Full island day — Saladan to the national park and back

The whole west coast in one go, from the pier at the north to the lighthouse at the southern tip. It splits neatly into three: flat and easy to Klong Nin, the steep switchbacked climb to Kantiang, then broken surface to the park gate. There is no coastal ring road — the south dead-ends, so you come back the way you went or cross to the east coast at Klong Nin.

Along the way

1. Every west coast beach in sequence

   Klong Dao, Long Beach, Klong Khong, Klong Nin, Kantiang, Bamboo Bay

2. Segment distances

   Saladan–Klong Dao 2 km, Klong Dao–Long Beach 3 km, Long Beach–Klong Nin 12 km, Klong Nin–Kantiang 10 km, Kantiang–national park 7 km

3. Lunch at Klong Nin, sunset drink at Kantiang on the way back

   Lunch at Klong Nin, sunset drink at Kantiang on the way back if you have the light for it

4. Optional variation

   return via the cross-island road to Old Town and up the east coast, turning the out-and-back into a figure of eight

Road notes

Two-thirds of this is easy. The last third is not, and the difficulty rating is set by that last third. Start early — the park gate closes mid to late afternoon and you do not want to be descending the Kantiang switchbacks in the dark. Fuel and ATMs run out south of Klong Nin, so fill up and draw cash in the north. Take a 155–160cc if there are two of you. In the rainy season, May to October, skip the far south: the concrete slabs south of Klong Nin go slick within minutes of a shower, and gravel washes onto the corners.