My initial plan was to continue towards Koh Lipe after Koh Lanta, but since there are no connections between the two during the low season and it would have resulted in a full-day trip, I decided to drop Koh Lipe for now and take the newly presented option of visiting a less touristy place: Phattalung.
Phattalung is a city in the southeast of Thailand. It is located on the mainland, between the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, without immediate proximity to either shore. You’ll find only a few tourists here, and there is sometimes, unlike the other places I’ve been to in Thailand, a notable language barrier.
How to get to Phattalung from Koh Lanta
I assume that there are buses operating this route. However, I was in the lucky position of having met a local from Phattalung while staying in Koh Lanta who offered to take me in their car. Without this turn of events, it probably would not have come to my mind to visit this city—which certainly would have been a loss.
Phattalung
Phattalung is a mid-sized city and at first it has no appeal to tourists given that is not adjacent to either sea. On a second look you’ll notice that Phattalung’s skyline is dominated by several majestic rocks, “Kothalu” being the most prominent one. The name means “Hole in the chest” and this is a perfect description as this rock is features indeed a hole that goes all the way through it – like a giant doughnut.
You can take flight of 1100 steps to reach the hole and from there another 50 meters that need some rock climbing skills and trust in dangling ropes to reach the actual top of Okthalu – the reward is as usual a stunning view.
Click on one of the pictures to open the Phattalung gallery :
