Dream of Siam

There are literally hundreds of islands in Thailand so it is nigh on impossible to cover them all and do them justice. On this page I highlight some of the best islands and beaches in Thailand. This is by no means exhaustive coverage I just pick a few that I know from personal experience - they are all top quality. I am always being asked for recommendations about places to visit and stay, so on this page I put my top choices.

Koh = Island
Hat = Beach
Ao = Bay
Yai = Big
Noi = Small

Please note: with regard web links I always try to give the official website link for a resort/hotel, rather than a booking service. unfortunately, there are many unscrupulous booking services squatting on the net pretending to be the official site of a  resort. I do not link to such sites. However, it is possible that I may do so by mistake. Please inform me if I have done so by using the contact page. Many thanks.

Koh Samet

Samet Island is a small, beautiful, protected eco-resort situated just a few hours from Bangkok. You can take an air-con bus from Bangkok to Ban Phe (about 2 to 3 hours) and then get a boat across to Samet (about an hour). When I travel there I usually take an evening bus down to Ban Phe and stay there overnight. I'm then usually on the first boat out the following morning.

Samet is surrounded by beautiful clear waters and is fantastic for scuba diving, snorkelling, swimming and other water sports.

Being close to Bangkok, Samet is increasingly popular, especially as a weekend retreat for Bangkokians looking to relax. The eastern side of the island in particular can get quite busy - but not disasterously so.

I prefer to stay on the more remote Western side of the island. It tends to be quieter and less busy - which is my own personal preference. My recommended resort there is Ao Phrao (Paradise bay), it's a little more expensive, but it's quieter, has great facilities and there are many activities such as boat trips and water sports available.

Samet is a great choice for a short stay, especially if you love water sports or are a keen diver. For a longer stay one of the bigger islands may be a better choice.

Koh Lanta

For those of you who want to "get away from it all" Koh Lanta is a great choice. It isn't as popular as some of the other islands, but that is not necessarily a bad thing in my book. Lanta however, really delivers on the "Thai island" experience though. Much bigger than Samet it has more to do, as there are more places to go and some interesting options such as exploring the island by 4x4.

Again the snorkeling, diving and swimming are first class, with crystal clear warm waters. All sorts of boat trips out to nearby islands are available.

You can get to Lanta in several ways. I usually travel out from Phuket (as I also love Phuket). It's quite a long boat trip though taking around four hours or so - the boat usually stops at Phi-Phi on the way.

It's a great island to explore, and small enough so that you can't get seriously lost. You need 4x4 though as some of the roads are very sandy indeed, and could barely be called roads - that all adds to the adventure in my opinion though. Driving you can find many secluded beaches - empty of people, and odd things such as a "mountain side" restaurant with some of the best views I have ever experienced. You might even happen upon the Sea Gypsy village.

Saladan village, where the ferries and boats land is also worth an evening visit. There are a number of little restaurants and souvenir and gift shops, as well as several dive schools.

My recommended resort is Lanta Sea House Resort. This is a well run and friendly place to stay. The rooms are excellent and the pool is a notch above some of the others I have experienced at nearby resorts. The site is also better maintained than some of the others.

Lanta is a great holiday destination and there are many activities to pursue. Being less popular than for example Phi-Phi, it is quieter and largely unspoiled. It has some fantastic beaches and scenery and the sunsets are some of the best you will ever see. A big thumbs up from me.

Click here to go to the official Lanta Sea House Resort website

Phuket

Many people discount Phuket as an island due to its bad reputation. This is mainly because of the "naughty" nightlife centred along Patong Beach in Phuket Town. However, by avoiding the main town you have one of Thailand's best islands at your disposal.

Phuket is perfect for a longer stay as there is an almost unlimited range of activities available. Everything from Sea Kayaking to Elephant Trekking can be had. The White Water Rafting trips are also recommended.

As with pretty much all of Thailand's islands, the diving is excellent, particularly as you venture out to less visited locations. Some of the boat trips are pretty exciting too, whether you are a brilliant swimming or "a floater" there are many snorkelling adventures available.

I love Phuket, but I usually head for the quieter areas further away from the airport. I tend to avoid the main town too.

My recommended resort is the Kata Beach Resort. I particularly like the beach the resort is on, Kata Beach. To me Kata Beach is hard to beat as a romantic tropical beach. Walking along the beach at night under a full moon, with little Pu Island visible just of shore and the sound of the waves gently lapping at my feet is something I will never forget.

The resort itself has all amenities. The pool is first class, the rooms above average and the food excellent. The Thai massage available just next to the pool is highly recommended.

I never have any problem in recommending Phuket as I know that anyone who goes there will never get bored. But for those who love to just hang out on the beach Phuket has arguably some of the best beaches in the world.

Click here to go to the Kata beach Resort official website