Thailand is one of the most popular destinations in South East Asia. One of the biggest draws for international visitors is the number of beautiful islands. You can easily go island hopping across several in just one trip. With so much on offer, we predict you’ll definitely want to spend time on more than one of the following fantastic islands:
Koh Tao
Also known as turtle island, Koh Tao is the place to go if you want to learn to dive. It’s one of the cheapest places first-time divers can learn in the world. After a day in the water, you can spend your evenings chilling on one of the many beautiful beaches with a cocktail in hand. It’s got more of a relaxed vibe than some of the other islands, but you’ll still find places selling Thailand’s famous buckets of alcohol.
If you’d like to find out more about diving in Koh Tao, read this complete guide.
Koh Phi Phi
Ko Phi-Phi Don and Ko Phi-Phi Leh are the islands to go to if you’re looking for a good time. Not sure what to expect? The Lonely Planet describes it pretty well as “a hedonistic paradise where tourists cavort in azure seas, party all night long on packed-out sands and snap pictures of long-tails puttering between craggy cliffs.”
Koh Phangan
Koh Phi Phi is far from the only island in Thailand you can go to party. Now infamous around the world, Koh Phangan’s Full Moon parties attract around 30,000 revelers each full moon. According to 1Cover, what started as by a bunch of hippies dancing is now a party animal’s paradise where alcohol is served in buckets and UV paint abounds.
Koh Chang
After all that partying, you’ll probably want somewhere to relax. Koh Chang is one of the best places for that. You can swim in the shallow, blue waters, enjoy a coconut in the shade and treat yourself to several naps. When you’re feeling more active, you can hunt down some wildlife. Just be wary of various elephant camps and how they treat the animals.
Krabi
From Krabi, you can easily reach loads of islands. But that doesn’t mean you’ll want to leave the coastal province straight away. It’s a great base for adventure activities, and famous for the limestone cliffs and outstanding white sand beaches. From there, you can head to nearby Hong Island, Koh Phi Phi, Tup Island, Poda Island, Chicken Island and Railay Island – making it a great destination for island hopping.
What’s your favorite island in Thailand? Share your suggestions with us.