Pros: It has many very beautiful and diverse beaches. The island, on the edge of the Tarutao National Marine Park, is best known for a spectacular coral reef and jaw-dropping white beaches that make it a dream for divers. To add another layer, lets take a look at Thai island topographies. Koh Phi Phi Don is a small island (8 km long and 3.5 km wide) in the Andaman Sea. Theres also a well-paved network of roads, so its a great idea to rent a motorbike and zip around for a memorable tour in the tropical sun. One that you probably havent heard of is the Thai Andamans southernmost islet, Ko Khamin, set way down there within close reach of Malaysian waters. Is it better to overnight in Phi Phi Don or to visit as a day trip? Emerald cave is really impressive. Some islands, such as Ko Klang (Krabi) and Ko Kho Khao sit a quick hop across a river from a bustling mainland town. For your security, we need to re-authenticate you. Here we find some really good resorts like Cape Kudu or Paradise Koh Yao, as well as the famous super-luxury hotel Six Senses. It might take only an hour or two to paddle around a small island by kayak. Examples of islets include Ko Nang Yuan near Ko Tao, Ko Tub near Ko Gai, and the Ko Phrao twins off southeast Ko Chang (Trat). Quite a few islands controlled by the DNP and the Royal Thai Navy have been closed permanently to travelers in recent years. The Surin Islands have very nice beaches and good snorkeling. On weekends it gets quite crowded.
We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. The small Surin Islands archipelago is in the Andaman Sea, north of the Similan Islands, and it is also part of a protected Marine National Park. The above group of 10 stand as Thailands primary tourism islands, in my view. Good 4* or higher category hotels are scarce. Koh Chang Noi is a small island near Koh Phayam, and it has a hippie atmosphere despite having a Thai army camp. Whats clear is that these eight islands are all considerably larger than the rest. Do not expect many activities other than beach time, snorkeling, and maybe a boat tour to nearby islands. Railay is a landlocked bay surrounded by limestone cliffs, and it has one of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand and maybe the whole world: Phra Nang. Koh Ngai is a tiny island of only 5 km2 near Trang, and it has 3 or 4 beaches. Exploring by sea, a strong kayaker might find it possible to circumnavigate a mid-size island in a very long day of paddling. If islands of this size have roads at all, theyre mostly single-lane tracks. The only human inhabitation found on some islands like Ko Phetra and Ko Lang Ka Jiew comes in the form of shacks used by locals who work hard climbing cliffs in search of lucrative edible swallow nests. Pros: Total tranquility in very comfortable resorts with amazing sea views. All the photos of the 30 islands in this article have been taken by me, except for two of them. Which island to choose for a first trip to Thailand. Then come the mid-size islands, including Ko Phayam, Ko Phra Thong, Ko Raya Yai, Ko Yao Noi, Ko Phi Phi Don, Ko Libong, Ko Adang, Ko Taen, Ko Tao, Ko Si Chang, Ko Khram Yai, Ko Samet (Rayong) and Ko Mak, to name only a small number of them. In Koh Adan there are some Sea Gypsy villages, but, in general, the rest of these islands are totally unspoilt and not developed at all. Getting in and out involves taking a boat from/to Koh Samui, which can be expensive if you are in a rush. Exploring by sea, a strong kayaker might find it possible to circumnavigate a mid-size island in a very long day of paddling. Samae San is a nice little island with some beautiful beaches and good snorkeling. A youthful body might make it to most corners of these islands in a full day on foot if there are lanes and trails to stroll on. Taking your schedule in mind, does it make sense to lose a full day just to get there, and maybe another one when departing? We cant find a country that matches your search. Ko Mak and the Ko Yara Tot twins are flat and agricultural, while rolling forest blankets Ko Ngai, Ko Phaluai and many others. It is also a good island for snorkeling and diving. Theres almost no nightlife on this island, but you will be in the company of 10,000 palm trees, a Buddhist temple, plenty of winding bicycle tracks and a diving school to make the most of those gin-clear waters. It is therefore a destination for adventurers who are looking for tranquility and nature. Not unless the local Sea Gypsies population gives you permission to do so. Cons: Development has been chaotic, and Tonsai, the main town, is overdeveloped and lacking in charm. Only 3 hours by land + half an hour by boat. Pros: It is the paradise of tranquility. Cons: The price of the flights, all of them operated by Bangkok Airways, is somewhat expensive. Youll have the chance to see real local life unrelated to tourism. Koh Chang still keeps a rather wild spirit in its interior, a mountainous and jungle-covered area. Thailand has few genuinely private islands.
Pros: It is very close to Bangkok. Koh Lanta is made up of two parts linked together by a bridge: Koh Lanta Yai (large) and the Koh Lanta Noi (small). Since I settled in Thailand back in 2010, I have never stopped traveling around the country. Both can be climbed. , Ko Phaluai, Ko Sukorn and Ko Si Boya host one or two villages and a few small-scale lodgings. Cons: It does not have any super spectacular beach, although there are some beautiful ones. Powdery white with jet-black flecks like in the Adang archipelago? In some cases it is possible to overnight in bungalows or tents managed by the Thai governments Department of National Parks. Its only beach is one of the most beautiful in the country, ideal for sunbathing and swimming. Can you overnight? Small Koh Lipe island is only 3.5 km long and 2.5 km wide. Just offshore of Koh Tao lies the fabulous islet of Koh Nang Yuan, a recurring starlet of travel magazine covers. Pros: Youll find very few tourists. Make sure to visit Koh Podas spectacular secret beach. If inhabited by humans, theres usually no more than one village and/or a sprinkling of small resorts. Pros: Its a very pretty island with a great backpacker vibe. Founder and manager of Mundo Nmada Travel, a DMC (tour operator) with office in Bangkok that offers high quality tours and tailor-made packages in Thailand. The interior of the island is a chaos of uncontrolled constructions and landfills. If you choose a coastal destination instead, with more activities on offer, if rain hits hard it would not be such a serious problem, since youll have many options other than beach and boat tours. If so, what is the sand like? With its more than 140 km2, Koh Yao Yai is a medium-sized island, rather large by Thai standards. Its home to 4,000 residents and is just 12km (7.5mi) long, so days are spent swimming, boating and snorkelling. Bring a sense of adventure to Koh Kood and explore this wild, unspoilt island of waterfalls, mangroves and rainforest. If youre not quite ready to ditch all signs of tourism, Koh Yao Noi is the ideal compromise. Slightly busier but still considered alternative are Ko Mook, Ko Bulon Leh, Ko Phra Thong and Ko Chang (Ranong), among many others. These islands are usually visited in boat trips from Koh Samui, and from Koh Pha Ngan as well. Visit Hong Island with Culture Trip as part of our 10-day Southern Thailand trip. Pros: Koh Samui is easy to reach thanks to its airport, accommodation and activities offer is huge, and between May and September, the rainiest months in most of Thailand, it hardly ever rains in Samui. In most cases, reaching them requires a slightly longer journey. Cons: Its beaches do not meet the beauty standards that many tourists tend to seek. Koh Samed is a small island with several beaches, some of them quite beautiful, and very decent snorkeling. Some like Ko Nang Yuan and Ko Man Nok (Rayong) are occupied by a single resort. Cons: Limited and expensive accommodation offer. But it is still worth visiting, especially for those looking for alternative destinations off the beaten track. Alternatively, try trekking through the untouched forests to reach deserted waterfalls. Pros: Quiet, but with atmosphere in high season November to April. As I say, Koh Phi Phi Don has suffered from uncontrolled real estate development that has undermined its beauty. It is known as the Maldives of Thailand due to the beauty of its turquoise blue waters and its beautiful beaches. Koh Poda is a small island in front of of Ao Nang town, Krabi. Others consist of a single limestone massif.
Koh Samui has many beaches, although only a few of them meet the beauty standards of the perfect tropical beach. When choosing which island to go to, besides doing some research to find out which one is likely to better meet your expectations, keep two things in mind: How long does it take to get there? If you need a little more activity, cycle the length of the island in around an hour or head to the mountainous north, which has excellent hiking trails, including a route up Koh Pu Mountain. On a day tour here, you can swim, snorkel and kayak among shoals of colourful fish in the calm, shallow water or follow the nature trail through the jungle, keeping a close eye out for white-faced gibbons and monitor lizards. It is still possible to dive around them, however. Ko Samui is not a large island when compared to Bali or Oahu, but among the Thai islands, its one of the big ones. Nature has played the most pivotal role in sculpting the Thai islands, but, in many cases, the structures created by people contribute as well. (If you havent yet, please subscribe to Thai Island Times. Cons: Without a private vehicle, car or motorcycle, it is difficult to get around the island. In addition to its beaches, which are beautiful although not among the best in the country, Koh Chang offers the possibility of trekking through the jungle and joining snorkeling boat tours to nearby islands. Next, you will find the most famous islands in the country. Its barely big enough for a few people to stand on.
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