Top 6 most pristine islands in Thailand & best quiet islands in Thailand for this summer

Koh Kradan accommodation

Eight small resorts offer rooms and bungalows, from very simple huts and tents to luxury bungalows at the beach. All resorts are located on the east coast, except the Lost paradise resort, that has a few bungalows and a restaurant in the center of Koh Kradan, but only a few minutes walking from the beaches. Its possible to bring the own tent and sleep on the beach. Most people come for a day trip, so the overnight guests can spend a very lonesome and quiet evening and night on Koh Kradan.

You can find, check rates, reviews & availability for the hotels, resorts, bungalows in Koh Kradan on Agoda.com or Booking.com.

See more photos of Koh Kradan Island

Koh Phra Thong

Koh Phra Thong island has an area of 88 km2 located in Khura Buri District, Phang Nga Province. Phra Thong Koh is part of the Mu Koh Ra – Koh Phra Thong National Park. The island is surrounded by the colorful coral reefs, coconut tree forests and lush mangrove forests.

The central part Koh Phra Thong island is the vast grasslands – the shelter of the animals such as snakes, deer, wildcat, lynx, sea eagles, hornbills, otters …

How to get to Koh Phra Thong

Ko Phra Thong is reached either from Saphan Pla pier, just past the Ko Surin National Park pier about 7 km north of the town of Khuraburi, or from a boat launch at Bang Det (also known as “Mangrove pier” or “Southern pier”), which lies about 5 km from Khuraburi town amongst the extensive coastal mangrove canals. While it’s possible to hire a longtail from Saphan Pla pier and show up at Ko Phra Thong unannounced, probably the better idea is to phone ahead to your resort of choice, in which case they will help arrange boat transport and give you a lift by motorbike from which ever pier you arrive at. If needing some direction, stop by Tom and Am Tour or Boon Piya Resort in the centre of Khuraburi, who are happy to arrange a motorbike taxi or songthaew from Khuraburi to the pier and call ahead to any of the resorts.

Tom and Am Tour may be contacted at (086) 272 0588 or [email protected].
Boon Piya Resort may be contacted at (081) 752 5457 or (076) 491 969.

Unlike many of Thailand’s more frequented islands, there is no single “go to” transport option for Ko Phra Thong. There is a local ferry that departs from Bang Det, usually very early in the morning, but due to it not consistently departing everyday and at different times when it does, it’s not a good option unless specifically suggested by one of the resort owners on Ko Phra Thong who are up to date on when and if it’s departing.

If it is, the cost should be 250B not including transport to the boat launch. The same boat returns to Khuraburi from the pier at Ta Pai Yoe most days around 8:00, although you’ll want to check with your resort before banking on that. The resorts on Phra Thong will charge an additional 100B — so 350B total for the trip — that covers a motorbike ride to the pier and a songthaew from Bang Det to the bus station in Khuraburi. This might seem steep for a songthaew ride, but it’s clearly how things work here, so if foregoing the 100B to your resort don’t be surprised if you have no way of getting from Bang Det to Khuraburi after arriving, and it’s not an easy route to figure out on your own.

Another option from Khuraburi, which again must be suggested and arranged by Mr. Chuoi or another of Phra Thong’s resorts, is to take a local banana boat for 400B. This is a very small boat just big enough for one big passenger with a big pack or maybe two smaller passengers with little in tow, but it could be a more adventurous way to get to the island while saving a little money.

The journey from Khuraburi, on the mainland, to the island of Koh Phra Thong is only possible by boat.

The usual method is a charming 1hr+ trip through some delightful mangrove scenery by longtail boat. The whole boat is charged at between 1,500 Bt to 2,000 Bt dependent on the resort. Each boat can take 8 people. Please check our travel notes page for more information on booking longtail boats.

Longtail boat travel to Koh Phra Thong – Important Note

Please note: The latest time of longtail departure is 16.30 from Khuraburi to Koh Phra Thong and 15.00 from Koh Phra Thong to Khuraburi. If you intend to arrive into Khuraburi after 16.00, then you should be prepared to spend a night at Boon Piya Resort and take a boat to Koh Phra Thong the following morning (we can make the necessary arrangements for you). Please take this into account when figuring out your travel plans.

An alternative is to take a more exciting whirl to the island by private speedboat. This will only take 20 minutes or so and costs 7,000 Bt for the boat. For further information please contact us below.

The other way — and the way that’s often first recommended by the tour companies and sometimes said to be the only way although that’s not true — is to pay 1,000B for a one-way longtail from either Saphan Pla pier or Bang Det. While expensive for solo or duo travellers, this isn’t a bad choice for groups since 1,000B should cover up to four people. Again, it’s best to arrange this in advance to ensure there’s a boat waiting. Although, when we just showed up at Saphan Pla pier and asked around we were able to locate a local longtail driver who offered to make the run for 1,000B. His name is Date, and although he speaks little English, you could give him a try if you find yourself at the pier without a boat. His number is (089) 972 1747.

From Ko Phra Thong, any resort can arrange a longtail transfer for 1,000B. It’s also worth mentioning that Golden Buddha has their own boats and typically arrange transport for their guests to and from the island. Particularly if the local boat isn’t running for some reason, it would be smart to check in at Golden Buddha and ask if you can hop in with one of their boats for cheaper than the 1,000B private boat.

Getting around

Ko Phra Thong is large and flat, and if looking to explore it’s possible to rent motorbikes (300B) or bicycles (50-100B) at Mr. Chuoi’s or Lions Village. We found it particularly suitable for bicycle, but take note that there are no convenience shops selling water along the long stretches between the villages and resorts, so be certain to take enough water as it can get very hot. Because of its large size, walking is not a particularly good way to get around between villages, but all of the resorts and Blue Guru’s dive shop are within walking distance along the northern beaches.

Koh Phra Thong weather

The weather on Koh Phra Thong dutifully follows that on the mainland. The only real difference is at the fringes of the season and during low season. During this time the deep showers are more localised and it is quite possible for Koh Phra Thong to be saved the torrential rain hitting the mainland.

Thankfully, during high season visitors to Koh Phra Thong can rest assured that their holiday will be dominated by glorious sunshine, clear air and calm seas.

Koh Phra Thong accommodation

While Golden Buddha offers stylish (and expensive) beach houses, most of the accommodation on Ko Phra Thong comes in the form of basic wood or bamboo bungalows. In terms of bungalow quality there’s not much to differentiate the cheaper resorts, but location and popularity does vary between them.

You can find, check rates, reviews & availability for the hotels, resorts, bungalows in Koh Phra Thong on Agoda.com or Booking.com.

See more Koh Phra Thong island photos

Mu Koh Surin National Park

If you want to experience life on a deserted island like Robinson, Mu Koh Surin National Park (Similan Islands Marine National Park, Surin Islands National Park) is the place to visit. This national park is a small archipelago located in the Andaman Sea. Mu Koh Surin has a very diverse fauna system with various kinds of lizards, turtles, crabs, monkeys … Especially, when coming to this national park, visitors can admire the many beautiful coral reefs with brightly colored.

At Moo Koh Surin National Park, during the day, visitors can enjoy fresh seafood at the restaurant in the park. At around 22 o’clock, electricity will cut off completely on the island and this is a great opportunity for visitors to watch the sky sparkle stars.

How to get to Surin Islands

Getting To the Surin Islands While there are a great many companies in Phuket that advertise direct travel, it is very rare. Almost all companies transfer people the 200 km (yes we said 200) via minibus to Kuraburi pier, then onwards. Kuraburi is a fishing town located on the Andaman Sea. It is not developed for toursim. We encourage contacting Khao Lak companies for all your travel needs – they are cheaper and more knowledgeable about local conditions

Rough seas make travel to the Surins difficult during the southwest monsoon months of May-October, and sometimes impossible. Khura Buri Pier, some 125 kilometres north of Phang Nga Town, is the nearest launching point to the Surins, where ferryboats regularly make the 4-hour trip from November-April. Boats may also be arranged from Amphoe Kapoe Pier in Ranong Province, with trips taking about 7 hours. Note: Like all national parks in Thailand, there’s an entry fee of 200 baht for foreign visitors.

The most hassle-free and often cost-effective way to reach the Surins is by arranging a tour that departs from Phuket. Most dive and game fishing operators in Phuket can arrange liveaboards, or you can book a trip by speedboat here. Day tours feature visits to several different snorkeling locations plus lunch at the national park headquarters. The speedboats used take only an hour to reach the islands.

Ko Surin is open only from November 1 to April 30 each year, and Sabina runs speedboats everyday during this time, departing Khuraburi at 9:00 and returning at 14:00. Blue shirted Sabina staff and blue and yellow Sabina longtail boats are easy to find all around Ko Surin, so when ready to go home just let one of them know. The national park does not transport visitors to or from Ko Surin and when we asked, park officials didn’t care to be bothered about finding the boat back to the mainland.

Note that many other travel companies offer day trips to Ko Surin from Khao Lak, Phang Nga, and even as far afield as Phuket, and many of these have been known to give travellers the impression that boats to Ko Surin depart directly from those locations. The reality, however, is that if you book from somewhere other than Khuraburi you should be prepared for a two hour or longer mini bus ride to the pier in Khuraburi in each direction, so you would be looking at a total of 4-5 hours on the road plus 3 hours on the boat just to get to Ko Surin and back. Also be prepared to pay more if booking tours from these more distant locations. That said, the better choice — especially if wanting to do a daytrip — is to get to Khuraburi first and book the trip from there. The exception to this rule is if you’re going with a diving operation as these have their own boats and don’t need to rely on the Ko Surin pier in Khuraburi.

Tom and Am Tour may be contacted at (086) 272 0588 or [email protected].
Sabina Tours may be contacted at (076) 472 216, (081) 737 5801, [email protected], or http://www.sabinatour.com.

Getting around the Surin Islands

On the Surin Islands there are trails and very beautiful viewpoints. Bring your shoes! The beaches are not connected and it is sometimes quite difficult to climb over the boulders. The best way to get around is either through a scheduled tour or through the local longtail drivers. They are available for 1/2 day or full day hire. You can then truly explore the Surin islands. If you are short on time (and patience), we recommend using the services of a local dive shop or snorkeling company. A company has recently started offering an overnight tours, with the option to stay on the islands, while visiting various dive sites and snorkeling areas each day.

Surin Islands accommodation

Are you looking for Similan Islands accommodations? Staying on the Surin Islands can be done two ways. You may stay in the Tents or bungalows provided by the National Park, or on a diving liveaboard. Another way to enjoy the Surin park is to through day trips, so you can stay in Khao Lak or Kuraburi each night.

The only Island accommodation available is on the northern Surin Island (Koh Surin Nua) . The only bungalows and tents available for rent are here. If you are diving it is best to visit on either an overnight boat or a liveaboard. For Snorkelers you can happily choose between over night trips, camping or simply doing day trips from Khao Lak.

Surin Islands Tents/Bungalows

You may contact the National Parks directly here: 
(+66) 0 7647 2145

National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department.
The official name of the Surin Islands National Marine Park

If you have trouble booking or cannot complete the reservation – the good people at Khao Lak Life are happy to do it for you (They just go in person the the headquarters and arrange everything that way). They do, however, charge a small fee for this service. Contact them with your questions.

Surin Island Tents are large and simple. Included are sheets, pillows and a floor pad. The tents do have a mosquito net. The tents are placed about 1-1.5 meters apart in one central area quite near the beaches. They are currently 570 Baht per night and reservations are recommended, especially during Holidays. You are not able to put up your own tent.

Currently you can only reserve tents through agents, as their online system only works for bungalow reservations.

Surin Islands Bungalows

Currently there are 10 bungalows available for rent. They do feature air-conditioning and attached bathrooms. While Simple and clean, they are owned and operated by the government. But if you want a nice place to stay on the Islands, this is it! the cost is 2000 Baht per night and reservations are recommended at all times.

Diving Liveaboards

There are many to choose from and you stay on the boat. These are meant for the diver and rarely cater to snorkelers or non-divers. With over 40 different boats traveling along the Surin islands you have a wide variety of selections. If it seems like too much – try Wicked Diving’s ecologically friendly Richelieu Rock Diving Liveaboard which visits the Surin Islands.

You can find, check rates, reviews & availability for the hotels, resorts, bungalows in Surin Islands National Park on Agoda.com or Booking.com.

See more photos of Similan Islands National Park

Koh Ngai

Koh Ngai is a mountainous island located between Krabi province and Trang province. The island possesses the clear blue waters, white sandy beaches stretching along with colorful coral reefs and tropical jungle with rich, diverse flora and fauna.

To discover all the wild beauty of Koh Ngai, the best option is to walk. Alternatively, In addition, visitors can also visit the nearby islands such as Koh Mook and the Emerald Cave. In the early morning or late afternoon when empty is the most ideal time to visit the two islands.

To discover all the wild beauty of Koh Ngai, the best option is to walk. Alternatively, visitors can also visit nearby islands such as Emerald Cave and Koh Mook. In the early morning or late afternoon is the best time to visit these two islands.

How to get to Koh Ngai

Koh Hai or Koh Ngai located nearby Koh Lanta in the Andaman Ocean vacationers have many options for transportation to explore the Island, travelling to the The Fantasy Resort & Spa is easy from any location and can be arranged with us for your convenience. There are a lot of way to reach Koh Hai or Koh Ngai, depending on your need quickness and convenience. The most convenient way is to go by plane to Trang International Airport, which operated by budget flights, Nok Air and Air Asia.

Travelers can catch a train to Trang at Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Railway Station and stop by Trang Railway Staion where you need about one hour to reach Park Meng Pier can either travel to the resort via our speed boat or longtail boat service. So please contact us to arrange your transfer.

Ferries The convenient way is travel by high speed Ferries from Langawi, Phuket, Koh Lipe, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Koh Hai, Koh Muk and Koh Kradan by Tiger line which offers the fastest sea crossing in the Andaman Sea

There are speed boats scheduled to leave from Pak Meng Pier daily. Should guest require earlier boat transfer, it is possible to manage according the numbers of passengers for sharing seats and on request for chartered.

From Pak Meng Pier to Koh Ngai, taking about 20 minutes by speed boat, and 45 minutes by Tour Boat

Koh Lanta – Koh Ngai Daily Ferry Boat Transfer

** On High Season only ** The Excursion Ferry Boat leave Ban Saladan Pier, North of Koh Lanta daily around 8 am. arrive Koh Ngai Jetty at 10.00 am. Vice versa, the trip back to Koh Lanta by the same ferry boats leaves Koh Ngai Jetty around 2 p.m. takes 2 hours to arrive Ban Saladan Pier, in Koh Lanta Yai.

The Koh Lanta To Koh Ngai ferry takes one hour. View Koh Lanta to Koh Ngai ferry times and book ferry tickets online

Koh Lanta to Koh Ngai Ferry Timetable and Costs:

• Depart Koh Lanta at 10:30 – Arrive at Koh Ngai at 11:30
• Adults – 750 Baht per Adult ( guests over 11 are classed as adults)
• Child 2- 11 years – 525 Baht per child
• Child under 2 – 500 Baht per child
• Check in then board the High Speed ferry which departs Koh Lanta at 10:30
• The journey to Koh Ngai is 1 hour, you will arrive at Koh Ngai at 11:30

Longtail Boat Transfer Between The Ferry And Island
Please note: All fares are exclusive of a 50 Baht longtail boat transfer fee per person (including children) between the ferry and the islands of Koh Muk, Koh Ngai, Koh Kradan and Koh Lipe. This is because there is no pier on these islands, so the ferry cannot dock. The fee is payable directly to the longboat driver.

Koh Ngai Resort Pier

A standard pier on the South Andaman Sea, where you can go to any direction very easy. Koh Ngai Island becomes the center sea port between Phuket, Phi Phi, Lanta, and south down islands such as Koh Mook, Koh Kradan, Koh Libong, Koh Lipe, until Palau Langkawi of Malaysia.

Other islands

From November 1 to March 31 (perhaps into April for Tigerline and Petpailin), several boat companies connect Ko Ngai directly to a number of other islands. Tickets can be booked through any resort on Ko Ngai; whoever sells you the ticket will need to call the boat ahead of time, so give some prior notice.

Heading north, the Bundhaya and Satun Pakbara speedboats pick up at different points on Ngai’s main beach at 11:30 and reach Ko Lanta at 12:00 for 650 baht. The Satun Pakbara boat continues on to Ko Phi Phi for 1,350 baht and Phuket for 2,150, arriving there at 14:30.

The cheaper/slower Petpailin ferry also runs to Lanta, picking up at the Koh Ngai Resort pier at 10:00 and swinging by Kradan and Muk on the way back north.

Heading south, speedboats pick up on Ngai at 11:00 and reach Ko Muk at 11:30 for 350 baht; Ko Kradan at 11:45 for 400 baht (Satun Pakbara only); Ko Bulon Lae at 12:30 for 1,050 baht; and Ko Lipe at 13:30 for 1,600 baht.

Speedboats to Ko Ngai depart Ko Lipe at 09:00; Ko Bulon Lae at 10:00; Ko Lanta at 10:30; Ko Kradan at 10:45; and Ko Muk at 11:00.

The Tigerline high-speed ferry also connects Ko Ngai directly to Ko Phi Phi, Phuket, Hat Yao pier in Trang, and Langkawi Island in Malaysia, plus all of the other islands listed above except Ko Bulon Lae. The southbound boat departs Phuket at 08:00 and picks up on Ko Ngai at 11:30, while the northbound boat departs Langkawi at 09:30 and picks up on Ngai at 14:30.

You can also take a private longtail boat to/from Ko Muk for around 1,200 baht; Ko Kradan for around 1,500 baht; and Ko Lanta for around 2,000 baht.

Bundhaya T: (074) 783 111 ; (080) 549 4545 www.bundhayaspeedboat.com
Petpailin T: (075) 667 033 ; (081) 979 9001
Satun Pakbara T: (081) 959 2094 www.spcthailand.com
Tigerline www.tigerlinetravel.com

How to come to Trang Province

By Flight Route: Bangkok – Trang

Arrival Trang Airport in the morning and our Airport Representatives will meet you at the Airport.

By Train

2 scheduled trains daily from Bangkok terminal in Trang Province, Rapid Train and Express Train.
See Train timetable at www.railway.co.th

By Bus

Scheduled Bus from Bangkok Southern Terminal to Trang Province Bus Terminal daily.
See Bus Schedule at www.transport.co.th

From Trang Airport

Our Airport Representatives will meet you according your prior request and arranged the shared or private car/van to the access Pak Meng Pier which takes 45 minutes from the airport.

From Trang Bus Terminal and Train Station

Call a local taxi (Tuk Tuk) to transfer to our Transit Station in front of Railways Station, then you can shared the Van to Pak Meng Pier our Transit Station Manager will arrange the shared / private transfer to Pak Meng Pier, If you come via Train, just in front of the Trang Railways Station, you will find our Transit Station, Let’s start from there.

Koh Ngai weather

Koh Ngai a tropical climate. Temperatures don’t vary a lot throughout the year although the pre-monsoon months from February to April are a little hotter. The year is divided into a dry season, from January to March and a long wet season from April to December, with the strongest rains in September.

The best time to visit Koh Ngai is from December to March knowing that during the low season from May to the end of October, when it rains the most, tourism activity is very limited and most of the resorts on Koh Ngai and other Trang islands are closed.

Where to stay in Koh Ngai

There are ten small resorts offering fan and air conditional bungalows for reasonable prices: Koh Hai Thanya Resort, Fantasy Resort, Cliff Beach Resort, Koh Hai Resort, Koh Hai Paradise Resort, Koh Ngai Mayalay Resort & Spa, Thapwarin Resort, Seafood Resort and Coco Cottage. Each resort has its own restaurant, and for daily activities they offer day trips for snorkeling or island hopping to the islands nearby. A very nice and picturesque resort is the Thapwarin Resort at the northern end of the beach. The only long beach is on the eastern side, while the western coast is rocky and only accessible by boat or kayak.

You can find, check rates, reviews & availability for the hotels, resorts, bungalows in Koh Ngai on Agoda.com or Booking.com.

See more Koh Ngai photos

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in Thailand you can refer to

• Bangkok City & Temples Tour by Tour East
• Classic Bangkok Tour: Floating Market, Elephant Village, Asiatique, & More by AK Travel
• Bangkok Old City Half Day Tour
• Bangkok Landmarks Day Tour: Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Chao Phraya River & More
• Bangkok Sky Train (BTS) One Day Pass
• Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link (ARL) Ticket
• [Sale] Private Suvarnabhumi Airport Transfers (BKK) for Bangkok, Pattaya & More by Oriental Holiday
• Shared City Transfers between Bangkok and Pattaya by Oriental Holiday
• Private City Transfers between Bangkok and Pattaya, Ayutthaya, Hua Hin & More
• Shared City Transfers between Bangkok and Pattaya by Oriental Holiday
• Private City Transfers from Pattaya to Bangkok, Hua Hin, Koh Samet & Koh Chang
• [SALE] BTS Skytrain Rabbit Card
• Chao Phraya Tourist Boat Bangkok Hop-On-Hop-Off Sightseeing Boat
• [SALE] Chao Phraya Princess Cruise
• [SALE] 4G Sim Card (Thailand Pick Up) for Thailand
• 4G SIM Card (BKK Airport Pick Up) for Thailand (Unlimited Data)
• 4G Pocket WiFi (Bangkok and Phuket Airports Pick Up) for Thailand
• 4G Portable WiFi for Thailand from Uroaming (Unlimited Data)

Are you looking for more Bangkok travel guide and top things to do in Bangkok: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Bangkok travel blog — The fullest Bangkok travel guide blog for a budget trip to Bangkok (BKK).