Which Thai island is right for you?

Looking for the best islands in Thailand?

From party hotspots like Phuket to hidden gems like Koh Jum, here's our guide to some of our favourite postcard-pretty isles.

Best time to visit Thailand’s islands

A question we're always asked is when is the best time to visit Thailand’s islands? Overall, the west coast islands are at their best from November to April, when the seas are calm and skies are clear. The east coast islands, like Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, tend to have more sunshine between January and August, making them a great choice for summer holidays.

Rocky's Boutique Resort

Koh Samui

Best for: the good all-rounder

Koh Samui is perfect for first timers to Thailand. There are many things to do here, from shopping at Fisherman's Village market to a cultural trip to the famous Big Buddha landmark. For honeymoons or romantic escapes, we love Rocky’s Boutique Resort, a charming couples’ retreat with Thai French dining by the shore, beachfront massages and the warmest of welcomes.

Make it a holiday: Our Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Koh Samui itinerary gives you three sides of Thailand: Bangkok for temples and street food, Chiang Mai’s sacred hills and elephant sanctuaries then long, lazy days with your toes in the sand on Koh Samui.

Koh Chang

Best for: jungle trails and hidden beaches

Thailand’s third largest island still feels wild, with 70% rainforest and a national park core. Between beach days, trek to waterfalls, kayak through mangroves or take boat trips to tiny uninhabited islets. Snorkelling is superb, seafood is fresh and you’ll find stylish resorts in secluded bays with infinity pools set against a jungle backdrop.

Make it a holiday: Experience Thailand beyond the beach with time in Bangkok and our two-night River Kwai Highlights tour, then unwind on Koh Chang’s seashell-strewn beaches.

Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas

Koh Yao Yai

Best for: secret shores and easy adventures

Koh Yao Yai is where Thailand’s untouched beauty really shines, with lush rice paddies, verdant rubber groves and wide sandy bays framed by limestone peaks. Daily life here feels unhurried and authentic: local fishermen cast nets from longtail boats, village shops sell handmade shell crafts and friendly smiles outnumber streetlights. Stay in leafy luxury at a resort like Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas to take yoga classes at dusk and kayak through pretty Phang Nga Bay.

Make it a holiday: Our Thailand Island Hopping itinerary takes you from upbeat Phuket to hushed Koh Yao Yai and on to jungle fringed Krabi, mixing city energy with quiet beaches and colourful underwater worlds.

Layana Resort & Spa

Koh Lanta

Best for: a holiday away from the crowds

Koh Lanta's carefree, soulful attitude gives the isle real character. As one of the less-populated areas in Thailand, this is a great spot for a castaway stay. The calm waters shelter a prismatic array of marine life – no motorised watersports are allowed, making snorkelling, diving and kayaking the perfect way to explore the shallows. You'll find the quaint Layana Resort & Spa on the blonde sands of a striking mile-long beach. Watch mesmerising orange sunsets as you taste zesty fruit shakes by the ocean or indulge in an exotic coconut scrub treatment at the spa.

Make it a holiday: Our Thailand Wellness itinerary takes you from Bangkok’s rooftop boxing rings to aerial yoga by the beach in Koh Lanta, finishing with rainforest dips in volcanic hot springs.

Koh Jum

Best for: barefoot island living

Tiny Koh Jum, off Krabi’s coast, moves at hammock speed. Expect coral sand beaches like Coconut and Golden Pearl, rope swings over shallows and fresh crab dinners in rustic beach shacks. Hire a bike to explore the whole island in an hour or take a boat to Phi Phi’s paintbox reefs for snorkelling. Bungalow resorts and driftwood reggae bars give this tiny isle a free spirited edge.

Make it a holiday: Live the bohemian life at Koh Jum Beach Villas, then switch to the luxurious Banyan Tree Krabi – an elegant hideaway with Andaman island views.

James Bond Island

Phuket

Best for: party nights and day-trip delights

Phuket is big on entertainment. Patong is brash, with exotic bars, nightclubs and neon lit streets famous for parties. We know hotels just a short walk or tuk tuk ride away, some set on almost deserted beaches so you can relax but still dip into the action. Kata is another lively hub with great bars, restaurants and surfing spots. And no holiday here is complete without a trip to the Big Buddha and a speedboat ride to James Bond Island.

Make it a holiday: Our Thailand Beaches & Jungle itinerary pairs two standout beach stays with Elephant Hills, an award winning jungle camp where you’ll meet rescued elephants and sleep under the stars.

Ocean Pool Villa, Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas

Koh Phangan 

Best for: tucked away beaches and spellbinding sunsets

Koh Phangan is well-known for its full moon party scene, but we know another side to the island where you can flee the non-stop nature of Haad Rin. The island is a 30-minute boat ride north of Koh Samui, so it's easy to combine islands, and the clear, deep waters are ideal for diving. On land, set off in search of Nam Tok Phaeng waterfall or head to Thong Sala night market for tasty seafood and spicy noodles.

Make it a holiday: Pair Koh Samui’s foodie markets and beach clubs with pool suite living at the blissfully serene Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas.

SAii Phi Phi Island Village

Koh Phi Phi

Best for: knockout scenery and island thrills

You can't help but be starstruck by Koh Phi Phi's sapphire shores and sugary sands. Explore Maya Bay, the filming location of The Beach, where towering limestone rocks border the blue and weathered canoes float along the shore. Spend an afternoon wandering around the island's craft shops before stopping for an ice-cold drink at one of the hip bars, or take the 30-minute climb up to the viewpoint. It does involve a steep hike up winding steps, but the view at the top is so worth it.

Make it a holiday: Our Thailand Honeymoon itinerary mixes elephant encounters in Northern Thailand with snorkelling in Phi Phi, finishing in style with Phuket beaches and Bangkok nights.

Paradee Resort

Koh Samet

Best for: an authentic taste of real Thailand

Sleepy Koh Samet is one of the closest islands to Thailand's vibrant capital, Bangkok. You don't need to fly there like most other Thai islands – a three-hour car journey from the city and a 45-minute speedboat ride will take you to this understated paradise. Koh Samet is classified as a national park, so you'll be spoilt with woodlands and exciting wildlife, from sea turtles to flat-head geckos.

Make it a holiday: Start with Bangkok’s street food and sky bars, then retreat to Paradee, a boutique resort in a marine national park with just 40 villas tucked in tropical gardens spilling down to the sea.

This feature was updated on 31st July 2025. The information is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. Feature by Heather Flanagan.