The document discusses island hopping options in various regions of Thailand, providing details on beaches, activities, nightlife, and accommodations available at different island bases. It suggests starting an island hopping trip from bases like Koh Samui, Phuket, or Krabi, then exploring nearby islands like Koh Tao, Koh Phi Phi, or Tarutao National Park islands. Many islands have secluded beaches, diving, hiking, and other outdoor activities for exploring during the day, with some like Koh Phangan also hosting famous full moon parties. Accommodations range from budget options to high-end resorts. The various islands and regions offer different atmospheres, from busy tourist areas to more remote relaxed locales.

1. Island hopping in Thailand | CNN Travel
Volumes have been published about Thailand's palm-peppered islands and sugar-coated beaches,
their writers waxing lyrical about pillow soft sand and crystalline waters.
But with so many coastal choices, it can be a challenge to pick the perfect stretch of sand.
Seasonal weather definitely has a bearing on destination decisions.
The best bet for sunshine on the west coast (Andaman Sea) is November to April; while on the east
coast (Gulf of Thailand), it's January to September.
Veteran Thai travelers always check ahead before heading to lesser-visited destinations -- many
hotels, resorts and restaurants in non-A-list places close for the low season.
Choosing a full-service beachside base camp to begin a journey is a smart approach.
You can strike out from any number of such bases by using the network of ferries that connect
Thailand's islands.
Base camp: Trang or Satun
Beautiful but isolated Koh Rawi is located about 40 kilometers west of Tarutao.
Closest airports: Hat Yai International Airport (HDY), Trang Airport (TST)
Radial islands: Tarutao National Marine Park, Petra National Marine Park, Koh Mook, Koh Ngai, Koh
Kradan
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Koh Mook's Tham Morakot (Morakot Cave) can be accessed only through an 80-meter-long tunnel
during low tide, which leads to an open-air chamber surrounded by overgrown cliffs.
To fully appreciate the white sand inside the sea cave and for the emerald green of the pool to really
dazzle, visit on a sunny day.
Activities include dugong sighting trips off Koh Libong; island-hopping and stopping off to see the
iconic stone arch at Koh Kai; visiting Koh Hin Ngam, a tiny island covered with polished black
stones, where a sign warns that a curse will fall on those who remove any pebbles.
There are waterfalls on Koh Adang and Koh Tarutao, the latter with two prison ruins. Trekkers can
hit the trails through the interiors of Koh Ngai (aka Koh Hai) and Koh Sukorn.
For rock climbing and bouldering -- previously only associated with Krabi -- Koh Lao Liang is starting
to attract enthusiasts with operators such as Andaman Adventures offering personalized itineraries.
Chill
Tarutao National Marine Park consists of the Tarutao and Adang-Rawi archipelagos, the latter of

2. which is home to the increasingly popular Koh Lipe.
The islands of the Petra archipelago are split between Trang and Satun provinces, and include Koh
Libong, Koh Bulon Lae and the twin islands of Koh Lao Liang.
The cursed stones of Koh Hin Ngam. Ye be warned, island hopper. Between them, the two marine
national parks include more than 80 islands with countless beaches to discover.
With most of the islands protected under national marine park status, visitors have their pick for
scuba diving, snorkeling or just plain lazing on the sand.
It should be noted that the overall lack of tourist development means most of the islands don't have
electricity around the clock, nor ATMs, but they do come with bucket-loads of tropical idyll.
Party
There really isn't a nightlife scene to speak of on the offshore islands of the coastal provinces of
Satun and north-bordering Trang, with the exception of perhaps Pattaya Beach on Koh Lipe.
Stay
International hotel brands don't have a presence here, but there are plenty of lovely independent
hotels, from the hip Idyllic Concept Resort on Koh Lipe and Koh Mook Sivalai to the rustic luxury of
the Seven Seas Resort on Koh Kradan.
Basic national park accommodation on Koh Tarutao, Koh Adang and Koh Petra, starting from 500
baht ($15) per night, can be booked 60 days in advance through the Department of National Parks
website (www.dnp.go.th under the Tarutao National Park and Mu Koh Phetra National Park drop-
down list) or by calling +66 (0) 2562 0760.
Useful links:Trang travel guide,Satunthailand.com
Base camp: Phuket or Krabi
It's too bad they don't give out awards for bad travel puns. 'Cause we've got a winner, folks:
"Feeling crabby? Go to Krabi."
Closest airports: Phuket International Airport (HKT), Krabi International Airport (KBV)
Radial islands: Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Yao Yai/Noi, Koh Racha, Koh Hae (Coral Island). Regular
ferries and speedboats run from Phuket and Krabi to these outlying islands and can be booked
through most hotels.
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Water activities abound at all the main beaches in Phuket, be it parasailing, jet skiing, or even
kitesurfing off Kata Beach.
From scuba diving around the Similan Islands (one of the best locations in Asia) to snorkeling day

3. trips to Koh Hae, the underwater scenery in Andaman waters can be spectacular if you know where
and when to look.
During the November to April high season, snorkelers can explore the coral right off the shores of
Kata Yai beach in Phuket.
During the rainier "green" season, the waters around nearby Koh Racha provide better clarity.
Professional operators such as Siam Dive n' Sail offer liveaboards and yacht charters to explore the
teeming waters.
Dotted with limestone outcrops, Ton Sai and Railay are popular rock climbing destinations. The
island of Koh Yao Noi follows close behind for vertical rock face escapades. These places offer a
different vantage point on Krabi's theatrical seascape.
And, of course, "The Beach" was filmed at Koh Phi Phi. To get that quintessential tourist shot, walk
up to the viewpoint on Phi Phi Don and snap a few frames of the double-crescent beaches.
Keep in mind Similan Islands National Park is closed from May to November each year, making it
off limits to tourists. Chill
Especially during high season, local Thai families head to Sirinath National Park along Nai Yang
Beach to picnic beneath the shade of the casuarinas trees and escape Phuket's crowded beaches.
The relative difficulty of reaching Haad Hin Kluay (aka Banana Beach) via a narrow and steep-ish
dirt road (400 or so meters from luxury resort Trisara) makes it a viable option for those wanting to
chill on the beach.
If you want to spend your whole vacation in quiet surroundings, Koh Lanta, Koh Yao Yai/Noi or even
Phang Nga province are interesting alternatives.
Another easy option is to charter a long-tail boat for the day and ask the captain to take you to a
secluded beach on one of the smaller uninhabited islands in the Andaman Sea.
Party
Phuket is Thailand's largest island and has several nightlife enclaves.
Bangla Road runs perpendicular inland from the sea-hugging Taweewong Road and is lined largely
with red-tinted joints -- exceptions include Seduction Beach Club and Disco.
Bangla then crosses Rat-u-thit Road, also home to a few places to frolic. For a lower key night
without the distraction of professional ladies, Phuket Town's popular watering holes include
Sanaeha and Ka Jok See.
Nightlife in Krabi is focused on Ao Nang, with popular beach bars including The Last Fisherman, a
handful of merry-making spots in Centre Point entertainment complex and Luna Bar, just around the
corner on Nopparat Thara Beach.
During high season, the nocturnal scene at Railay, just south of Ao Nang on the other side of the
limestone outcrops, picks up with versions of full moon, half moon, and black moon parties complete

4. with fire dancing. Most of the action takes place on Railay East.
Stalkers take note. The odd global celeb has been known to check into Phuket's Sri Panwa. Stay
Beachfront and sea view digs are highly coveted on Phuket. If you want to go cheap, inland hotels
such as Chinotel go for less than 900 baht (US$28) per night.
Baan Krating on Ao Sane Beach effectively has a private stretch of beach, but if you want to drop big
bucks for the chance to rub shoulders with the jet set, Amanpuri and Sri Panwa are prime choices.
Accommodation in Krabi is almost as varied, ranging from Ao Nang's Glur Hostel and Railay
Phutawan Resort up to the legendary Rayavadee and Pulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.
Useful links: Krabi ferry schedule, Phuket ferry schedule
Base camp: Koh Samui
Ang Thong Marine National Park, about 30
kilometers northwest of Koh Samui, is made up of
more than 40 small islands.
Closest airport: Samui International Airport (USM)
Radial islands: Koh Phan Ngan, Koh Tao, Koh Nangyuan, Angthong Archipelago
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The ubiquity of bronzed bodies stuffed in wet suits gives it away -- Koh Tao is a PADI paradise,
reportedly overshadowed only by Australia's Cairns when it comes to issuing the most dive
certifications in the world.
Professional dive centers such as Planet Scuba and Big Blue Diving offer courses and trips to varying
sites depending on the season, while Good Time Adventures also makes Koh Tao's granite boulders
their playground for climbing and abseiling.
Though kayaking is a run-of-the-mill sport in this part of the world, the experience of paddling
through the 42-island maze of the Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park is unbeatable.
There are a few fanned bungalows ranging from 500 to 1,400 baht ($15-$45) per night via the
Department of National Parks on the archipelago's headquarters on Wua Talap. Unless you're
honing your mosquito-whisperer skills, however, a day trip would more than suffice.
For visitors preferring to stay dry, Bophut on Koh Samui has the liveliest of the island's walking
streets, with vendors vying for attention alongside the gamut of restaurants and bars down the cute
sea-fronting Fisherman's Village street.
Chill
With clear water lapping up on both sides of the sandbank connecting the three islets that

5. collectively make up Koh Nangyuan, "nothing" is usually the order of the day, with lazy snorkeling
right off the alabaster shoreline just about the only activity.
On Koh Phan Ngan, Haad Yuan on the eastern coast is a quiet stretch of beach that backs onto
forested hills, fronted by comfortably swimmable shores.
A sprinkling of bungalows and resorts have sprung up in recent years, but with rocky outcroppings
on both ends of the beach, it remains fairly tranquil, accessible only by boat and a not oft-used
mountain footpath.
Party
Chaweng on Koh Samui is the epicenter of sea, sand and shopping during the day, and also where
debauchees descend at night.
Ground zero is the Green Mango strip, where there's plenty of space in the clubs to move, with the
nearby and unassuming Hendrix Bar on Soi Solo the preferred spot to de-bass and re-hydrate till the
light hours of the morning.
Koh Phangan has a few options for luxury seekers, like the Anantara Rasananda. Not a bad place
to recover from a full moon party. Over on Koh Phan Ngan, the full moon parties with their cult-like
notoriety, need little introduction. Once a month, hedonists and the plain mad numbering in the tens
of thousands flock to Haad Rin beach to party as though tomorrow has been cancelled.
For less mainstream revelry -- considered by some to rival the full mooners -- Ban Tai hosts
fortnightly half moon parties, held a week before and after the full moon shindigs.
Stay
As the country's third largest island, Koh Samui has by far the most varied options for
accommodation.
Luxury offerings include global brands such as Four Seasons, Conrad, Banyan Tree and
InterContinental, as well as independent hotels such as Hansar and The Tongsai Bay.
Cheaper options include Ark Bar Jungle Club.
Both of Koh Phan Ngan's fancy digs -- Rasananda Anantara and Santhiya -- are located at the
beautiful Thong Nai Pan beach on the northeast coast.
Bungalow resorts abound in just about every nook on the island, including Salad Hut and Stone Hill
Resort, both along the sunset coast.
On Kao Tao, rustic cottages at Charmchuree Villa are spread among stunning environs. Just a 15-
minute boat ride away, the sole resort on Koh Nangyuan lets you call dibs on sun spot before the
camera-wielding day trippers descend.
Useful links: Full moon party schedule, Samui/Phan Ngan/Koh Tao ferry schedule
Base camp: Koh Chang

6. Koh Mak is so small you can walk around the entire island in a few hours.
Closest airport: Trat Airport (TDX), owned and operated by Bangkok Airways(
www.bangkokair.com). The Soneva Kiri(www.sixsenses.com/soneva-kiri) resort on Koh Kood also has
a private airstrip with direct flights from Bangkok.
Radial islands: Koh Mak, Koh Kood, Koh Wai, Koh Rang, Koh Chang archipelago
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From the privately owned Koh Rayang to the flat Koh Kradat, booking an island-hopping tour is a
good way to see this oft-overlooked section of the Gulf of Thailand.
For divers and snorkelers, the water around the Koh Rang islands are best, with idyllic beaches also
found on Koh Kra and Koh Rang Yai, both part of the archipelago.
With a low-key, local feel, Koh Mak is small enough to walk around in a few hours. Just off the
northwest coast is Koh Kham, which can be easily reached by kayak or on foot via a sandbar during
low tide.
There are also a number of waterfalls hidden amid the forested interior of these islands, best visited
during the rainy low season. Among the more popular cascades ( Koh Chang Archipelago National
Park entrance fee applicable) are Than Mayom and Klong Phlu on Koh Chang, and Klong Chao on
Koh Kood.
Chill
Just off the bottom tip of Koh Chang is Koh Wai, a small island with a smattering of bungalows along
its northern shore.
From the pier near Good Feeling Resort, the beach stretches in both directions. It can get relatively
busy with visitors from other islands.
Koh Kood, the fourth largest island in Thailand and the furthest east in the province of Trat's waters,
has been bestowed with the moniker, "Maldives of Thailand."
In recent years, a couple of high-end resorts have moved in, but due to the distance from the
mainland, the island's beaches remain empty.
Party
As the largest of some 52 islands in the Koh Chang Archipelago National Park, and second largest
island in Thailand, Koh Chang is where the local party is found, namely on White Sand Beach (Haad
Sai Khao) and the misleadingly named Lonely Beach (Haad Tha Nam).
Toward the northern end and finer sand of White Sand Beach is popular 15 Palms, a chilled-out
beachside bar and restaurant, which also serves up a generous surf 'n turf barbecue buffet every
night for 349 baht.
An aerial view of Thailand's swankiest eco-resort, Soneva Kiri by Six Senses on Koh Kood. The
always happening Sabay Bar features a live band and fire shows on the beach, while Oodies Place is

7. usually abuzz with blues aficionados and regular patrons looking for a jamming night out.
Further down along the west coast, a distinctive bohemian vibe can still be felt at Lonely Beach
(think bungalows and buckets), with nightly parties all down the block.
Among the most popular venues are Siam Hut, Ting Tong Bar and monthly black moon parties
hosted by Om-Bar.
Stay
Bhumiyama and Siam Hut, both on Lonely Beach, showcase the diversity of hotels on Koh Chang.
Over on Koh Mak, Coco Cape offers a range of accommodation within the same resort, including the
stilted Baan Chom Klurn, with its large wooden sundeck that cantilevers over the water.
The eco-friendly villas at Soneva Kiri by Six Senses on Koh Kood are among the most luxurious in the
country. More wallet-friendly yet picturesque stays on the same island are available at Away and
Captain Hook.
Useful links: Koh Chang ferry schedule, Koh Chang island guide
What's your favorite Thai island? Tell us about it in the comments box below.
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