Islands from Bangkok · Bangkok, Thailand
The Thai Islands from Bangkok
An hour’s flight from Bangkok, the islands of two seas: on the west, the Andaman, with Phuket, the limestone towers of Phang Nga Bay, Railay and Phi Phi; on the east, the Gulf, with the villas of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and the dive island of Koh Tao; and close to the capital, Koh Samet and Koh Chang. Here are ten islands, their stories, where to stay, eat and swim, and how to get there.
Updated October 2026
Island guides
A website within our website for each island: beaches, restaurants, bars, hotels, things to do and how to get there.
PhuketOld Town, beaches and fine dining
Krabi and RailayRailay, Ao Nang and the islands
Koh Phi PhiCliffs, coves and coral
Koh LantaLong beaches and an old town
Koh Yao NoiCalm in the middle of the bay
Koh SamuiVillas, wellness and calm water
Koh PhanganFull moons and quiet coves
Koh TaoThe diving island
Koh ChangForest, falls and golden beaches
Koh SametThe nearest island to Bangkok
Insiders' picks
Three of our favourites from this list, vetted by people who know and love Bangkok.
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How it works
Island hopping from Bangkok
Two seas, two seasons: how to reach the Andaman and Gulf islands from Bangkok, by air, ferry and boat.
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The grand island of the Andaman
Phuket
Thailand’s largest island: Phuket Old Town’s Sino-European shophouses, the beaches of the west coast, Laem Phromthep at sunset and the best dining on the coast.
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Limestone cliffs and longtail boats
Krabi and Railay
Railay’s beaches beneath limestone cliffs, Ao Nang’s islands and the lagoons of Ko Hong, reached by longtail boat.
The full list: Thai Islands, A–Z
Show all 14 places on a map
Plan your trip 4
Seasons, flights, ferries and three itineraries by sea.
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Two days by longtail
48 hours in Krabi and Railay
The Four Islands at low tide, Ko Lao Lading’s canyon beach, the mangroves of Ao Thalane and sunset in Ao Nang.
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How it works
Island hopping from Bangkok
Two seas, two seasons: how to reach the Andaman and Gulf islands from Bangkok, by air, ferry and boat.
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Five days, two seas
Samui to Phuket: the Gulf and the Andaman in five days
A villa on Samui, Ang Thong’s marine park, a flight across the peninsula and Phuket’s west coast.
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Seven days by sea
The ultimate Andaman island hop by yacht
Seven days from Phuket to Krabi by private yacht: Phang Nga Bay’s karsts, the Hong lagoons, Railay and Phi Phi.
The Andaman Sea 5
Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi, Lanta and Phang Nga Bay.
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Long beaches and an old town
Koh Lanta
Long, quiet west-coast beaches, an old town on the east coast and a marine national park.
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Cliffs, coves and coral
Koh Phi Phi
Phi Phi Don’s twin bays and Phi Phi Le’s sheer cliffs and coves, in a national park famous for its reefs.
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Calm island in the bay
Koh Yao Noi
A green, quiet island in the middle of Phang Nga Bay, facing the limestone islands.
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Limestone cliffs and longtail boats
Krabi and Railay
Railay’s beaches beneath limestone cliffs, Ao Nang’s islands and the lagoons of Ko Hong, reached by longtail boat.
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The grand island of the Andaman
Phuket
Thailand’s largest island: Phuket Old Town’s Sino-European shophouses, the beaches of the west coast, Laem Phromthep at sunset and the best dining on the coast.
The Gulf of Thailand 3
Samui, Phangan and Tao.
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Beaches, jungle and the full moon
Koh Phangan
Haad Rin’s full-moon nights and the quiet coves of Thong Nai Pan and the north.
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Villas, wellness and calm water
Koh Samui
The Gulf’s sophisticated island: hillside villas, wellness resorts, Chaweng and Lamai, and Ang Thong’s marine park offshore.
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The diving island
Koh Tao
A small island ringed with coral, where visitors come from around the world to learn to dive.
The eastern seaboard 2
Koh Chang and Koh Samet, closest to Bangkok.
Seasons differ between the two seas, and boat timetables change with the weather. Check with the airlines, ferry companies and national parks before you travel.
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