All islands of Thailand have something in common - soft sand, chic nature, an atmosphere of relaxation and good nature. But at the same time, each island is unique in its own way.
And if you are looking for something special in the "country of a thousand smiles", then choose from our top 10 best islands of Thailand for holidays in 2019 the one that is best suited for specific purposes. The rating is based on the reviews of tourists and various travel publications.
10. Samui
Suitable for: family holidays with children, honeymooners and spa lovers.
Once, one of the largest islands in Thailand attracted poor tourists and ravers with its beautiful beaches with cheap housing and full moon parties. Now it has become more publicized and respectable, and has turned into an ideal place for those who want to enjoy a beach holiday in Thailand.
Newlyweds are provided with a wide selection of cozy houses, nightclubs and restaurants marked by Michelin stars, and couples with children can check into "family" hotels, where there is a nanny, children's pools and a children's menu.
Samui is one of the best places in the world for yoga and spa. The island’s most popular spa is the treatment center of the five-star Kamalaya Hotel.
- It is beautifully decorated using wood and stone, in the style of classical Thai architecture.
- The spa has massage rooms, saunas (including infrared).
- There are rooms for manicure and pedicure, pools with water of different temperatures, as well as a steam grotto.
- Yoga lovers can do meditation in pavilions for 10 or 30 people.
- For those who prefer a relaxing swim active workout, there are various fitness programs and gyms.
9. Koh Tao
Suitable for: scuba diving lovers.
The coast of Koh Tao, or “Turtle Islands”, is dotted with small sandy bays, pretty restaurants, and diving shops.
The island is one of the best places in the world for exploring the most unusual fish and other inhabitants of the underwater world, and the active competition between shops for divers allows you to buy everything you need at low prices.
If you are new to diving, get a PADI or SSI Open Water certificate. It usually takes four days and includes four dives in the ocean. If you have little time (or no desire to take the full course), most diving schools offer one-day Discovery dives, during which you can dive 12 meters underwater without certification.
Teachers in these schools teach in different languages, and children's courses are also available.
8. Phuket
Suitable for: beach holidays with a high level of service and active shopping
Thailand's largest and busiest island offers all the Western amenities you can think of, and perhaps some of those that you have not thought of. The best restaurants in Thailand, luxury resorts, and even world-class plastic surgery clinics - all this and much more is in Phuket.
And although in some places the island may seem too poor and crowded, this is offset by cosmopolitan entertainment in the form of designer boutiques, nightclubs, bars and huge shopping centers.
Phuket is rightly called the "beach capital" of Thailand: almost every local beach has coral reefs, and after the beds were removed from the beaches in the summer of 2014, they returned to their original appearance.
7. Koh Phangan
Suitable for: hedonists and lovers of dancing in the moonlight.
The gentle sun, gentle beaches, and the famous Full moon party - this is what Phangan Island is famous for. Every month, the full moon at Haad Rin Nok Beach hosts "Asian Ibiza." During the peak season on the island you can see up to 20,000 people dancing, drinking and jumping on the white sands under the full moon.
If you can’t visit Koh Phangan at the right time of the month, don’t worry - entertaining events are held on the beach and in the island's cocktail bars one night a week. And let them not be as crowded as during the “full moon party” but no less exciting.
6. Koh Lanta
Suitable for: those who have not yet decided what exactly they want.
Of all the best islands in Thailand, Koh Lanta is the most versatile. This is not one island, but a group of small islands, the most visited of which is Lanta Yai. There are nature reserves and beaches where you are unlikely to see crowds of tourists; and housing varies from the budget to super-chic, which attracts respectable travelers.
Koh Lanta is one of the best places in Thailand for families with children. Local waters are calm, and the islands themselves are safe. If you want everything to be as it should on a good vacation: a tan received on beautiful beaches, a bit of world-class diving, excellent massage, fun beach bars, seafood, then Ko Lanta is the place where your dreams will come true.
5. Phi Phi
Suitable for: those who travel on their own.
If you travel to Thailand on your own or with friends, then this island with a funny name is exactly what you need.
With a reputation as a place with many activities (diving, snorkeling, high diving, boating, etc.), Phi Phi attracts young and energetic tourists from all over the world.
And in the evenings, vacationers are crowded in beach bars, watching Thai dancers juggle with fire and meander in sensual dances.
4. Koh Lipe
Suitable for: romantics and honeymooners.
This cozy and clean island with an area of only 2 km² has three main advantages:
- remoteness (which means there are far fewer tourists here than in Phuket or Samui);
- many beautiful beaches with bounty sand and clear sea;
- many luxury hotels with good reviews.
The island is small enough to explore on foot, perhaps hand in hand with your loved one. Pattaya Beach is the busiest beach and home to most of the island's nightclubs, while Sunset Beach is the quietest and most secluded Koh Lipe beach.
Scuba diving, diving and excursions to nearby islets are easily accessible, although you might prefer a massage at one of the local resorts.
Important: Koh Lipe entrance, which is part of the Tarutao Marine National Park, must be paid 200 baht.
3. Koh Chang
Suitable for: studying the nature of Thailand.
Less populated and more secluded than the "older sisters" - Phuket and Samui - Koh Chang is Thailand in miniature.
It can not be called untouched by civilization, but most of it is occupied by a national park, perfect for hiking in the jungle, and it is easy to get to small nearby islands from here. At the same time, the island has a developed tourist infrastructure and there are no problems with accommodation and entertainment.
And also on Koh Chang gorgeous sunsets, according to tourists. However, this is famous for most of the most popular islands in Thailand.
The main misfortune of the island are monkeys who brazenly steal food and things from gape tourists.
2. Similan Islands
Suitable for: varied and exciting excursions.
Crystal clear water, white sand, stunning landscapes provided the Similan Islands with the title of "pearl of Thailand." This chain of nine little wonders of the world forms a national park in the Andaman Sea.
Here are the most popular islands:
- The island of Tachai has the softest and most brilliant sand and is the most popular of all the magnificent nine.
- Richelieu Rock is one of the best diving sites in the world and the territory of whale sharks (February-April is the best time to find them).
- Khao Lak Resort, located an hour's drive north of Phuket, is the starting point for Thailand's most fascinating day trips and island tours.
- Koh Miang - one of the most beautiful islands of Thailand - is known for its turquoise water and snow-white beaches.
Important: according to reviews of Russian-speaking tourists, these islands are teeming with holidaymakers from China. Very noisy, so you just have to be prepared for this.
1. Koh Sichang
Suitable for: A peaceful stay near the big and bustling Bangkok.
If you are in Thailand for only a few days, you may not be able to travel from Bangkok to the remote islands. Instead, take a day or two on Ko Sichang (not to be confused with Ko Chang). It is a two-hour boat ride from the city, making it one of the closest beach spots in Bangkok.
The island is popular with Bangkok residents who come here for the weekend. While Sichang does not have the softest white sand among all the islands of Thailand, it offers another - escape from the hectic, polluted streets of the capital. Calm and almost free of foreign tourists, Koh Sichang is your best choice if you prefer to spend a few hours on the beach rather than in a bus or boat.
