Beautiful Thailand is known as ‘The Land of Smiles’. It’s been one of the world’s favourite travel destinations for decades, not least since The Beach hit our screens back in 2000 and made Koh Phi Phi an international dream island destination.
But Phi Phi isn’t the only paradise island to be found in Thailand. All around the coast, in both the Andaman Sea on the west and the Gulf of Thailand to the east, there are some truly beautiful islands to visit.
From big, busy party islands to tiny, untouched nature reserves, Thailand’s islands offer a range of landscapes and a wealth of unforgettable experiences. So whatever you’re looking for from your next escape, you’ll easily find it.
Of course, if you have plenty of time and energy to explore and can’t decide which gorgeous island to commit to, then an island-hopping adventure is a great option – and generally quite inexpensive too.
To help you create your paradise island plan, we’ve put together a list of eight of the most beautiful islands in Thailand that you might want to have on your itinerary.
1. Koh Chang
Once in Thailand, you’ll learn quite quickly – mostly because of the nation’s famous Chang beer – that chang is Thai for elephant. Koh Chang, in the Trat province, close to the Cambodian border, is also known as Elephant Island. Not because of any native elephant population (though there are elephants there), but because of the shape of its headland, which is said to resemble a resting elephant.
Koh Chang is one of Thailand’s largest islands, and it’s got a beautiful slow pace of living and a secluded, sleepy, unspoilt vibe. It’s certainly been built up over the past decade or two, but it still retains its ruggedness and feels a lot more remote than some of the more heavy-traffic islands.
You’ll find kilometre after kilometre of luscious rainforest, oodles of beautiful mountains and waterfalls (Khlong Phlu and Khlong Nueng are two of the most impressive) and, of course, countless stretches of long, pristine beaches fringed by beautiful coral reefs.
2. Koh Mak
Part of the same Trat archipelago, but much smaller than Ko Chang, Koh Mak is a stunning mini paradise you might just want to run away to. There are some beautiful resorts here – think floating hammocks and bamboo jetties over crystal-clear bathtub beach waters.
Koh Mak may be small but it’s incredibly beautiful, so we’d be lying if we said it was a ‘hidden gem’, as there will always be other people visiting here. But it’s certainly very relaxed and feels lovely and low-key.
If you do want a desert island experience, you can rent a kayak and paddle across to neighbouring Koh Kham where the beaches are stunning and wonderfully empty. That said, the beaches of Koh Mak are beautiful in their own right, with lots of charming beach bars where you can eat delicious food and sip refreshing mango shakes or crisp cold beer.
3. Koh Yao Noi
About half an hour by speedboat from Phuket, Koh Yao Noi is yet another gem in the already sparkling Andaman. Situated spectacularly well at the mouth of the iconic Phang Nga Bay in Phuket, Koh Yao Noi’s warm and wonderfully calm waters, soft white sands, chilled-out beach bars, fantastic Thai food, and gorgeous bamboo hut resorts make it a perfect place to unwind and enjoy Thai island life.
The locals here have worked hard to keep their beautiful island from becoming just another party hotspot, and their work has been to the island’s great benefit. Koh Yao Noi is a destination for sustainable travel. It’s clean, pristine and not packed with hedonistic party people; this is an island where you can lay back in peace, read a book, or nap on the beach.
Koh Nao Yai is also known for incredible views of the dramatic cliffs, limestone sea stacks, and rock formations that rise out of the sea in Phang Nga Bay, and there are some great viewpoints on the island offering phenomenal panoramic views. For nature lovers, a birding outing is an absolute must-do here, as Koh Yao Noi is home to lots of beautiful hornbills, in particular the stunning Oriental Pied Hornbill.
4. Koh Tao
About an hour by ferry off the eastern mainland, deep in the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Tao is a small but very popular island, famous across the world as a SCUBA diving destination. If underwater adventure is your thing, you can’t miss a visit to Koh Tao.
Since the big backpacking boom that kicked off after The Beach came out, Koh Tao has become more of a party island, which is great fun. But if you’re seeking something quieter, there are many smaller beaches and coves around the island where you’ll find far fewer people and even quieter dive sites. Just avoid Sairee Beach, which is the main tourist strip with the huge dove shops.
However, you don’t need to be into diving to love it here. The beaches and mountains on Koh Tao are gorgeous and the restaurant scene is fantastic – seafood lovers will be in their element. It’s a small island, too, and easy enough to get around with taxi services available if you don’t want to rent a scooter.
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5. Koh Phangan
Koh Phangan is just a short ferry ride from Koh Tao and is also known as the ‘Full Moon Party island’. Yes, it gets busy before the full moon every month. But it’s a big island, with plenty of quiet, relaxing spots – particularly in the north and east – where you can enjoy yoga retreats, jungle hikes, Eden-like waterfalls, and serene beaches.
Of course, if you would like to experience the full moon party, we say go for it. It’s a true once-in-a-lifetime experience and lots of fun. Our advice? Stay a little bit away from the main party beach (Haad Rin) so you can easily hop in a cab and retreat to your quiet haven when you’ve had enough!
Koh Phangan is another wonderful island for foodies, with an incredible selection of dining available all over the island – both Thai and international. This is thanks to the many European tourists who visited and never left, setting up restaurants here.
6. Koh Lanta
Just off the coast of beautiful Krabi, Koh Lanta is a firm favourite among discerning Thai island hoppers. At 25km long, it has a huge choice of heavenly beaches, with many luxurious but affordable resorts all around the island.
Like so many Thai islands, Koh Lanta is a snorkel heaven, with a beautiful brightly coloured reef, home to a huge population of colourful, tropical marine life. Nature lovers will be in their element on Koh Lanta, with mangrove forests and monkeys, orchid gardens, fireflies, and various other flora and fauna to see.
The old town here is charming, too. Originally just a small fishing village, it’s developed (but not too much) over the years into a bustling, busy little town with an abundance of cafes, boutiques, souvenir shops, and more.
But like all of Thailand’s islands, it’s the beaches, above all, that draw people, and Koh Lanta has some top-tier strands. Choose one on the west coast of the island so that you don’t miss the incredible sunsets from your balcony, as the sun dips behind the Phi Phi islands on the horizon.
7. Similan Islands
Widely considered among avid divers to be one of the very best diving destinations in the world, this amazing Andaman archipelago is unparalleled in its beauty. The archipelago is made up of 11 unbelievably beautiful islands, each of which is part of Mu Ko Similan National Park and protected as such.
This means that the tourist trade has to be limited somewhat, as the delicate and unique ecosystem simply can’t take a massive influx of learner divers or party people. The Similan Islands are a bit like Thailand’s answer to the Galapagos and are particularly special for nature lovers, hikers, and divers.
You can do a day trip to the Similan Islands, and it’s a great way to get a taste of their beauty and enjoy some second-to-none snorkelling. If you’d like to stay on the islands, there are no large resorts but you can find charming bungalows or even stay on a campsite if you want to be closer to nature (though not in the height of summer if you’re heat-sensitive)!
8. Koh Chang Ranong
Thailand has a second Koh Chang and this one is all the way over on the other side of the country in the Ranong province, close to the border of Myanmar and surrounded by the beautiful Andaman Sea.
And if the Koh Chang in the gulf is rugged and remote, this one is positively untouched. You won’t find a tourist strip here, or a 7-11, or any of the neon-lit chaos that accompanies so much of the tourist development in Thailand. Koh Chang in Ranong is very much undeveloped, very off-grid, and very beautiful as a result.
You’ll have no trouble finding a quiet beach on which to unwind. We’d even suggest choosing the biggest and busiest of them, Long Beach, since you’ll still feel like you’re on a desert island and this is where you’ll find more reliable WiFi and a better choice of restaurants and accommodation. It’s also perfect for people who fancy stepping back in time to experience the atmosphere of 90s Thailand.
Final thoughts…
The truth is, we could easily double the amount of islands featured in this article and still only scratch the surface of the sheer number of beautiful, diverse islands that punctuate the clear, blue waters surrounding Thailand.
But for getting away from it all, connecting with nature, and escaping the chaos of the backpacker traffic, you couldn’t do much better than the idyllic islands on this list.
For further reading, why not check out 6 highlights from Vietnam from our senior writer, Francesca Williams?
Have you been to any of Thailand’s islands? Are there any you think should have made this list and you’d like to tell us about? Let us know in the comments. We’d love to hear from you.