Koh Phi Phi Don is worth visiting if you are going to stay in a good hotel, such as Phi Phi Island Village, Zeavola or Holiday Inn, away from Tonsai town. Pros: Total tranquility in very comfortable resorts with sea views. You can literally walk everywhere. Thailand has hundreds of islands that let you escape the tourist traps and enjoy nature untouched, Culture Trips specially curated 10-day tour of Southern Thailand, the best destinations to visit in Thailand, best hotels in Thailand for every traveller. Next you have a list of many other islands, not as popular as the previous ones, where it is possible to overnight. On weekends it gets quite crowded. To allow us to provide a better and more tailored experience please click "OK". In the Surin Islands there are some Sea Gypsy villages, but other than that they are mostly virgin. Or consisting of the more common khaki or golden grains of sand? Most of the accommodations are basic but cozy resorts by the sea. Pros: Probably the most beautiful of the Trang islands. The famous island of Koh Tapu is mostly known as James Bond Island, since it appeared in the 1974 film The Man with the Golden Gun. The Surin Islands have very nice beaches and good snorkeling. Yearning to do nothing? What would you see? Cheers, The many shapes and sizes of Thailand's islands, This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. If you can drag yourself away, there are a handful of Thai restaurants and street-food stalls, winding jungle roads and local villages, but the renowned Emerald Cave should not be missed. I hesitate to call them mainstream because, while they all host high-volume tourist traffic in places, they also hide sleepier spots with alternative vibes. Smallest of all are the specks, a word that I apply to the blips of rock, foliage and perhaps a bit of sand that can be kayaked around in five minutes or less. Sleepy Koh Mak is 40km (25mi) from the mainland and well away from the tourist trail. Samae San is a nice little island with some beautiful beaches and good snorkeling. Koh Si Chang is the closest island to Bangkok. For many travelers it will be more suitable to choose other destinations or, if you want to visit Phi Phi, stay in Krabi, Phuket, Koh Yao Yai, Koh Yao Noi or Koh Lanta, and visit Phi Phi as a day tour. In some cases, corrupt dealings by government officials led to development where there wasnt supposed to be any notably on parts of Ko Samet (Rayong) and even on Ko Adang in more recent years. 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. There is even a yoga and meditation community. It is an island for backpackers and independent travellers, as it hardly has any high-end hotels or resorts. In theory, based on the letter of the law, only families that had been cultivating a given plot of land before these designations took effect were granted land rights in the islands beyond the 80s. , smaller drops of terrain that can be kayaked around in perhaps 20 minutes. Thailand has few genuinely private islands. Koh Samui is the second largest island in Thailand after Phuket, and also the second most developed. Cons: It does not have any super spectacular beach, although there are some beautiful ones. If youre in search of the Thai island life that trades flashy resorts and rowdy nightclubs for empty beaches, jungle-cloaked hills and kaleidoscopic reefs, then join Culture Trips specially curated 10-day tour of Southern Thailand led by locals for maximum authenticity. Its got nothing more than a handful of secluded beaches, bath-warm water for snorkelling, and the occasional low-key bar. camiguin Koh Chang still keeps a rather wild spirit in its interior, a mountainous and jungle-covered area. Phuket has many beaches to suit all tastes, from very quiet coves to large crowded beaches with all kinds of facilities. Some like Ko Nang Yuan and Ko Man Nok (Rayong) are occupied by a single resort. Love nature? Railay Bay is just amazing. In some cases it is possible to overnight in bungalows or tents managed by the Thai governments Department of National Parks. The threat of heavy fines for setting foot ashore keep the paradise seekers away from these islands. Koh Poda has white sand beaches that plunge into stunning turquoise waters. This hidden beach is reached only by swimming through a dark mountain tunnel; go early to get it all to yourself. Its home to 4,000 residents and is just 12km (7.5mi) long, so days are spent swimming, boating and snorkelling. singapura cat singapuras smallest cats breed permission thank use They are usually visited from Khao Lak. Rimmed by cliffs, lagoons and hidden coves lie within the islands of Ko Hong, Ko Mook, Ko Mae Ko and Ko Khao Yai. If after reading this article you still want to know more about the islands in Thailand, we would suggest you to subscribe to this amazing newsletter by David Luekens: Thai Island Times. When it comes to size, every Thai island fits into one of these five categories: large island, mid-size island, small island, islet, and speck. While away lazy days gazing at the blue sea from Koh Kradan, a remote paradise off Trang in the Andaman Sea. Its beaches are nothing to write home about, but it makes a good weekend plan. Perhaps it has many beaches? Phuket and Ko Samui are the only two Thai islands with airports and high-end villas dotting the hilltops, but Ko Chang (Trat), Ko Lanta Yai and Ko Phangan all have plenty of tourism-related development as well. Koh Kradan is the smallest of the main islands in Trang. Koh Samui has the most beautiful airport in the country, which despite being international mostly operates domestic flights. All the photos of the 30 islands in this article have been taken by me, except for two of them. They are very close to each other, and both are easily accessible from Phuket and Krabi. This egalitarian arrangement took root thanks to pioneering conservationists in the 1970s and 80s, when the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej helped ensure that all Thai beaches would be lawfully designated as public land. Koh Poda is a small island in front of of Ao Nang town, Krabi. It is somewhat larger than the previous two islands, and it has a good range of hotels and restaurants, especially around the pier area. It might take only an hour or two to paddle around a small island by kayak. Seafood? Slightly busier but still considered alternative are Ko Mook, Ko Bulon Leh, Ko Phra Thong and Ko Chang (Ranong), among many others. From Koh Yao Noi is very easy to go to the famous Laem Had beach in neighbouring Koh Yao Yai. Or, as you sail on the countrys azure-blue and aquamarine waters, what would stand out about the islands that youd come across? 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. In addition, there is also an interesting jungle interior where you can go hiking, and the pristine maritime surroundings offer good snorkeling. It is very similar in size to Koh Samui, but much less developed. Most of its islands are in a protection plan that prohibits visiting them, although tourists are allowed to visit some gorgeous beaches in the archipelago. We cant find a country that matches your search. Pros: Laem Tong area is still a very quiet and peaceful base camp to stay in and explore the archipelago. On any of them, a motorized vehicle is the only way to see a good portion of the terrain in a single day. Cons: Without a private vehicle, car or motorcycle, it is difficult to get around the island. From here you can visit the incredible Similan Islands. Phuket is the most famous island in Thailand. Take it all in by hiking up the rugged Toe-Boo Cliff for dramatic views over this island wonderland. of National Parks (DNP). I cant talk about the islands of Thailand without mentioning those other Thai beach destinations that, despite not being islands, must be taken into account when planning a trip to Thailand: Krabi province offers quite a few beaches and an excellent tourist infrastructure that makes Krabi an ideal base camp from where to explore the Andaman Sea islands. It is connected to the mainland by a bridge and has an international airport, which makes it the most easily accessed island in the country. Therefore what youll find below is first-hand information. Although Koh Phi Phi Don has suffered a chaotic development -which is fortunately improving- that has caused some real damage in terms of beauty, the truth is that it is still an impressive island no matter where you look. At 30 km long and 6 km wide, it is one of the largest islands in Thailand. It can get boring if you are not a beach lover. Keep in mind that my usage of these terms falls strictly within the context of Thailand. 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. Ang Tong National Marine Park is an archipelago formed by 42 virgin islands off Surat Thanis coast. There are a handful of cafes, diving shops and small resorts to provide some home comforts. In other cases, long-running land usage conflicts continue to simmer in the Thai islands, especially among stateless Moken and Urak Lawoi island dwellers whose native land rights have rarely been respected. Today it is visited only on day tours from Krabi and Phuket. Slightly busier but still considered alternative are Ko Mook, Ko Bulon Leh, Ko Phra Thong and Ko Chang (Ranong), among many others. Finally we come to the big-name islands that are heavily developed and touristed in places. Cons: Getting there is rather difficult, since you have to take a boat for at least 2 hours. Koh Libong is an island with a local population, not only focused on tourism as so often happens in many other Thai islands. Especially if you are lucky enough to visit it on a sunny day in low season, when there are few people. Since I settled in Thailand back in 2010, I have never stopped traveling around the country.