5 Best Islands in the Gulf of Thailand: Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Koh Chang and Koh Samet Part 1
5 Best Islands in the Gulf of Thailand: Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Koh Chang and Koh Samet
If you are wondering which island to visit in the Gulf of Thailand, there is no single right answer.
The islands on Thailand’s Gulf coast are much more varied than many travellers expect. Some are large and developed, with airports, hospitals, convenience stores and plenty of restaurants, such as Koh Samui. Others are famous around the world for scuba diving, like Koh Tao, while islands such as Koh Samet are close enough to Bangkok for a simple weekend escape. One of the most common mistakes first-time visitors make is assuming that all Gulf of Thailand islands are close to one another.
They are not.
Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan are in the Surat Thani area.
Koh Chang, Koh Kood and Koh Mak are on the eastern side of the Gulf near Trat.
Meanwhile, Koh Samet, Koh Larn and Koh Sichang are much closer to Bangkok.
So before deciding which Thai island to visit, do not start with beautiful beach photos alone.
Start with three simple questions:
How many days do you have? Who are you travelling with? And what kind of trip do you want?
How Many Days Do You Have?
2 Days
If you only have a weekend, Koh Samet is one of the easiest choices.
You can reach the island without spending most of your trip travelling south.
3–4 Days
Koh Chang becomes a much better option.
You have enough time to enjoy the beaches, waterfalls and different parts of the island without rushing.
5 Days or More
This is when the Koh Samui–Koh Phangan–Koh Tao group becomes worth the longer journey.
These islands are connected by ferry, making it easy to visit two or even three islands without returning to the mainland.
You should also think about the season.
The Surat Thani islands and the eastern Gulf islands do not experience their wettest periods at exactly the same time. So when planning a Gulf of Thailand trip, it is not enough to ask: “Is this a good month for the Gulf?” You also need to ask: “Which part of the Gulf?”
1. Koh Samui The Easiest Choice for First-Time Island Travellers
Province: Surat Thani
Best time to visit: Around January–September
Best for: First-time visitors / Families / Couples
If this is your first island trip in southern Thailand and you want somewhere easy to manage, Koh Samui is one of the safest choices. Its advantage is not just the beaches. Samui has a ring road, hospitals, convenience stores, supermarkets, restaurants, taxis and accommodation ranging from simple guesthouses to luxury resorts. That may sound less romantic than a tiny island with no roads, but if you are travelling with children, older family members or anyone who prefers convenience, it matters.
The real decision when planning a Koh Samui trip is where to stay.
Chaweng
Best for travellers who want restaurants, cafés, bars and nightlife within walking distance.
It is the busiest area of the island, especially at night.
Bophut
Still convenient and lively, but more relaxed than Chaweng.
It is a good middle ground for couples and travellers who want restaurants nearby without staying in the centre of the nightlife scene.
Lamai
Lively enough that you will not feel isolated, but generally less intense than Chaweng.
A good option for travellers looking for something in between.
If your goal is simply to relax, look at resorts farther from the main centres or on the quieter northern parts of the island.
Most importantly, do not choose a hotel based only on room photos. Check the map. Koh Samui is a large island, and staying on the opposite side from the restaurants or activities you want can mean extra travel time and transport costs every day.
How to Get to Koh Samui
The easiest option is to fly directly to Koh Samui Airport. For a cheaper route, travel to Surat Thani first and continue by road to the ferry pier. Depending on the operator and schedule, you may find both car ferries and faster passenger boats. If you are arriving at Surat Thani Airport, railway station or town centre, a combined bus-and-ferry ticket is often easier than arranging each section separately. Koh Samui is also an excellent base for island hopping.
From Samui, you can continue by boat to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, which is why many travellers use Samui for the first or final night of a multi-island trip.
Book this route: Surat Thani → Koh Samui
2. Koh Tao The Best Choice for Diving
Province: Surat Thani
Best time to visit: Around February–September
Best for: Scuba diving / Snorkelling / Solo travellers / Budget travellers
If you ask where to go diving in Thailand, Koh Tao is almost always one of the first names that comes up. And not simply because the water is beautiful. The island has dive sites suitable for different levels, from shallow training areas for beginners to deeper pinnacles and more challenging sites for experienced divers. There are many dive schools, instructors speaking different languages and courses running throughout the year, which makes Koh Tao especially easy for people who want to learn to dive for the first time. Even if you do not dive, Koh Tao is still worth visiting.
The island has small bays, viewpoints, cafés and beaches where you can easily spend several days without filling every hour with activities.
One thing first-time visitors often underestimate is getting around the island. Koh Tao is small, but it is hilly. Some roads are steep, and access to certain bays is more difficult than it appears on a map. If you are not experienced riding a motorbike on steep roads, do not use Koh Tao as your practice ground. Resort transfers or local transport may cost more, but they are a much better option than having an accident on holiday.
How to Get to Koh Tao
There are two main approaches.
From Chumphon
This is a popular route for travellers coming from Bangkok by train, bus or car because Chumphon is relatively close to Koh Tao.
From Surat Thani, Koh Samui or Koh Phangan
This works well if you are starting your trip in southern Thailand or are already island hopping around the Gulf.
If you are staying on Samui or Phangan, you can travel directly to Koh Tao without returning to the mainland.
One thing to keep in mind is rough weather toward the end of the year.
Because Koh Tao is farther offshore, ferry schedules can change when sea conditions become poor.
If you have an important flight after leaving the island, do not book your ferry too close to your flight time.
Book this route: Chumphon / Surat Thani → Koh Tao
3. Koh Phangan Much More Than the Full Moon Party
Province: Surat Thani
Best time to visit: Around January–September
Best for: Nightlife / Couples / Quiet beaches / Island hopping
If you only know Koh Phangan because of the Full Moon Party, you only know one side of the island. The real appeal of Phangan is that it can feel like two completely different islands in one trip.
In the south, Haad Rin is the best-known nightlife area, especially around Full Moon Party dates. But head north or east and the atmosphere changes dramatically.
Areas such as Chaloklum, Thong Nai Pan and Bottle Beach are much quieter and better suited to travellers who want beaches, resorts and slower days rather than nightlife.
That means the biggest mistake when planning a Koh Phangan trip is not choosing the wrong island.
It is choosing the wrong side of the island. If you want peace but accidentally stay close to a major party area, your experience will be completely different. The same applies in reverse. If you come for nightlife but stay somewhere that requires a long journey over steep roads every night, it may quickly become inconvenient. Always check the Full Moon Party calendar before booking. Even if you are not attending the event, accommodation, ferries and local transport can become much busier around those dates.
How to Get to Koh Phangan
The main ferry connections come from Surat Thani and Koh Samui.
Most passenger services arrive at Thong Sala Pier, the main town and transport hub on the island.
From there, local transport connects to beaches around the island.
The short journey between Samui and Phangan makes the two islands very easy to combine.
You can also continue north from Phangan to Koh Tao.
That is why the route:
Koh Samui → Koh Phangan → Koh Tao
is one of the easiest island-hopping itineraries in the Gulf of Thailand.
Book this route: Surat Thani → Koh Phangan
4. Koh Chang Beaches, Waterfalls and Road Trips
Province: Trat
Best time to visit: Around November–April
Best for: Families / First-time visitors / Couples / Nature
If you want a large island without flying to southern Thailand, Koh Chang is a very attractive option.
Koh Chang is also large enough that each beach area feels different.
White Sand Beach
Best for travellers who want restaurants, convenience stores and the liveliest atmosphere.
Klong Prao
Still convenient but generally more relaxed.
A good choice for couples and families.
Kai Bae and Areas Farther South
These areas gradually become quieter and more laid-back.
They suit travellers who want to spend more time by the sea and less time looking for nightlife.
Koh Chang also offers more than beaches. The island has mountains, rainforest and waterfalls, making it a good choice for travellers who know they will get bored spending every day on the sand. The main thing to watch out for is the road. Some sections are steep and winding. If you are not confident on a motorbike, travelling by car or local shared taxi is the easier choice.
How to Get to Koh Chang
From Bangkok, travel to Trat by car, bus or plane and continue to the ferry pier.
Once on Koh Chang, the ferry piers are on the eastern side while most tourist beaches are on the western side, so you still need to continue by road to your accommodation.
If you have five days or more, Koh Chang can also work as a base for continuing to Koh Mak or Koh Kood during the season when inter-island boats are operating.
This makes the Trat islands a good choice for travellers who want a multi-island trip without travelling all the way to southern Thailand.
5. Koh Samet — The Easy Weekend Island From Bangkok
Province: Rayong
Best time to visit: Around November–April
Best for: Short trips / Couples / Budget travellers / First-time visitors / Nightlife
Sometimes you do not need a major holiday.
You just want to see the sea for two days and be back at work on Monday.
That is where Koh Samet does particularly well.
From Bangkok, you can travel to Ban Phe in the morning, take the boat across and still have part of the afternoon on the beach.
There is no need to take several days off work, book a flight or plan months in advance.
The most common mistake, however, is choosing accommodation simply because it is on “Koh Samet”.
You should also look at the beach or bay name.
Sai Kaew Beach
The busiest area on the island. There are plenty of restaurants, nightlife and easy access from the main pier.
Ao Phai, Ao Tubtim and Ao Wong Duean
As you move farther south, the atmosphere gradually becomes quieter.
These areas are good for travellers who still want restaurants nearby but do not need the activity level of Sai Kaew Beach.
Bays Farther South
There are fewer people and fewer businesses.
These are better for travellers who choose a resort and plan to spend most of their time around that area.
So before booking, ask yourself:
At night, do I want to walk out and find restaurants, or do I want the area outside my room to be as quiet as possible? That question will help you choose the right beach more effectively than room photos alone. Koh Samet is also part of Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park, so there is a national park entrance fee separate from the boat fare.
How to Get to Koh Samet
The main departure point is Ban Phe in Rayong.
From Bangkok, you can travel by bus, minivan or private car. Parking is available around the pier area if you plan to leave your car on the mainland.
From Ban Phe, you can choose between passenger boats and speedboats.
Passenger boats are generally better for travellers who want to save money and are not in a hurry. They usually arrive at the island’s main pier before you continue by local transport to your beach.
Some speedboat services can travel closer to specific beaches, which can be useful if your accommodation is farther south or you are carrying a lot of luggage.
Do not compare ticket prices alone.
Compare:
boat fare + transport on the island + travel time
Then choose the option that makes the most sense for your trip.
Book this route: Rayong → Koh Samet
