Thailand Islands to Visit: Ultimate Guide to the Thai Islands

If you’ve begun trying to figure out which Thailand islands to go to already, you’ve probably learned that Thailand has OVER A THOUSAND islands. Actually over 1,400. And some of them go by TWO names to make it even more confusing. And I feel your pain. Making this guide and going back over all the information I’ve collected is making my head spin again, because there’s just so. many. islands.

When I first booked my flight to Thailand, I was so overwhelmed by the information out there. I googled probably a hundred islands trying to figure out which were the most beautiful, which were the most accessible and which ones I could afford. It was information overload and extremely hard to keep track of islands.

I’ve spent two months in Thailand going to various islands and different areas. I have obviously not been to all of the possible Thai islands, but I have been to quite a few. And the ones that I haven’t been to, I’ve done quite a bit of research on.

So, which Thailand Islands should you visit?!

First things first. You have to decide what area you want to go to. If you’ve read my First-Timer’s Guide to Thailand, you’ll know you’ve got several options. There are islands on the Andaman Sea side of Thailand and in the Gulf of Thailand. So here’s how I’m going to break it down:

• Northern Islands- Around Pattaya and Rayong in the Gulf of Thailand
• Trat Islands- The islands around Trat in the northern Gulf
• East Coast Islands- These are the islands along the east side of Thailand in the lower part of the Gulf
• West Coast Islands- The islands that are peppered down the west side but are north of Phuket
• Southern Islands- Islands around Phuket and south of Phuket.

This picture will help to explain the regions and I partly made it to help myself keep track of them.

Below are the islands and regions you may be considering. I’ve scoured many, many blogs and gathered information from my own experiences and experiences from others. So occasionally, I may just write the notes I had written down to give you a better idea of what that island is like, especially if I haven’t personally been there.

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The Trat Islands

How to get there: A flight to Trat is about $120. Not bad, but when you compare it to the bus…you’re looking at about 5 hours on a coach bus for around 200 baht ($6.40). Once there, you’ll need to take a ferry to one of the islands. Koh Chang is only a 30 min ferry ride, Koh Mak an hour ferry further and Koh Kood an hour ferry further from Koh Mak.

Koh Chang

There are actually two Koh Chang’s, but this is the larger of the two, the one that comes up when you google it and the one that most people are talking about when they talk about Koh Chang.

Koh Chang is a pretty big Thailand island in the Gulf near Trat. It’s about the size of Koh Samui. You will definitely need to rent a motorbike to get around as there are many different areas to explore. For the most part, there is one main road to get around the island, but it’s shaped more like a ‘U’ rather than a loop.

There are different areas to stay and it depends on how close or far you want to be from any of the main beaches. We stayed at a bungalow a little ways away from things, but close enough to visit by motorbike.

There are waterfalls, hiking and the jungle. There’s also affordable bungalows and resorts, cute restaurants, beach bars and in some areas, a thriving party scene. It’s more developed on this island than the following.

Ko Kham

There are a few smaller islands between Koh Chang and Koh Maak, one of them being Ko Kham. Our much smaller ferry boat actually dropped someone off at Koh Kham, but it was the only small island we stopped at (otherwise the boats go between Koh Chang, Koh Maak and Ko Kut). It is very small and from the looks of it, much more rustic.

Koh Mak (Koh Maak)

The smallest of the three main islands is Koh Mak, a low key, flat island. You can cycle through coconut plantations, discover hidden beaches and kayak to another small Thailand island, Koh Rayang Nok (though it’s currently being developed and may soon be private).

It’s more of a ‘local’ place where you’ll find local restaurants to eat at, quiet places to relax and a laidback vibe that’s off the beaten tourist path. This is a Thai island with no 7/11s and no ATMs, so make sure you have plenty of cash on you for your stay.

Koh Kood (Ko Kut)

The medium-sized island of the three is Koh Kood, and it’s a nice mix between the two. It’s not as low-key as Koh Mak but definitely not as large as Koh Chang. I read where the accommodations were more expensive here but we ended up in a nice bungalow that was hardly more than what we paid at other islands.

The boat ferry drops you off at a long pier in front of a beautiful beach. It’s a little surreal arriving here. This Thai island caters a bit more toward the resort side of tourism rather than the backpacker crowd, but still a great island to explore. It’s also off the beaten path because it takes some effort to get to.

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The East Coast Thailand Islands

How to get there: There IS an airport on Koh Samui island, but it will run you about $255 for a flight and there aren’t as many flights. Otherwise, there’s an airport in Surat Thani which is the city on the coast, nearest to Koh Samui. You can fly into Surat Thani for about $34 and then take a ferry from there. Or if you really want to budget, take a bus for 10 hours from Bangkok for about $14 and then take the ferry.

These three islands are (somewhat) in a row, with Koh Samui being the first and largest of the three islands, Koh Phangan being the second and second largest, and Koh Tao being the third and smallest. There are ferries running between all 3 and it’s easy to island hop.

Koh Samui

This island is often called the honeymoon island. It’s a pretty large island and has many different beaches, resorts and areas to explore. You can definitely find some really pretty places here and some great beaches. It’s a popular island for honeymooners because it’s pretty and because of the resort amenities.

It’s also a pretty large island. You can (and need) to rent a motorbike to get around the island to explore more. There are waterfall hikes to go on and lively bar areas to hang out at.

There were some pretty places there, but it wasn’t my favorite. Maybe because I was a single girl at the time and there were a lot of couples there. It was also a bit more overwhelming to explore traveling solo here.

Koh Phangan (Koh Pha Ngan)

Koh Phangan is your Full Moon Party destination. And don’t worry, if you don’t end up making it for the Full Moon Party, there’s always the Half Moon Party, Black Moon Party, Jungle Party, Pool Party…get the picture? There’s a party probably every day if that’s what you’re looking for. Expect lots of backpackers, neon clothes and body paint!

While it is a party island, that’s not all there is to do here. It’s a mountainous island with some lesser visited places. Rent a motorbike to explore the beaches that are further from the full moon beach and explore the quieter side of the island.

We had been told about a particular beach that was rather secluded and down a bumpy dirt road and we were the only ones on it. You might also find less crowds in some places because everyone’s either at a day party or too hungover to explore.

Koh Tao

This Thailand island is known for scuba diving. Thailand happens to be one of the cheapest places in the world to get PADI certified and divers flock to Koh Tao for the reefs and the dive schools. I knew before even going that this was where I wanted to get certified. I spent 5 days doing my PADI course on Koh Tao and had a blast doing it.

The island of Koh Tao is smaller, easy to walk to most places and they have the famous crooked palm trees over the beach. There are beach bars right next to the sand and it’s just an easy going, fun island. I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a party island but it does have some places that get pretty lively at night.

Koh Nang Yuan

This small island is just off Koh Tao and is really 3 smaller islands connected by sand bar beaches. Most people go here for a day trip as I believe accommodation is limited to maybe one place. There is a boat service from Koh Tao that can take you there and back.

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The West Coast Thai Islands

How to get there: If you plan on going to the islands towards the North, I’d take a bus from Bangkok and make your way down the island. Otherwise, I’d fly to Phuket first (for about $40) and take a bus up the coast. Since they are scattered down the coast and some are further away from the mainland, it can be a little harder to get to some of these.

Ko Chang

This Ko Chang (not to be confused with the Koh Chang near Trat) is the lesser known of the two. And due to the fact that they share names, it’s rather hard to find out anything about this northern, mystery island unless you’ve been there, which I have not.

This Ko Chang is a pretty small, untouched island that only gets a few hours of electricity at night with very few amenities on the island. Much, much different than the other Koh Chang, so you don’t want to get them confused.

Koh Phayam

This island in the north is a more recent discovery for tourists. Some say it was what Koh Samui used to be before the crowds. But I also wrote down that the pictures in google weren’t too impressive. However, it looks to be a more rustic island, with laid-back beach bars and some quiet bungalows along the water.

The Similan Islands

From Phuket, the Similan Islands are about a 2-3 hour bus ride north to Khao Lak (which is not an island but a coastal town). Then from Khao Lak, the Similan islands are an hour an a half away on a big speed boat that goes fast over the open water. Barf bags were passed out to everyone because of how rough the ride is and several people had to move to the back…just in case!

The island chain consists of 9 islands, 3 of which are a conservation area. They are gorgeous Thailand islands but there were many, many boat tours and the amount of tourists flocking the islands was not very enjoyable.

You’re definitely able to find a little corner for some people-free photos, but don’t be fooled by the strategic camera angles–you will be here with quite a few other people. They do include lunch on the tour as well but it was kind of like herding sheep–very touristy.

Surin Islands

From my understanding, the Surin Islands are probably quite similar to the Samilan Islands in terms of beauty and accessibility. Except the Surin Islands are a 3 hour bus ride north of Phuket and then a 3 hour ferry…so a little bit further away but that could mean less crowded.

The Samilan islands were stunning so if this is a less crowded version, it might be worth it. You can also stay on these islands, which you should–considering the long boat ride over. There are tents and bungalow options.

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The Southern Thailand Islands

How to get there: Take a flight from Bangkok to Phuket for about $40. Phuket is technically an island itself with a main road that connects it to the mainland. A lot of people decide to fly to Phuket (the 10ish hour bus ride is always an option) and use Phuket as a jump off place for the rest of the southern Thai islands.

Krabi

Firstly, Krabi is NOT an island, but if people are going to the southern islands, they will likely stay in Phuket or Krabi and take day trips from there, so it’s worth mentioning. Some of the best places to stay in Krabi are right along the beach too. Krabi is laid back with temples to explore and arguably better beaches than Phuket.

I’d say for people who have been to both Krabi and Phuket, the general consensus is that Krabi is better. I chose to stay here rather than Phuket because I had read that it was a little more laid-back and local feeling.

Phuket

If there’s one place people have heard of in Thailand, it’s Phuket. It’s a very popular island for tourism and I’d even venture out saying that most people go to Phuket on their first time to Thailand and take day trips from here. After reading about it online from many blogs and forums, I decided to skip it entirely and I’ve only ever just used it to fly in and out of and stay the night on the way back from the islands. So why did I skip it?

Here’s what I wrote down when I was researching islands: overcrowded and dirty feel. One blog said it was a waste of two days and they didn’t take any pictures. Another said it was touristy, trashy and the restaurants were expensive. And I know it’s always one opinion against another, but my general thoughts were that there were better places to spend my time. Plus I wanted to get to some of the smaller islands to explore instead.

As I mentioned before, people usually choose Phuket OR Krabi as their home base to then take trips to the other nearby islands. I just decided to choose Krabi instead.

BUT I do think there probably are some nice areas in Phuket and definitely some nice resorts to stay at if your budget allows. (I’ve only traveled Thailand as a backpacker–so I would have been on the more dingier side of the island I’m sure.) I’d likely explore here the next time I return because it is popular and usually it’s for a reason.

Raya Islands (Racha Islands)

These can be day trip islands from Phuket. Accommodation here is very limited with only a handful of options which, I believe, might only be open during high season. You can also walk most everywhere on these islands.

Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai

These islands are only about 25 minutes from Phuket. Koh Yao Noi is a National Park, “highly photogenic” (according to another blog) and is more developed that Koh Yao Yai with budget options and resorts.

Koh Yao Yai is a slower paced island, less developed and has a lot of fishing/farming on the island. There are select options for accommodation with most being at a mid-range to high cost.

Khao Phing Kan Island aka the James Bond Island

This island became famous in The Man With The Golden Gun and will forever probably be nicknamed James Bond Island. It is a day trip from Phuket to see the famous movie location and famous rock jutting out near the beach. The island is pretty small which is why it’s usually a stop on boat tours.

Ko He (Coral Island)

Coral Island is another day trip island from Phuket. Not to be confused with the other Coral Islands out there! I feel like most of the Coral Islands are smaller and mostly for day trips.

Poda Island (Ko Poda), Tub Island & Chicken Island

Poda Island is part of a National Park, but I’m lumping these 3 together because they are most often sold as day trips together with Phra Nang Cave. You can visit all four places from Phuket and I’m going to assume Krabi as well. You can book boat tours all over either at a street stand or through a hostel/hotel.

Koh Phi Phi

You might have heard of a Koh Phi Phi Don and a Koh Phi Phi Le. To me, there’s only one and it’s Koh Phi Phi Don because it’s the only one that’s inhabited. Koh Phi Phi Le is uninhabited and only for day trips. And I’ve also never heard it referred to as Koh Phi Phi Don…it’s usually just Koh Phi Phi.

Koh Phi Phi is the gateway to Maya Bay (filming location of The Beach) and Monkey Beach (beware the beer guzzling monkeys.) Seriously though…you don’t want to pay for an $800 rabies shot. Not me–but I know people who have had to get them. The monkeys are quite vicious (mean drunks) and tend to get in fights with each other and steal things from tourists. Even if you don’t want to give them your beer, they might try to take it from you. It’s cute to see beach monkeys but I’d keep your distance and leave any food or drinks on the boat.

It’s a fun island with neon parties every night and lots of fun streets to walk as there are no cars on the island! But if you want some sleep, I’d suggest staying a little back from the main beach. If you do find a place that’s a little more off the beaten path, you can get around by boat.

Koh Lanta

This is another large island and can be reached by boat from just about anywhere or you can take a minivan from the mainland and then across on a car ferry. Koh Lanta is laid-back and chill, though quickly becoming more and more popular. It has unspoiled nature, beautiful beaches and is not a party place (to my understanding. Sadly I have not been myself. This was the island I really wanted to get to but it rained for 2 weeks straight so we went north instead.)

Koh Kradan

Koh Kradan forms a triangle with Koh Muk and Ko Ngai. The islands are fairly small and accommodation may be limited, especially during rainy season. Koh Kradan has low-tide sand bars and it’s the “most visually spectacular” (…but I wrote down many “most beautiful island” notes, which means there’s not really a bad choice). It’s also probably the most recommended of the three.

Koh Muk (Koh Mook)

This island is small, affordable and tranquil though it’s not “an island paradise”. You can take a boat to Emerald Cave, an enclosed beach that was formed by a sinkhole.

Ko Ngai

This island is small and mountainous with not as many budget places to stay. Apparently it’s “not ideal for backpackers and is more for couples”. There’s also not many places to eat/drink apart from the resorts.

Koh Libong

While Koh Libong is a larger island, it’s remained pretty untouched by tourism. There are lots of sea cows and thai muslim fishing villages.

Koh Sukon (Koh Sukorn)

My notes on Koh Sukon are that it’s a place where water buffalos outnumber people. It’s a harder to reach island with slow paced thai muslim communities.

Koh Lao Liang and Ko Petra

These are small Thailand islands just south of Koh Libong. They are an hour away by boat, more expensive to get to and kayaking islands. You can kayak around the island in less than an hour. There’s also no accommodation here.

Koh Lipe

This small island can be found south of Ko Adang. There’s supposedly a party scene, snorkeling and you can walk around it in half a day. There also might not be too many budget friendly options.

It’s a popular spot for snorkeling, diving and water sports, and the beaches are gorgeous. You can walk from beach to beach or take a break to walk along the shopping street.

Koh Tarutao

This island is a National park. Ko Ra Wi and Ko Adang, which are north of Koh Lipe, are also apart of the national park. You can take day trips to the islands and you can even rent a tent on Koh Tarutao and camp there!

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The Northern Thailand Islands

How to get there: Pattaya is only about 2 hours away from Bangkok. When I looked up taxi prices, I was shocked at how affordable it is but in backpacker culture…that’s called splurging.

You can get here by taxi for about 1500 Baht ($49) or by taking the bus for 130 Baht ($4.50), which will take about 2-3 hours. To get to Rayong, a taxi will take about 3-4 hours and cost 2000 Baht ($64) or the bus which is about 160 Baht ($5.12). We opted for the bus, which is coach by the way, not like a city bus.

Koh Larn (Coral Island)

There are a few islands nicknamed Coral Island it seems. And most of the time they are just quick trips to a smaller island. This one we saw advertised as a day-trip all over Pattaya.

Koh Samet

The island of Koh Samet is off of Rayong, which is a bus ride from Pattaya and a 2 hour ferry ride from Rayong. I think this is a popular choice and it is probably the nicest island that is closest to Bangkok. There are luxury accommodations available and restaurants on the beach.

This is the area I am most unfamiliar with, as we only stayed in Pattaya on the way to Trat. This website is very helpful and will tell you more about the islands near Pattaya!

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Taking the Ferries to the Thail Islands

The ferries to the Thai islands are fairly inexpensive ($5-$15 usually). They can range from 20 min to 3 hours depending on which island you are going to.

You can book a ferry ticket at any kiosk around town the day before and will most likely get the time you want. The later in the day you wait, the more likely it is to fill and if you book at night, you might risk having to take a later ferry. If you are coming or going to Koh Phangan during the Full Moon party(s), you’ll want to book your tickets a few days in advance because those fill up fast.

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When you arrive on an island

Once you get off the ferry, there will most always be jeepneys or tuk tuks waiting for passengers. Jeepneys are like covered pickup trucks and they will usually charge a set amount to an area. You can try and bargain but I was never very successful.

Also beware the taxi mafia. On Koh Samui, if you arrive too late, the taxis will all hike the prices up extremely high and refuse to take you for anything less. I think I was quoted about $25 to go 4 miles down the road (which is robbery in Thai currency!!). Luckily I met a girl on the ferry who had a friend picking her up and I was able to hop in with them. Koh Samui was the only island I experienced that on, but also the only island that I arrived on after dark.

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Getting around the Thai islands

The best way to get around the islands is to rent a motorbike. You can rent one just about anywhere for about $5-8 a day. The downside to motorbikes is that they will most always want your passport as collateral. I know, I know–never give your passport away…but this is just how it’s done here. Return the bike and they’ll return the passport. It’s a very uneasy feeling, but it’s their insurance that you’ll return the bike AND pay for any damage incurred.

You can also buy gas from just about anywhere. And by anywhere I mean anywhere. Gas stations won’t always be prevalent in different parts of the islands so some people actually sell gasoline outside their home or shop in a glass bottle. Yep, you read that right–you will literally just buy 1-2 glass bottles of gas and fill up on the side of the road.

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Planning your trip

Still overwhelmed? The most popular islands are either the East Coast Islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, or the Southern Islands of Phuket, Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta. If you’re short on time and don’t want to fly down south, I’d say Koh Chang is the most popular Northern Island.

Do you have time to visit more than one island in a week?

I feel like this is always the most asked question. If you’re going to Thailand for a week, I think it is possible to do Bangkok and two islands, though it would be a whirlwind trip and you’d waste some time traveling (1 night in Bangkok, 3 nights for each island). But it’s also entirely doable to go to Phuket or Krabi and take day trips to all the surrounding islands.

I’ve spent about a week on one island alone and could have stayed longer. But if you’re really set on seeing more than one island, it’s definitely doable. I’d pick two that are close so you only have to take a short ferry.

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If at all possible, I’d recommend being flexible in your plans. That way, if you don’t enjoy an island as much, you can simply get a ferry to the next one and not have to worry about canceling your stay elsewhere. The islands are amazing and beautiful and hopefully this article alleviated some of the stress of planning!

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