The first secret about choosing the best islands to visit in Thailand is that they’re not all islands. (I’ll explain this more deeply in a second—bear with me!)
Indeed, before you get down into any specifics of this matter, you need to think in broader strokes. Start by imagining yourself not on specific Thai beaches, but by deciding which of Thailand’s two seas is calling your name more clearly.
I’ll dig into these topics and many others regarding the best islands in Thailand over the next several paragraphs—I hope you’ll continue reading. Can you start to feel the sand between your toes?
How to Think About Thailand Islands
Before I dig into specific examples of the best island to visit in Thailand, let’s zoom out a bit. Broadly speaking, Thailand’s islands are in one of two bodies of water: The Gulf of Thailand, which is immediately to the south of Bangkok; and the Andaman Sea, which is the body of water that laps at the Kingdom’s long west coast between the borders with Myanmar and Malaysia.
Within these two proverbial columns, additional subdivisions exist. For the Gulf of Thailand, islands in its eastern reaches are more convenient to Bangkok (many are accessibly via car/bus and boat), while those farther south take more effort, but also boast greater rewards upon arrival. Within the broader classification of the Andaman Sea, the divide is starker. Essentially, there’s Phuket/Krabi, and then everywhere else.
TIP: While you don’t absolutely need to book speedboats and ferries in advance, doing so will make your life a lot easier. I personally use Direct Ferries for my own travels, although there are plenty of other options as well.
Top Beach Destinations in Thailand
Phuket and Phang Nga
Thailand’s most famous island, Phuket is the first place most people consider when planning a beach trip to the Kingdom. Phuket certainly has appealing qualities (great resorts along beaches all the way from Mai Khao, to Patong, to Kamala), but it also tends to be rather crowded. For many travelers, the number of direct flights to Phuket counteracts even the most obnoxious things about this sometimes-problematic place. Phuket is also close to Phang Nga, the province where you’ll find the superlative Similan Islands (pictured above).
Krabi and Koh Phi Phi
What if I told you the one of the best Thai islands wasn’t an island at all? It definitely feels like one—you need to take a boat to reach Railay Bay—but it’s actually part of the mainland. On the other hand, there are plenty of actual islands within the purview of Krabi province, from famous Koh Phi Phi to lesser-known Koh Poda, usually seen on a day trip from Railay or Ao Nang.
The Trang Islands
Like Phuket and Krabi, Trang sits in the Andaman Sea. Unlike its more famous sister provinces, Trang (and its islands, which include Koh Kradan and Koh Libong) have yet to be invaded by the masses. This is due in large part to the fact that Trang’s airport is on the mainland, almost an hour from any pier, and even farther from outstanding attractions such as the Emerald Cave of Koh Mook.
Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Pha Ngan
On the Gulf of Thailand side, the first contender for best islands to visit in Thailand is Koh Samui, where the high-end beach resort areas of Chaweng and Lamai along the east coast contrast dramatically with rough-and-tumble Nathon in the west. An added benefit of visiting Samui? Continue onward to other islands is easy, whether you take a quick ferry ride over to Koh Pha Ngan for the Full Moon Party, or the longer journey to idyllic Koh Tao.
The Trat Islands
Of course, you could just as easily sing the praises of the Trat islands, located in the eastern reaches of the Gulf of Thailand near the border with Cambodia. This is particularly true if you make your way off the largest of these islands (Koh Chang) to its more interesting satellites, which range from upmarket Koh Kood, to spartan Koh Wai, to Koh Maak, which sits between them both in terms of size and ambiance.
Honorable Mentions
I’ve given shout-outs to most of my favorite Thai islands above, but some didn’t quite make the cut. Here are other islands that are worth visiting:
- Koh Lipe: Located in the far-Southern province of Satun (it’s actually closer to the Malaysian island of Langkawi than to the Thai mainland), this island is beautiful, but busy.
- Koh Larn: The beaches of Pattaya-proper leave something to be desired, but a day trip to Koh Larn (whose name means “Coral Island”) provides an idyllic escape.
- Koh Samet: OK—Samet isn’t one of my favorite Thai islands. Still, its relatively proximity to Bangkok has made it a popular weekend trip from the capital—it would be irresponsible to leave it off this list.
The Best Time to Take a Thailand Beach Trip
As is the case with the best time to visit Thailand more generally, the dry months are best suited for a Thailand beach vacation. For most of Thailand’s islands (certainly, those in the Andaman Sea) travel between about December-March makes the most sense, with the “shoulder” months of November and April on either end offering a balance between the good weather of the high season, and the low season’s light crowds.
With this being said, if your Thailand beach itinerary will take you into the eastern reaches of the Gulf (and particularly, the Trat Islands), heavy rain in December is not out of the question, due to the archipelago’s strange microclimate. Here again, choosing to take your beach trip in the shoulder months is a smart compromise that maximizes your chances of fun in the sun (instead of suffering and pain in the rain!).
Other FAQ About the Best Islands in Thailand
How do I choose a Thai island?
When choosing among Thailand islands, you need to consider three main issues: Logistics (how do I get there and how long does it take?), cost (do I want to stay in a fan bungalow, or a villa with a pool), crowds (do I want to party or chill?) and scenery (do I want the towering limestone karsts of the Andaman Sea, or the calm but less dramatic sea scenes of the Gulf of Thailand?). For example, if you don’t mind getting on a plane and then taking a boat and prefer the Andaman Sea, and don’t want to spend a lot of money but also want to be able to sleep at night, you might choose the quiet Trang archipelago, as opposed to popular Phuket or crowded Koh Lipe.
What is the most visited island in Thailand?
Phuket and Koh Samui are the most popular islands in Thailand, although other islands can seem more crowded, due to their small size and the large number of people that visit them. As you go about island hopping, Thailand (or at least your perception of it) can shift quickly.
Which is better, Koh Samui or Phuket?
While neither Phuket nor Samui are my favorite Thai islands, both have their merits. For example, while from Phuket you can take day or weekend trips to the Koh Yao islands or Koh Phi Phi, Ko Pha Ngan and Koh Tao are not far from Koh Samui. On the other hand, I’ve noticed generally speaking that more budget accommodations are available on Phuket, while more moneyed travelers have an easier time finding places to stay in Samui.
The Bottom Line
If you’ve read my words and taken them to heart, you’ll know a lot more about the best islands to visit in Thailand (not to mention, how to transpose the “island hopping” fantasy on your bucket list into an itinerary) than when you first arrived on this page. For some travelers, a few nights in a Phuket resort is enough to scratch the Thailand paradise itch. For the more adventurous (present company included), a deeper dive is indicated, whether that’s into the Gulf of Thailand or the Andaman Sea. Alternatively, stay a while and cast your net wide—all Thailand’s islands are worth visiting, in their own way. Make sure your Thailand island hopping trip is one for the record books—hire me to plan it.
