Best Islands in Thailand

Thailand is considered to be the Holy Grail for travelers of all kinds. Young, old, backpackers, luxury travelers, adventurists, nature lovers – Thailand has something for everyone. With its beautiful landscapes, lovely people, great food and a unique culture, Thailand attracts thousands of travelers every year. However, possibly the biggest draw of this country are the numerous islands. Thailand is blessed with some of the most stunning islands you can find anywhere in the world. As a solo traveler and also with my wife, I have traveled to some of these Thai islands and also have been lucky to call one particular island our home for a couple of months. Although we are yet to explore a lot more islands in this country, here is a list the best islands in Thailand we have been to.

Similan Islands

The Similan islands are a network of small islands located in the Mu Ko Similan National Park. These islands are a part of the protected marine national park and only a couple of them are open to visitors. The island 9 is the most popular among them and hands down the more beautiful of the two. The islands have pristine white sand beaches and the waters are absolutely stunning blue. No wonder these islands are considered among the best islands in Thailand. The ocean around the islands are rich in marine life and have some wonderful spots for scuba diving and snorkeling. These waters is where I witnessed probably the best underwater life in Thailand. Another major highlight of Similan Island is the viewpoint located a short climb up the hill. The views from up there are breathtaking to say the least. Similan islands can be reached by a 2 hour boat ride from Phuket and is definitely worth a visit.

Koh Lanta

A lot of places in Thailand, including the islands, have a reputation for being party spots. Koh Lanta is quite the opposite of a party island. This is an island for travelers looking for some peace and stillness. People somewhat call this place a couples’ island but we feel this island is so beautiful that any kind of traveler would find something here. The sunsets here are gorgeous and the beaches are lovely. There is quite a lot of culture to be experienced here especially around the old town area which is a settlement of ancient Chinese traders. Riding around the interiors and the many villages of the island can be a fun experience too. There are a couple of waterfalls and a cave on this island which we also recommend to visit. Koh Lanta is also a good transit point for a few day trips to the nearby islands.

Ko Ngai

Ko Ngai Island is quite a special place for us. We have been to other islands in Thailand and Indonesia but something about this island was attracted us like nothing before. This island is truly one of the most beautiful places not just in Thailand but anywhere in the world. We visited Koh Ngai during the 4-island day trip from Koh Lanta. The island was absolutely pure and quite picturesque with the mountains at the backdrop of the lovely beach. The waters were crystal clear with some really good spots for snorkeling right off the beach. Although a small place, this island was truly magical even if we were there for only a couple of hours. We will definitely stay at Koh Ngai at least for an entire day to truly experience this place.

Maya Bay (Ko Phi Phi Le)

Maya Bay is actually a beach on the Phi Phi Le Island and is a perfect example of excessive tourism in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Since 2019, the bay was closed for tourists by the authorities to give time for the surrounding ecosystem to heal. Till then, this place used to get very crowded with tons of tourists always seen at the beach. Nevertheless, this place is a beautiful cove surrounded by cliffs on three sides and the waters are gorgeous turquoise blue with colourful fishes swimming right off the beach. When the place opens up again, it would be interesting to witness the thriving marine life in those beautiful waters, expecting a peaceful time at the beach would be quite unrealistic. With or without tourists, Maya Bay is definitely one of the most visually stunning places you will ever see.

Koh Samui

Saving the best for the last, Koh Samui holds a special place in our lives as we were lucky to call this island our home for two months when we lived here in 2019. If there is one island in Thailand where we almost completely experienced the essence of that place, this is it. This island is a perfect balance between the wild party vibes and peaceful tropical paradise. Whether you want to catch the sunrise or sunsets, this island is dotted some lovely beaches. Equally breathtaking are the hilly interiors of the island and during the rains, they completely transform this place into something quite magical. However, the best part of Koh Samui are the night markets on every evening of the week at different locations across the island. For us, this was the complete island which had everything for every kind of traveler. This island is also where we experienced our first ever lockdown, owing to a tropical super-storm.

Our Thailand travels have a long way to go especially with the islands. When we can safely travel again, the islands of Koh Chang, Koh Kood, Phi Phi, Koh Tao and many more will be on our list. Hopefully, we can continue to add to the list of our top islands in Thailand.