Off the west coast of the southern peninsula of Thailand lie many idyllic islands in the Andaman Sea, many of which are surrounded by azure waters and coral reefs. Some, such as the Surin, Similan and Tarutao Islands are protected as marine national parks and the first two are closed from May to October, during the rain season, as they are far from the mainland. All present fantastic diving and snorkelling opportunities; in fact, the Similans are often ranked among the world’s top ten dive sites.

Set between Phuket and Krabi, Ko Yao Noi is growing in popularity, as are the islands off the coast of Trang, further south, such as Ko Ngai (aka Ko Hai) and Ko Kradan. If you can’t decide which island is best for you, why not opt for an island hopping holiday, stringing together a few of these tropical gems?

Practical Info

All Andaman islands can be accessed by boat from the mainland.