Yala is the southernmost and only landlocked province in the south and a major gateway for travellers between Thailand and Malaysia. Yala's highlights include beautiful scenery, interesting history, and wide mix of culture due to its many different ethnic groups including Thai, Chinese and Malay Muslims.
Narathiwat is one of the four Thai provinces which have a Muslim majority, and the locals are very similar in ethnicity and culture to the Malays of Kelantan, Malaysia. Narathiwat is a province with various religious places of historical significance as well as natural resources, and it is relatively fertile. Seventy-five percent of the province consists of jungle and mountains, while the coast features several nice beaches.
The south of Pattani province is dominated by the Sankalakhiri mountain range, which includes the stunning Sungai National Park on the border with Yala and Narathiwat. Apart from the stunning scenery inland, Pattani also features some nice and quiet beaches and many cultural highlights.
