10 Best Islands in Thailand for Snorkeling Beaches Nightlife
imagine booking your dream trip to Thailand, and ended up here or here or here Thailand are some of the most stunning islands in the world, but not every one of them is worth a visit.
Koh Lipe for Snorkeling and Clear Tropical Water
just off the shore. It’s been called the Maldives of Thailand, and it’s known for its crystal clear waters you can literally just walk out your hotel and into the water and you’ll be surrounded by coral reefs which are filled with bright and colorful tropical fish it’s one of the smaller Islands on the list and it only has three main beaches, which means it’s easy to explore Pattaya Beach is the main nightlife area and the Sunrise Beach and Sunset Beach where you can you know watch the sunrise and sunset the island is called Koh Lipe, and although it’s a great option it’s a little tricky to get to because the airport is a few hours ride away by bus and by boat so I actually don’t recommend it for people who only have a short time in Thailand.
Koh Chang for Jungle Hiking and Diving
growing up I was obsessed with a TV show Lost and this next location reminds me most of the island on the show whilst it probably isn’t a giant smoke monster running around it’s the wildest island in the country, and its jungle interior is home to monkeys elephants and even snakes. In fact there’s even a type of frog named after the island. This island has a stunning Mountain interior that’s covered in a dense jungle this makes it perfect for hikers to explore as there are plenty of hiking routes to explore, hidden waterfalls if you have your PADI Advanced diving certificate, this island is one of the most adventurous dive sites in the country. Lying at the bottom of the ocean is a historic warship that served in both World War II and the Korean War and can now be explored by those brave enough to dive that deep the island is known as Koh Chang, which literally translates to Elephant island. The only thing I don’t like about the island is getting around it if you ride a scooter this island is notorious for accidents because of the steep winding roads so be careful when riding here.
Phuket for Luxury Culture and Nightlife
there is one island in Thailand that has it all looking for luxury hotels and find dining got it while parties that go on all night it’s here stunning temples and a fascinating history look no further than the next island. This island is home to one of the most unique places in the whole of Thailand the old town is one of the only parts of the country that was colonized by European explorers so the area is famous for its mix of European and Asian architecture it’s also home to the most Michelin recommended street food stands outside of Bangkok its most famous monument though has to be the big Buddha, which is a Tower and Statue overlooking the island. The island. It also has one of the wildest night lives in the country Bangla Road is the place to party all night but there’s also plenty of decent cocktail bars with views overlooking the ocean.
the island is called Phuket some people complain this island is a bit too touristy compared to other Islands but it’s actually the biggest island in Thailand there’s plenty of places to find that are less crowded but if you are looking for something quieter then you should probably check out our next Beach.
Koh Mak for Laid Back Beaches and Bungalows
the next item on our list is the Koh Mak of Thai Islands because it is the most laid-back Vibe of any Island on the list the island is Co in a dense jungle and it’s perfect to explore by scooter on motorbike very little development has taken place here so if you’re looking for pristine beaches without Tower and hotels then this is the place for you this island is famous for its wooden Beach Bungalow which are cheap to rent as well as the stone bars to chill in but if you’re looking for something a little bit more lively, then this island might not be the place for you.
Koh Phi Phi for Shark Point and Island Hopping
ever since I was little I’ve always wanted to swim with sharks and on this next Island. My childhood Dream came true because it’s home of the single best snorkling spot in the whole of Thailand known as shark point if I’m putting you off don’t worry the spot is just a small section on the island. It’s home to black tip reef sharks which are relatively small only grown up about a meter long and harmless to humans the spot is also home to starfish angelfish cuttlefish and Eels.
the longtail boat trips that you can take from this island are some of the best in the world, as you explore some of the Hidden paradises that exist in the surrounded Islands these trips will take you to Emerald Lagoon monkey Beach and Maya Bay the island is Koh Phi Phi and it’s one of the most famous islands in the country, and for good reason it’s absolutely stunning and has a banging nightlife scene it’s one of the smaller Islands on the list so it can get a big crowded during peak season so if you want to avoid crowds you might want to check out this next Island on the list.
Koh Kood for Secluded Beaches and Luxury Resorts
what if I told you there was one island in Thailand that has some of the most beautiful beaches in the country whilst also being one of the most secluded. It’s also home to some of the best luxury resorts in Thailand the island is perfect for exploring by scooter as the roads here are not too dangerous it’s covered in Lush rainforest with plenty of waterfalls to explore and swimming the island is less commercialized and less crowded compared to other Thai Islands offering a more peaceful experience the island is known as Koh Kood it’s located right up in the northeast of Thailand next to the Cambodian border my only complaint with this island is that it lacks a bit of nightlife there are very few bars that are open late and because it’s aimed more towards luxury Travelers it makes it quite difficult to visit this place on a budget.
Koh Samet for Thai Food and Easy Access from Bangkok
luckily the next Island on the list is more affordable and accessible I probably shouldn’t tell you this but there’s one island in Thailand that the Thai people want to keep all to themselves.
this island Samet is more of a Thai tourist which really makes it stand out compared to other Islands on the list one problem I have with some of the Thai islands is that the actual Thai food isn’t quite as good as it is in Bangkok or the north but this island has a much more local flavor to it as it’s probably the best island in the country for Thai food this island is by far the closest to Bangkok on the list so if you’re only in the country for a short time or you just passing through Bangkok this is the best option for you it’s also considerably cheaper than all the other items on the list the island is called Koh Samet, and it’s about 3 hours drive from Bangkok. Like I said this is more geared towards Thai tourism so if you came a tent to meet other travelers from around the world this might not be for you.
Koh Phangan for Full Moon Parties and Wellness
the next island is one of the most popular Islands to visit in the whole of Thailand, and for good reason it’s one of the larger islands on the list and has some stud in hidden beaches to explore as well as Lush jungles waterfalls and hidden hiking trails over the years this island has become a wellness Mecca and there are numerous Beach yoga centers on meditation retreats.
in terms of boat trips the stunning Anton Marine Park lies just off the coast which is a collection of 42 uninhabited islands to explore but the number one thing this island is famous for is for the full moon parties that take place at Haad Rin Beach each month thousands of people gather a party all through the night and this is one of the biggest party spots in the whole country Koh Phangan is the island, and it has something to offer for everyone this island does get a little crowded around the full moon parties which can ruin the scenery a little bit but otherwise it’s perfect.
Koh Tao for Diving and Marine Life
meet George the oldest and wisest creature that’s lived in our next Island for over 50 years he can reliably be found every day swimming at the southern tip of the island he’s not the only creature that lives here though and this island is the best island to experience Thailand‘s marine life including reef sharks manta rays and even whale sharks in fact it’s one of the cheapest places in the world to get your Patty diving certificate and there are hundreds of well-qualified diving schools to learn from it also has some of the calmest Waters in Thailand so it’s one of the easiest and safest places to learn to dive as well.
the north of the island you can visit Nang Yuan Island which is a unique structure because of its white Sandbar that connects three islands together at low tide you can walk across it this is Koh Tao island, and it lies in the Gulf of Thailand the only problem is getting here it takes a few hours by boat to get here from the mainland and sometimes the journey can be quite Rocky so it’s not ideal for those who get seasick.
Koh Wai for a Secluded Desert Island Escape
if you’ve ever wanted to escape from the world to experience White Sands that go on for Miles with no one on it then this is the island for you this island is far less commercialized than others and they’re just a few guest houses on it this is the smallest island on the list and it’s completely flat meaning it’s perfect to explore by scooter you can hire a longtail boat to take you across to explore the secluded island of Koh Kham or take a stroll on the eerily empty Cinnamon Boardwalk this is Koh Wai and it lies between Koh Chang and Koh Kood so it’s the perfect stop-off between the two with this island you have to be certain that you want that secluded desert island feel though there are far less bars and restaurants here to explore than any other Island on list you can still get a beer and a nice meal but very few Travelers ever make it here so they don’t tend to stay open late.
