You’ve booked your flights to Bangkok and now you can’t decide which island to visit. Ernest Hemingway was once famously quoted as saying “One lifetime could never be enough to savour the splendour of Thailand”. Just kidding, I made it up, but I’m sure he would have felt that way about Thailand.
I’ve been visiting Thailand since 2006 and have developed a pretty good radar for where to stay and what island to hop to. I present to you the ultimate guide to Thailand’s islands, which should help you plan your trip to The Land of Smiles, so grab a coconut and let’s begin.
Koh Samui
Who should go here: People short on time or with families that want somewhere easy and convenient to travel to. People that want luxury hotel accommodation.
Pros: Samui is serviced by an international and domestic airport, so there is no need to take a ferry to get here. There are lots of resorts for all budgets and preferences. It’s a family friendly island and is also great for yoga and shopping. Car hire is reasonably priced, so you can safely ferry your family around the island.
Cons: Due to the convenience of the international airport, a lot of people travel here, so the best beaches are either very busy or attached to high end resorts. There are very few cheap beach bungalows, so Samui is not ideal if you’re searching for a laidback beach vibe. The roads are very busy and the island feels more like a town than a tropical island.
Tip: The Intercontinental Hotel has epic views from the bar. It’s worth going for a drink there, even if you’re not a guest at the hotel. For yoga with an exceptional view, don’t miss out on a retreat or a drop-in class at Vikasa.
Koh Phangan
Who should go here: I probably don’t need to mention that if you want a full moon party, half moon party, quarter moon party, jungle party, beach party, boat party or any other kind of party then Koh Phangan is for you. Koh Phangan deserves its reputation for being a party island, but it also has some beautiful quiet spots. So Koh Phangan is for everybody.
Pros: Parties and also some beautiful quiet beaches away from the parties. Easy to get away from the crowds, or find the crowds. Everyone can be happy on Koh Phangan.
Cons: There is no airport, so it requires catching a ferry, which makes travel to this island a bit more inconvenient than Koh Samui. The island is huge and can feel a bit tiresome exploring on a moped, compared to some of the smaller islands in Thailand. Some beaches resemble mud flats. If you don’t do your research you might end up staying on an ugly beach.
Tip: There are 2 Had Yao beaches on Koh Phangan. One is a long tail boat ride from Had Rin (where the full moon party is). The beach here is your quintessential turquoise blue sea and white sand. The next bay along is a gorgeous little yoga place called The Sanctuary. It’s like a real life version of the movie The Beach, sans Leonardo Di Caprio. There is a real community vibe here and it’s worth visiting for a yoga class and a fruit smoothie.
The other Had Yao is home to a beautiful beach and some unmissable cliff top bungalows called High Life Bungalow.
Koh Tao
I cant write too much about this island. I arrived, got chased by stray dogs that nibbled my backpack, met plenty of divers that would not talk to me, because I was not a diver. I didn’t love it and left the next morning for Koh Phangan. Go to Koh Tao if you’re a diver. If you’re not a diver, keep reading.
Koh Phi Phi
Who should go here: Party people and backpackers, it’s a lot of fun on Koh Phi Phi. The big draw of this island is Maya Bay, made famous by the movie The Beach. It is a fun, but busy day trip to the bay. Recently it was closed by the Thai government to let the sea life recover from mass tourism. Check up to date information before you travel.
Pros: Fun nightlife and plenty of backpackers to mix with if that’s your thing.
Cons: So busy. Busy beach, busy narrow streets, chaotic arrival.
Tip: If you come to Phi Phi stay a couple of nights then escape to a quieter island to recharge.
Koh Lanta
Who should go: People that want to escape the crowds.
Pros: Quite beaches, low key beach parties. Good value accommodation. Quiet roads, so it’s great for exploring on a moped. Relaxed beach vibe with perfect spots for sunset drinks. I didn’t notice the island change much in 10 years.
Cons: The beaches are nice, but they are not the best in Thailand. Not much street food to be found around the island.
Tip: If you’re riding on a moped towards the National Park, make sure you stop off for lunch at one of the lookout restaurants. Koh Lanta has low key party nights at various places around the island, keep an eye out for posters on the road-side to find the next party venue. For awesome beach front accommodation check out the Long Beach Chalet.
Phuket
My pros and cons for here are exactly the same as for Koh Samui, but I’ll add 2 more pros. For the party people, a night in Patong is really fun. Also Phuket is really good for pool access rooms. If you need to stay a night in Phuket before your flight home you can get yourself a good deal on a pool access room.
Koh Lipe
A big contender in the best island awards. Koh Lipe is beautiful.
Pros: Some of the most crystal clear water you can find in Thailand. Also some of the best food. The seafood bbq’s on Walking Street are amazing. It’s also really easy to get here from Langkawi in Malaysia.
Cons: You have to pick your accommodation wisely, because long tail boats litter the ocean/beach in many areas. The boat moorings change location depending on the season. The island is a long journey from Bangkok.
Tip: When booking accommodation book as close to the ends of the beach as possible, in the far left or right. Most of the long tail boats are in the middle of the beaches. I used the map function on Booking.com to help me locate a good place to stay. I stayed at the Lipe Beach Resort and was so happy with the beachfront location.
Koh Kood
I’ve saved the best until last for those of you that are still reading. Koh Kood has it all.
Pros: Beautiful quiet beaches, very few crowds. This place is just pure chill.
Cons: Koh Kood is not a party island, so you had better head to Koh Phagan, if that’s what you are looking for. For people looking to chill it’s perfect to relax on the beach in the evening and drink a cocktail.
Tips: For budget accommodation head to Bang Bao Bay. For mid-range or high-end check out Klong Chaow. If you want to splurge stay at Wendy the Pool Resort.
Ok we are done here. Hands up if you’re ready for a beach break?
Drop me a comment below if you’ve found this useful or need anymore information.
Thinking about going to Ayutthaya while you’re in Bangkok? You can read about it here.
Leave a Reply