The best islands in Thailand depend on two things: the month you travel and the kind of trip you want. From November to April, go to the Andaman Sea, for Koh Lipe, Koh Lanta or the Phi Phi Islands. From January to August, the Gulf is drier, with Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Koh Samet and Koh Chang are the fastest escapes from Bangkok. We compare 15 islands below, with ferry prices and park fees checked on 14 November 2026.
Island tours to book in Thailand
Each of these day trips leaves from a different island, so pick the one where you are staying.
Phuket: Maya, Phi Phi, and Bamboo Island with Buffet Lunch
Day trip from Phuket to Maya Bay, the Phi Phi Islands and Bamboo Island, with a buffet lunch.
- Duration: 8 hours
- Free cancellation
- Pickup included
4.6(22,223 reviews)
See prices & availabilityFrom $42per person
Krabi: Premium 4-Island Day Trip by Longtail Boat with Lunch
Four islands off Krabi in one day by longtail boat, with lunch included.
- Duration: 6 hours
- Free cancellation
- Pickup included
4.6(6,477 reviews)
See prices & availabilityFrom $33per person
Koh Lanta: 4 Islands, Emerald Cave & Koh Kradan by Longtail
Longtail day from Koh Lanta to four islands, with the Emerald Cave and Koh Kradan.
- Duration: 7 to 8 hours
- Free cancellation
- Pickup included
4.4(1,140 reviews)
See prices & availabilityFrom $27per person
Koh Lipe: Longtail Boat Snorkeling Trip Program A
Snorkelling trip by longtail boat around Koh Lipe, the operator's Program A.
- Duration: 6 hours
- Free cancellation
4.7(685 reviews)
See prices & availabilityFrom $21per person
Koh Samui: Pig Island & Koh Tan Snorkeling w/Viewpoint Hike
Snorkelling at Koh Tan and a stop at Pig Island from Koh Samui, with a hike to a viewpoint.
- Duration: 6 hours
- Free cancellation
- Pickup included
4.3(946 reviews)
See prices & availabilityFrom $26per person
Koh Chang: 3 or 4-Island Big Boat Tour with Snorkel & Lunch
Big boat tour from Koh Chang to three or four islands, with snorkelling and lunch.
- Duration: 5.5 to 9 hours
- Free cancellation
- Pickup included
4.3(882 reviews)
See prices & availabilityFrom $28per person
Which Thai island is best for you
Start from the traveller, not from the island. This table gives the two or three islands that fit each kind of trip best, and the reason.
| You want | Best islands | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A first trip, short stay | Phuket, Koh Samui | Airports with direct flights, many boat trips from the island |
| Holidays with children | Koh Lanta, Koh Samui, Phuket | Long beaches, shallow water at Klong Dao, hospitals within reach |
| A trip as a couple | Koh Lipe, Koh Kood, Koh Yao Noi | Small islands, clear water, few roads and little traffic |
| Parties | Koh Phangan, Koh Phi Phi | The Full Moon Party at Haad Rin, the bars of Tonsai on Phi Phi Don |
| Diving and snorkelling | Koh Tao, Similan Islands, Koh Lipe | Open Water courses on Koh Tao, the clearest water in the Similans |
| Peace and quiet | Koh Kradan, Koh Mak, Koh Kood, Koh Yao Noi | Few hotels, no big resort strip, regular boats all the same |
| A small budget | Koh Lanta, Koh Chang, Koh Phangan | Cheap to reach by van or ferry, rooms far from the busiest beaches |
| A weekend from Bangkok | Koh Samet, Koh Chang | By road and a short ferry, with no flight needed |
Thailand islands compared: coast, access and budget
The 15 islands of this guide sit on three coasts. The Andaman Sea is the west coast, with limestone cliffs. The Gulf of Thailand lies south of Bangkok, and the east coast runs towards Cambodia.
| Island | Coast | Getting there | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phuket | Andaman | International airport | First trip, families |
| Koh Phi Phi | Andaman | Ferry from Phuket or Krabi | Scenery, nightlife |
| Koh Lanta | Andaman | Van from Krabi airport, 2 to 3 hours | Families, long stays |
| Koh Lipe | Andaman | Hat Yai airport, then van and speedboat | Couples, snorkelling |
| Koh Yao Noi | Andaman | 30 minutes by speedboat from Phuket | Quiet, views |
| Koh Kradan | Andaman | Boat from Pak Meng, Trang | Quiet, beach |
| Similan Islands | Andaman | Day boat from Khao Lak or Phuket | Diving, snorkelling |
| Koh Samui | Gulf | Airport, or bus and ferry | Comfort, families |
| Koh Phangan | Gulf | Boat from Koh Samui | Parties, budget |
| Koh Tao | Gulf | Boat from Chumphon or Samui | Learning to dive |
| Koh Nang Yuan | Gulf | Short boat ride from Koh Tao | Day trip, snorkelling |
| Koh Samet | East | Road to Ban Phe, then ferry | Weekend from Bangkok |
| Koh Chang | East | Flight to Trat or road, then car ferry | Jungle, budget |
| Koh Kood | East | Speedboat from Laem Sok | Couples, quiet |
| Koh Mak | East | Speedboat from Laem Ngop | Quiet, small budget |
Best time to visit the Thai islands, by coast
The rains do not reach the three coasts at the same time. The Andaman Sea and the east coast are dry from about November to April and wet from May to October. In the Gulf of Thailand, the rain comes later, from October to December, with November the wettest month on Koh Samui. The Gulf is at its best from January to August.
Some places close for part of the year. The Similan Islands open from 15 October 2026 to 15 May 2027. Maya Bay on Phi Phi closed from 1 August to 30 September 2026, and Ang Thong Marine Park, the day trip from Koh Samui, is closed from 1 November to about 15 December. The speedboats that link Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe run from mid-October to 20 May only.
The best Andaman Sea islands
The Andaman side has the limestone cliffs and the clearest water. It is also where most travellers go first, because Phuket and Krabi have the flights.
Phuket: the easiest island to reach
Phuket is the largest Thai island and the only one with flights from abroad on this coast. The west coast is a line of beaches, from loud Patong to Kata, Karon and Nai Harn, which are calmer. Boats leave every morning for the Phi Phi Islands, Phang Nga Bay and the Similans, which is why so many trips start here.
It is not the place for an empty beach. Away from the sand, the free viewpoints, the temples and the boat trips to Phang Nga Bay are the other things to do in Phuket.
- Getting there: international airport, then the Smart Bus to the beaches for 100 THB.
- Best season: December to February for calm sea, November to April overall.
- For: a first trip, families, travellers with only a few days.
- Budget: from guesthouses to five-star resorts, taxis are expensive.
Koh Phi Phi: limestone cliffs and Maya Bay
Phi Phi is two islands. Phi Phi Don has the hotels and the bars around Tonsai. Phi Phi Leh, uninhabited, holds Maya Bay, where boats now stop at a pier on the far side and swimming is not allowed. The cliffs rise straight out of the sea here, and the day-trip boats arrive by mid-morning.
- Getting there: ferry from Phuket from about 375 THB, or from Klong Jilad pier in Krabi for about 400 THB, at 9 am and 2 pm in the dry season.
- Best season: November to April. Park fee about 400 THB, reported.
- For: nightlife, snorkelling, two or three nights at most.
- Budget: add the park fee and the ferry to the price of the room.
Koh Lanta: long beaches for families
Koh Lanta has a string of beaches down its west coast. Klong Dao and Long Beach have shallow water and suit young children.
The island has an old town on stilts, a national park with a lighthouse in the south, and a hospital on Lanta Noi. A bridge to the mainland is planned for 2029, and until then the trip includes a short car ferry.
- Getting there: shared van from Krabi airport, about 350 to 540 THB and 2 to 3 hours, or speedboat from Phuket all year, about 1,260 to 1,500 THB.
- Best season: November to April. Many beach bars close from May to October.
- For: families, long stays, day trips to Koh Rok and the Emerald Cave.
- Budget: local meals from about 50 THB, a scooter for 200 to 300 THB a day.
Koh Lipe: white sand near Malaysia
Koh Lipe is a small island in Tarutao National Park, in the far south. It is small enough to cross on foot in under an hour, and the water around it is some of the clearest you can reach without a liveaboard. There is no pier for large boats, so you land from a floating platform or a longtail.
From mid-October to May a ferry links Lipe with Langkawi in Malaysia in about 90 minutes, with Thai immigration on the beach. Coming from abroad that way, fill in the Thailand Digital Arrival Card before you board.
- Getting there: flight to Hat Yai, then van and speedboat via Pak Bara, about 4 hours and 950 THB. The boat alone from Pak Bara is about 700 THB.
- Best season: November to April. Park fee 200 THB, cash.
- For: couples, snorkelling, island hopping from Lanta in season.
- Budget: dearer than the mainland, with a beer reported at about 100 THB in a bar.
Koh Yao Noi: quiet views of Phang Nga Bay
Koh Yao Noi sits in Phang Nga Bay, between Phuket and Krabi, and looks out on rows of limestone islands. It is a rural island with few hotels and no nightlife, half an hour by boat from Phuket.
- Getting there: speedboat from Bang Rong pier in Phuket, 30 to 35 minutes, about 200 to 400 THB. Foot passengers only.
- Best season: November to April.
- For: couples, cyclists, a calm end to a Phuket trip.
- Budget: a few guesthouses and some high-end resorts.
Koh Kradan: one of the quietest Thai islands
Koh Kradan belongs to the Trang islands and to Hat Chao Mai National Park. It is covered in forest, with a long white beach on the east side and few places to stay. Most visitors see it for an hour on the four-island tour from Koh Lanta, and the island empties once the boats leave.
- Getting there: boat from Pak Meng pier in Trang, about 40 minutes, or speedboats between Lanta and Lipe in season.
- Best season: November to April. Park fee 200 THB, reported.
- For: peace and quiet, snorkelling from the beach.
- Budget: few rooms, so book ahead in high season.
Similan Islands: the clearest water
The Similans are a national park of granite islands far off the coast of Phang Nga, open only part of the year. The 2026 to 2027 season runs from 15 October 2026 to 15 May 2027. Visitors come on a day boat or a diving liveaboard, mostly from Khao Lak, north of Phuket.
- Getting there: day trip from Khao Lak, about 2,300 to 3,200 THB, or from Phuket, about 2,900 to 3,900 THB.
- Best season: the park season only, with the calmest sea from December to April.
- For: divers and snorkellers, a single day out.
- Budget: park fee 500 THB for foreign adults, reported, on top of the tour.
The best islands in the Gulf of Thailand
The Samui archipelago, with Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, is the place to go when the Andaman Sea is in its monsoon. The three islands are linked by several boats a day.
Koh Samui: comfort and an airport
Koh Samui is one of the largest Thai islands and the most comfortable in the Gulf. Chaweng is the busiest beach, Lamai is quieter, and Bophut has the Fisherman's Village. The island has its own airport, so a trip from Bangkok takes about 1 hour 10 to 1 hour 20 by air.
- Getting there: flights from Bangkok from about 140 USD one way, reported, or bus to Surat Thani and the Seatran ferry from Donsak, 210 THB for a foot passenger since 27 March 2026.
- Best season: January to August, with February and March the driest.
- For: families, couples who want resorts, a base for Phangan and Tao.
- Budget: mid-range to luxury, scooters about 140 to 350 THB a day.
Koh Phangan: the Full Moon Party and a quiet north
Koh Phangan is known for the Full Moon Party on Haad Rin beach, in the south-east. The parties left in 2026 are reported for 24 November and 24 December, with a New Year party on 31 December.
Entry is about 200 THB, though some guides still give 100 THB. Away from Haad Rin, the north and west coasts are quiet.
- Getting there: boat from Koh Samui, 30 to 45 minutes, about 300 to 700 THB.
- Best season: January to August. Check party dates, which move around Buddhist holidays.
- For: parties, backpackers, long stays on the quiet coasts.
- Budget: book early for party nights, when Haad Rin fills up.
Koh Tao: the island to learn to dive
Koh Tao is small and built around diving. Many schools run the PADI Open Water course, quoted at about 10,000 to 13,000 THB in 2026 with gear and certification. Sairee Beach, on the west coast, has most of the bars and the sunset.
- Getting there: catamaran from Chumphon, about 600 to 700 THB and 2 hours, or from Koh Samui in 1.5 to 2 hours. Bus and boat from Bangkok in one ticket from about 1,250 THB.
- Best season: January to August. Rough sea can cancel boats for a day or two in the monsoon.
- For: divers, solo travellers, snorkelling.
- Budget: the course is the main cost, rooms range from bungalows to resorts.
Koh Nang Yuan: three islets and a sandbar
Koh Nang Yuan is three small islands joined by a sandbar, just off the north-west of Koh Tao. A short climb leads to the viewpoint over the sandbar. Day visitors pay an entry fee to the resort that runs the island, reported at 250 THB for adults and 120 THB for children in 2026, in cash. Older guides still say 100 THB.
- Getting there: taxi boat from Koh Tao, or a day tour from Samui.
- Best season: January to August.
- For: a half day of snorkelling and the view.
- Budget: bring cash, there is no ATM on the island.
The best islands near Bangkok, on the east coast
The islands of Rayong and Trat need no flight. They are the natural add-on to a few days of things to do in Bangkok, and they fill up on long weekends.
Koh Samet: the closest beach island to Bangkok
Koh Samet is the nearest island with good beaches, about 3 to 4 hours from Bangkok by road and ferry. The whole island is part of a national park. Sai Kaew, near the pier, and Ao Wong Deuan are the busiest beaches, and the coves further south are calmer.
- Getting there: bus or van to Ban Phe pier, then the slow ferry for about 50 to 70 THB in 40 minutes, or a speedboat.
- Best season: November to April. Avoid Thai public holidays if you want space on the sand.
- For: a weekend from Bangkok, a first taste of the islands.
- Budget: park fee 200 THB for foreign adults, reported, paid at the checkpoint near Na Dan pier.
Koh Chang: jungle, waterfalls and a car ferry
Koh Chang is the largest island on the east coast, mountainous and covered in forest. White Sand Beach and Klong Prao have most of the hotels. The roads are steep with tight bends, so take care on a scooter after rain.
Only the car ferry from Ao Thammachat, near Laem Ngop, runs for now, since the Centrepoint ferry stopped in July 2024. The adult fare is reported at 90 THB since April 2026, up from 80. A rise to 130 THB was approved locally, then dropped by the operator.
- Getting there: Bangkok Airways to Trat, or about 5 to 6 hours by road, then the ferry, 25 to 35 minutes.
- Best season: November to April. Some resorts close from May to October.
- For: hikers, families with a car, island hopping to Koh Mak and Koh Kood.
- Budget: wide choice, from bungalows to resorts.
Koh Kood: clear water and few people
Koh Kood, also spelled Koh Kut, is the last big island before Cambodia. It has clear water, a few small beaches, the Klong Chao waterfall and no car ferry, which keeps traffic down. Rooms range from simple bungalows to luxury resorts such as Soneva Kiri.
- Getting there: speedboat from Laem Sok pier, about 30 km from Trat, 1 to 2 hours, about 550 to 600 THB.
- Best season: November to April. Some boats stopped from 1 June to 30 September 2026.
- For: couples, honeymoons, travellers who want quiet.
- Budget: mid-range to very high.
Koh Mak: a small, flat island
Koh Mak covers only about 15 square kilometres, between Koh Chang and Koh Kood. It has palm-lined beaches, wooden piers and very little traffic. It is a good stop between the two bigger islands, or a quiet week on its own.
- Getting there: speedboat from Kromluang pier in Laem Ngop, 45 to 60 minutes, about 450 to 550 THB.
- Best season: November to April. Boats run a reduced timetable from May to September.
- For: peace and quiet, families who want an easy island.
- Budget: mostly small resorts and bungalows.
Thailand island hopping: easy ferry combinations
The easiest trips link islands on the same coast, in the same season. Crossing from the Andaman Sea to the Gulf means a day on the road, or a flight via Bangkok.
| Route | Islands | When |
|---|---|---|
| The Gulf trio | Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao | All year, best from January to August |
| Phuket and Krabi | Phuket, Phi Phi, Koh Lanta | November to April |
| The far south | Koh Lanta, Koh Kradan, Koh Lipe | Mid-October to 20 May, when the speedboats run |
| Phang Nga Bay | Phuket, Koh Yao Noi | November to April |
| The Trat islands | Koh Chang, Koh Mak, Koh Kood | November to April |
Most nationalities now get 30 days without a visa, down from 60 since 15 September 2026, so a long island trip may need a Thailand tourist visa. Plan two or three nights at least on each island, because a day of travel between two of them is common.
How to choose a Thai island: five questions
When are you going? This decides the coast. How long do you have? With under a week, take an island with an airport, Phuket or Koh Samui. Who is travelling? Families do best on Koh Lanta or Samui, couples on Lipe or Kood.
Do you want to go out at night? Then Koh Phangan or Phi Phi, and not Kradan or Koh Mak. Will you dive? Book Koh Tao for a course, the Similans for a day of clear water. Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Khao Sok National Park are easy Thailand destinations to add before or after the islands.