How does island hopping in Thailand work?
Island hopping in Thailand means choosing one of three island groups and moving between a few islands by boat. The Andaman coast runs from Phuket to Koh Lipe. The Gulf of Thailand holds Samui, Phangan and Tao. The eastern islands sit near Trat, with Koh Chang and Koh Kood. Most good trips stay on one coast.
The two coasts have opposite rainy seasons, so the right coast depends on your month. Crossing between them takes a day of flights and transfers, which is time better spent on a beach. If you have two weeks or more, you can do both coasts with a flight in the middle.
There are two ways to travel. You can keep one base and take day trips by boat, which means unpacking once. Or you can move every two or three nights, which lets you see more and wake up somewhere new. A mix often works best: one long stay at a favourite resort and one or two shorter stops.
Then choose how to move. Public ferries and catamarans link the main islands on fixed timetables. A private speedboat leaves when you are ready and drops you at your resort's own beach or pier. A crewed motor yacht or catamaran turns the journey into the holiday, with lunch on board and a swim stop on the way.
Here is the rule. Private boats save the most time and stress, especially with luggage, children or a group. We plan the route first, then match the boat to each leg.
Which coast should you choose for your month?
Choose the Andaman coast from December to March and the Gulf coast from February to April. Thai Meteorological Department normals for Phuket show the driest months from December to March and the wettest in September; the Andaman island season runs from mid-October to mid-May. For Koh Samui, the wettest stretch is October to December, with the heaviest rain in November.
The table shows how the months work out. "Best" means the driest, calmest weather. "Good" means a fine choice with some showers. "Mixed" means plan with care and keep a spare day.
The eastern islands follow the general pattern of the Thai rainy season, which the Thai Meteorological Department dates from mid-May to mid-October. Boat timetables there are thinner in those months. Our Thailand weather guide gives the full monthly figures for each coast.
What is the best Andaman route?
The classic Andaman route starts in Phuket and crosses Phang Nga Bay to Koh Yao Noi or Krabi. It visits Phi Phi and ends on Koh Lanta. The sea is at its best from December to March, within an island season that runs from mid-October to mid-May. Phuket has the widest choice of flights.
Phuket. Thailand's largest island by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources' survey is the natural start. Stay two or three nights on the quieter west or north-west coast to recover from the flight. Amanpuri, which holds Three MICHELIN Keys (2026 guide), is the classic choice. Every part of the route is a short boat ride or drive from Phuket. It also works as a single base if you prefer not to move.
Phang Nga Bay. This is the bay of limestone towers and hidden lagoons, and our pick for the reason to come to the Andaman. It is the Ao Phang Nga National Park, a ฿300 park for foreign adults under the Department of National Parks fee rules. See it from a private boat early in the morning, before the day-trip boats arrive. Our Phang Nga Bay guide covers the best corners.
Koh Yao Noi. A quiet island in the middle of the bay, with fishing villages and wide views of the limestone. Six Senses Yao Noi holds Two MICHELIN Keys (2026 guide). The resort says it is 30 minutes by car from Phuket airport to Ao Po Grand Marina, then about 40 minutes by speedboat. Every villa has its own infinity-edge pool.
Phi Phi. The famous islands of the Andaman. Phi Phi Cruisers gives about 2 hours by ferry from Rassada Pier in Phuket to Tonsai Pier on Phi Phi Don. The Tourism Authority of Thailand lists the park fee at ฿400 for a foreign adult. Maya Bay closes every year from 1 August to 30 September, and swimming there is not allowed. Read our Maya Bay guide before you go.
Krabi and Railay. Krabi's coast has the same limestone cliffs as Phang Nga, with long beaches and the Railay peninsula, reached only by boat. Rayavadee says its own speedboat reaches Phi Phi in about 35 minutes from Railay. Bangkok Airways gives about 1 hour for a public speedboat from Krabi's piers to Phi Phi. Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, holds Three MICHELIN Keys (2026 guide).
Koh Lanta. A long, relaxed island at the end of the route. A mainland bridge is due in 2029. Until then, cars cross by ferry from Ban Hua Hin pier, and the Sirilanta Bridge links Lanta Noi to Lanta Yai. TAT notes that the smaller islands in Mu Ko Lanta National Park are usually closed from May to October.
For a first trip, make it three stops: Phuket, Koh Yao Noi or Krabi, and one more beach. Phi Phi is best as a day by private boat from Krabi or Yao Noi. In peak weeks it is busy as a place to stay.
The Similan Islands. Further north, off Khao Lak, lie the Similan Islands, with some of Thailand's clearest water. The Department of National Parks opens them from 15 October 2026 to 15 May 2027, and the foreign adult fee is ฿500. Daily visitor numbers are limited, and some reefs, including Ko Tachai, are closed indefinitely. We plan the Similans as a long day on a fast private boat, starting early.
Is the far south worth the journey?
The far south of the Andaman is for you if you want clear water and small islands, and do not mind a longer journey. Koh Lipe sits near the Malaysian border in Satun province. The Trang islands, such as Koh Muk and Koh Kradan, lie in Hat Chao Mai National Park. The best months are December to April.
Seasons matter more here. The Royal Gazette notice for 2026 closed Koh Muk and Koh Kradan from 1 August to 30 September. It also closed the Emerald Cave on Koh Muk from 1 to 30 September. Boats to Koh Lipe run a fuller timetable in the dry season. Hat Chao Mai is a ฿200 park for foreign adults under the Department of National Parks fee groups.
We plan the far south as the last part of an Andaman trip, after Lanta, by private speedboat. Snorkel over shallow reefs, lunch on a sandbar and end on a quiet beach. Food and service are simpler than on the big islands. The 2027 park closure list is due from the Department of National Parks around the turn of the year.
What is the best Gulf route?
The Gulf route links Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, three islands close together off Surat Thani. It is at its best from February to April, and from May to August it gets less rain than the Andaman. Samui has its own airport, open from 06:00 to 22:00, so most trips start and end there. The other two islands are short boat rides away.
Koh Samui. The most developed of the three and the best base for a long stay. Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, where The White Lotus season 3 was filmed according to Four Seasons, sits on a quiet hillside above the sea. Samui has excellent villas, spas and restaurants, and the widest choice of rooms.
Koh Phangan. Lomprayah gives about 30 minutes by catamaran from Samui to Phangan. Beyond its famous party beach, Phangan has quiet bays in the north and east. Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas sits on Thong Nai Pan Noi. Phangan International Hospital, a Bangkok Hospital Samui branch, operates on the island.
Koh Tao. The smallest and the best for diving and snorkelling. Lomprayah lists about 1 hour from Phangan to Tao, so the trip from Samui takes about 1.5 hours plus the stop. Visit Tao for a day by private boat rather than staying, unless you plan to dive.
Ang Thong Marine Park. A group of limestone islands west of Samui, with lagoons, viewpoints and quiet beaches. The park closes from 1 November to 15 December every year and reopens on 16 December. Outside that window, it is the best day out by boat from Samui. Our Ang Thong guide explains the viewpoints.
On Samui, the north and north-west coasts are calm, with sunset views and the best villas. Chaweng on the east coast is livelier. Choeng Mon in the north-east sits close to the airport and to dinner.
Which eastern island should you choose?
The eastern islands are the closest to Bangkok and Pattaya. Koh Samet is the nearest, reached by road to Ban Phe in Rayong and a short boat ride. Koh Chang and Koh Kood lie further east in Trat province, near the Cambodian border. Koh Kood is the quietest of the three and the best for privacy.
Koh Samet. The quick escape from Bangkok, ideal for a long weekend. The island sits in Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park, and the Department of National Parks collects an entry fee from foreign visitors. A private speedboat from Ban Phe drops you on your hotel's beach. Samet's beaches are small and close together, so a long weekend is enough to see the best of them. Go midweek if you can: Bangkok families fill the island at weekends and on public holidays.
Koh Chang. One of Thailand's largest islands, with green hills, waterfalls and long west-coast beaches. Ferries leave from Ao Thammachat pier near Laem Ngop in Trat, from early morning to early evening; check the times on the day. The Retreat Koh Chang is the only MICHELIN Key hotel in Trat (One Key, 2026 guide).
Koh Kood. Quiet, green and remote, with clear water and few roads. Bangkok Airways flies from Suvarnabhumi to Trat; from there, you drive to Laem Sok pier. The Koh Kood Express Ferry gives about 1 hour by catamaran or speedboat to the island. Soneva Kiri is the island's best-known luxury resort.
So which is better, Koh Samet or Koh Chang? Samet is better for a short trip with little travel time. Koh Chang is better for a longer stay, with more space, more nature and more resorts. For a special trip, we would skip both and go to Koh Kood.
What is the 4 island tour?
The 4 island tour is the classic day trip from Krabi's Ao Nang coast. It visits Phra Nang beach, Chicken Island, Koh Tup and Koh Poda. The islands lie inside a national park, so a park fee applies. Public tours use long-tail boats or speedboats with large groups, and most leave at the same time each morning.
The private version is far better. We book your own long-tail or speedboat and leave early, before the day boats. We also change the order, so you reach each beach when it is quiet. Lunch can be a picnic on the boat or a table at a hotel on Railay. You come back when you choose, not when the group does.
At low tide on some days, a sandbar links Koh Tup to Chicken Island, and you can walk between them. Your boat crew will know the tide times. The best plan is to leave Ao Nang at sunrise and swim at the first beach before the tour boats arrive. You are back for a late lunch as the crowds build. Bring reef-safe sunscreen: sunscreen with oxybenzone, octinoxate, 4-MBC or butylparaben is banned in all Thai national parks, with fines up to ฿100,000.
What is the private way to island hop?
The private way to island hop is a crewed motor yacht or catamaran for multi-day routes, with speedboat transfers for single hops. On a yacht, you move between islands while you swim and eat, and you sleep in a quiet bay or a resort. A speedboat is faster, and right for one crossing.
Crewed motor yacht. A captain, a crew and often a chef. It suits two to three days around Phang Nga Bay, Phi Phi and Krabi. It also suits a long day out to the Similan Islands in their open season. We never name the boat; we describe it by builder and length, such as a Princess 65 in Phuket.
A day on a yacht has an easy rhythm. You board after breakfast at the marina, and the crew serves coffee as you leave the harbour. By mid-morning you are swimming in a quiet bay. Lunch is served on deck or on a beach, with Thai dishes or grilled seafood. In the afternoon you explore a lagoon by kayak or snorkel a reef, then sail back for sunset or anchor near your next resort.
Catamaran. More deck space and a steadier ride at anchor, good for families and groups. Under the Navigation in Thai Waters Act, a boat carrying more than 12 passengers is a passenger vessel. Larger groups need a larger licensed boat or a second boat. See our catamaran charter page.
Private speedboat. The fastest way between islands, with your luggage on board and a crew to carry it. It suits transfers such as Phuket to Koh Yao Noi or Krabi to Phi Phi. Seas can be rough in the rainy months, so we pick the boat and the timing to suit the weather.
Seaplanes and helicopters. Seaplane flights are not licensed in Thailand today, so we do not offer them. Helicopters use airport runways; Anantara Layan in Phuket is the one resort we can confirm with its own helipad. For longer jumps, a private jet between Phuket, Krabi and Samui is often the better choice.
We work with licensed operators we have used for years, and our team checks the boat, the crew and the safety kit before your trip. See our yacht charter page for how we choose.
What does a good island-hopping route look like?
Example plans. Each route starts and ends at an airport with good flights and keeps one quiet day. We quote boats and hotels for your dates.
7 days on the Andaman (December to March). Days 1-2: Phuket west coast. Day 3: private yacht across Phang Nga Bay to Koh Yao Noi. Day 4: a day on the water to Phi Phi and back. Days 5-6: Krabi or Railay. Day 7: fly out from Krabi.
7 days in the Gulf (best February to April). Days 1-4: Koh Samui, with one boat day to Ang Thong. Day 5: private speedboat to Koh Phangan's north coast. Day 6: a day trip to Koh Tao for snorkelling. Day 7: back to Samui for your flight.
14 days on both coasts. Days 1-3: Bangkok. Days 4-8: the Andaman, as above. Day 9: fly from Phuket or Krabi to Samui. Days 10-13: the Gulf, as above. Day 14: fly home via Bangkok. This works best from February to April, when both coasts are dry.
10 days in the east (November to April). Days 1-2: Bangkok. Day 3: drive to Trat or fly from Suvarnabhumi, then cross to Koh Kood. Days 4-7: Koh Kood, with one boat day to the smaller islands nearby. Day 8: boat and car to Koh Chang. Day 9: Koh Chang. Day 10: back to Bangkok by road or air.
Is it worth going to Thailand for two weeks? Yes. Two weeks is the right length for one city and one island coast without rushing. It also covers both coasts if you travel between February and April. Our two-week Thailand itinerary gives a day-by-day plan.
What do national parks charge, and what are the rules?
Most of Thailand's best islands lie inside national parks, so you pay an entry fee and follow park rules. Some outer islands are special-fee areas.
The rules apply to every boat, private ones included:
- Moor only at buoys, piers or marked areas, never on coral.
- Keep to 3 knots or less within 100 m of shore, reefs and dive sites.
- Stay overnight on a boat only in designated areas.
- Fly a drone only with park permission.
- Leave reef-harmful sunscreen at home; it is banned in every park.
Your crew pays the fees and keeps the tickets. Similan tickets need a passport number for each foreign guest. The Department of National Parks publishes seasonal closures each year; the 2027 list is not yet out. Our national parks data page lists every fee and closure in one place.
Which Thai islands suit a luxury trip?
Samui, Phuket, Koh Yao Noi and Koh Kood suit a luxury trip best, with the Krabi coast close behind. They have the best resorts, the easiest transfers and the most private boats. Phi Phi is better seen by private boat in a day than as a place to stay in the busiest weeks.
Our best islands in Thailand guide compares every island in more detail. Our pick is to combine two of these resorts in one trip. Use one for the first nights, with a beach and a spa, and one for the end, with a private pool and nothing to do.
Villas are the other choice. On Phuket and Samui, a staffed private villa with a chef suits families and groups better than a resort. We describe each villa by its bedrooms, beach and view, and we inspect it before we book it for you.
Plan your island route with Tanner
Give Tanner your dates, your group and the kind of days you enjoy. We choose the coast for your month, plan the route, book the resorts, and arrange every boat and transfer. Your crew meets you at each pier, and your luggage moves with you. One planner runs the whole route, even for a family that needs two boats. If an island is not worth the crossing in your month, our Thai staff take it off the route.
We also look after the parts around the islands. That means the airport meet-and-assist service, the car to the pier and a dinner reservation on your first night. We also keep a doctor's number on each island in case you need one. One message to Tanner covers it all.
