If you’re coming to Thailand and you’re looking for travel inspiration, then this blog is for you. My name’s james, and I just spent more than month traveling this entire country. I went to every single province and explored dozens of islands. So, in today’s blog, I’ll be telling you what I think are the top 10 islands to visit on your next trip to Thailand. This is just one part of a bigger series of blogs where I’m sharing all the best of Thailand: the best temples, the best foods, the best beaches, the best islands in this blog, and then at the end, the best provinces to visit. So grab your flip-flops and your sunscreen, and let’s go visit the top 10 islands in Thailand.
Koh Lipe
Koh Lipe is a province of Satun in Southern Thailand, situated close to Malaysia. This island is famous for two things: its Maldives-like crystal-clear beaches and incredible waters with white sands, as well as some excellent snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. It’s quite small, and there’s not a whole lot to do other than relax, go scuba diving, or embark on a fishing trip. Just enjoy the paradise with its crystal-clear waters, go for a kayak at sunset, and soak in the beautiful vibes. Some people call this the Maldives of Thailand. However, there are actually more beautiful islands which we’ll get onto in this list. Koh Lipe is gorgeous if you’re in the deep south of Thailand and looking to get away from the masses to experience its cool charm.
Koh Muk
Next up, we have Koh Muk in the province of Trang. Now, this island is very local, and you’ll discover that it’s got an incredibly unique feature: a stunning beach to the East and another to the West, meeting at a point that’s quite stunning, especially at sunrise and sunset. But by far, the most amazing thing about Koh Muk is the fact that there are wild dugongs living in the area. For a small fee, you can rent a long-tail boat and go out on the ocean for dugong spotting. You’ll see lots of turtles and, if you’re lucky like me, lots of dugongs as they feed and breed in the Koh Muk-Koh Kradan area of this province. Beautiful viewpoints, amazing wildlife, and some of the best beaches in Thailand. What more can you say about Koh Muk?
Koh Phi Phi
Here’s one I’m sure you’ve heard of: Koh Phi Phi in the province of Krabi. This place speaks for itself; it is jaw-droppingly beautiful. There is a lot to see and do. It’s very commercialized nowadays; in fact, when you get off the ferry, you’ll see McDonald’s, you’ll see Burger Kings, and that kind of thing. But don’t be put off because the sunsets are some of the most colorful, and the locals there are some of the friendliest. It’s also home to the famous Maya Bay where they filmed “The Beach,” and they’ve done a great job restoring and reopening that recently. And we’ve discovered that on the channel, you have to, if you’re coming to Thailand, visit Koh Phi Phi. It’s one of the most beautiful and vibrant islands in the entire country, hands down.
Koh Mak
Next up is the island of Koh Mak in the province of Trat. This island is situated in the midst of many incredibly beautiful islands and beaches, making it a great place to base yourself. If you’re looking to get away from things, this is a very quiet, relaxing, and peaceful island. It boasts absolutely gorgeous beaches, and the nearby islands are incredibly beautiful as well. Koh Mak just sits calmly in the middle of this collection of incredible islands. The center of the island is full of rubber tree plantations and is dotted with a few small resorts and restaurants. It’s not overrun, very quiet, and exceptionally beautiful. If you’re looking for one of those hidden gems in Thailand that’s off the beaten track but truly stunning, then you have to visit Koh Mak.
Koh Tao
Koh Tao is an incredible island and it’s up there as one of my favorites because it has some of the best diving in the world. I recently tested that out, and I have to say that they’ve done a really great job since COVID rejuvenating the wildlife in the corals and everything under the sea. There are whale sharks there, dozens of great dive schools, great hotels, great Airbnbs, fantastically cheap hostels, parties on the beach, and sunsets that are absolutely out of this world. There are fire shows. It’s not too big, it’s not too small; you can get around quite easily. There are viewpoints, abandoned hotels you can explore, and lots to see and do on the tiny island of Koh Tao. It’s one of my favorites and somewhere that I’ve been going to since 2008. It’s easily one of the best islands in the entire country.
Koh Phangan
Next up is Koh Phangan, the home of the Full Moon Party. But don’t let that be the only thing it’s famous for. It’s one of the wildest islands, just full of jungle, mountains, lizards, snakes, and bugs. It’s a real jungle in the middle of this island, but on the outside and all around are beautiful white sand beaches, amazing viewpoints, and tracks you can explore. There’s kayaking, and real communities of alternative-style living, with people into yoga, meditation, and vegan food. There’s a real hippie side there. And on the Had Rin, that’s where everyone goes to party and dance until the sun comes up. Koh Phangan is way more than just a Full Moon Party, and when you go there, you find out for yourself. It’s quite big; rent a motorcycle, drive around, find a place, and enjoy the paradise of Koh Phangan.
Koh Kood
As we get to the top of the list, Koh Kood is here. It’s a very, very quiet island, but it’s quite big actually. It’s one of the biggest islands for how quiet it is. Nestled next to Koh Chang in the province of Trat, you get the ferry there and get ready to relax. There’s no big party scene there, no loads of resorts. When you arrive, you just arrive at this fishing village and then you can find your own cheap guesthouse like I did, or you can stay in a really fancy place if you want to. There are lots of different options for budgets. Amazing waterfalls, great trekking, fantastic paddle boarding – just a beautiful, beautiful island. Very quiet and truly cool to be in Trat. So cool.
Koh Chang
Number 3 is Koh Chang. I just went there for the first time quite recently, and wow, the place is very big, not too commercial, beautiful roads, great hotels, and friendly people. There’s lots to see and do – waterfalls, trekking, friendly elephants – you name it. There are great sunsets, great food, boat trips with delicious seafood, and parties. Koh Chang has it all. It’s not too commercial and quite easy to get to as well. The ferry from the mainland only takes about 20 minutes, so it’s not too stressful if you get seasick or are not fond of boats. Just get on the car ferry, and Koh Chang is waiting for you to discover its beauty. I can see why it’s always someone’s favorite island; it’s absolutely stunning.
Phuket Island
My second favorite island is Phuket, and even though on a cloudy, overcast day, Phuket is so big it’s actually its own province. It doesn’t feel like you’re on an island because not only is the island connected by bridge, but it also has an international airport, making it really easy to get to Bangkok and other parts of Thailand, and even back to Europe or the States. There’s so much to see and do in Phuket. I was there for 2 weeks, and I’ve only seen a fraction of this island. It’s really, really big and beautiful, with ridiculous amounts of things to do and see. You can see why it’s the number one destination for tourism in Thailand. There are parts like Patong, Kata, and Karon, which are lively areas with lots to do and lots of tourism, along with taxis trying to charge you too much and all the other stuff you have to deal with. But then, when you really get to know this island, there are beautiful shorelines, secluded beaches, ancient old towns with beautiful buildings, and delicious food. There are also malls and cinemas. You can just really live here and base out here, like I’ve been happily doing for 2 weeks. It’s going to be difficult to leave Phuket; it’s my second favorite island in the entire country of Thailand. It’s beautiful even on a cloudy day.
Koh Samui
Number one, my favorite island, and somewhere where I was based, is Koh Samui. What an island! Not too big, not too small. Again, it has an airport so you can nip to Bangkok quite easily. Then there are little tiny, beautiful, crystal-clear bays where you can go kayaking. The sunsets are beautiful, there are long stretches of beach perfect for running and leisurely strolls. Good swimming spots and loads of restaurants. I mean, I was there probably for 3 or 4 weeks, and I tried every different restaurant I could find. Some of the best spring rolls, some of the best Italian cuisine, and some of the best seafood I’ve found in Koh Samui. It’s got malls, it’s got cinemas. It really has great roads to get around the island. In the middle of the island, you can drive up into the mountainous areas, get that fresh air, go to the durian farms, and get away from the hustle and bustle of the beach roads. You’ve got mountains, coral seas, ferries, sunsets, great people, fantastic locations, and hotels. Lots to see in Koh Samui. Koh Samui is my favorite island in Thailand.
