A guide to West Coast island hopping in Thailand
Looking for a quick guide to West Coast Thailand island hopping? These are the must-visit islands that you should include on your bucket list!
The coastline along the Andaman Sea in Thailand has a dramatic scenery and lots of stunning islands just waiting to be explored.
Many of them are large enough to stay at, but some are part of a national reserve so you can only visit on a day trip.
Personally, I think Thailand’s West Coast is the best place for island hopping because there are more islands to choose from, and they’re more diverse.
I’ve done island hopping in Thailand over the last 15 years, where I’ve both stayed overnight and visited on day trips. So, I’ve included your best options in this post.
Ready to dive in? Let’s go!
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How to do West Coast Thailand island hopping
There are several ways to visit the islands on the west coast of Thailand. You can do it on day trips or simply stay overnight and then move on to the next island when you want.
Do day trips
A day trip is a great way to explore smaller, isolated islands. Another benefit is that you can visit several islands in a day.
Most smaller islands don’t have accommodation or restaurants, and if they do, they’re often sparse and low quality.
I highly recommend basing yourself in Phuket or Krabi and do day trips (especially if you’re short on time). We do it every time we’re in Thailand because it’s a great way to explore more of the country.
Stay overnight
To really soak in that island vibe, you can also choose to stay overnight on the larger islands. I recommend staying overnight in Koh Lanta, Phi Phi islands and Koh Lipe.
Read next: 3 weeks in Thailand Itinerary
How to get to Thailand’s islands
You’ll probably arrive in Bangkok. From there, you can fly to Phuket and begin island hopping straight away.
The only way to get to the Thai islands from Phuket or Krabi is by ferry, longtail boat, large boats or speedboat.
You can either book tours online or find a tour when you’re there. The latter is cheapest, but you might want to book in advance if you’re traveling in high season (November – March).
Thailand is popular, and tours sell out.
Where to stay during island hopping
Most travelers use Krabi or Phuket as a base to go island hopping.
I’ve done both, and the ideal place is a matter of which islands you want to visit. The Similan Islands, for instance, is only reachable from Phuket.
In general, Phuket is more versatile, with more beaches and a livelier vibe. Krabi is cheaper and the surrounding landscape is prettier. However, it’s easy to get between the two with minivan or private transfer if you want to visit both places.
Where to stay in Krabi
The last time I visited the west coast, we stayed in Aonang, Krabi and took a tour around four islands. The trip included lunch (Thai green curry, which was super tasty) and transportation with longtail boat and a guide.
I recommend staying at Aonang Villa Resort (⭐ 8.3) – check rates and availability here.
Where to stay in Phuket
When you book a hotel in Phuket, make sure to book at one of the beaches. Phuket town is 40 km away.
We usually stay at Kata Beach, where we also got married, but we’ve also stayed in Patong many times when we backpacked. Nowadays, I prefer something more upscale and quiet, which The Shore At Katathani (⭐ 9.2) is perfect for.
These are the main beaches in Phuket:
- Patong (party, young crowd)
- Karon (family and snorkeling)
- Kata (family and surfing)
- Kamala (quiet and good for snorkeling)
- Surin (luxury)
- Bangtao (luxury and quiet)
- Mai Khao (isolated)
- Nai Harn (quiet and recommended by locals)
10 West Coast Thailand islands you should visit
1. Similan Islands
One of the most beautiful islands in Thailand is The Similan Islands. Think white sands, clear waters, and rich marine life (great for snorkeling and diving).
Similan Islands are a bit of a journey from Phuket and can get crowded, but the beauty and diving spots make it totally worth it.
There used to be a hotel here, but not after Covid, so a day trip from Phuket is your only way of visiting.
Book here – Similan Islands Tour from Phuket (⭐ 4.5/5)
2. Poda Island (Koh Poda)
Poda island is about a 25-min long tail boat ride from Ao Nang beach in Krabi. It’s part of a national park, and there’s not much to do on the island apart from swimming and tanning.
This, however, is enough to keep you occupied as the beach here is fabulous!
Book here – Railay and 4-Island Speedboat Cruise with Night Snorkel (⭐ 5/5)
3. Chicken Island (Koh Kai)
Another great island is Chicken Island, which to me looks more like a turkey… or maybe a turtle?
Anyway, this place has a gorgeous coral reef that you can snorkel around, and it’s included in the tour below. It’s a popular day trip from Krabi.
Book here – Railay and 4-Island Speedboat Cruise with Night Snorkel (⭐ 5/5)
4. Railay Beach (Rai Leh)
Railay is a destination in itself and many tourists stay at the peninsula every year, especially Scandinavians.
It’s mostly known for rock climbing, and as you can see on the pictures below, you’ll get rocks aplenty.
I tried rock climbing in Vietnam and didn’t feel the urge to test myself again, so we decided to hang out on the beach and eat some roasted corn with butter and garlic. De-licious!
Book here – Railay and 4-Island Speedboat Cruise with Night Snorkel (⭐ 5/5)
5. Tup Island (Koh Tup)
Only a short boat ride from Railay, you’ll find Tup island. Tup is much smaller than the other islands in the group.
Personally, I found this island to be better because it’s more remote and you can have the beach (almost) to yourself.
The water is amazing, and it’s an excellent spot for snorkeling and spotting lots of tropical fish.
Book here – Railay and 4-Island Speedboat Cruise with Night Snorkel (⭐ 5/5)
6. James Bond Island (Phang Nga Bay)
Just north of Phuket, you’ll find James Bond Island, also known as Khao Phing Kan.
It’s famous for featuring in the James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun from 1974 and for the 20-metre tall islet, Koh Tapu, which you can see on the picture below.
James Bond island is part of the Phang Nga Bay which covers an area of 400 sq km and is home to some 100 islands.
Book here – Phang Nga Bay Sea Cave Canoeing & James Bond Island (⭐ 5/5)
7. Phi Phi Islands (Koh Phi Phi)
Phi Phi is probably the best known island on Thailand’s west coast. It’s a popular destination for travelers who have seen the movie or read The Beach.
There are some beautiful corals and beaches in this group of islands, but much of it is gone today due to the many boats that go there every day.
You can visit Phi Phi on a day trip from Phuket or stay overnight. If you prefer to stay longer on the island, opt for the ferry which is the cheapest way to get there and back.
Book here – Phi Phi Islands day tour from Phuket (⭐ 4.5/5)
8. Koh Lanta
We spent most of our honeymoon on Koh Lanta, and it’s much different from most of the other islands.
First of all, it’s more quiet. You can choose to stay on Long Beach with lots of backpackers and easily find a party, but if you’re more into privacy, you can find that as well. The waters surrounding the island is magnificent and it’s a great place to swim.
You can reach Koh Lanta from Krabi, Phi Phi or Phuket, but this island is best suited for longer stays.
Book here – 4 Islands & Emerald Cave from Koh Lanta (⭐ 4.5/5)
9. Koh Lipe
Koh Lipe is a hidden paradise, with its palm trees, white sands, and clear waters.
It’s a small, chill island near Langkawi in Malaysia, a bit out of the way but less crowded than spots like Krabi. Not really a party place, more laid-back.
You can bike around it in 30 minutes, and it’s all about relaxing on the beach.
Book here – Full-Day Koh Lipe 7 Islands Snorkeling with Lunch (⭐ 4.5/5)
10. Koh Kradan
If you’re after a laidback and quiet island in Thailand, Koh Kradan is your go-to. Not your typical bustling island, it’s super calm and pretty much untouched.
The snorkeling here blew me away – tons of fish everywhere, but the coral has seen better days. If you’re not into wild nights and just want to relax, this is your place.
Book here – 4 Islands (incl. Koh Kradan) from Koh Lanta (⭐ 4.5/5)
FAQ – West Coast Thailand island hopping
What is the best base for island hopping in Thailand?
For island hopping in Thailand, Krabi or Phuket are your best bets. They’ve got great connections to lots of cool islands and plenty of places to stay and things to do.
How do you travel between islands in Thailand?
In Thailand, you mostly hop between islands by ferry or speedboat. Super easy and pretty affordable too.
How do I choose a Thai island?
Choosing a Thai island on the west coast? Think about your vibe. Phuket’s bustling with nightlife, Koh Phi Phi offers a mix of party and beauty, and Koh Lanta is laid-back, perfect for relaxing. Just go with what suits your style.
Can you go island hopping from Phuket?
Yeah, absolutely. From Phuket, you can easily hop to a bunch of nearby islands like Koh Phi Phi, James Bond Island, and the Similan Islands.
Plenty of boat tours and ferries to choose from.
More posts from Thailand you might like
- What to pack for Thailand
- 20 amazing things to do in Koh Tao
- 15 unique things to do in Koh Chang
- 18 amazing things to do in Koh Lanta
- 20 great reasons to visit Phuket
- 24 authentic souvenirs of Thailand to bring home
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