When you travel to Thailand, you’ll have no shortage of beautiful islands to visit. This list was created to help you discover which ones suit your interests best.
Read on to discover the best islands to visit in Thailand on your next trip – whether you’re looking for high-class luxury, a quiet retreat, or a busy party atmosphere.
The best islands to visit in Thailand for your vacation
Thailand’s islands come in all shapes and sizes, from tourist hot spots to undisturbed hidden gems. When planning your trip, consider what’s most important for you. Maybe you prefer a busier, more touristy area with luxury hotels. Or maybe you want to get away from the crowds and have a more adventurous trip. Either way, Thailand’s islands have something for everyone.
Zoom into the map above to get a feel for where each piece of paradise is located.
The best islands in Thailand: popular destinations
These islands are some of the most popular with tourists. They’re known for luxury resorts and comfortable convenience. You’ll find them busier, particularly during peak season, and they’re often family-friendly.
Koh Samui
Koh Samui is one of the most luxurious islands in Thailand. (If you’ve watched the new season of The White Lotus you’ll be familiar with this paradise island.)
With beautiful beach resorts, lavish spas, and a focus on comfort, it’s one of the best islands for first-time visitors to visit in Thailand. Itis also home to some world-class yoga and wellness retreats. These include Kamalaya in the rainforest area and Absolute Sanctuary.
Koh Samui is perfect for families too. The island is home to a range of family-friendly hotels that offer childcare and shallow pools, ideal for small children.
How to get there: The island has its own airport, and multiple flights depart from Bangkok daily. You can also take a ferry to the island from Surat Thani Pier.
Chaweng Beach
Chaweng Beach is one of Koh Samui’s most popular beach destinations. It’s an excellent place for swimming, with various water sports gear available for rent.
This white sand beach offers a relaxing spot for sunbathing or a refreshing swim during the day. And in the evening, it transforms into a thriving party spot. This is particularly the case at Ark Bar Beach Club, located at the beach’s center.
How to get there: Chaweng is on the east side of Koh Samui, and you can easily reach it via the island’s main ring road.
Koh Tao
Koh Tao is a gorgeous island popular with divers. Even if you’re new to the sport, don’t worry. Koh Tao has some fantastic diving instructors and is a beautiful place to learn.
There are places that offer “Discovery Dives,” which let you dive without a certification. You can also complete a four-day course to get your PADI or SSI certification, letting you take a holiday and learn a new skill all at once.
Shark Bay (or Thian Og) is one of the best beaches on the island for snorkeling. You can easily reach it on foot by heading down the cliff-side ramp near the centrally located OK2 Bungalows.
How to get there: The only way to reach Koh Tao is by boat. Services run from the mainland, Koh Samui, and Koh Phangan.
Koh Phi Phi
Koh Phi Phi is particularly popular with solo travelers. This is partly because of the number of fun activities on the island. There are spots for diving, snorkeling, and cliff jumping, as well as boat trips to some of the nearby islets.
The island tends to attract younger solo travelers, so it’s a great place to make some new travel friends. Plus, there are some fantastic beach bars with exciting live performances including dancing and fire juggling.
How to get there: You can reach Koh Phi Phi by ferry from either Krabi Town or Phuket.
Monkey Bay Beach
Ao Ling (also known as Monkey Bay) on Koh Phi Phi offers one of the most unique experiences you’ll have in Thailand. The area is home to lots of adorable monkeys who roam the beach and will happily interact with visitors. Beyond the monkeys, the beach has clear waters and plentiful marine life. This makes it a fantastic snorkeling spot.
How to get there: You can reach the beach by foot, canoe, or long-tail boat from the nearby Loh Dalum Beach.
Phuket
Phuket is Thailand’s largest and most popular island. It has its own airport, high-quality restaurants, 6-star resorts, and some of Thailand’s best beaches. If you’re looking for luxury, this is one of the best options. The white sand Freedom Beach is one of the most popular attractions on the island and is close to many of the main resorts.
How to get there: It’s usually easiest to fly to the island’s airport from Bangkok, but you can also travel to Phuket by bus. Note that doing so will take up a full day of your trip, but there are overnight buses, too.
Kata Noi Beach
Freedom Beach is one of the Phuket’s – and Thailand’s – most popular beaches. But for a beautiful sandy beach that’s a little more hidden away from the crowds, head to Kata Noi on the island’s southwest side.
The northern end of the beach is very popular with surfers, as the waves tend to be bigger. That said, they’re usually still small enough for beginner surfers too.
How to get there: If you aren’t staying at one of the resorts on Kata Noi’s beachfront, you can reach the beach via the Phuket Smart Bus. It transits between Phuket International Airport (HKT) and Rawai Beach. Kata Noi is the second last stop.
Best islands to visit in Thailand: quieter hidden gems
These islands are for those looking for something off the beaten path. They may not provide as much convenience or glamour as the more popular islands, but they’re often much less crowded and offer unique experiences that you can explore on your own.
Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta is made up of a series of small islands that tend to be a little quieter compared to some of Thailand’s other islands. It’s not uncommon to stumble upon a deserted beach where you can relax in peace and quiet.
With fewer tourists, you’ll find the locals tend to be very welcoming. You can also get local food and drink cheaper than on the more touristy islands. These islands also have a number of excellent diving and snorkeling spots, often with instructors available for beginners.
How to get there: It’s usually easiest to reach the island via a ferry or speedboat from Krabi Town on the Thai mainland.
Klong Nin Beach
Klong Nin Beach is a beautiful white sand beach on the west side of the islands. It’s perfect for swimming, with crystal-clear waters perfect for easily spotting marine wildlife. There’s also a range of nearby accommodations, restaurants, and bars nearby.
Although it’s one of the most popular beaches on the island, you’ll still find plenty of room to set up on the sand, and kids will have tons of space to play.
How to get there: The beach is within walking distance of many hotels on the island, but if you’re a bit further out, you’ll also find buses that will take you there.
Koh Lipe
Koh Lipe is an island in the Tarutao Marine Park, close to the Malaysian border. Its distance from the mainland and other islands means it’s often quieter. And it has some of Thailand’s most beautiful scenery.
Pattaya Beach is where you’ll find the island’s nightlife and many boats in the clear blue water. Meanwhile, Sunset Beach is much more secluded and quiet, perfect for a relaxing swim or sunbathing.
How to get there: You will need to get a boat or ferry to Koh Lipe. The island is quite small and very walkable, so you can reach both beaches on foot, with Pattaya on the south coast and Sunset on the west.
Koh Si Chang
More popular with locals than tourists, Koh Si Chang is a great way to have a quick escape from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. There are some incredible fresh seafood restaurants and beautiful resorts for those looking to spend the night. For some fun activities, you’ll find places to rent snorkeling gear, kayaks, and bicycles so you can explore the island at your leisure.
How to get there: Koh Si Chang is roughly 2 hours from Bangkok by ferry, making it one of the closest beach destinations from the mainland.
Tham Pang Beach
Located on the west coast of Koh Si Chang, Tham Pang Beach is the largest beach on the island. Also known for its white sand and clear blue waters, you can rent deck chairs and umbrellas to relax on the beach in the shade. Or you can rent a kayak and head out onto the water. The beach is usually quiet during the week, and there are a few restaurants in the area that serve local dishes.
How to get there: The ferry from Koh Si Chang will bring you within walking distance of the beach. You can also rent a motorbike to get around the island when you arrive.
Koh Yao Archipelago
Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi are twin islands located around a half-hour speedboat ride from Phuket. They’re a wonderful way to get away from the busy city life and have a quiet, off-the-beaten-path adventure.
Covered with rice paddies, rubber plantations, and dirt roads, the islands tend to be a lot less busy than other islands in Thailand, and even the main beach of Pasai is relatively quiet and peaceful. You can easily reach it by foot. But because it’s located below road level, you’ll need to head down a short flight of wooden stairs along the sea wall.
How to get there: You’ll need to get a boat from Phuket, several depart daily.
Tha Khao Beach
For a quieter beach, head to Tha Khao Beach, towards the northern end of the island. Here you can get a good view of the limestone karst rocks on the horizon. When the tide is low, you can walk out to the mini island called Koh Nui. Download a tide app so you can keep track of this.
If you keep heading north, you’ll head off the main road and reach often deserted, hidden beaches. You’ll need to brave some hilly terrain, but the reward of a quiet patch of paradise is more than worth it.
How to get there: You can either get a taxi cab or get there by scooter or bike.
FAQs
Thailand is home to a whopping 1430 islands. Visitors can enjoy lavish and well-known resorts and retreats on islands like Koh Samui and Phuket. But if you’re looking for something a bit more off the beaten path, Thailand’s islands have something for you as well.
Overall, Thailand is one of the safest destinations in Southeast Asia. That said, it’s always good to do your research and be mindful when traveling somewhere new. With its good infrastructure, amenities, and tourist accommodations, Koh Samui is typically considered one of Thailand’s safest islands to visit.
More popular islands like Koh Samui are also good for first-time travelers, as accommodations and activities will be easier to plan and book ahead of time. Others, like Koh Tao and Phuket are also great options if it’s your first time in Thailand.
