Island Hopping in Thailand: Which Route, and When?

Which coast is in season when?

Your travel dates choose the coast for you, not the other way round.

From May to October, the southwest monsoon brings swell to the Andaman Sea: the Phuket–Phi Phi ferries keep running, but Lanta and Lipe speedboats stop and many resorts close. At that time of year the Gulf is at its best. From October to December it is the reverse: the northeast monsoon reaches Samui, Phangan and Tao, while the Andaman comes back to life. Month-by-month details are in our rainy season guide and when to go page.

Gulf route: Samui → Phangan → Tao

The easiest hop in the country: three islands lined up north of Samui, with boats every hour or two.

Start on Samui, the most comfortable, with an airport and big beaches (Chaweng, Lamai, Bophut). Phangan is 20 to 30 minutes away: jungle, quiet bays in the north and west, and the Full Moon Party in Haad Rin once a month. Finish on Tao, the country’s diving school, where a four-day Open Water course fits naturally. The reverse direction works just as well.

Details of piers, timetables and the choice between catamaran and slow ferry are in our Koh Samui to Koh Tao guide. To get to Samui, see Bangkok to Koh Samui: plane, or train and boat for a much smaller budget.

Andaman route: Krabi → Phi Phi → Lanta → Lipe

The limestone cliffs, the clear water and the postcard images: the most beautiful route, but only from November to April.

Railay and Ao Nang for the cliffs and kayaking, then two nights on Phi Phi: enough for the viewpoint, a boat trip and Maya Bay, not so much that the crowds wear you down. Lanta is the long, relaxed break, with wide beaches and families. Lipe, at the southern tip, has the best snorkelling on the route. Starting from Phuket instead of Krabi? Swap the first stop and take the ferry described in Phuket to Koh Phi Phi.

The Lanta to Lipe speedboat stops at the Trang islands (Koh Ngai, Koh Mook, Koh Kradan) along the way: an easy extra stop if you have time. Out of season, the boats between Phi Phi, Lanta and Lipe stop. Lanta can then be reached by minivan and car ferry, see Krabi to Koh Lanta, and Lipe only from Pak Bara.

Eastern route: Koh Chang → Koh Mak → Koh Kood

The least known of the three, and the closest to Bangkok: calm islands, short crossings, few crowds.

Koh Chang is the big green island, with waterfalls and the livelier west-coast beaches. Koh Mak is flat, small and quiet, perfect by bicycle. Koh Kood has the clearest water in the east and beaches with almost no one on them. The route suits a first trip or children: short, sheltered crossings, no airport needed.

How do you cross from one coast to the other?

The Gulf and the Andaman are only 200 km apart, but you have to cross the peninsula by road.

From Koh Tao, joint tickets also run via Chumphon to Krabi and Phuket, but count on a very long day. Linking the east (Koh Chang) with the south goes back through Bangkok: a domestic flight to Samui, Krabi or Phuket from Bangkok airport is the most sensible option. Overland alternatives from the capital are in Bangkok to Krabi.

Book ahead or buy on the spot?

Both work: it depends on the season and how flexible you want to stay.

• From December to February, book the popular boats 2 to 3 days ahead, and a week ahead at Christmas and Chinese New Year
• In shoulder season, buy the day before from your guesthouse or at the pier: same price, full flexibility
• Choose a ticket with a transfer from your hotel to the pier: taxis on the islands are expensive
• Take the morning boat: the sea is calmer and you arrive in daylight
• Keep a buffer day before a flight: a cancelled boat is rare, but it happens

The big operators are reliable and easy to book online: Lomprayah and Seatran in the Gulf, Tigerline, Satun Pakbara and Bundhaya in the Andaman, Boonsiri and Kood Express in the east. You get an e-ticket or a voucher to exchange at the pier. Keep it on your phone and as a screenshot, as the connection is sometimes weak on the islands.

Book your boats and your nights

The main hops of the three routes, and your hotels island by island.

Luggage and seasickness: how to make the crossings easy

A ferry day goes smoothly with a light bag and a few habits.

• A backpack or soft bag: you will carry it over sand, gangways and longtails
• Keep 20 kg as a maximum, the usual limit on speedboats
• A small dry bag for passport, phone and money on the deck
• Take a seasickness tablet 30 to 60 minutes before boarding
• Sit at the back and low down on a speedboat, look at the horizon, avoid a heavy breakfast

Suitcases on wheels are fine on Samui or Koh Chang, much less so on Phi Phi or Lipe, where the pier is followed by sand paths and sometimes a wade to the boat. The full checklist is in our packing list.

How long for an island-hopping trip?

The mistake is the same everywhere: too many islands for too few days.

Count half a day per crossing, including the transfer and check-in. To compare all the islands, their atmosphere and budget, see our Thailand islands guide, then build your trip in the itinerary planner.