10 Days in the Islands: Andaman vs Gulf Routes

The first thing to know is that the two coasts run on opposite schedules. The Andaman Sea on the west is at its best from November to April, calm, clear, and impossibly photogenic. Come May, the monsoon rolls in and the west coast gets rough. That’s exactly when the Gulf of Thailand on the east comes into its own, staying sunny and swimmable right through to September. So in many ways, the choice isn’t just about where, it’s about when.

But the two coasts do have very different personalities, and that’s worth thinking about too.

The Andaman is dramatic. Think Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lipe, places where vast limestone cliffs shoot straight up out of the water and the horizon always seems to have something extraordinary on it. It feels wild and cinematic, the kind of scenery that doesn’t look real until you’re actually sitting in front of it. If you’re into diving deep reefs, chasing sunsets from a longtail boat, or just being somewhere that feels genuinely epic, the Andaman delivers.

The Gulf is a different mood entirely. Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, the water here is often almost glassy, the beaches are soft and sheltered, and the whole atmosphere is a little more easy and unhurried. Less jaw-dropping perhaps, but in the best possible way. It’s the kind of place you arrive at for a few days and find yourself still there a week later.

So if you’re travelling between May and September, the Gulf is simply the smarter call, better weather, calmer seas, and still genuinely beautiful. Either side of that window, the Andaman is hard to beat.

Days 1–2: Phuket Old Town and Phang Nga Bay. Fly into Phuket International (HKT). Spend your first afternoon in the Old Town’s Sino-Portuguese shophouses and eat dinner at a local crab curry restaurant on Thalang Road (200–400 THB / ~$5.70–$11.40). On Day 2, take a full-day longtail tour of Phang Nga Bay, including James Bond Island and the sea caves (1,500–2,500 THB / ~$43–$71 for a shared tour booked through Klook).

Days 3–4: Krabi and Railay Beach. Take the ferry from Ao Nang or a direct bus-ferry from Phuket to Krabi (350–600 THB / ~$10–$17). Check into Ao Nang and take a longtail to Railay (100 THB / ~$2.90). Spend Day 4 rock climbing the karst walls (half-day course: 1,500–2,000 THB / ~$43–$57) or snorkelling the nearby Four Islands (1,000–1,500 THB / ~$29–$43 per person).

Days 5–6: Koh Phi Phi. Ferry from Krabi to Koh Phi Phi (350–500 THB / ~$10–$14). Arrive early and check into a hillside guesthouse away from the beach strip. Spend Day 6 snorkelling at Bamboo Island and Shark Point in the morning (tour: 800–1,200 THB / ~$23–$34), and hike the Phi Phi viewpoint in the late afternoon when the light is golden and the worst of the day-trippers have left.

Days 7–10: Koh Lipe. Ferry from Phi Phi to Koh Lipe via Pak Bara (1,200–1,800 THB / ~$34–$51, book through 12GO). This is a long travel day, plan for it. Spend three nights here. Hire a longtail for a private day trip to the Tarutao National Park reefs on Day 9 (1,500–2,500 THB / ~$43–$71 split between passengers). Eat at Walking Street in the evenings. A beachside grilled fish dinner costs 300–500 THB (~$8.60–$14). Fly home from Hat Yai (HDY) via Bangkok, book a speedboat-transfer-flight combination through 12GO in advance.

Days 1–3: Koh Samui. Fly into Koh Samui Airport (USM) directly from Bangkok (2,500–4,500 THB / ~$71–$129 on Bangkok Airways). Check into a beach resort on the quieter north coast, Bophut or Mae Nam, rather than the busy Chaweng strip. Day 2: rent a scooter with a valid IDP and circle the island (250–350 THB / ~$7–$10 per day rental). Visit the Big Buddha, the secret gardens, and Na Muang Waterfall (free entry). Day 3: book a full-day snorkelling tour to Koh Tan and Koh Mud Sum for clear water and hard coral starting at 900 THB (~$26 per person, book through Get Your Guide).

Days 4–6: Koh Phangan. Take the Lomprayah or Raja Ferry from Samui to Phangan (250–350 THB / ~$7–$10, 30 minutes). Stay on the north or west coast, Sri Thanu or Haad Yao, not Haad Rin unless a Full Moon Party is specifically why you came. Day 5: take a half-day yoga class at one of the beachside shalas (600–1,200 THB / ~$17–$34) in the morning and kayak the mangroves of Thong Nai Pan in the afternoon. Day 6: snorkel around the boulders of Mae Haad beach where the sandspit connects Phangan to the tiny islet of Koh Ma (free, walk in).

Days 7–10: Koh Tao. Ferry from Phangan to Koh Tao (350–600 THB / ~$10–$17, 1.5 hours on Lomprayah). This is your diving window. A PADI Open Water course takes three to four days and costs 9,000–12,000 THB (~$257–$343). If you are already certified, a two-dive day trip to Chumphon Pinnacle or Southwest Pinnacle costs 1,500–2,000 THB (~$43–$57). Non-divers are well catered for: snorkelling tours to Shark Bay and Japanese Gardens run from 500 THB (~$14). On Day 10, catch the morning Lomprayah to Chumphon Pier and the connecting bus-transfer to Bangkok (combined ticket around 1,200–1,600 THB / ~$34–$46, book through 12GO) or fly from Samui back to Bangkok.

A bit of practical groundwork before you go makes everything smoother once you’re there.

Getting around is easiest with Grab or Bolt, both show you the price upfront so there’s no haggling or guesswork. Grab tends to be more reliable in bigger spots like Phuket and Samui, while Bolt can be cheaper but driver availability is patchier. On smaller islands like Koh Tao, apps don’t really apply, you’ll be flagging down converted pickup trucks with fixed rates (50–100 THB / ~$1.40–$2.90 per person).

Always have some cash on you. Pier fees when hopping between islands are almost always cash-only (usually 20–100 THB / ~$0.60–$2.90), and local markets won’t take cards.

Thai ATMs charge a flat 220 THB (~$6.30) fee every time you withdraw, regardless of the amount. Rather than making lots of small withdrawals, take out as much as you’ll need in one go. The maximum per transaction is usually 20,000–30,000 THB (~$571–$857).

For booking accommodation, Agoda tends to offer better prices for this region than the bigger global platforms, and has deeper inventory for smaller island guesthouses that don’t appear elsewhere.

For staying connected, pick up a physical SIM from AIS or TrueMove at the airport (easy, cheap, works well across all islands), or sort it before you travel with an eSIM through Yesim so you land connected without queuing.

For tours and day trips, Klook or Get Your Guide are worth using. The operators are vetted, prices are clear, and you can book everything before you leave home.

Island travel has its own packing logic. You will be moving between boats, beach bars, and temples in quick succession, and the last thing you want is a heavy bag that won’t fit in an overhead locker on the Lomprayah catamaran.

Reef-safe sunscreen: The Thai government has been progressively banning certain chemical sunscreen ingredients in national marine parks. Pack a mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide), it protects the coral, and it protects you. SPF 50 is the minimum for a full day on the water. Sunscreen is available across the islands but costs significantly more than at home (250–400 THB / ~$7–$11 for a reef-safe brand).

A dry bag or waterproof phone case: You will get wet on longtails, speedboats, and from unexpected afternoon rain. A 10-litre dry bag (available on every island for 150–300 THB / ~$4.30–$8.60) protects your passport, phone, and cash on every boat transfer.

A lightweight sarong: Required for temple visits, doubles as a beach towel and luggage filler. Markets on every island sell them for 100–200 THB (~$2.90–$5.70).

Flip-flops you can walk in: You will remove your shoes constantly at temples, guesthouses, and restaurants. Bring one pair of sandals that are comfortable enough for walking on uneven paths, and a pair of close-toed shoes for any evening scooter use.

Thailand is statistically one of the safest destinations for solo and family travel in Southeast Asia. Common sense remains the best defense: use reputable transport apps, avoid unlit beach paths at night, and always wear a helmet if operating a scooter.

The most significant risk in the islands is not crime, but the sun and the scooters. Sunstroke can derail a ten-day trip in hours. Hydrate with electrolytes found at any 7-Eleven (30–50 THB / ~$0.85–$1.40 per sachet). Drink more water than you think you need, two to three litres minimum on any day you spend on the water.

If you have never ridden a motorbike, the steep, sandy hills of Koh Tao are not the place to learn. Stick to the songthaews (passenger trucks) or hire a private driver for the day (800–1,200 THB / ~$23–$34 for a full day). Travel insurance that explicitly covers scooter use is non-negotiable if you do plan to ride, SafetyWing covers this with the appropriate upgrade.