Top 10 Islands in Thailand to go around by Boat
What is the best island in Thailand? This question is really difficult to answer because the answer is very subjective, depending on whether you are looking for islands that are better or worse for you. For example, let’s say you are looking for a super quiet island, with few tourists and with beaches that are good. Then your options would be several, for example, you could go to Koh Kood or Koh Ngai. However, if you are looking for an island with an atmosphere where you can stroll at night, then there is also a small town with malls and shops, so be sure to go to Phuket or Koh Samui.
Access: Do you want to go to an island with an airport or do you not mind wasting time in ports and boats? Since this article is about visiting these islands by boat, it will be less worthwhile if you travel by plane since you will miss the scenery around these islands. Boating in South East Asia including Thailand and the Philippines is one of the big factors why the sale of boats online through websites like ZeBoats.com is becoming stronger a couple of years even before the Coronavirus pandemic. So, if you are planning to visit these islands and want to ride on your own boat, visit the mentioned website.
Selection of the most beautiful islands in Thailand (it is a list, not a ranking)
Koh Lipe is possibly, for many, the best island in Thailand. Little Koh Lipe, you can walk from end to end in 15 or 30 minutes, is an island beauty located south of the Thai Andaman Sea, almost touching Malaysia. The sea in Koh Lipe is as perfect as you think, the kind of turquoise blue that makes you want to jump into the water instead of out. On the other hand, Koh Lipe is far away, and getting there is a bit tedious. In addition, the development of the island has been extremely chaotic and has taken away a bit of its charm.
Koh Mak is a very small island near Koh Chang, so it is also close to Bangkok although it is further from the coast. You can walk from one side of the island to the other in more than an hour. This is a fairly flat island. Perfect for families, couples, or people who are only interested in the beach, diving, kayaking, and relaxing under a hammock. The only problem is the Sandfly, micro mosquitoes that live in the sand and eat you without you noticing. Take precautions (coconut oil) and everything will be fine.
Koh Phangan is where the famous Full Moon Party takes place, a kind of rave on the beach well known in the backpacker world. The party is every month on a full moon, although if you do not coincide, do not worry since there is also the Half-moon party and many others. The main party is on Haad Rin beach, so if you want peace of mind, run away. Some beaches in the Northeast of the island are quiet and perfect for family tourism.
Koh Samet is a small island only 2-3 hours by van from Bangkok and only 20 minutes by boat. That is why it is quite exploited, although some beaches are still quite well preserved. Perfect if you go in the rainy season since it is one of the islands that is least affected by the monsoons. Another point against is that on this island everything is a little more expensive. Nonetheless, beach food remains affordable and especially good at Hat Sai Kaew beach restaurants.
The former prison for political prisoners, Koh Tao, is now an ideal destination for those who want tranquility and diving. The beaches and the surroundings of this island are perfect for diving. You will find several agencies that offer all kinds of courses, the basic PADI course costs about 9800 THB ($296).
Koh Lanta is a multi-island area where the two largest and best known are Koh Lanta Noi and Koh Lanta Yai. So when talking about Koh Lanta, it is generally referring to Koh Lanta Yai (Big Koh Lanta, in Thai). Koh Lanta is an escape for those who find southern Thailand (Phuket) too busy. Koh Lanta has long and quiet beaches perfect to walk along while watching the sunset on the horizon;) There are also diving offers.
Koh Chang is the second-largest island in the country and a good destination for backpackers or families who want to do more activities, apart from being on the beach, and do not want to be in a highly exploited environment or with many people. Koh Chang is a quiet island, with a lot of jungle and peaks of up to 744 meters, that offers the possibility of hiking, visiting waterfalls, climbing elephants and there is even a small adventure park to jump from tree to tree (Tree Top). Despite the tranquility, if you like you can also find parties, especially on the largest beach, White Sands Beach, or on the Lonely Beach backpackers beach. Plus its only 4 hours by van from Bangkok.
The Similan Islands is a natural park known as the best diving site in Thailand and probably one of the best in the world, because of its coral, marine life, and white sand beaches. You can visit this natural park on organized daily departures in Phuket or Khao Lak or on cruises for about 4 days. The entrance to the park costs 400 THB ($14.24) and you will have to pay another 200 THB ($7.12) per day of diving.
There are six islands in the Koh Phi Phi region, all of them considered one of the most beautiful islands on the planet. The island of Ko Phi Phi Leh was where the famous movie of the backpackers who created a paradise on a secret beach was filmed. The beauty of that beach captivated all the spectators, and that has caused thousands of tourists to visit Maya Bay (The Beach) every year since then. In this part of the country, most of the inhabitants are Muslims.
Rai Leh (or Railay) is not an island, it is a bay that can only be accessed by sea because of the large cliffs that surround it. I have included it because it is one of the best beach destinations in the country. The cliffs also make it an ideal site for climbers. There are not many places for beginners so if you decide to come here to climb keep in mind that you must have some experience. However, there are also several caves to explore accessible to everyone, in addition to other activities such as trekking, kayaking, or diving.
And don’t forget to collaborate with the Thai people in the conservation of these little paradises!