Thailand’s second-largest island is still one of the country’s most appealing secrets. While Phuket and Koh Samui command much of the international spotlight, Koh Chang, in the far southeastern province of Trat, presents a more relaxed proposition: quiet beaches beneath rainforest-clad mountains, with large parts of the island protected by Mu Ko Chang National Park.
Located on the quieter northern end of Phuket, The Slate dazzles by design and excites with exclusivity.
My inaugural voyage with Swan Hellenic took place aboard the SH Diana, the newest and most capacious of the trio. Expanding upon the original 152-guest blueprint of Project Vega, this vessel accommodates up to 192 fortunate explorers. Her interiors, crafted with meticulous attention by Tillberg Design of Sweden, emanate a serene elegance.
The Kimberley is world-renowned for its coastal cruising among the ancient cliffs and estuaries, but you can also have a wild time on the rivers and inland waters of Lake Argyle and Lake Kununurra.
Finally opened to the public in 2020 after painstaking remediation, the rejuvenated Pentridge is now a vibrant, billion-dollar lifestyle precinct featuring a retail centre with supermarket and fashion stores, an art gallery, a cinema complex and even a BrewDog craft beer brewery.
Blissfully underdeveloped and with some of the best beaches in the region, the verdant island of Koh Lanta remains a haven for nature lovers and travellers. Travel journalist, Roderick Eime, sampled some of the island’s charm.
