The 3 Best Islands in Thailand: Gracie Guide Review
After living in Thailand for two years, I’ve been to my fair share of islands across the country. In my opinion, I know the best islands in Thailand. Even though I lived in the north in Chiang Mai, I was always taking a cheap flight to different island provinces on my school breaks. Let me be your guide to relaxing, calm island trips that won’t break the bank.
Let’s break it down by province. Phuket (though beautiful in some areas) has become overcrowded and stuffy. Krabi has amazing beaches and vibes in some islands. Surat Thani province has some winners, but also some losers. The Trat province has been the star of the show for me, and I’ll get more into detail later in this article.
Personally, I like to sit on a white sand beach, glide in the calm blue-green waters, beer in hand. Occasionally on my beach vacations I enjoy riding around fun mountain roads on a motorbike, exploring hidden beaches and tasty off-the-beaten-path local restaurants. I don’t really want to party much on beach vacations, I’d rather spend all my time at the pool / beach. So if that’s your vibe too, then you’ll like what I have to say about the best beaches in Thailand.
Let’s rank the 3 best islands in Thailand!
#1: Koh Chang – Trat Province
Coming in at the very top of the best islands in Thailand: Koh Chang. It’s the expats best-kept secret. I spent 6 days in this glorious slice of heaven during Christmas time.
Koh Chang is that girl. Calm, chill, quiet, stunning, cool. Though all islands in Thailand are more expensive than the north, Koh Chang is the most affordable out of the top three. You can do it all: wake up for a sunrise dip, walk on the quiet white sand beaches, float in the crystal clear water, we get massages on the beach. All for more affordable prices than you’d find in Phuket or Krabi.
Perhaps the best part about Koh Chang was the terrain. It is mountainous, which makes it a blast to ride motorbikes around the island. We hopped on motorbikes and rode to remote beaches, and luckily found a sunset beach bar that we stayed at for hours, eating fresh fish and drinking mojitos. It was …. incredible.
Like most islands in Thailand, it gets less touristy and more chill the further south you go. Lonely Beach & Klong Koi Beach are two southern beaches that were super calm and heavenly, and the drive there is fun on the twisty turny roads (BE CAREFUL DRIVING … go slow please!)
Another fun activity is a day trip on a boat cruising around Trat province, snorkeling and diving off the boat. We found a half day one for 700 baht!! (great deal – we went in person at a random tour agency to get the deal).
The only problem with Koh Chang is getting to Koh Chang. We flew into Bangkok then took a 5 hour cramped van ride share to the ferry, then waited another hour to get to the island. You can fly to Trat airport if you have a little extra $ to spend.
But Koh Chang is worth it if you don’t want your island vacation swarmed with 18 year old backpackers (no offense, there’s a time and place for them *cough cough Phuket*). Koh Chang is for the relaxed traveler who knows all the best hidden gems. It’s my favorite for a reason!
#2: Koh Lanta – Krabi Province
The second best island in Thailand is Koh Lanta. I spent 5 days in Koh Lanta and have nothing but positive things to say about it! Like Koh Chang, it seems to be an island a lot of expats and locals venture to. The vibes are chill, hipster hippies who love to sit around on the beautiful beach and vibe all day long.
The best parts of Koh Lanta are, again, in the south. Nui Beach is a hidden beach only accessible by boat or steep cliff (we chose to walk down the steep cliff and it was sweaty but alright). It is HEAVEN. The waters are crystal clear and soooooooooo calm. There are rocks to give privacy and the landscape sweeps into a stunning display of natural beauty.
The Mu Ko Lanta National Park is an awesome adventure and motorbike ride. We went early as it opened and were some of the only people on the entire beach, we even saw monkeys running up and down the white sand beaches!!
Again like in Koh Chang, you can easily rent a motorbike and have fun driving on all the fun mountain roads. We explored some amazing restaurants and cafes in Koh Lanta, especially for veggie lovers.
Here are some of my favs: Drunken Sailor, Hungry Shack, and Baja Taco. The last taco place is a drive but it’s a true ocean-side gem. Delicious, fresh fish tacos right by the sea with an amazingly kind owner and a son who builds intricate historical replicas in the shed in the back! So cool lol!
We stayed at the Serene Lanta resort for 500 baht a night (sweet deal)! The owners were sooooo kind and the place had great aircon and was super clean. You have to drive 2 mins or walk 10 mins to the beautiful nearby beach, but for that price it was worth it!
I loved Koh Lanta because of the chill hippie vibe, and the low amount of people. The sunsets were divine and ocean waters as blue and clear as in any other beach in Thailand.
Getting here is easier, you fly into the Krabi airport then take a short 1 hour van ride to the ferry! You can get the ferry at the Krabi airport. There’s even a direct flight from Chiang Mai –> Krabi. A huge win!
#3: Railay Beach – Krabi Province
Now now now, number three spot for best islands in Thailand comes in with Railay Beach. Railay is an iconic spot in Thailand, and for that reason it can get quite busy. It gets my #3 spot because it has the best views in all of Thailand. Yes, I said it. The cliffs are unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, jutting out of the white sand with aquamarine water settling in the waves. It’s UNREAL.
When you first arrive and look at the scenery around you, it’s a pinch-me moment. It looks like a dream, like a painting. But in this painting you can dive into the warm waters and float on your back gazing at the cliffs surrounding you.
Though the scenery is AMAZING, the food is ‘eh’ and the accommodation options are good, but could be better. You give and take for the best scenery in Thailand! Stay at the Railay Princess Resort & Spa. For 1000 baht a night you get a clean room with AC and an awesome rooftop pool!
Though the West Beach is iconic and you should definitely visit, I’d suggest heading to the Phra Nang Beach in the mornings. Walk a little bit and we were the only people there, able to wonder at the rock formations and ocean water before us.
Railay is difficult (ish) to get to. You take a flight to Krabi airport, then at the airport find a sign for Railay. You’ll get on a bus then longtail boat to the island. You can’t get there with normal methods because it’s blocked by the ocean. This makes it a truly unique experience with the best beaches I’ve ever seen!
To conclude on the best islands in Thailand
Thanks for reading, I hope my ranking of the best islands in Thailand was helpful to you! Skip the overcrowded group tours and take the road less traveled with these 3 island picks! Comment below if you have any questions, I’d be happy to answer them!
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