There is a sense of preserved authenticity, a feel of slow, peaceful and serenity here. Koh Yao Noi’s idyllic backdrop with limestone formations that juts out from the emerald water has caught the attention of honeymoons and couples who want a romantic vacation. Unlike Koh Ngai, you can find exclusive resorts and villas on this island, featuring a boho-chic island life welcoming visitors on the island.  Koh Yao Noi’s beaches are appealing. At low tide, the muddy, rocky shoreline is exposed – great for chasing crabs, but not so good for swimming. Diving, snorkeling, sea kayaking and boat trips around the island and to Phanga Bay are popular activities. Koh Yao Noi also offers visitors the chance to involve themselves in local activities. You can easily spend a day with a local fisherman, learning about the life of small-scale fishers and supporting local conservation efforts. Aside from lazy beach days, you can enjoy scenic rides around the island’s lightly trafficked roads on motorbike or bicycle. Koh Samui – Bustling island with everything you want and need Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand is among the most famous tourist destinations for many. It is one of the most developed islands in Thailand with many tourists. But why are we mentioning it? It boils down to the weather. Samui is perfect to travel to in the summer. On Koh Samui, the sky is mostly clear from June to August, making Samui a perfect getaway to escape from when the summer in the Nordics gets bad. Koh Samui is a giant mix of everything. You can find from popular sunbathing beaches to deserted bays, from mediocre restaurants in one corner to typical Thai street food in the next. No matter what you are looking for, you can find it on Koh Samui. Moreover, Koh Samui is a pioneer for sustainable tourism for both hoteliers and local communities. Koh Phangan Koh Phagan is located in the Gulf of Thailand and only 20 minutes by speedboat from Samui. Unlike the developed counterpart Koh Samui, Koh Phangan has a more laid back atmosphere and is a popular destination for backpackers,...