Best Islands to Visit in Thailand
If you’re looking for a cheap paradise destination, look no further. Thailand is by far the most beautiful and paradisiac country I’ve ever visited!
Amazingly enough, it doesn’t come with a huge pricetag.
When it comes to planning that dream trip to Thailand, the hardest part is deciding where to go. There are more than a thousand islands in this tropical country and so many of them look like heaven.
So many of them are worth visiting, but after being in Thailand three times and visiting countless islands, I do think these are the best islands to visit in Thailand.
Koh Lipe
I’ve talked so much about Koh Lipe that sometimes I wonder if people get tired of me raving about it.
It really is one of my favorite places in the entire World, which is why I couldn’t start this list by mentioning any other place.
Koh Lipe is the southermost island in Thailand and for the tiny island that it is, it really has so much to offer. As soon as you get there, you will get the small-island-vibe that everyone falls in love with and I am sure you will want to stay for as long as possible.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE: Read This Before Visiting Koh Lipe
Koh Lipe isn’t the easiest island to reach in Thailand. It’s not located close to Bangkok, Phuket or any other ultra-popular touristic parts of the countries, which means it takes some commitment to get there.
Many people let that stop them from going there, which I think is a mistake.
Places that are slightly difficult to reach are often the most worthy of visiting, which is exactly the case here! Read the blog post above to learn how to get to Koh Lipe and I can guarantee you that you won’t regret going there.


Koh Lipe is so worth the effort to get to
The tiny paradisiac island of Koh Lipe has some of the best beaches I’ve ever seen in my life and it’s not nearly as crowded as I expected.
This paradise island is perfect for backpackers, families with small kids and couples looking for a relaxing vacation away from the overcrowded Phi Phi islands and Phuket areas. Plus, after visiting those iconic places in Thailand, I can guarantee you that Koh Lipe is a million times more beautiful than all of them put together.
If you’re wondering if Koh Lipe is worth visiting, read more about it here. You’ll see why this island made me fall in love with Thailand and why it has to be on your travel bucket list.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE: This Tiny Island You’ve Never Heard of is Better Than the Maldives
Similan Islands
If you want to visit a place that looks exactly like the Seychelles but don‘t wanna break the budget, there’s a magical place that needs to be on your Thailand itinerary.
This place is called Similan Islands and it’s a beatiful archilepago composed by 11 islands, about 70 kms off the Phang Nga Province.
These gorgeous islands have some of the most turquoise waters I’ve ever seen and they became one of my favorite places to visit in Thailand. More than the famous Koh Phi Phi or Koh Samui, the Similan Islands will give you the untouched paradisiac vibe we are all looking for when we travel to tropical locations.


The Similan Islands in Thailand have some of the most turquoise waters I have ever seen
If you want to visit these pristine islands, keep in mind that it’s not possible to stay there overnight. The Similan Islands are not inhabited and there is almost no infrastructure there, because they are located in a Natural Park that the Government is trying to protect.
So the only way to go there is on a day tour from Phuket or Krabi.
I took this day tour and was so happy with it that I still think about going back and repeating it to this day! The staff was amazing, the places we visited for snorkeling were absolutely out of this World and the islands we went to on the Similan Archipelago were places I will never forget in my life.
Koh Mak
Even less discovered than Koh Lipe, Koh Mak is the definition of paradise on Earth to me.
This small island near the famous island of Koh Chang is home to only 700 people and the crowds of tourists have somehow not arrived there yet.
I would recommend Koh Mak especially if you want a relaxed vacation as a solo traveler, a couple or a family. The low-key vibe of this island will slow you down as soon as you get to the pier and I can guarantee you that you will feel a peaceful atmosphere like not many other places can offer.

Koh Mak is one of the most peaceful places I ever visited
The island is small but it offers some amazing beaches with coconut trees and powdery white sand that you will definitely fall in love with.
The best beach in Koh Mak is called Ao Kao Beach and you will find the dreamiest place on the whole island right in front of Lazy Day The Resort Koh Mak.
I cannot even guess how many hours I spent floating around that coconut tree, overlooking the paradisiac Ao Kao Beach. And the best part is that, even though I visited during the high season (December), I practically had the beach to myself!
To be honest, I can barely believe this island is not overcrowded with tourists by now.
Koh Mak is one of my favorite islands in Thailand
Koh Kood
Last but not least, the beautiful island of Koh Kood is one of the best places to visit in Thailand.
Especially if you’re looking for an island that is quite easily acessible from Bangkok, Koh Kood is the perfect option for you. The trip takes several hours but the transportation options are great! Click the link below to find out how to get from Bangkok to Koh Kood.
This pristine island located in the Gulf of Thailand is full of coconut trees and some of the best beaches I have ever seen. But somehow it’s still not crowded with tourists like the famous islands of Phi Phi and the Krabi region.
It’s the perfect option for people looking for undiscovered paradise!
Koh Kood is one of the best islands to visit in Thailand
The paradisiac beaches of Koh Kood are ideal for beach bums like myself, who are more than happy to spend hours splashing around and admiring the tropical settings.
There are so many great beaches on the island, so the difficult part might be to choose which one to go to. Some great options are Bang Bao Beach and Ao Taphao Beach, but my absolute favorite was Khlong Chao Beach.
You’ll find some gorgeous coconut trees reclined by the water, straight in front of the island’s best hotel: High Season Pool Villa & Spa. That’s where I spent most of my time in Koh Kood and I just couldn’t get enough of that turquoise water.
Koh Kood has some of the most gorgeous beaches lined with coconut trees
If you want to fill your days with some action after so much relaxation, Koh Kood has you covered as well.
If you like snorkeling, Koh Kood is the perfect place for it. There are plenty of day tours that will take you to amazing snorkeling spots where you can see all the marine life that the Gulf of Thailand has to offer. This tour even includes a buffet lunch for less than 30€ per person.
If you would like to experience what many people describe as lifechanging, perhaps you would like to give diving a chance while you’re in Koh Kood. Click the links below to find options for beginners or to get a Diving Certificate.
I hope this blog post inspired you to visit Thailand and discover some of these paradisiac islands that truly deserve a visit in the Land of Smiles! Thailand will always be one of my absolute favorite countries and I am sure you will fall in love with it, no matter which of these islands you decide to visit.
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