Gulf of Thailand Islands

Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao off Surat Thani: resorts, full moon parties and dive certification, each with its own strengths.

The three Gulf of Thailand islands lie in the southwestern Gulf of Thailand off Surat Thani Province, made up of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. The boat rides between them take 30 minutes to 1.5 hours, so they are often combined into one island-hopping trip. Koh Samui is the largest and most developed resort island of the three, with hotels lining Chaweng and Lamai beaches; you can visit the Big Buddha Temple and Fisherman's Village, and take a boat trip to Ang Thong National Marine Park and its 42 limestone islets. Koh Phangan is famous for the Full Moon Party at Haad Rin Beach every month, while its north and west coasts have quiet yoga and retreat resorts. Koh Tao is one of the places in the world that issues the most diving certifications, and the sandbar connecting the three islets of Nang Yuan is a classic photo spot. Allow 6–10 days: Samui 3–4 days, Phangan 2 days and Tao 2–3 days. The gateways are Samui Airport (flights are pricier) or Surat Thani Airport followed by a bus and ferry; there is also a combined "train + boat" ticket from Bangkok. Unlike the Andaman Coast, October–December is the rainy season here, so you can plan the two coasts to complement each other. Diving and motorbike rental accidents are common, so take care.

Destinations

Itineraries