I’ve Lived in Thailand for 12 Years and These Are My 6 Favorite Islands in the Country

Koh Samui and Phuket may get the most attention, but the beaches on these lesser-known islands are just as dreamy — and you might have them all to yourself. Here, learn about my favorite islands to visit in Thailand.

Koh Lipe

This tiny diving mecca in the south, where the Andaman Sea meets the Strait of Malacca, is made all the more special by the effort it takes to get there: a flight to Hat Yai, a drive to the city of Pak Bara, and from there, a 90-minute ferry. The island consists of three main beaches connected by a few idyllic streets containing restaurants, bars, and seafood joints; you can walk around the whole place in about 30 minutes. Don’t miss Elephant, a café serving dishes like khao soi, a northern coconut curry, as well as vegan options. For accommodation, my pick is Irene Resort, the island’s first luxury offering, with its jungle-facing villas with private pools. 

Koh Tao

From Koh Samui it’s a two-hour ferry ride to Koh Tao, or “Turtle Island,” which consists of just eight square miles of hilly terrain. It’s Thailand’s diving capital, thanks to clear waters brimming with vibrant marine life and an abundance of scuba schools. I recommend Jamahkiri for its safe, two-students-per-instructor rule and direct access to the best dive sites. After a day in the ocean, retreat to View Point Resort, on the southern headland, where the rooms look out onto otherworldly sunsets. For a taste of new-wave wellness, visit Baan Talay Resort & Yoga for its ice baths, float tanks, and moon ceremonies. In the west, Sairee Beach and the surrounding area are home to great restaurants, from Burmese to Szechuan. It’s also where you’ll find Charcoal Bay Wine & Grill, one of the best wine bars on any Thai island.

Koh Mook and Koh Kradan

Fly in to Trang to connect to these two islands in the southwest. Both are car-free and fewer than three miles in diameter — and still under-visited. Koh Mook is known for Emerald Cave, a natural tunnel that connects the sea to an inland beach surrounded by towering karst on all sides, best reached by boat with a guide. Koh Mook Sivalai Beach Resort is a collection of cozy wood-frame bungalows just steps from the sea. Neighboring Koh Kradan is a slender isle known for its lush natural park. Its eastern side is flanked by Paradise Beach, home to crystal-clear waters ideal for snorkeling and stand-up paddleboarding.

Koh Kood and Koh Chang

The Trat Archipelago, which hugs the Cambodian border, has been called “the Maldives of Thailand” thanks to its aquamarine waters. One of the highlights is Koh Kood, where Soneva Kiri provides a serene jungle escape. To get there, the hotel can arrange a 90-minute flight from Bangkok to its private airstrip. Each of the 32 villas has its own butler and golf cart; there’s also a popular “treepod dining” option, where you eat in a nestlike bamboo pod and food is delivered via zipline. A two-hour boat ride away is the mountainous Koh Chang, or “Elephant Island,” one of the largest islands in the Gulf of Thailand. Hiking trails through the jungle lead to picturesque waterfalls, while on the western coast you’ll find the popular White Sand Beach and Kai Bae Beach. The Kai Bae district has excellent restaurants — my favorites, both female-owned, are El Barrio, for Mexican, and its neighbor, Khao Kwan, a fine-dining spot serving Thai dishes adorned with tropical flowers.

A version of this story first appeared in the December 2024 / January 2025 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headline “Island Time.”