Thailand is famous for its party islands, selfie-packed beaches, and endless tour boats.
But the Eastern Trat and Andaman Islands offer a different kind of thrill:
quiet beaches, emerald mangroves,
jungle waterfalls, and coral gardens
where you’re more likely to hear birds than boom boxes.
These are islands where adventure meets meaning, slow travel feels natural, and every experience leaves a footprint worth remembering. From exploring breathtaking national parks to kayaking into glowing limestone caves, here’s your guide to exploring Thailand’s islands (beyond the crowds).
EASTERN TRAT ISLANDS
If Thailand’s West Coast has the people, the neon, and the endless buckets of Chang beer, the Eastern Trat Islands have, well, mostly silence, coconut groves, and a much-needed reminder that sometimes paradise doesn’t come with a karaoke bar (and that’s okay).
These islands - Koh Mak, Koh Kood, and Koh Chang - are beautiful, yes, but they’re also lessons in travelling with intention, blending adventure, culture, and sustainability into every paddle, pedal, and snorkel stroke.
EASTERN TRAT ISLANDS
If Thailand’s West Coast has the people, the neon, and the endless buckets of Chang beer, the Eastern Trat Islands have, well, mostly silence, coconut groves, and a much-needed reminder that sometimes paradise doesn’t come with a karaoke bar (and that’s okay).
These islands - Koh Mak, Koh Kood, and Koh Chang - are beautiful, yes, but they’re also lessons in travelling with intention, blending adventure, culture, and sustainability into every paddle, pedal, and snorkel stroke.
ISLAND
Koh MAK
Koh Mak doesn’t shout. It barely clears its throat. Like, it’s flat and small enough to explore by bicycle. There’s no nightlife to speak of, just early dinners and long conversations about nothing. (the best kind), and resorts that are quietly family-run and allergic to excess.
What it does brilliantly though, is reset your internal volume: mornings arrive gently, with barefoot walks, strong coffee, and swims off jetties where the water looks Photoshopped, but isn’t. By day two, you’ll eat well, sleep deeply, and forget what day of the week it is, disappearing into a sense of calm that makes returning home feel almost impossible.
KOH MAK
Try traditional Thai pottery
Imagine sitting cross-legged in a sunlit studio, spinning clay on a wheel while the sea breeze drifts in from nearby coconut groves. That’s Coral Pottery on Koh Mak for ya.
Beginners and pros alike can shape bowls, mugs, or hopelessly lopsided teapots that somehow turn out as masterpieces. More than just a hands-on activity, it’s a hands-on way to slow down, focus, and appreciate the island’s slower rhythm.
KOH MAK
Cook up some Thai food
Roll up your sleeves for a cooking class with Smile Koh Mak, where fresh herbs, fiery chilies, and perfectly balanced flavours combine into a dish worth bragging to your friends about.
You’ll chop, stir, and taste your way through classic Thai dishes, then sit back to savour the fruits of your labour on a terrace overlooking the water. Bonus: you’ll understand why a coconut curry is infinitely better when you’ve made it yourself, and maybe even impress future dinner guests back home (fingers crossed).
KOH MAK
Stay Seavana Beach Resort
Eco-friendly, solar-powered, and family-run, Seavana Beach Resort offers low-impact bungalows with private terraces looking out over turquoise waters.
The design is simple but thoughtful, letting the natural beauty of Koh Mak take center stage. Wake to birdsong, sip coffee while the tide laps gently at the shore, and know your stay supports community-led tourism. What a win.
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WHY IT MATTERS
Koh Mak is pretty (fullstop). But it’s also a blueprint in how to do tourism responsibly. Limiting high-rise development, championing community ownership, and reducing plastics, the island proves that sustainable travel can be luxurious, fun, and unforgettable all at once.
ISLAND
Koh Kood
This island is what happens when the jungle wins. Big, green, and unashamedly dramatic, it doesn’t bend to convenience; waterfalls hide inland, roads fade to dirt, nights are properly dark, and resorts disappear into the trees rather than pop up on Instagram feeds.
Days feel earned: you’ll sweat to reach a hidden waterfall, paddle (read: battle) upriver, then float in clear water feeling grateful you made it. Meals are slow, seafood-heavy, and served by people who genuinely don’t care if you’re in a hurry. It’s the place for travellers who like their paradise raw, a little demanding, and full of stories rather than schedules.
KOH KOOD
Visit the Khlong Chao Waterfall
A short hike through dense jungle trails leads to Khlong Chao Waterfall, a place where water tumbles into a crystal-clear pool framed by greenery.
Trekking here is sensory: earthy scents, dappled sunlight, the sound of birds and rushing water. Jump in to cool off and float in near-total silence, surrounded by the island’s natural serenity. It doesn’t get more peaceful than this (and we would know).
KOH KOOD
Explore Ao Yai Fisherman’s Village
Step off the well-worn city streets and into Ao Yai, a traditional fishing village - think wooden piers, stilted houses, and nets drying in the sun that tell stories older than any guidebook.
Walk slowly and if you’re lucky, you might be able to convince one of the locals to share their fishing experiences with you. But at the very least, you’ll come away with the understanding of a lifestyle that moves to the rhythm of the tides. And that’s priceless.
KOH KOOD
Stay Hideout Koh Kood
Hideout Koh Kood offers minimalist villas blending eco-conscious design with barefoot-luxury comfort.
The sounds of birds and surf will no doubt wake you up earlier than you want when you’re on holiday, but when you can fall asleep under mosquito nets in dreamy spaces while feeling entirely untethered from the modern world, we bet you won’t really mind.
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WHY IT MATTERS
Koh Kood is Thailand’s last undiscovered island (not literally, but you get the idea). Luxury doesn’t need crowds or neon lights here; silence and untouched beauty are the real indulgences.
ISLAND
Koh Chang
Koh Chang is sorta like the messy middle child. It’s big, bold, and undecided about who it is, offering nightlife, nothingness, and everything in between. One beach has DJs and cocktails, the next has fishermen fixing nets (and zero interest in you).
The jungle is steep, the waterfalls are real, and the roads feel like they were designed for a dare. You can ease into Koh Chang or chase it hard. Think lazy beach days that turn into waterfall missions, and quiet dinners that become big nights. In other words, it’s an island with adventure, but without total commitment. Like, if you want a cold beer, a soft bed, and the freedom to call it an early night, this is your kinda vibe.
KOH CHANG
Diving at the HTMS Chang Wreck
The HTMS Chang wreck has become a living reef, home to schools of fish, rays, and moray eels.
Diving here is a blend of history and natural wonder. Why not explore the rusted hull while vibrant coral blooms fill in the gaps?
Open water diving in Koh Chang feels raw, adventurous, and rewarding, far from the crowded dive boats of more famous Thai sites.
KOH CHANG
Explore Salakphet Mangrove Forest
Walking the boardwalk through Salakphet Mangrove Forest is a slow, sensory kind of adventure. Wooden planks wind through a tangle of roots and emerald-green waterways, where crabs scuttle sideways, birds flit between branches, and the occasional monitor lizard pretends not to notice you.
Pro tip: stay as long as you like, this place will reward those who linger, pause and actually look, rather than those who charge through with a checklist and their GoPro.
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WHY IT MATTERS
Koh Chang is Thailand’s West Coast before the crowds arrived: raw, adventure-rich, and culturally layered. It’s a playground for travellers who want action with authenticity (hint: that’s you).
Andaman Sleepers
If the Eastern Trat Islands are Thailand’s quiet achievers, the Andaman Sleepers are its slow-burning legends. These islands don’t shout for attention, they wait patiently for travellers willing to linger a little longer, wander a little further, and swap packed itineraries for unplanned afternoons.
Life here moves at island pace: reef-to-rum sunsets, village streets over beach clubs, and days shaped more by tides than timetables. From timber old towns to hidden caves and coral gardens just offshore, the Andaman Sleepers reward those who show up without expectations.
Andaman Sleepers
If the Eastern Trat Islands are Thailand’s quiet achievers, the Andaman Sleepers are its slow-burning legends. These islands don’t shout for attention, they wait patiently for travellers willing to linger a little longer, wander a little further, and swap packed itineraries for unplanned afternoons.
Life here moves at island pace: reef-to-rum sunsets, village streets over beach clubs, and days shaped more by tides than timetables. From timber old towns to hidden caves and coral gardens just offshore, the Andaman Sleepers reward those who show up without expectations.
ISLAND
Koh Lanta
Beaches stretch long and low-key in Koh Lanta. Sunsets feel like a daily gift, and the jungles hide slow paths rather than adrenaline routes. Cafés, markets, and dive shops dot the island, letting you drift between activity and nothing at all (if that’s what you want).
Days can be lazy, punctuated by swims, motorbike rides, or a hammock nap, while evenings offer simple seafood dinners under string lights. It’s a ‘move at whatever pace feels good that day’ kinda place.
KOH LANTA
Wander Lanta Old Town
Lanta Old Town feels like Thailand before the rush. Timber houses sit on stilts above turquoise water, their balconies leaning casually over the sea as if they’ve been there forever, because they mostly have.
Wander the quiet main street lined with cafés, old shophouses, and family-run eateries where recipes have barely changed in generations. There’s no pressure to rush, no must-see list, just a gentle rhythm of locals going about their day, fishermen unloading their catch, and the occasional cat napping in the shade.
KOH LANTA
Walk through Mu Koh Lanta National Park
At the southern tip of the island, Mu Koh Lanta National Park swaps sleepy streets for jungle-clad trails and wild coastlines.
Trek through dense forest to viewpoints overlooking empty bays, with sand so untouched it feels entirely yours. The beaches here are raw and undiscovered, backed by thick vegetation and framed by rocky headlands. It’s ideal for wandering, swimming, and doing absolutely nothing afterward. That’s our kinda beach day.
ISLAND
Koh MUk
This island feels secretive, in the best way. It’s not a place you stumble across - you find it - and it feels like it’s been waiting for ya. The main draw is its stunning natural attractions, and the island itself quietly rewards curiosity: quiet beaches, mangroves, and tiny resorts that somehow feel invisible.
You can explore at your own speed, hopping between snorkelling spots, walking sandy paths, or just letting the tide decide. It’s an island for those who crave a little mystery, who want their paradise with a sense of discovery, and don’t mind working for the payoff.
KOH MUK
Kayak the Emerald Cave
Kayaking into Tham Morakot, better known as the Emerald Cave, is one of those experiences that feels quietly epic.
Paddle through a dark limestone tunnel, following the echo of dripping water until the cave suddenly opens into a hidden lagoon glowing an impossible shade of green. It’s both thrilling and hard to believe, but completely worth the effort. Arrive early or late to avoid crowds and let the moment feel as magical as it should.
KOH MUK
Beach-hop Farang AND Charlie Beach
Once back in the sunlight, Koh Muk’s beaches keep things beautifully simple. Farang Beach offers long stretches of soft sand and gentle water, while Charlie Beach turns golden at sunset, dotted with lanterns and the smell of grilled seafood.
Fresh fish cooked by locals, bare feet in the sand, and the hum of evening conversation; sometimes that’s all a good island beach needs.
ISLAND
Koh LIPE
Koh Lipe is all sun, sand, and unapologetic island energy. Beaches curve like they were drawn by a perfectionist, water shimmers in impossible shades, and the pace feels easy but alive.
Days are for snorkelling vibrant reefs, wandering between tiny cafés and markets, or just lying in the sun pretending all of your responsibilities back home don’t exist. Nights hum with relaxed bars, firelight, and the occasional music drifting from somewhere you’ll find if you want to. By the time the day ends, you realise the island has its own rhythm, and you’ve accidentally fallen into it.
KOH LIPE
Snorkel the coral reefs
Koh Lipe is one of the rare places where you can roll out of bed, grab a mask, and snorkel straight from the shore. Coral reefs fringe the island in every direction, alive with colourful fish, soft corals, and the occasional curious turtle.
The water is warm, clear, and inviting, which means it’s perfect for long, lazy sessions that end only when some chicken pad thai calls you back to land.
KOH LIPE
enjoy Sunset drinks at the hottest spots
As daylight fades, Koh Lipe shifts gears just enough.
Grab a seat at Tony’s Beach Bar or Zodiac See Sun Bar, order something cold, and watch longtail boats bob gently as the sky turns pink, orange, then indigo.
It’s social without being rowdy, lively without tipping into chaos. Which, if you ask us, is the ideal way to end a day that started underwater.
get in the know Tiny shrines called spirit houses sit outside almost every home and business, believed to house protective spirits. Some are full-size mansions for the spirits themselves. Can we move in?
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