When you travel to Thailand, you’ll have no shortage of beautiful islands to visit, but to make the most of your trip, you’ll want to find islands that suit your holiday style. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best islands in Thailand – you can find the right island for you, whether you’re looking for high-class luxury, a quiet hidden retreat, or a busy party atmosphere.
The best islands in Thailand for your holiday
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’ll prefer a busier, more touristy area that emphasises luxury and convenience, or maybe you want to get away from the crowds and have a more adventurous holiday.
Best islands in Thailand: popular destinations
These islands are some of the most popular with tourists, 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, with beautiful beach resorts, lavish spas, and a focus on comfort, making it perfect for first-timers or those travelling with young children. You can stay at beach bungalows that have a rustic vibe but luxurious amenities, and those travelling with younger children will find a range of family-friendly hotels that offer childcare and shallow pools.
The island is also home to some world-class yoga and wellness retreats, including Kamalaya in the rainforest area and Absolute Sanctuary, perfect for those looking to commit to relaxation and wellness. The island has its own airport, and there are often multiple flights each day from Bangkok; you can also travel to Surat Thani Pier and take a ferry to the island.
Chaweng Beach
Chaweng Beach is one of Koh Samui’s most popular beaches and is an excellent beach for swimming, with various water sports gear available for hire. The white-sand beach is a relaxing spot for sunbathing or a refreshing swim during the day, but in the evening it transforms into a thriving party spot, particularly at Ark Bar Beach Club, at the beach’s centre. Chaweng is on the east side of the island, and you can easily reach it via the island’s main ring road.
Koh Tao
Koh Tao is a gorgeous island that’s most popular with divers. 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 certification, or you can 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.
The only way to reach the island is by boat, with services running from the mainland, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. Shark Bay (or Thian Og) is one of the best beaches on the island for snorkelling – you can easily reach it on foot by heading down the cliff-side ramp near the centrally located OK2 Bungalows.
Koh Phi Phi
Koh Phi Phi can be reached by ferry from either Krabi Town or Phuket and is particularly popular with solo travellers, in part because of the number of fun activities available 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 travellers, so it’s a great place to make some friends on your trip if you’re one of these. Plus, the island has some fantastic beach bars with exciting live performances including dancing and fire juggling.
Monkey Bay Beach
Ao Ling (also known as Monkey Bay) on Koh Phi Phi is one of the most unique experiences you’ll have in Thailand. The area is home to a bunch of adorable monkeys who roam the beach and will happily interact with visitors. Beyond the monkeys, with clear waters and plentiful marine life, it’s also a fantastic snorkelling spot. You can reach the beach by foot or canoe or take a longtail boat from the nearby Loh Dalum Beach.
Phuket
Phuket is Thailand’s largest and most popular island, with its own airport, high-quality restaurants, six-star resorts and some of Thailand’s best beaches. Phuket has the most convenience and comfort on offer, so 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. It’s usually easiest to fly to the island’s airport from Bangkok, but you can also travel to the island by bus from this city – this will take up a full day of your trip, but there are overnight buses, too.
Kata Noi Beach
Freedom Beach is one of the island’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 southwest side of the island. The northern end of the beach is very popular with surfers, as the waves tend to be bigger, but they’re usually still relatively small, so it can be great for beginner surfers as well.
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 travels between Phuket International Airport (HKT) and Rawai Beach; Kata Noi is the second last stop.
Best islands in Thailand: quieter hidden gems
These islands are for those looking for something off the beaten path. They may not offer 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 usually easiest to reach the island via a ferry or speedboat from Krabi Town, on the Thai mainland. If you wander around the 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 and you can get local food and drink at cheaper prices than on the more touristy islands. The islands also have a number of excellent diving and snorkelling spots, often with instructors available for beginners.
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 that let you easily spot marine wildlife. There’s a range of nearby accommodations, restaurants, and bars. 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. 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
With clear blue waters and white-sand beaches, Koh Lipe is one of the islands 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 home to the island’s nightlife and tends to be the busiest with lots of boats in the water, while Sunset Beach is much more secluded and quiet, perfect for a relaxing swim or sunbathing. The island is quite small and very walkable, so both beaches can be reached on foot, with Pattaya on the south coast and Sunset on the west.
Sunrise Beach
Sunrise Beach is the third main beach on Koh Lipe, on the east coast, with white sand and clear turquoise waters. It’s one of the best places to get up close to the local marine life, with a few beautiful coral reef spots.
True to its name, for those travellers who don’t mind getting up early during their holiday, it’s an incredible spot to watch the sunrise each morning. There are bars and restaurants nearby as well as places to hire snorkelling gear and kayaks.
Koh Si Chang
If you’re staying in Bangkok and are looking for somewhere nearby, Koh Si Chang is roughly only 2 hours from Bangkok by ferry, making it one of the closest beach destinations. More popular with locals than tourists, Koh Si Chang is a great way to have a quick escape from the hustle and bustle of Thailand’s capital.
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 hire snorkelling gear, kayaks as well as bicycles so you can roam the island on your own.
Tham Pang Beach
Located on the west coast of Koh Si Chang, Tham Pang Beach is the largest beach on the island, with white sand and clear blue waters. You can hire deck chairs and umbrellas to relax on the beach in the shade or hire a kayak to head out onto the water.
The beach is usually quiet during the week, and there are a few restaurants near the beach that serve local food and drink. The ferry from Koh Si Chang will bring you within walking distance of the beach, and you can also hire a motorbike to get around the island when you arrive.
Koh Yao Archipelago
Twin islands located around a half-hour speedboat ride from Phuket, Koh Yao Yai, and Koh Yao Noi are 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 and even the main beach of Pasai tends to be quiet and peaceful. It can easily be reached by foot and is below road level, so even if you drive, you’ll need to head down a short flight of wooden stairs along the sea wall.
Thakhao Beach
For a quieter beach, head to Thakhao 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, and 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. The main road will take you to Thakhao Beach before turning back. Like Koh Si Chang, the main way to get around the island is by scooter or motorbike, so you’ll need to know how to ride one to reach the less popular beaches.
FAQs: the best islands in Thailand
Which part of the country has the best beaches?
There’s no shortage of beautiful beaches to be found amongst Thailand’s islands. If you’re looking for a large number of highly rated beaches, then Phuket is one of the best places to stay. The popular Nai Harn and Freedom Beach are on the island, and Maya Bay is just a short ferry ride away.
Where are the prettiest beaches in the country?
Railay Beach, also known as Rai Leh, is one of Thailand’s most popular attractions, noted for its stunning limestone cliffs and gorgeous sandy beaches. Klong Nin Beach and Sunrise Beach are also known for their sparkling clear water that lets you see the country’s beautiful marine life.
Are the beaches in the country warm?
Thailand’s beaches are warm throughout the year. Water temperatures average around 29 degrees Celsius (around 85 degrees Fahrenheit) in summer, 30 degrees Celsius (around 86 degrees Fahrenheit) in spring, and 29 degrees Celsius (around 85 degrees Fahrenheit) in autumn, and 28 degrees Celsius (around 83 degrees Fahrenheit) in winter.
When is it best to visit the beaches in the country?
The best time to visit Thailand’s beaches is usually between January and April. The country’s rainy season is between June and October, and the clearest, warmest weather is usually between January and February. While those looking for calm waters and sunny weather will likely want to avoid the rainy season, those visiting Thailand’s beaches for surfing will find the best waves on the west coast between April and October.
