Who knew that there were over 1,400 islands in Thailand, spread across its turquoise seas? You’ve probably scrolled past those white-sand beaches on numerous Instagram posts and videos, dreaming of your next escape from the dreary 9-5. But picking the right ones out of this many? That’s where it gets tricky for the amateur traveler.
Each island in Thailand offers its own unique holiday vibes. You have chill and relaxation, adventure, snorkeling, partying – you get a little bit of everything all pushed together seamlessly. You want to pick Koh Phangan, thinking you’ll relax? You won’t.
I’ve visited some of Thailand’s best islands. In this article, I share the vibes for each, what to expect, how to get there, where to stay, and what you can do.
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Koh Kood
Koh Kood lies off Thailand’s east coast, near Cambodia. It’s a small island where few tourists pass by – the bigger one nearby, Koh Chang, attracts more tourists. I chose Koh Kood for that reason. It was less touristy and a bit more authentic.
You have only one main road that passes through the island. With a scooter, you do the whole road in 30-45 minutes. Relatively small, but by walking, you won’t go far. You have many empty beaches, only for you, with incredible colors.
How to Get There
You have only one main pier for boat transfers: “Laem Sok Pier”. Buses run from the Cambodia border, Pattaya, or even Bangkok. You can book packages from Bangkok for 1,000-1,500 THB total (bus + speedboat).
Buses take 7-9 hours but cost just 500 THB. Speedboats run for 45 minutes for 600 THB.
What to Do
Visit beautiful beaches like Ao Phrao Beach or Klong Hin Beach. Honestly, all are beautiful. Go for a snorkeling or scuba diving experience. I did one with Koh Kood Divers—really great day. You can also hike to discover waterfalls like Khlong Chao Waterfall.
Best Area to Stay
If you want to visit the island, you need to rent a scooter. And there aren’t many hubs with much going on anywhere. Maybe at Klong Chao Beach. But to say that any beach with a nice view is good.
Koh Chang
Koh Chang ranks as Thailand’s third-largest island, which means it will take more time to visit the whole island by yourself.
Just like Koh Kood, you have plenty of nature around you, with waterfalls, hiking, and snorkeling or scuba diving. Even though you have more tourists than Koh Kood, it’s still not the first choice for first-time tourists in Thailand (it’s more like Koh Samui or Phuket in this area).
How to Get There
Ferries do the transfer from Koh Chang Pier (Ao Thammachat). It’s fast, 30 minutes. And like Koh Kood, you have many cities proposing bus connections to the pier.
What to Do
Koh Chang has a beautiful National Park, the Mu Ko Chang. There, you can explore it on land or snorkel to see lovely creatures, such as turtles. But the most impressive thing to do is scuba diving to the HTMS Chang wreck. A massive battleship lies in the water there.
Best Area to Stay
Pick Klong Prao Beach. Resorts like Klong Prao Resort (1,500 THB/night) offer vast stretches of sand. Many popular snorkeling and scuba diving tours start nearby, but couples and families will get plenty of space.
Koh Samui
In the Gulf of Thailand, the large Koh Samui sits. Here you will see one of the most developed and touristic islands. It mixes beaches, nightlife, and reefs for couples and solo travelers. Those palm fringes meet luxury resorts here. You have a lot of movement, with big hubs, big supermarkets, shopping malls, and a main road circling the island.
I personally found the island too populated and noisy, but I stayed near the main road, which didn’t help.
How to Get There
It’s so big you even have an airport. You can fly from Bangkok in about 1 hour for around 2,000 THB. Or take an overnight train to Surat Thani, then a bus and ferry, for about 12 hours total at roughly 1,200 THB.
What to Do
Most activities are about snorkeling and scuba diving, or jungle tours and waterfalls. But most people stay here to chill at a luxury resort and enjoy nightlife, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. One popular activity is visiting the elephant sanctuary here. Spend time in an eco-friendly environment and experience the ethical treatment of these animals in a natural setting.
Best Area to Stay
You have various places, such as Bophut Beach, Lamai Beach, or Lipa Noi. They offer calm areas with beautiful beaches.
Koh Tao
Koh Tao has earned a reputation as Thailand’s diving capital. Its tiny size packs vibrant reefs and backpacker energy. Many people do island hopping with Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan, and Koh Tao, as these three islands are well connected by ferries.
I preferred Koh Tao, it’s much more chill than Koh Samui, with less nightlife (but still some) and more focus on snorkeling and scuba diving.
How to Get There
Ferry from Koh Samui (90 minutes, 550 THB via Lomprayah). Or bus or train to Chumphon or Surat Thani, then boat (6–8 hours total, around 1,500 THB).
What to Do
The main activity here is snorkeling and scuba diving. You have many companies, all proposing roughly the same spots. It’s a charming place to do your first certificate or baptism dive.
At Sairee Beach, you have many bars with good music at night, the central hub for partying.
Best Area to Stay
Stay near Sairee Beach if you want everything within reach. Otherwise, pick a smaller place for a chill, calm vibe, like Chalok Baan Kao Bay.
Koh Pha Ngan
Koh Ph Ngan rocks the Gulf with Full Moon Party fame. It is the island between Koh Samui and Koh Tao. It is famous for its Full Moon Party, Half Moon Party, and every excuse for partying. There are also yoga retreats there, but I don’t know if that’s the best near the nightclubs.
How to Get There
It is like Koh Samui and Koh Tao. People also do one day or one night here from Koh Samui or Koh Tao, partying all night and coming back to their place the next day, taking the early ferry back to Koh Samui or Koh Tao.
What to Do
You will have scuba-diving or snorkeling tours and jungle tours, but you do not come here for those. Here, it is mostly about partying.
Best Area to Stay
If you really want to stay on this island, Chaloklum Beach is one of the most beautiful bays, but it is far from the pier.
Phuket
The largest island in Thailand and the easiest to reach is Phuket, connected to the mainland by a bridge. The vibe is about the beach and leisure, but also about partying at bars and nightclubs. The central city is very huge. But it all depends on where you stay. And most people will also do island hopping to Koh Phi Phi.
How to Get There
Fly direct to Phuket Airport from Bangkok, about 1.5 hours for around 1,500 THB. Taking the bus is quite long, around 12 hours from Bangkok (about 700 THB).
What to Do
Many people do a day trip to the Phi Phi Islands or snorkel Racha Yai, with tours that usually include lunch (around 2,000 THB). There are also famous spots such as the Big Buddha viewpoint, elephant sanctuaries, the Old Town markets, and Patong nightlife.
Best Area to Stay
The best bay would be Kata Beach. It balances a beautiful beach, nice restaurants, and chill vibes. If you want to be in the core of the nightlife, go to the Old Town of Phuket, but there is no beach there.
Koh Lipe
Koh Lipe is known as the “Maldives of Thailand”. Pristine corals surround three beaches with no cars. People come here for relaxation, beautiful landscapes, and unforgettable sunsets. Of course, you have nice activities to do too.
How to Get There
Fly Bangkok to Hat Yai (1.5 hours, 1,500 THB), then van to Pak Bara Pier (2 hours, 300 THB). Speedboats cross in about 1.5 hours (1,200 THB). Packages bundle it all.
What to Do
You have the beautiful snorkel spot Jabang’s seven-color corals, and you can kayak to Koh Kra (500 THB tours).
Best Area to Stay
The best place would be Pattaya Beach. There are many tour companies there. It fronts reefs, with nice bars and restaurants.
Koh Phi Phi
Koh Phi Phi is one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand, at least for me. The islands’ shapes are unreal, with hikes that bring you to panoramic viewpoints overlooking this beautiful bay on both sides.
Here too, you don’t have cars; it’s all about chill vibes, beaches, snorkeling, and hikes.
How to Get There
Most people will take a speedboat from Phuket, which takes 2 hours and costs 1,500 baht. You can also go from Krabi or Koh Lanta Island (around 800 baht, 1.5 hours).
What to Do
You need to do at least one hike to get the panoramas of the island. The island is not very big, so after that it will be mainly beach leisure on either side: Loh Dalum beach or the other side. And if you’re a fan of snorkeling (I hope you are with all those islands), Koh Phi Phi is a great destination to do it, or scuba diving too.
Best Area to Stay
The best is to stay in Tonsai Village. Please don’t go too far; otherwise, it will be complex to get everything closed by. Rooms with beach views are more expensive, but if you look in advance, you should be able to get something at a reasonable price.
Koh Samet
Koh Samet, with its nice vibe, is one of the closest islands to Bangkok. It’s a chill island with no cars, no motors, calm ocean – a perfect weekend trip for people staying in Bangkok.
That means if you’re just a traveler, don’t go on the weekend, as it will be more touristy.
How to Get There
Minivan from Bangkok Ekkamai to Ban Phe Pier (3 hours, 250 THB). Ferries cross in 30 minutes (70 THB) or speedboats in 15 minutes (300 THB). Pay a 200 THB park fee on arrival.
What to Do
You can do some snorkeling tours and scuba diving, but if you’re about to travel to other islands, reserve that activity for later. You have nice jungle hikes that lead to beautiful viewpoints. There are some really cool fire shows lighting Ao Phai Beach, of course, only at night.
Best Area to Stay
Choose Ao Phai Beach. It combines bars, restaurants, and a lovely beach. Everything you need is easily within walking distance.
Koh Lanta
Across Krabi’s coast stretches Koh Lanta. Here you have that long winding stretch of beaches, coupled with mangrove forests, and some authentic local villages. The entire destination is wide, calm, and well-suited for, for example, yoga wellness retreats.
How to Get There
First, you need to arrive at Krabi Airport. Once you arrive, see about getting a minivan-ferry combo (2 hours, 400 THB). Speedboats from Phuket take 1.5 hours (1,000 THB). Car ferries run from mainland piers.
What to Do
You can do some snorkeling at Koh Rok or Emerald Cave tours, and spot turtles. A cool activity is kayaking through the mangroves. There are hikes too, like in Mu Ko Lanta Park.
Best Area to Stay
Long Beach is a good place to stay. There you have a small village with everything you need, and nearby are also tourism companies.
Best Islands in Thailand for Your Situation
Islands in Thailand offer beautiful waters, snorkeling tours, and jungle hikes, but some are better suited to specific purposes than others.
From the list above, here are the islands I’d choose for your specific situation.
Best Islands for Couples
For those cozy romances that involve viewing the sunsets from the comfort of a perfect villa, go with Koh Samui. Those who select Koh Lipe can hide in Maldives-like beaches for intimate privacy. Casual couples can enjoy Koh Kood, which offers quiet, empty beaches, along with leisure and nice cocktails.
Best Islands for Families
To keep them well distracted, kid-friendly beaches and waterfalls are offered in Koh Chang. Families in Phuket will enjoy balanced pools and informative sightseeing tours. Koh Lanta makes sure to stretch enough space for chill family days with little to no contact.
Best Islands for Backpackers (aka Partying)
For backpackers, Koh Phangan is well known for hosting Full Moon madness and beach raves. Tourist favorite Tonsai bars are numerous and can be found on Koh Phi Phi, where you’ll feel the pulse of the island beating in the night. For budget-friendlier stops, Koh Tao offers the classic Thai dives and enjoyable Sairee nights.
Best Islands for Snorkeling
Koh Tao teems with turtles at Shark Bay. Koh Lipe’s corals glow in seven vibrant colors. Koh Phi Phi hides reefs beyond the Maya Bay crowds.
Pick Your Thailand Island Escape
Now you can’t say you don’t know which island to go to. It may be a difficult choice; all are pretty good. But with this guide, you should be able to narrow your selection.
You can always do some island hopping as some are close by, like Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao, or Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, and Koh Lanta. You have 10 good islands in Thailand here. Whichever you pick for your trip, don’t forget your bikini and snorkeling gear – those white sand beaches are waiting for you.