Thailand is known for so many things. Royal Palaces, Baroque Temples, delicious cuisine, tropical white sand beaches, and of course a dozen beautiful paradise islands all over the country.
Below is our must-visit list of the top islands in Thailand. Don’t forget a swimsuit when packing.
Phuket
Phuket is among the world’s best summer destinations, with gleaming white sand beaches, and breezing palm trees, a perfect tropical getaway. Phuket is the largest and the most popular among the islands in Thailand. There are a lot of things you can do here aside from going to the beach or enjoying the roaring nightlife. You can visit the Elephant Sanctuary, where you can ride on the elephant. You can also visit the 45-meter-tall, Big Buddha sitting on the top of Nakkerd Hills, between Kata and Chalong, this landmark can be seen kilometers away. And If you are a fan of temples head over to Wat Chalong, (among 25 others) located 8 km south of Phuket City. But before leaving do not forget to drop by the night markets, open Thursday to Saturday from 5 pm to 11 pm.
Koh Phi Phi
You may be familiar with this island popularized by Leonardo DiCaprio in the film, The Beach, however, Koh Phi is an archipelago of six islands, with beautiful seashores, set in Thailand’s Krabi area. Although only Phi Don is occupied, the others are inhibited and protected as a segment of Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi National Park. You can likewise explore and discover the island’s different bayous and close by islands, which can be reached solely by vessel. To get here, it’s best to take a boat from Phuket.
Similan
The Similan Islands is an archipelago in the Andaman sea. The Thai Department of National Parks has assigned the islands in the archipelago numbers 1-11, which corresponds to each island starting from the south to the north. Similan Islands is known to have the top-notch diving spots in the world. Divers will be able to see the beautiful coral reefs, barracudas, hawksbill turtles, and sometimes sharks. There are also bungalows in the park where the visitors can stay. To get here, one must ride a boat from Phuket or Khao Lak.
Koh Samui
Koh Samui is not exactly a hidden gem; it is amongst the popular islands in Thailand. A well-primed island, overflowing with luxury hotels and resorts with spas and beautiful white-sand beaches. This island is the perfect getaway for couples or family who wants to enjoy a relaxing weekend escape. You can enjoy yoga, Muay Thai, kayaking, scuba diving, and other family-friendly activities. It is also very easy to reach Koh Samui since the island has just developed its own International Airport.
Koh Lanta
It is one of the more hidden, exotic islands in the Krabi region, but also the largest and more popular among the other 3 major islands in the Krabi district. The Island is remotely located 70km from Krabi Town, and less populated, you can enjoy a more calm, chilled, and probably a hippie atmosphere. With wide stretches of clean beaches, you can relax and get tanned without a care in the world.
Koh Tao
It may be a small island in the Gulf of Thailand which can only be accessible to a vessel, yet the island boasts having about 70 diving schools with certifications from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). Perfect for beginners to learn, and even professional divers to teach. To get here, it’s best to get a bus and ferry ride from Bangkok to Koh Tao pier.
Koh Phangan
Have you ever heard of the Full Moon Party? It is a world-famous party that gathers as many as 30,000 people to an 800-meter beach, with more than 20 blasting sound systems. Playing great party music from both Local and International DJs, and never-ending booze. it also boasts for a ton of UV strip lights all over the beach, which will make your body sparkle throughout the night if you paint yourself with neon body paints. There are also fire dancers that provide extra entertainment. Do not forget the last boat trip is at 6:30 pm and comes back at 7 am.
Koh Lipe
Koh Lipe is dubbed as the “Maldives of Thailand”. Located in the southern part of Thailand near the Malaysian border. As soon as you reach Koh Lipe you will be welcomed by the white-sand, turquoise beach, and coconut trees. Many tourists claimed that this island is somewhat incomparable to the other islands found in Thailand. The perfect honeymoon, and wedding destination. Waking up to the east sunrise or watching the sunset on the west. Koh Lipe is open all-year-round, but during the peak season, you might want to bring a lot of cash because the prices do get high. To reach Koh Lipe, you will need to board on a 1 hour and 30-minute boat ride from Pak Bara Pier.