5 Gorgeous Islands near Koh Lanta, Thailand

Koh Ngai is a small island in Krabi Province; measuring just four kilometres by two kilometres, it’s certainly easy to get around. There are sandy beaches and rugged rocks around the island’s perimeter and coconut plantations and mountainous forests inland. It’s a great place for spotting an array of birds and local wildlife, including monitor lizards and macaques. Visitors can also explore the underwater world, with several reefs accessible right from the beach.

Koh Jum is another island off the coast of Krabi. Chilled out and laid-back, it attracts those who want to escape to a quiet slice of paradise and leave the party-loving crowds behind. Accessible by long-tail boat, the island is home to a sizeable chao lae population, also known as sea gypsies, and other residents are largely of Chinese ancestry. There’s a smaller group of Thai Muslims too, creating much diversity in a small area. Explore the local villages, unwind on the beaches, swing in a hammock, devour a great book, and let life really slow down on this lovely island.

Koh Phi Phi, made up of the two islands of Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh, is the most famous and most visited of Krabi’s islands. Many people flock to the larger island (Koh Phi Phi Don) for partying, pampering, water sports, and beach time. Day trips to Koh Phi Phi Leh, including the iconic Maya Bay, are a good way to admire even more natural beauty. It’s definitely not a quiet island and the crowds are causing the island to lose some of its charm, though there are still many compelling reasons to add Phi Phi to your Thailand bucket list.

The twin islands of Koh Rok are part of the Mu Ko Lanta National Park. Located just 30 kilometres away from Koh Lanta, the islands can easily be visited on a day trip. In the high season, however, there are several accommodations for those who want to stay for longer. The major draw is the large reef in the surrounding waters, along with a rich diversity of marine life. There are great opportunities for snorkelling and diving. The soft, white, sandy beaches and the wildlife-rich jungles offer even more for outdoor lovers to enjoy.

One of the lesser-visited and picturesque Trang Islands, Koh Mook (also sometimes spelt as Koh Muk) has an unusual and interesting feature: an enclosed beach that must be reached by swimming through a cave from the ocean. Known as the Morakot Cave (Emerald Cave), a short swim brings you to a small, sandy beach with sheer greenery-clad cliff walls that completely seal it off from the rest of the island. Elsewhere on Koh Mook you’ll find beautiful sandy beaches that are blissfully free from crowds, and island activities include fishing, jungle trekking, and relaxing.