The Islands of Thailand – Which Island to Visit ? How to Arrive and Where to Stay ? Page 1

Page 1
- Start Here ! – Maps – Orientation
- Which Island to choose ?
- If you are looking for…
- In Brief – How is each island ? – An Overview
- In Detail – The different Islands in detail (individual pages)
  - Area 1 : Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao
  - Area 2 : Koh Phi Phi, Phuket, Koh Lanta + Krabi region (Railay Beach – Krabi, Ao Nang, Krabi-Town)
  - Area 3 : Koh Chang, Pattaya City + Koh Larn, Koh-Samet
Page 2

Maps – Orientation

Map 1 – The Zones

Map 2 – Interactive Map

Note : You can find more Maps on the individual pages of the islands.

To Which Island to Go ?

Look at the Maps above.

There are mainly 3 directions you can take from Bangkok :

South and to the right side of the mainland for the Islands : Koh-Samui, Koh-Phangan, Koh-Tao. I call this ZONE 1.
South and to the left side of the mainland for the Islands and Beaches: Koh Phi Phi, Phuket, Koh Lanta, Railay Beach (Krabi), Ao Nang (Krabi), Krabi-Town (Krabi). I call this ZONE 2.
East (towards Cambodia) for the Islands of Koh-Chang and Koh Samet and Pattaya city + Koh Larn. I call this ZONE 3.

You need to choose a zone, not an island

My advice : Choose one of the 3 regions I have mentioned and stay there. There is no point trying to jump from a region to another (if you have only 2 weeks of vacation).
In the same zone, you will find several islands and you can move between them with little effort.

Zone 1 – The islands : Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao

This can be a great choice for a first visit in Thailand. There is a nice contrast between these islands and it is very easy to move between them with a boat.
I have dedicated a page for the main differences between these 3 islands (in terms of size, facilities, hotels, nightlife, beauty, food and ease to arrive). See this page in order to know what to expect. Koh Phangan is known for its nightlife (the famous full moon parties) and Koh Tao is known for its diving activity. All the 3 islands are beautiful.

There is a page about : How to arrive to this group of islands.
In brief : You can take a flight directly to Koh Samui or you can take a flight to a nearby airport in the mainland (in order to save money). You can also arrive by train, bus, taxi (+boat).

There is dedicated page for each one of the islands. You can read in these pages a short description “How is this island ” + information about things to see and do + where to stay and more. Visit the pages of : Koh-Samui, Koh-Phangan and Koh-Tao.

Zone 2 – The islands : Koh Phi Phi, Phuket, Koh Lanta + Krabi region (Railay Beach, Ao Nang, Krabi-Town)

This zone is also a great choice for a first visit but there is more to see and it requires more time (if you want to visit all the places). Phuket is especially big and it has its own airport. Koh Phi Phi is very beautiful and is known for its nightlife on the beach and for the diving schools. Koh Lanta is quiet and Krabi region has 3 main places with a contrast between them.

See a short description about each place on the corresponding pages : Koh Phi Phi, Phuket island, Koh Lanta, Railay Beach (Krabi), Ao Nang (Krabi), Krabi-Town (Krabi).

You can read how to arrive to each island and to Krabi on the corresponding pages : Koh Phi Phi, Phuket island, Koh Lanta, Railay Beach (Krabi), Ao Nang (Krabi), Krabi-Town (Krabi).
In brief : You can take a flight to Phuket or to Krabi Town and move to the other places by boat. You can also arrive by bus or private Taxi. The Train is not a good option for this region.

You will find also information on the climate, things to visit, food, nightlife, internal transport and more. See the individual page of each place.

Zone 3 – The islands : Koh-Chang and Koh-Samet and Pattaya City + Koh Larn

All these places share a common direction (from Bangkok, toward the east), but they are completely different and located in different places. They share also the common characteristic to be relatively close to Bangkok.

Koh-Chang is a big island (the third in size after Phuket and Koh Samui). It can be a good alternative to the islands of Zone 1 and Zone 2 mentioned before (even for a first visit in Thailand). This island has quiet zones and animated zones. It has nice beaches and monkeys and elephants.
It is more popular to arrive to Koh Chang by bus from Bangkok than with a flight. See all the information you need on the page about Koh-Chang.

Pattaya city and Koh Larn : The island of Koh Larn is located in front of Pattaya city. It is a nice small island, but people don’t arrive to it unless they want to visit also Pattaya city (and Pattaya is a very special place on earth with a lot of Go-Go bars). It is very easy to reach Koh Larn from Pattaya, it takes only 35 minutes with a “slow boat”. Most of the visitors are returning to Pattaya the same day. You can read info about Pattaya city and Koh Larn, including how to arrive.

Koh-Samet is a small island, quite close to Bangkok. It is popular within Thai people.
Don’t choose Koh-Samet for your first visit in Thailand, because you will miss a lot of the fun of the Thai islands (long roads, international food, monkeys, elephants, full moon parties).

If you are looking for…

Again, my advise is to choose a zone and stay there (and not to jump from one zone to another). You will find enough diversity in each zone that you choose.

Still, it is good to know :

If you want to party a lot

Koh-Phangan (zone 1) and Koh Phi-Phi (zone 2) are known for the parties at night on the beach with fire plays and a lot of alcohol.

In Koh-Phangan, there are also the famous full moon parties (each month, of course).

If you choose to visit Koh-Chang in zone 3, then there is an excellent party scene at “Lonely Beach”, the backpackers area but it is small compared to Koh Phangan and Koh Phi-Phi.

Note : I am mentioning here only the beach parties, but in all the islands you will find many bars with music and alcohol, don’t worry about that.

If you want to dive and take a diving course

Visit Koh-Tao (zone 1) or Koh-Phi Phi (zone 2), both are known for the developed diving activity and diving schools.

You will find diving schools in all the islands, but in lesser extent than the 2 islands mentioned before.
If you just want to do snorkeling and see beautiful waters, all the islands are good.

If you are looking for a quiet place

The islands that I am mentioning here are very touristic but that doesn’t mean that they don’t have quiet beaches. In every island there are resorts and beaches that are peaceful and isolated. Even in Koh-Phangan which is known for its full moon parties, most of the island is very calm and only one of its many beaches is dedicated to the backpacker’s scene (Haad-Rin beach).

If you want a quiet atmosphere in all the island, visit Koh-Lanta.
Also Koh-Chang brings a lot of peace.
If you want an isolated island with almost no tourists, no nightlife and no ATM machines, then you can go first to one of the islands mentioned on this page and then take a boat to a smaller island. For instance, if you are in Koh-Chang, you can take a boat to Koh Mak or Koh Kut (There are hundreds of islands in Thailand).

If you are looking for a non expensive place

All the islands have also cheap accommodation in form of Bungalows or economic hotels. If you are not too demanding in term of luxury, you will manage to find a place everywhere.

The main factor that influence the price is the season. If you want to feel king, then visit the islands in low season or at the limit of low season.

Other important factors that influence the price are size and popularity. Railay Beach and Koh-Phi-Phi are extreme cases of very small places with limited hotel capacity. Also Koh-Tao is small and popular. Koh-Samet is small and relatively expensive.
Koh-Phangan hotels are very occupied on the day of the full moon parties.

Phuket is very big but it is also very popular and crowded, so the prices are high in the main beaches. Still, it is easier to find a cheap room in Phuket than in Koh Phi Phi.

Less expensive islands :

Koh-Lanta is big and less popular than the nearby Koh Phi Phi, so it is easier to find an hotel.
Koh-Samui is big and has a lot of hotels in different beaches.
Koh-Chang is big and has a lot of hotels in different beaches.

If you are preoccupied about the rain

Jump to : When to go to the Islands

If you don’t want to travel a lot from Bangkok

Consider the small island of Koh-Samet. It is just about 200 Km from Bangkok. A little bit farther, in the same direction is Koh-Chang, a much bigger island and more recommended.
It takes about 4 hours of bus to reach Koh-Samet and 8 hours to reach Koh-Chang.
The other islands in the south of Thailand (area 1 and 2) require more than 12 hours of bus or train (or a short flight). See how to arrive to the islands.

In Brief : About the different Islands

Zone 1 (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao)

Notes :

There is a page that compares the 3 islands in Zone 1.
There is a page that explains How to arrive to this group of islands.

Koh Samui

Note : There is a separate page about Koh-Samui, with a lot of Info.

Koh Samui is the biggest island between the 3 islands in this zone (Samui, Phangan and Tao).

Koh Samui is about 20 Km long. It is the most developed island between the 3. There are many hotels, many beaches, a huge commercial center and even an airport.

Between the 3 islands, Koh Samui may be titled “the island for families.” There is a good nightlife in Koh Samui but it is Koh Phangan which is known for the night parties.
There are many good restaurants in Koh Samui and many of them are owned by foreigners. There are Italian restaurants, French bakeries and even Middle Eastern restaurants with good Hummus.
Koh Samui is a comfortable place with all the services. Many expatriates choose to live here (some of them open a restaurant).

There are some nice viewpoints to visit and waterfalls.
Koh Samui is beautiful but most people will rate Koh Phangan and Koh Tao as more beautiful. Still, there are some very nice beaches in Koh Samui and when you want a wild party, you can take a short boat ride to Koh Phangan (for the full moon parties).

Chaweng Beach is the center of gravity of the island

Where to Stay in Koh-Samui ?

See Page 2 of Koh Samui for: The Best Zones to Stay in Koh Samui. Advantages and Disadvantages of each zone.

What to Visit in Koh-Samui ?

See Page 3 of Koh Samui for : The Attractions of Koh Samui. Things to See and Do and how to arrive.

Koh Phangan

Note : There is a separate page about Koh-Phangan, with a lot of Info.

Koh Phangan is about 12 Km long. It is the middle size island between Koh Samui and Koh Tao.

A very nice island. Great beaches, great landscape and great nightlife. Also the food is OK.

Unlike Koh-Samui, here everything is smaller: There are less people and you feel that you are on an island. The tourists are younger compared to Koh Samui. There are some expatriates who has chosen to live here.

The left side of the island is the more developed one (significantly more developed).

The main town of the island is Thongsala on the left side.
The main pier is in Thongsala town.

Haad Rin is a famous beach on the south of the island. The full moon parties are taking place here. See about the full moon parties of Haad-Rin, on page 3 of Koh Phangan.

There is no airport in Koh Phangan (there is one in Koh Samui)

Where to Stay in Koh-Phangan ?

See Page 2 of Koh Phangan for: The Best Zones to Stay in Koh Phangan. Advantages and Disadvantages of each zone.

What to Visit in Koh-Phangan ?

See Page 3 of Koh Phangan for : The Attractions of Koh Phangan. Things to See and Do and how to arrive.

Koh Tao

Note : There is a separate page about Koh-Tao, with a lot of Info.

Koh Tao is a beautiful small island. It is the smallest island between the 3 in the zone, just 6 Km long. In the opinion of many travelers, it is the most beautiful of the 3. The beaches + the mountains in Koh Tao make a very nice scenery.

There is also an adjacent tiny island called Koh Nang Yuan which is very picturesque and is very visited. Koh Nang Yuan can be considered part of Koh Tao. Koh Nang Yuan appears almost always on the publicity for Koh Tao.

Koh Tao is known for its clear waters and it is a big center for diving. There are a lot of diving schools here.

It is very common to take an half day boat trip around the island. During the trip, there are stops in order to do snorkeling (and also in order to try to see turtles in shark bay).

Because Koh Tao is small, it is very easy to move from one place to another (if you rent a motorbike).

The most animated area in Koh Tao is around Sairee Beach. There are a lot of restaurants (along the road) and the beach is long and beautiful.

The nightlife in Koh Tao is very good. There are a lot of young people who arrive to Koh Tao and there is a lot of happy life, especially in Sairee Beach.

Where to Stay in Koh-Tao ?

See Page 2 of Koh Tao for: The Best Zones to Stay in Koh Tao. Advantages and Disadvantages of each zone.

What to Visit in Koh-Tao ?

See Page 3 of Koh Tao for : The Attractions of Koh Tao. Things to See and Do and how to arrive.

Zone 2 (Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Railay Beach, Ao-Nang, Krabi Town)

Phuket

Note : There is a separate page about Phuket, with a lot of Info.

Phuket is the biggest island of Thailand. About 50 Km long. Phuket has its own airport, an international airport. Because of the big airport, there are a lot of flights and a lot of tourists. The general atmosphere at Phuket is one of a crowded place, with a lot of construction and with heavy road traffic (there are also calm areas).

The 2 main spots of the island are “Patong Beach” and the “Old Town of Phuket”. The distance between Patong and Phuket Old City is 14 Km by the road. It takes around 30 minutes with the heavy traffic of the island.

There are a lot of beautiful beaches in Phuket. Many beaches have a form of a little bay, so they are very nice. Some of the beaches are just for visiting, but most of them are with hotels.

The main attraction of Phuket are the beaches themselves but there are also some nice attractions to visit like the old town and the Big Buddha on a mountain. There is also a lot of activity for children and adults like water parks and shows.

The beaches are located on the left side of the island.
The main pier is located on the right side of the island and the airport in the north.

Where to Stay in Phuket ?

See Page 2 of Phuket for: The Best Zones to Stay in Phuket. Advantages and Disadvantages of each zone.

What to Visit in Phuket ?

See Page 3 of Phuket for : The Attractions of Phuket. Things to See and Do and how to arrive.

Koh Phi Phi

Note : There is a separate page about Koh-Phi Phi, with a lot of Info.

A small island, very, very touristic. It is famous because of the movie “The Beach” that was filmed in one of the nearby islands. Koh-Phi Phi is very beautiful, especially when you take an organized day trip on a boat to the nearby islands. The problem with Koh-Phi Phi is that it is very touristic for its small size, and as a consequence the hotel prices are higher than elsewhere. There are no roads in Koh-Phi-Phi, you have to walk. There are many diving schools.

The nightlife in Koh Phi Phi is excellent. There are many young people in Koh Phi Phi and the central beach has parties every night, with fire plays.

The restaurants in Koh Phi Phi are average quality. There are almost no foreigner owners. There is a lot of Fast Food (there is even a Mc Donalds).

There are a 2 beaches in the center of Koh Phi Phi (located on different sides). These beaches are nice, but you can also hire a long tail boat (with driver) and swim in more remote places on Koh Phi Phi itself or on tiny islands.

Where to Stay in Koh Phi Phi ?

See Page 2 of Koh Phi Phi for: The Best Zones to Stay in Koh Phi Phi. Advantages and Disadvantages of each zone.

What to Visit in Koh Phi Phi ?

See Page 3 of Koh Phi Phi for : The Attractions of Koh Phi Phi. Things to See and Do and how to arrive.

Koh Lanta

Note : There is a separate page about Koh-Lanta, with a lot of Info.

Koh Lanta is a big island. About 24 Km long. It is close to the mainland, you just need to cross 2 Km of sea with a ferry. There is no airport in Koh Lanta. Koh Lanta is close to Koh Phi-Phi, Phuket and Krabi area.
Koh Lanta has a quiet atmosphere because of the large Muslim population, it is not a place for full moon parties, but don’t worry, there is alcohol and bars. The beaches are beautiful. There is a nice Mangrove area to visit and an old town.
At the south of the island there is a National Park with many monkeys living happily.
At the north of the island there is the main town of the island, called Saladan, It is where you arrive with the boat.

Koh Lanta doesn’t have a “center”. There is not a very prominent area that is the center of gravity of the island (like Patong in Phuket, for example).

The food in Koh Lanta is average. If you like authentic western food, it is limited because there are not too many foreigners who are owners of restaurants.

There are a lot of monkeys in Koh Lanta, in all the parts, including in Koh Lanta Noi. You will see monkeys on the roads and sometimes when you get down to the beach (on the south part of the island).

Where to Stay in Koh Lanta ?

See Page 2 of Koh Lanta for: The Best Zones to Stay in Koh Lanta. Advantages and Disadvantages of each zone.

What to Visit in Koh Lanta ?

See Page 3 of Koh Lanta for : The Attractions of Koh Lanta. Things to See and Do and how to arrive.

Krabi Zone

Ao Nang Beach – Krabi

Note : There is a separate page about Ao Nang Beach, with a lot of Info.

Ao-Nang Beach is part of the Krabi region. Usually tourists visit in the Krabi region : Ao-Nang + Railay Beach + Krabi Town. Close to Krabi region are the islands : Koh Phi Phi, Phuket and Koh Lanta which are very touristic.

Ao-Nang Beach is the main touristic coast town in Krabi province, a lot of restaurants and hotels.
If you arrive at Krabi airport you can spend one or two days here before going to visit the islands.

Ao-Nang is a “noisy” place. It is in big contrast with its main touristic neighbors (the town of Krabi and Railay Beach). It is recommended to visit the 3 places in Krabi in order to enjoy different aspects of Krabi.

The center of Ao-Nang is composed of just 2 streets near the sea. Near the noisy streets, there is a nice sea promenade with a nice beach.

The nightlife in Ao-Nang is : animated. You will not be bored here in the evening. There are a lot of bars on the main street. Sometimes there are fire plays on the beach. There are no beach parties (like in Koh-Phi Phi or in Koh Phangan).

Ao-Nang is part of the continent, it is not an island, so you may arrive to Ao-Nang also by flight or bus. If you arrive from a nearby island, you need a boat.

There are a lot of Hotels in Ao-Nang. The hotels are adapted to receive families with children, many of the hotels have a swimming pool. The price of the hotels may be relatively high in high season.

As for the places to visit around Ao-Nang : Except the beach promenade and the hill with monkeys which are at a walking distance, there are beautiful tourist attractions in the area that necessitate a way of transport.

Where to Stay in Ao Nang ?

See Page 2 of Ao Nang for: The Best Zones to Stay in Ao Nang. Advantages and Disadvantages of each zone.

What to Visit in Ao Nang ?

See Page 3 of Ao Nang for : The Attractions of Ao Nang. Things to See and Do and how to arrive.

Railay Beach – Krabi

Note : There is a separate page about Railay Beach, with a lot of Info.

Railay is a very beautiful place, with 3 beaches. Railay is very close to Ao-Nang, just 3 Km. There are long tail boats that connects the 2 places.

Railay Beach is part of the Krabi region. Usually tourists visit in the Krabi region : Ao-Nang + Railay Beach + Krabi Town. Close to Krabi region are the islands : Koh Phi Phi, Phuket and Koh Lanta which are very touristic.

Railay Beach can only be reached by boat (because of mountains). It is not very convenient but it makes the place special. There is a floating pier on the east side that can accommodate small boats.

Because Railay beach is small, the prices of the hotels are high and the capacity of the hotels is limited. If you think the hotels are too expensive, you can visit Railay Beach for half a day with a boat from Ao-Nang.

The nightlife is good in Railay Beach. The center is animated at night with bars and restaurants. Still, it is quiet here at night compared to the nearby Ao-Nang.
Railay Beach is not specially a place for big parties, like in Koh Phi Phi.

The food in Railay Beach is OK. There are no foreign owners of western restaurants, but the available restaurants are serving good quality food.

Where to Stay in Railay Beach ?

See Page 2 of Railay Beach for: The Best Zones to Stay in Railay Beach. Advantages and Disadvantages of each zone.

What to Visit in Railay Beach ?

See Page 3 of Railay Beach for : The Attractions of Railay Beach. Things to See and Do and how to arrive.

The Town of Krabi – Krabi province

Note : There is a separate page about the Town of Krabi, with a lot of Info.

Krabi Town is part of the Krabi region. Usually tourists visit in the Krabi region : Ao-Nang + Railay Beach + Krabi Town. Close to Krabi region are the islands : Koh Phi Phi, Phuket and Koh Lanta which are very touristic.

The town of Krabi is a small and calm town on the river. It doesn’t have beaches like Ao-Nang and that’s why Ao-Nang is loaded with tourists and Krabi Town much less.

It is advisable to split your available days in Krabi region between Ao-Nang, Railay Beach and Krabi Town in order to enjoy the contrast. You can stay in Ao-Nang and just visit Krabi Town with a motorbike, the distance between the 2 places is just 16 Km, by road.

The highlight of Krabi Town is the river promenade. The view is beautiful. In the evening there are stands with food along the promenade.

The main tourist attraction close to Krabi Town is a Buddhist temple on a mountain (Wat Tham Suea). It is a climb of more than 500 meters and it is a challenge.

The number of tourists staying to sleep in Krabi Town is much lower than in Ao-Nang. Still, you should consider staying here for at least 1 night. Krabi Town is a pleasant place and it is close to the airport.

The nightlife in Krabi Town is : animated but calm. In the evening, there is a night market close to the river. Also the river promenade is animated. If you are searching for very animated nightlife, you should visit Ao-Nang.

Where to Stay in the Town of Krabi ?

See Page 2 of the Town of Krabi for: The Best Zones to Stay in the Town of Krabi. Advantages and Disadvantages of each zone.

What to Visit in the Town of Krabi ?

See Page 3 of the Town of Krabi for : The Attractions of the Town of Krabi. Things to See and Do and how to arrive.

Zone 3 (Koh Chang, Pattaya + Koh Larn, Koh Samet)

Koh-Chang

Note : There is a separate page about Koh-Chang, with a lot of Info.

Koh Chang is a big island (about 20 Km long). Tourism here was not developed till not long ago but now it is a popular destination. It is a pleasant island with a little bit of everything and it is not far from Bangkok compared to the islands of the south (It takes about 8 hours by bus + boat).

The left side of Koh Chang is much more populated than the right side. There is a circular road that is disconnected in the south (doesn’t make a complete circle). The most touristic beach is called White Sand, with many hotels and shops on the road. Another area which is very nice is called Kai Bae, it has many good western restaurants (Mexican, Italian, Indian…). More to the south there is Lonely Beach which is a backpacker’s area. It has beach parties but not as big as in Koh Phangan or Koh Phi-Phi.

There is a Mangrove area to visit on the right side of the island. Very Nice.

If you want a quiet beach in Koh Chang, you will find one. If you need more isolation, you can take a boat from Koh Chang to the nearby smaller islands Koh-Mak and Koh-Kood (south of Koh-Chang). For the rest of us, who want some civilization there is in Koh-Chang a lot of good food (including authentic international cuisine), beautiful beaches, panoramic view points, good hotels for all budgets, day excursions with a boat, waterfalls, monkeys, elephants, and also a good nightlife in different zones.

If it is your first visit in Thailand, then it could make sense to want to visit the islands in the south of Thailand, because there are many of them (for example Koh-Samui + Koh-Phangan + Koh Tao), but if you will choose instead to go in the direction of Koh-Chang, you will not be disappointed, you will still get a wonderful big island.

Where to Stay in Koh-Chang ?

See the section : The Best Zones to Stay in Koh-Chang. Advantages and Disadvantages of each zone.

What to Visit in the Koh-Chang ?

See the section : The Attractions of Koh-Chang. Things to See and Do and how to arrive.

Pattaya City (+ Koh Larn island)

Note : There is a separate page about Pattaya City, with a lot of Info.

Pattaya is not comparable to the islands but I’m mentioning it because it is situated half way between Bangkok and Koh-Chang, so you may decide to visit (+ there is a small island in front of it).
Pattaya is the second largest city of Thailand (after Bangkok). Unlike Bangkok, it is right on the sea so there are beaches but they are not as nice as the ones on the islands. Pattaya is known for its Go Go bars. Go to visit Pattaya and you will see a very special place on earth.

From Pattaya you can do a one day trip to a nearby small island called Koh-Larn. It takes around half hour with the regular boat or 10 minutes with a speed boat. The water is very nice in the beaches of Koh-Larn.

Pattaya is one of those fun cities that make you spend a lot of money and I’m not talking only about the Go-Go bars. There are speed boats and parachutes towed by speed boats and water parks and motorbikes and big commercial centers and cinemas in 3D. The only way I can think to limit your spending is by entering one of these places that do Foot Massage and stay there 24 hours a day, like this you are sure to spend only 200 Baht per hour.
Overall, Pattaya is an interesting city, especially if you are a sociologist.
There is an interesting attraction near Pattaya : The Sanctuary of Truth. Located just 5 Km to the north.

Where to Stay in Pattaya ?

See the page about Pattaya to know where to Stay, the Transport and more Info.

What to Visit in Pattaya ?

See the page about Pattaya to know what to Visit and Do.

Koh Larn – The island in Front of Pattaya

Note : There is a separate page about Koh Larn, the island in front of Pattaya, with a lot of Info.

Koh Larn is very small. Just 2 Km long. It is located 8 km from Pattaya and it takes only 35 minutes to reach the island by boat.

The beaches of Koh Larn are nice but crowded because many tourists arrive from Pattaya, for just half a day.

Koh Larn is part of a visit to Pattaya and usually not a destination by itself. Tourists who want to explore the Thai islands will not prioritize Koh Larn.
In fact, there is not a lot of accommodation in Koh Larn, most of the tourists are sleeping in Pattaya.

Where to Stay in Koh Larn ?

See the page about Koh Larn to know where to Stay, the Transport and more Info.

What to Visit in Koh Larn ?

See the page about Koh Larn to know what to Visit and Do.

Koh Samet

This island has one advantage over the others : It is relatively close to Bangkok.

Koh Samet is about 200 Km from Bangkok and is known as the “beach of Bangkok”. It takes about 4 hours to reach it by bus.
Thai people use to visit Koh Samet on week-ends and prices are a little bit higher than in other islands.
It is a small island and it is also not far from the mainland, you can clearly see the shore and some buildings.

Most of the restaurants in Koh Samet serve exclusively Thai food. If you are Vegetarian like me, bring with you : almonds, nuts and other means of survival.
For all humans : bring with you something to read or a device that connects to the Internet. The beaches are OK, but the overall experience as an island is less interesting, there are no elephants, no monkeys (chicken, a lot), not enough roads to ride a motorbike, no mangrove areas and the food is less interesting.
I would not recommend this particular island for your first visit in Thailand.

Where to Stay In Koh Samet ?

See Hotels in Koh Samet and read opinions of travelers.

Continue to Page 2 about the Thai Islands

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star If you find incorrect data on this page, like a restaurant that has closed or a big river that has moved or you want to tell me something, please write me to contact.