These Are the Best Quiet Islands in Thailand

Koh Lanta was once a closely guarded backpacker’s secret, but it now appeals to families and beach lovers looking for a quiet escape with plenty to do. The island is just 30km (18mi) long and has nine sweeping beaches, a sprinkling of restaurants and bars, and a dense forest with mysterious caves to explore. There’s also a well-paved network of roads, so it’s a great idea to rent a motorbike and zip around for a memorable tour in the tropical sun.

While away lazy days gazing at the blue sea from Koh Kradan, a remote paradise off Trang in the Andaman Sea. Feeling active? You can kayak around the entire island in just three hours to take in the views. This island is just 4km (2.5mi) long and almost entirely protected for conservation, with a bone-white stretch of sand on the east side of the island.

If you’re not quite ready to ditch all signs of tourism, Koh Yao Noi is the ideal compromise. This island, in the Phang Nga Bay within easy reach of Phuket and Krabi, is a dream for anyone needing some serious R&R. It’s home to 4,000 residents and is just 12km (7.5mi) long, so days are spent swimming, boating and snorkelling. Alternatively, try trekking through the untouched forests to reach deserted waterfalls. There are a handful of cafes, diving shops and small resorts to provide some home comforts.

Easily accessible from Krabi (just 15 minutes by speedboat or 40 minutes by longtail boat), Hong Island is actually an archipelago comprising several small, uninhabited islands in the Than Bok Khorani National Park, characterised by white sandy beaches, towering limestone cliffs and a secluded turquoise lagoon. On a day tour here, you can swim, snorkel and kayak among shoals of colourful fish in the calm, shallow water or follow the nature trail through the jungle, keeping a close eye out for white-faced gibbons and monitor lizards.

Visit Hong Island with Culture Trip as part of our 10-day Southern Thailand trip.

Fancy a real desert island experience? Sleepy Koh Mak is 40km (25mi) from the mainland and well away from the tourist trail. So, it’s a haven if you’re looking to soak up sun, sea and silence. There’s almost no nightlife on this island, but you will be in the company of 10,000 palm trees, a Buddhist temple, plenty of winding bicycle tracks and a diving school to make the most of those gin-clear waters.

Love nature? Seafood? Getting back to basics? Then, you’ll feel right at home in tiny Koh Bulon Lae, 23km (14mi) west of Pak Bara. A glorious speck in the Andaman Sea, it has one main white-sand beach, no cars, a scattering of simple beach huts and a friendly fishing village. It couldn’t be simpler to explore either; it’ll take just 20 minutes for you to walk from one end to the other.

The ideal mix of deserted tropical beaches, laidback bars and relaxed restaurants, Koh Lipe is a peaceful alternative to the big-name islands with all of the amenities. The island, on the edge of the Tarutao National Marine Park, is best known for a spectacular coral reef and jaw-dropping white beaches that make it a dream for divers. At night, unwind at seafront reggae bars to enjoy full-moon parties, live bands and cocktails underneath an endless starry sky.

Bring a sense of adventure to Koh Kood and explore this wild, unspoilt island of waterfalls, mangroves and rainforest. The beaches are as beautiful as you’d expect but the real thrill comes from whizzing down dirt tracks on a scooter, hiking through the steamy jungle and kayaking in brilliantly turquoise waters. If you’d rather spend days lolling on a hammock underneath a palm tree though, you couldn’t pick a better spot.

Serene Koh Mook, in the Andaman Sea, is all about the picture-perfect beaches. If you can drag yourself away, there are a handful of Thai restaurants and street-food stalls, winding jungle roads and local villages, but the renowned Emerald Cave should not be missed. This hidden beach is reached only by swimming through a dark mountain tunnel; go early to get it all to yourself.

Yearning to do nothing? Beautiful Koh Jum, on the western coast of Thailand, is made for unwinding. It’s got nothing more than a handful of secluded beaches, bath-warm water for snorkelling, and the occasional low-key bar. If you need a little more activity, cycle the length of the island in around an hour or head to the mountainous north, which has excellent hiking trails, including a route up Koh Pu Mountain.