Thailand's islands sit on three different coasts with opposite rainy seasons. Pick the right sea for your dates first, then the island that matches your style — this page lays out all 13 side by side.
Travelling November to April? Head to the Andaman Sea (Phuket, Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe) or the east coast (Koh Chang). Travelling June to August? The Gulf of Thailand (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao) is usually the drier bet. For a first trip, Koh Lanta (easy-going) and Koh Samui (comfortable, year-round) are the safest picks.
Three seas, three calendars
Thailand's monsoons hit its coasts at different times. The west-facing Andaman coast gets the south-west monsoon from about May to October; the Gulf islands get most of their rain later, roughly October to December. That's why there's always a sunny island somewhere.
The postcard coast: limestone cliffs, emerald water, sunsets over the sea. Busiest and priciest around Christmas and New Year.
Full Andaman Sea guideSofter landscapes, coconut palms and warm, shallow water. The go-to choice for a July–August trip, when the Andaman side is wet.
Full Gulf of Thailand guideClosest islands to Bangkok by road, jungle-covered and less developed. Koh Chang is the base; quieter Koh Kood is a boat ride away.
Full East coast guideIsland picker
Choose a coast, your travel month and what you want from the trip. Islands in their best season for that month rise to the top.
Coast
I want
13 islands match
Gulf of ThailandThe island of coconut palms, exceptional spas and Ang Thong marine park
Best months
Budget€50–120 / day
Gulf of ThailandTwo faces: legendary parties and zen yoga sanctuaries
Best months
Budget€30–65 / day
Gulf of ThailandThe mecca of scuba diving and sea turtles
Best months
Budget€28–50 / day
Andaman SeaSino-Portuguese heritage, renowned cuisine and grand bays
Best months
Budget€45–110 / day
Andaman SeaThe legendary Maya Bay and cliffs rising from the ocean
Best months
Budget€40–80 / day
Andaman SeaEasy living, wild beaches and golden sunsets
Best months
Budget€30–55 / day
Andaman SeaThe Maldives of Thailand: powdery sand and coral reefs
Best months
Budget€40–85 / day
East coastElephant Island: inland waterfalls and untouched jungle
Best months
Budget€25–50 / day
East coastThe wildest island in the East: jungle, waterfalls and crystal-clear water
Best months
Budget€40–80 / day
East coastCoconut palms, bikes and empty bays between Koh Chang and Koh Kood
Best months
Budget€35–65 / day
East coastThe closest beach to Bangkok, fine sand and quiet coves
Best months
Budget€35–70 / day
Andaman SeaRice paddies, buffalo and limestone peaks in the heart of Phang Nga Bay
Best months
Budget€40–85 / day
Andaman SeaKoh Ngai, Kradan and Muk: turquoise lagoons and the Emerald Cave
Best months
Budget€40–80 / day
| Island | Coast | € / day | Season (J → D) | Cars? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koh Samui | Gulf of Thailand | €50–120 | JFMAMJJASOND | Yes |
| Koh Phangan | Gulf of Thailand | €30–65 | JFMAMJJASOND | Yes |
| Koh Tao | Gulf of Thailand | €28–50 | JFMAMJJASOND | Yes |
| Phuket | Andaman Sea | €45–110 | JFMAMJJASOND | Yes |
| Koh Phi Phi | Andaman Sea | €40–80 | JFMAMJJASOND | No |
| Koh Lanta | Andaman Sea | €30–55 | JFMAMJJASOND | Yes |
| Koh Lipe | Andaman Sea | €40–85 | JFMAMJJASOND | No |
| Koh Chang | East coast | €25–50 | JFMAMJJASOND | Yes |
| Koh Kood | East coast | €40–80 | JFMAMJJASOND | Yes |
| Koh Mak | East coast | €35–65 | JFMAMJJASOND | Yes |
| Koh Samet | East coast | €35–70 | JFMAMJJASOND | Yes |
| Koh Yao Noi | Andaman Sea | €40–85 | JFMAMJJASOND | Yes |
| Trang Islands | Andaman Sea | €40–80 | JFMAMJJASOND | No |
Daily budgets are indicative ranges for a mid-range traveller (accommodation, food, local transport, one activity), in euros. Month ratings come from each island's ideal season in our data; "mixed" months are usually fine but less reliable. Car-free means no cars on the island (only walking paths, bikes, carts or boats).
Which island for you?
Our top three for each kind of trip, based on the activities, budget and logistics of each island.
Short transfers, calm beaches, a real choice of family hotels and a hospital nearby matter more than anything else. More ideas in our guide to Thailand with kids.
Clear water, reefs within easy reach and dive schools for every level, from first breath to advanced.
For beach bars, fire shows and nights that end at sunrise, starting with the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan.
Few crowds, lots of nature, and evenings that end with the sound of the sea.
Beautiful water, sunset dinners and a mix of boutique and luxury stays. See our Thailand honeymoon guide for full routes.
Put them side by side in the comparator: budget, weather by month, activities and the distance between them.
Compare two islandsIsland hopping
These chains follow real, regular ferry and speedboat links, so you never have to backtrack to the mainland. Crossing times are typical; operators and timetables change with the season.
The classic Gulf loop: comfort on Samui, beaches and parties on Phangan, diving on Tao. Catamarans link all three several times a day (see the Koh Samui to Koh Tao ferry guide); ideal for a summer holiday.
Best months for this route: Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep
Land in Phuket, spend a couple of nights on car-free Phi Phi (our Phuket to Koh Phi Phi boat guide covers the crossing), then slow right down on Koh Lanta. Easy to reverse and finish with a flight home from Krabi.
Best months for this route: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · Nov · Dec
From Railay's cliffs to Koh Lipe's reefs near the Malaysian border. The Lanta – Lipe leg is long, so book the day before and expect a bumpy ride.
Best months for this route: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · Nov · Dec
The quiet alternative close to Bangkok: Koh Chang's jungle and beaches, then the clear rivers and near-empty bays of Koh Kood. Speedboats run in the dry season.
Best months for this route: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · Nov · Dec
FAQ
It depends what you call beautiful. For dramatic scenery — limestone cliffs over turquoise water, as in our best beaches in Thailand — Koh Phi Phi and the Krabi coast are hard to beat. For clear water and reefs right off the beach, Koh Lipe. For long, quiet beaches and golden sunsets, Koh Lanta. Most travellers combine two or three of these on the Andaman side between November and April.
Koh Samui or Phuket if you want easy logistics (each has its own international airport) and a wide choice of hotels. Koh Lanta if you prefer something calmer but still easy to reach from Krabi airport. Our first trip to Thailand guide helps with the rest. Pick the coast by your travel dates first: Andaman from November to April, Gulf from roughly January to September.
Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lipe have no cars: you get around on foot, by bicycle, by motorbike taxi on narrow paths or by long-tail boat. Railay, on the mainland near Krabi, is also only reachable by boat and has no roads.
Count at least 3 nights per island so you are not spending your holiday on boats. In 7 to 10 days you can comfortably combine two or three islands on the same coast; with two weeks you can add Bangkok or the North before or after, as in our 14-day Thailand itinerary.
Among the islands we compare, Koh Chang and Koh Tao have the lowest daily budgets, from roughly €25–30 a day for a simple bungalow, street food and a scooter. Koh Samui and Phuket are the priciest on average, though both have cheaper corners. Price your own trip with the Thailand budget calculator.
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By Kylian Dev