The topic of the most beautiful island in Thailand can be overwhelming. This isn’t surprising, of course, given the large number of islands that sit off the Kingdom’s pristine coastlines in South East Asia.
As a result, rather than trying to name one island, or even attempt to rank the best beaches in Thailand, I’m going to provide you with some of my favorite options. In particular, I want to break you off the common thought process that islands in Thailand begin and end with Phuket.
BEST ISLANDS IN THAILAND
1. Phuket
2. Koh Poda
3. Krabi
4. Koh Samui
5. Surat Thani
6. Koh Kradan
7. Trang
8. Koh Lipe
9. Satun
10. Koh Wai, Trat
11. Islands in Southern Thailand
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The Best Thai Islands (Besides Phuket)
Authored by Robert Schrader
After talking you through your options, I’ll explain how you can easily put your trip together, whether you spend two weeks in Thailand or have a longer amount of time. Can you imagine the palm trees swaying overhead?
Phuket Is A (Mostly) Wonderful Place
Let’s start with a disclaimer: While I don’t personally consider Phuket to be the most beautiful island in Thailand, it’s a perfectly fine place. Whether you’re sipping coffee (or Thai tea) amid the Sino-Portuguese shophouses of Phuket Town, or enjoying sun and surf at beaches like Kamala and Mai Khao, Phuket’s mix of culture and nature (and its incredible array of hotels and resorts) more than justifies its global notoriety.
On the other hand, while the places to visit in Phuket are incredible and there are many things to do on the island, it remains crowded to an extent that can hamper your enjoyment of the place. Moreover, certain parts of Phuket (namely seedy Patong Beach) feed directly into the most unfortunate stereotypes of traveling in Thailand, namely the sex tourism industry. Phuket is not a terrible place, but it also isn’t a pristine paradise.
My Favorite Alternatives To Phuket
1. Koh Poda, Krabi
If we’re simply talking about the best beach in Krabi, then Koh Poda wins hands down. However, getting here takes some effort! It’s usually the first stop on the ‘four island’ trip you book in Railay on the mainland. One hack I’d recommend is booking a private tour, instead of a group one. This way, you can head out early, and get to Koh Poda before the rest of the crowds, and have amazing, iconic views of the Andaman Sea all to yourself.
2. Koh Samui, Surat Thani
On balance, I’m not sure if I would say that Koh Samui is the most beautiful island in Thailand. However, every place here is gorgeous, from touristic east coast beaches like Chaweng and Lamai, to the less crowded and wilder shores in the west near Nathon. Koh Samui’s elephant sanctuary is lovely to visit too. On the whole, I’d say Samui (which is in the Gulf of Thailand, rather than the Andaman) better strikes the balance between mass tourism and lost paradise than Phuket.
3. Koh Kradan, Trang
If you’re searching for beautiful beaches in Thailand, the entire Trang archipelago in the Kingdom’s far south is a great place to go. My favorite island here is definitely Koh Kradan, which features some of Thailand’s most dramatic and raw beach scenery thanks to minimal development. Other options include Koh Libong and Koh Mook, which is famous for its ‘Emerald Cave’.
4. Koh Lipe, Satun
Another contender for the most beautiful island in Thailand is Koh Lipe, also located in the deep south not far from Trang. While Lipe has become a lot busier since I first visited it over a decade ago, the sheer beauty of its beaches makes it worth the crowds. It’s also one of the best places to snorkel with kids. Once you finish here, it’s possible to travel to Langkawi Island in Malaysia by boat, just in case you have longer in Southeast Asia.
5. Koh Wai, Trat
As is the case with Trang, the Trat archipelago is one of my favorite places to visit in Thailand for beaches, broadly speaking. Located in the Gulf of Thailand (i.e. on the ‘other side’ of the country from most of my other choices), Trat is actually closer to Cambodia than it is to most of Thailand. My favorite of its islands is sleepy, undeveloped Koh Wai, though Koh Kood is great for luxury travelers, while partygoers will find more options on Koh Chang.
Southern Thailand Off The Beaten Path
Beaches are wonderful, but what if you want to get a more authentic picture of rural southern Thailand? In this case, I’d recommend heading off the beaten path a bit, maybe after you explore one of the islands I’ve recommended. One of my favorite provinces in this part of the Kingdom is Nakhon Si Thammarat, which combines Muslim food and architecture, charming villages amid lush jungles – and yes, some pretty darn good beaches.
Koh Lanta is a little-known island in southern Thailand with deserted beaches and wonderful snorkeling! Apart from this, I also really like Surat Thani (which, if you’re paying attention, is where you’ll find one of my contenders for most beautiful island in Thailand, Koh Samui). The mainland portion of this province spotlights a decidedly slow pace of life, with sleepy villages full of buffalo-filled rice paddies, and a busy city of the same name with exciting fresh markets and dramatic Buddhist temples.
How to Structure Your Thailand Trip
Regardless of how many days in Bangkok you end up spending, the rest of your Thailand trip has basically two additional lobes: ‘The North’ and ‘The Islands’. I usually like to fly directly from Bangkok and Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai, and spend between 3-7 days (depending on the length of my trip) in the mysterious north, whether trekking to waterfalls or volunteering at elephant sanctuaries.
Concluding your Thailand itinerary in the south serves two purposes. First, you’ll have done the ‘work’ of your trip early on, which will allow you to truly relax, all your travel cares more or less gone by the time you get to the beach. This, in turn, will prepare you for your flight home (or, if you’re traveling elsewhere, your flight onward), which will allow you to proceed in peace.
The Bottom Line on the Perfect Thai Island
Ultimately, the most beautiful island in Thailand is as much about finding one that matches with your preferences as it a place that seamless integrates into your trip. Some travelers will prefer the more ubiquitous limestone landscapes of the Andaman Sea, while others will venture into the more understated Gulf of Thailand in exchange for lighter crowds.
Even if you spend your ‘beach’ time in Southern Thailand largely exploring its more rural and less touristic provinces, there are few places in the world that feel more like paradise than where Siam meets the sea.
About the Author
Robert Schrader created Thailand Starts Here to de-mystify Thailand to an English-speaking audience. Robert has lived in Bangkok on two occasions, and traveled Thailand from north to south more times than he can count. Once you’ve finished checking out the website, do make sure to follow Thailand Starts Here on Instagram.
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Aw I wish I had read this before our Thailand trip last year. We went to Phuket, as it was easiest to get to from Cambodia, and we were kind of disappointed. Not the vibe we were going for. Would love to have visited your favourite, Koh Kradan, instead. Next time!
I stayed on Koh Lanta last time I was there, but looking for a new island for my next visit so this is great to come across
I love the way you have this sorted out. Very practical tips for planning a trip as well as why you like or not prefer certain islands and places. Great info.
Great post! Love Thailand :).
Ko Lipe down toward Malaysia (Langkawi) is really nice too! Small island but not too many tourists.