Coming up: big islands, little islands, remote lumps of land, multi-shore boat trips, irritating hippies, surprising subcultures, some top tips from my Thai-speaking dad, and the 13 best islands in Thailand.
Thailand is home to more than 1,400 islands…
(… some of them uninhabited, obviously)
So: choosing between them is hard.
But over the last few years, I’ve spent many months in Thailand, hopping between mountains, cities, street food carts, beaches, and islands. I’ve visited most of the nation’s most famous islands, along with some tucked-away under-the-radar places.
And in this guide, I’ve answered all your Thai-island questions:
Which islands are the most popular? Which are the quietest? Where can I escape other tourists? Where can I do the best snorkeling? And why do all these British teenagers have their faces pushed into plastic buckets?
Coming up, all that and more: here’s the Travelness guide to the 13 best islands in Thailand!
TOP 13 Best Islands in Thailand for an Unforgettable Escape
1. Phuket
Although Phuket is connected to the Thai mainland by a bridge, it is an island (which most people are surprised by).
And, get this: Phuket airport is the third-busiest in Thailand (while the other two are both in Bangkok).
… so, in short, Phuket is very busy, and very accessible.
Here, you get loud nightlife, endless bars, busy streets, more tourists than locals, outdoor massage parlors on every street corner, and thousands of bar girls pretending to find you attractive.
That said, Phuket is an easy escape if you haven’t been to Thailand before. Many people speak English, many menus are written in both English and Russian (along with Thai), and you can easily take loads of tours and adventures (like cooking classes, food tours, and boat trips).
If you want tourist vibes, stay near Patong Beach.
If you don’t, stay as far from Patong Beach as possible.
Oh, and if you like taking care of your health, head to Fitness Street (officially known as ‘Soi Taied’). Sitting on the eastern part of the island, it’s home to gyms, smoothie stores, supplement stores, high-protein menus, Muay Thai classes, and everything you could ever need to get fitter and healthier.
My Phuket tour recommendation: Paradise Trip ATV Jungle Adventure. On this tour, you ride around the Phuket jungle on ATVs (which you might also know as ‘quad bikes’), and ride on a zipline. The vehicles are safe, the guides are helpful, and you’re fully insured… so it’s a reliable adventure (which you definitely can’t say about all Phuket tours).
My Phuket accommodation recommendation: Hotel Indigo Phuket Patong by IHG. Close to both Bangla Road and the nearby beach (Phuket’s two most touristy hangouts), this place is fancy but affordable, has two pools, and serves up a great buffet breakfast.
2. Ko Phi Phi
When you think of Thai islands, you probably think of Ko Phi Phi.
Famous for appearing in the Leonardo DiCaprio movie The Beach, Ko Phi Phi is actually just off the coast of Phuket (and basically everyone who visits Phuket also visits Ko Phi Phi… which explains why it’s so busy).
Actually made up of six islands, the area is famous for snorkeling, viewpoints, late-night parties, kayaking, and boat trips (usually taken in the unique and iconic Thai longtail boats).
My Ko Phi Phi tour recommendation: Full-Day 7-Island Tour (by longtail boat, with sunset). As I’ve covered, Phi Phi isn’t as adventurous as it used to be. It’s still beautiful, but it’s VERY touristy. To escape those vibes, this tour takes you to 7 different islands surrounding Phi Phi, stopping off at bays, beaches, a lagoon, and a cave. Other highlights include swimming, snorkeling, coral reefs, local food, lots of monkeys, and the iconic Maya Bay (yep, that’s Leonardo DiCaprio one). This tour starts on Phi Phi (not in Phuket or Krabi, like many of the other Phi Phi tours)… so it’s not quite as touristy as some of the other options.
My Ko Phi Phi accommodation recommendation: Phi Phi Relax Beach Resort. Made up of many beach bungalows, this accommodation sits on a remote side of the island. They have a private beach, they offer rentable snorkeling gear, and it’s a 30-minute boat ride from the main part of the island. It’s seclusion in the best way possible.
3. Koh Phangan
Koh Phangan is weird.
… and there’s probably no other destination in all of Thailand where you can live so many types of life.
Here, you get day-trippers. Long-term expats. Old hippies. 18-year olds sipping from alcohol buckets. Party-lovers. 5am meditators. Great seafood. Local markets. Gigantic parties. Popular meditation retreats.
… and everyone and everything in between.
Anyway, Koh Phangan can basically serve up anything you could ever want from a Thai island (unless you want to meet lots of locals—cos most people here are white-faced foreigners).
To do some yoga, get to The Yoga House Koh Phangan. If you’re looking for sands and shores away from the crowds, visit Bottle Beach. And for the Full Moon party schedule, head here.
My Koh Phangan tour recommendation: One Day Road Trip (with your own private group). Because Koh Phangan is so touristy (in so many different ways), it can be hard to find any authenticity on the island. But on this tour, you follow a local Thai guide around some of the island’s best and most tucked-away spots. Highlights include snorkeling, sunbathing, a waterfall, and some excellent local seafood.
My Koh Phangan accommodation recommendation: Zama Resort Koh Phangan. Right on the beach, this resort sits north of the busiest part of the island. Highlights include a private beach, on-site massages, seaview balconies, and a lovely pool.
4. Similan Islands
Collectively, the Similan Islands are an official National Park—and are most well-known for diving and snorkeling.
Here, you can find manta rays, whale sharks, leopard sharks, great barracudas, and loads more fish and sealife. To find it, you want to book a good tour (more on that below!).
Crucially, at the time of writing, you can’t stay here: you can only take day trips to the island.
My Similan Islands tour recommendation: again, only day trips are possible to the islands—so the only way you can see them is on a tour. I recommend this one, which you can start from both Phuket and Khao Lak. You get 8-9 hours of adventure, and it includes snorkeling, swimming, beaches, and lots of nature.
My Similan Islands accommodation recommendation: again, there are no accommodations on the island. So I massively recommend the tour above!
5. Koh Samui
Admittedly, Koh Samui offers many types of vibes…
… but of all the islands I’ve brought you, it’s the place most known for luxury (and the place where it’s easiest to get that luxury).
Thailand’s second-biggest island (after Phuket), most visitors here are middle-class families, luxury-seekers, and high-earning digital nomads.
Compared to Phuket and Koh Phangan, Koh Samui is a little more quiet, calm, and peaceful. But it still has everything you could ever want—like resorts, gyms, supermarkets, malls, and international food.
Highlights include temples, boat trips, Ang Thong Marine Park (a nearby archipelago), fancy wellness retorts, yoga retreats, lively nightlife, fishing villages, lots of healthy food, and many restaurants and resorts. These days, it’s not as cheap as it once was—but it’s still great value for money.
Many people come to Koh Samui for meditation experiences. If that’s your plan, head to Samui International Meditation Center, where you’re taught and led by Buddhist monks.
Because Koh Samui are Koh Phangan are so close to each other (and connected by a 30-minute ferry), many travelers visit the two as part of the same vacation. For a first Thai island-hopping experience, it’s an ideal idea.
My Koh Samui tour recommendation: Thai Cooking Class with Local Market Tour. A 3-hour experience, you start this tour at a market, where you buy (and learn about) loads of local foods and ingredients. You then cook 3 dishes of your choice with a friendly local chef. Very tasty, very recommended.
My Koh Samui accommodation recommendation: Bang Po Hut. A bunch of cozy huts sitting in a garden, these lie on the northwestern corner of the island… so they’re well-connected to the busy stuff, but also relatively secluded and serene. A perfect balance between modern and rustic, and ideal for a romantic stay.
6. Ko Lanta
Everyone falls in love with Ko Lanta.
Although it’s pretty busy and touristy, it’s still a very chilled-out island.
You get long beaches, relaxed restaurants, and a slow pace of life—and even though there are lots of tourists here, it rarely feels very crowded.
The western part of the island is very popular, with massive beaches, regular ferry departures, and lots of boat trips. The eastern side is home to wooden houses, ecological projects, community tourism, less-regular ferries, and outdoor adventures (like kayaking and ziplining).
Other highlights include mangrove-forest boat trips, world-class diving, and little easy hikes in Mu Ko Lanta National Park.
Although the shortest Ko Lanta ferry crossing is only 10 minutes from the mainland, most people come here from central Krabi town—a trip which can take 2 hours or more.
As you’ll come to find out, many remote workers come to Ko Lanta for a couple of weeks, then wind up staying much longer. But compared to Koh Phangan and Koh Samui, this is still a slightly more leftfield choice for a long-term stay.
My Ko Lanta tour recommendation: Half-Day Mangrove Kayaking Tour with Lunch. A great way to escape the most famous parts of the island, this kayaking tour takes you on waterways through a mangrove forest. Highlights include monkeys, crabs, a fish farm, meeting friendly villagers, and munching on one of the best local lunches you’ve ever had.
My Ko Lanta accommodation recommendation: Verona Lanta Resort. Sitting in the island’s old town area, this is one of the most loveable accommodations on what is arguably Thailand’s most loveable island. Expect pretty bungalows, super-friendly staff, a small pool, and big fat slices of local charm.
7. Koh Tao
Lying slightly north of both Koh Phangan and Koh Samui, Koh Tao is the lesser-known, less-popular cousin of the two…
… and you can reach Koh Tao via ferry, from both Koh Phangan, and from the mainland (at Chumphon).
Anyway, Koh Tao is still a touristy place with 1000s of foreigners. But it’s much more laid-back than both Koh Phangan and Koh Samui, with an intimate, relaxed vibe, and loads of community-driven spaces (like friendly yoga studios and gyms, lots of cozy events, and many long-term hostel dwellers).
Once a political prison, Koh Tao is now most famous for diving and snorkeling, with lots of coral, sharks, turtles, angelfish, and barracudas.
That said, at night, you’ll find some massive by-the-beach parties here. To stay away from that, don’t get a hotel on the island’s very-busy western stretch.
Make sure you head out on the little-but-steep hike to John-Suwan Viewpoint. Sitting on the island’s southern tip, it serves up massive ocean views from one side, and massive island views from the other.
Measuring in at only 4.5 miles by 2 miles (7 km by 3 km), and with a little population of only around 2,000 people, Koh Tao is a tiny place. Ideal if you want to see ‘all’ of a Thai island in a week or so.
My Koh Tao tour recommendation: Islands Snorkeling Highlights Day Tour & Lunch. The best and most popular Koh Tao tour by far (with more than 2,000 reviews!), this is unmissable. This boat trip takes you to five different snorkeling sites, with a load of fish, and probably some turtles and baby sharks.
My Koh Tao accommodation recommendation: Kohtao Heritage Hideaway. Close to the busiest part of the island, but far enough north to escape the pulsating parties, this place serves up relatively-affordable bungalows, suites, and villas. Perks include comfy beds, a jungle location, a pretty infinity pool, and a rustic-but-modern vibe.
8. Ko Yao Noi
Sitting between Phuket and Krabi (and also pretty close to Phi Phi), Ko Yao Noi is a strange outlier.
Because of where it’s located, it should be busy…
… but it’s much more chilled than all the nearby islands, and it’s a great alternative to heavy tourist-fests like Koh Samui and Koh Phangan.
That’s partially because 90% of the Ko Yao Noi population is Muslim—which means no busy nightlife, no British teenagers drinking buckets, and no Full Moon Parties.
(don’t worry though—you’ll still find a few quiet small bars on the island)
Other perks of Ko Yao Noi include pretty beaches, quiet rice paddies, little rubber plantations, tiny roadside restaurants, bioluminescent plankton, excellent kayaking, and trips to the limestone-packed island-studded Phang Nga Bay (which is sort of like a Thai version of Vietnam’s Halong Bay).
Uniquely, Ko Yao Noi also has some small humble mosques. Can’t say that about many other Thai islands.
My Ko Yao Noi tour recommendation: Private Longtail Boat Island-Hopping Tour around Phang Nga Bay. This cruise can leave from both Ko Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai. It heads to Phang Nga Bay, one of Thailand’s last-existing non-touristy cruise options—and it serves up 5 hours of snorkeling, swimming, hiking, and local food. Massively recommended.
My Ko Yao Noi accommodation recommendation: Tha Khao Bay View Bungalow. Sitting on a quiet part of an already-quiet island, these basic-but-comfy bungalows serve up bay views, wooden rustic decor, big beds, nice hammocks, and endless charm. You’ll fall in love with the place.
9. Ko Lan (also known as both ‘Koh Lan’ and ‘Koh Larn’)
Pattaya definitely isn’t the most authentic place in Thailand.
… and many Pattaya tourists aren’t interested in seeing the ‘real’ Thailand.
But if you are, I recommend heading to Ko Lan. Sitting a 40-minute ferry ride from Pattaya, highlights include coral, jungles, quieter-than-Pattaya beaches, and lots of monkeys.
But what I really love this island for is… cycling.
If you take the big boat from Pattaya to Ko Lan (not the speedboat), you can take a bicycle with you*. And if you take a bicycle with you, I recommend riding around the entire island. Cycling around Ko Lan for a few hours is one of the best Thai island adventures I’ve ever had—you can cover the whole island in one challenging day.
On your bike ride, make sure you head up the steep road to The Windmill Viewpoint, for panoramic views of the mainland.
*There are many places to hire a bicycle in Pattaya, but the one I’ve used most often is marked on Google Maps as ‘Ch.Numchai Thepprasit Bike Shop.’
My Ko Lan accommodation recommendation: Koh Larn Riviera. Sitting north of the central part of the island, this is accessible but peaceful. Perks include comfortable rooms, friendly staff, a free moped with your stay, and excellent value. Life in Pattaya and its surroundings can be a bit stifling—but life here absolutely isn’t.
10. Koh Samet (also known as ‘Koh Samed’)
Not many tourists visit Rayong…
(… which is a city and region sitting 35 miles (60km) southeast of Pattaya…)
… and Koh Samet sits off the coast of Rayong—so even fewer tourists come here.
Made up of little more than one main street, tiny Koh Samet measures in at only 5 miles squared (13 kilometers squared). On this main street, you’ll find chilled-out bars, low-key live music, and endless seafood.
Away from this one main road, you’ll find basic family homestays, coral reefs, super-clean beaches, and lots of beachside seafood restaurants.
Uniquely, Koh Samet is one of the driest islands in Thailand—so if you’re traveling Thailand during the rainy season and want a slice of island action, it’s your best option.
My Koh Samet accommodation recommendation: Samed Villa Resort. Featuring humble-but-big bungalows, a nice pool, and lots of cozy garden space, this place has all the perks of a resort without any of the pretense. High points include spa treatments, massages, bike hire, and many trips and tours.
11. Koh Kood (also sometimes known as ‘Ko Kut’)
Now, we’re starting to get very under-the-radar.
My dad speaks Thai…
… and he’s spent many years traveling through Thailand…
… and of everywhere in the nation, Ko Kood is his favorite place.
Perks include beachside restaurants, traditional Thai eats, super-fresh seafood, some of the prettiest beaches I’ve ever seen, and a massively cozy non-commercial vibe. It’s one of Thailand’s biggest islands (somewhere between 4th and 6th, depending on who you ask)… so there’s plenty to explore.
… and because Ko Kood sits so close to Cambodia, the place feels culturally a little different from most other Thai islands.
Must-visits here include the beaches of Ao Tapao and Ao Phrao, and the accessible-but-adventurous three-tier Khlong Chao waterfall. And for food and live music, head to The Fisherman Hut, with its wooden interiors, jungle setting, homely vibe, and excellent fish.
My Koh Kood tour recommendation: Snorkeling Day Trip with Buffet Lunch. Highlights include 3 different snorkeling sites, pretty reefs, super-quiet beaches, excellent local food, and a slim chance of seeing some turtles. From-island Thai boat trips are rarely this peaceful or this non-touristy.
My Koh Kood accommodation recommendation: Walk In HomeStay. This place is very peaceful and rural, with an excellent homestay-style breakfast. You won’t meet many people here—but you’ll meet plenty of chickens, butterflies, and lizards.
12. Koh Chang
Koh Chang is basically a slightly-more-popular version of Koh Kood (and the two sit close to one another)…
… and in many ways, it’s sort of like a slightly-bigger version of Koh Phangan, but much less touristy.
So: you get bars, restaurants, 7/11s, gyms, supermarkets, and everything you could ever need to stay long-term—but without so many hippies, young westerners, and laptop-toting digital nomads.
Other Koh Kood perks include snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, hammock-swinging, big dense stretches of jungle, and lots of budget bungalows and reggae. Of all the island’s reggae bars, Rasta View is best, with its lofty location, excellent food, and pier views.
And if you take the ferry from Ao Thammachat (which most tourists do), the crossing only takes 30 minutes. Great if you don’t want a big long boat ride!
My Koh Chang accommodation recommendation: The Aiyapura Koh Chang. If you’re coming from the Aow Thammachat ferry crossing, this place is perfect. It’s close to the ferry port, but also a little removed from the dock’s busiest area. Perks include bungalows, an infinity pool, free-roaming peacocks, and a games room. Pretty classy, but without the prices to match.
13. Koh Mak
Another tiny island, Koh Mak has a population of around 1,500 people, and measures in at around 6 miles squared (16 kilometers squared).
Sandwiched between Koh Chang and Koh Kood, most people visit Koh Mak from one of its island neighbors—although it is also possible to cross from the mainland.
The most peaceful place I’ve brought you, Koh Mak has no high-rises, no 7/11s, and no all-night parties. Instead, this privately-owned island (which is intentionally being developed with sustainability in mind!), feels more like a cozy eco-retreat.
Koh Mak highlights include kayaking, paddleboarding, sleepy villages, occasional beach cafes, and the 1-hour cycle ride around the perimeter of the island. Make sure you stop at the Food Art Hut, with its smoothie bowls, dirt-road entrance, and colorful peace-packed vibe.
… and if you want quiet snorkeling and diving, head to the little islands of Koh Kradat and Koh Rayang. Here, you’ll find fish, reefs, and very few fellow snorkelers.
Overall, if you want the real Thai island experience on a little lump of land, you won’t find anywhere better.
My Koh Mak accommodation recommendation: Good Time Sports Village Koh Mak. Sitting 5 minutes from the island’s main road, this bamboo-clad place sits in the jungle. High points include a nestled-among-trees pool, an on-site tennis court, a gym, and very comfortable beds. For luxury in nature, the price is ridiculously good.
Pro Tips and FAQs
I Wanna Do Some Island Hopping. Which Thai Island Should I Start With?
Well, the first thing to note is: some of the Thai islands I’ve brought you are very far from one another.
… so: to start, you should choose an island close to other islands.
And that means, in my opinion, you have three main options:
- Combining Koh Samet and Ko Lan, via Rayong and Pattaya
- To get very touristy, combining Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao
- Or, if you want to get as untouristy as possible, visit Koh Mak, Koh Chang, Ko Kood and Koh Samet in one big lovely mainly-locals trip. If you have time, this is the trip I recommend.
How Do I Get Between Islands in Thailand?
Usually by ferry.
Phuket and Koh Samui have airports, but no other Thai island has a commercial airport.
You can book ferries at tourist agencies in Thailand, but that can be time-consuming… and you’d presumably rather be spending time just enjoying your vacation.
… so, I recommend quickly and easily booking your ferries in advance with Bookaway.
If you’re traveling between very little islands, there’s a small chance you won’t be able to book those ferry tickets online. In any case like that, you can simply book your ferry transport in-person at whichever hotel you’re staying at.
Things to Do When Island Hopping in Thailand
Obviously, that broadly depends on which islands you visit.
But, usually, Thai island-hopping trips involve any combination of:
- Seafood
- Boat trips
- Snorkeling
- Watersports
- Cliff jumping
- Yoga classes
- Scuba diving
- Visiting viewpoints
- Muay Thai classes
- Hiking and trekking
- Sunsets and sunrises
- Trips to even-smaller islands
… and you obviously get lots of beaches—some busy, some big, some small, some hidden away.
That said, it’s often tough to find all the highlights without taking a tour. Which is why I’ve recommended a tour for each island!
Oh, and aside from sightseeing, most Thai islands also offer massages, endless places to eat street food, and many street markets with live music and small bars.
When Should I Go Island Hopping in Thailand?
Generally, the very best time is from November until April—which is the dry season in Thailand. During these months, you avoid the rain, and the weather and conditions are best for swimming, surfing, diving, snorkeling, and lying around on the beach.
Thailand’s monsoon season is from May until October. During these months, you can expect a couple hours of heavy rain per day. That isn’t a massive problem on the mainland—but you really don’t want to be caught in a storm while you’re on a boat. And, anyway, many of the boats and ferries don’t operate as normal during this period.
All this said, there are sometimes tiny differences between the climates on different islands. So, the above is a good general guide; but always check the specific details for whichever island you plan to visit.
What to Bring When Island Hopping in Thailand
You’ve been on vacation before, and I’m not your mom.
… so, whatever you would normally take on a warm beachside vacation, you should take those things when island-hopping in Thailand.
Obviously.
But other important things you might forget include:
- Dry bag: you’re gonna be taking lots of boat trips, you’ll be stepping onto (and off of) many rickety wooden boats, and you might get caught in some rain. So, a good dry bag will keep your phone, passport, and money out of trouble. I recommend this Osprey bag — it’s more expensive than a cheap alternative, but about 7000% times more reliable.
- Sandals: more specifically, sandals that are easy to slip on and off. You don’t want to spend 20 minutes a day tying and untying your laces. You might also want to buy some sandals you can swim in, in case you step on coral or a sea urchin while diving or snorkeling.
- If you’re going to a smaller island, take cash, and some basic first aid stuff (like rehydration pills, painkillers, and motion sickness pills).
- Good sunscreen from home: some stores and pharmacies in Thailand sell fake sunscreen. And fake sunscreen isn’t gonna stop you from burning. So, definitely bring it from home.
- Bug spray: cos you’ll find lots of mosquitoes (and other bugs).
Before You Go
And that’s us done—they’re the 13 best islands in Thailand!
To sum up:
- The most popular islands in Thailand are Phuket, Koh Phangan, and Koh Samui (and Phuket is connected to the mainland by a bridge)
- The best islands for peaceful escapes are Koh Mak, the Similan Islands, and Ko Yoa Noi
- And the best islands for nature are the Similan Islands, and Ko Lanta
For more on exploring Thailand, get yourself over to our guides on:
Thanks for reading, thanks for visiting Travelness, and I’ll see you again soon. Ciao for now! (Click on the links above!)
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