Thailand is known for its beautiful islands, and three of them stand out in particular: Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Each of these islands has its own charm and offers unique experiences that make them a must-see on any Thailand itinerary. In this post, we’ll outline the differences between these islands, what makes them special and how you can best get around them.
Koh Samui – The island of diversity
In Koh Samui, we hired a scooter for just €6 and explored the island ourselves in just one day. We travelled from the south up to the Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai) and Plai Laem Temple. These are close to each other and form a real highlight with their huge figures. On the way back, we made a stop at Maenam Beach, which is famous for its beautiful palm trees and light-coloured sand.
The journey then continued through the centre of the interior back to the south. The journey resembled a rollercoaster ride. In some places, the scooter struggled to get up the hill and in the valleys, a lot of water collected on the road due to the previous rain. We then drove towards the Grandfather and Grandmother stones, which supposedly look like human genitals.
If you are looking for the well-known social media viewpoint at the waterfall, you should plan a stop at Na Mueang Waterfall 2. But the ascent is very difficult and steep. Sturdy shoes are strongly recommended. It is also worthwhile not to stop at the first designated car park, but to drive up the mountain past the Elephant Sanctuary on the right. From there, it’s just a 20-minute walk instead of over an hour.
Shortly before the end, we visited the Wat Kunaram temple where, according to legend, a monk foresaw his death and followed his prophecy. He had probably seen him die in the praying position and mummified himself. This is why the monk’s mummy is still behind a display case today. Only the eyes are now covered by sunglasses.
Wat Phra Chedi Laem So is an underrated temple, but a wonderful place to see at sunset. The temple, built directly on the beach, can be seen shining in the golden light of the sun right by the sea.
The next day, we opted for a boat tour via Klook to Angthong National Park. This is offered with or without a canoe option, although the time spent canoeing is very short and wasn’t worth an extra €15 per person to us. The tour began with breakfast and the first stop at a lagoon. We then continued to the famous stretch of beach, where you can also see the popular viewpoint over the numerous islands. Our tour guides advised against it, but it is definitely worth the walk. It takes about an hour there and back and includes lots of little stops. We were lucky enough to see the beautiful spectacled langurs up close on the descent, which definitely sweetened our day. After cooling off with a swim in the sea, we returned to the boat for lunch and the return journey.
In hindsight, we would have spent at least one more day in our beautiful accommodation right by the sea, but we were able to see a lot in the two days. Above all, our cute little bamboo hut right on the beach was our highlight. In the south, far away from the tourist crowds, we often had the stretch of beach to ourselves.
Getting around: The best way to explore Koh Samui is by scooter. The island is well connected and a scooter gives you the flexibility to discover all the sights at your own pace. Particularly recommended are visits to the Big Buddha Temple, Wat Plai Laem and the Hin Ta and Hin Yai rocks.
Koh Phangan – relaxation and party
Koh Phangan is known for its contrasting experiences. On the one hand, the island offers secluded beaches such as Bottle Beach, which are perfect for relaxing. On the other hand, Koh Phangan is famous for its legendary Full Moon parties, which attract thousands of revellers once a month.
Although we only spent 2 nights on the island, we enjoyed it to the full. We were picked up directly from the harbour in a converted pick-up taxi and enjoyed the ride to Bottle Beach in the back. However, the last section is not for the faint-hearted as it is a very steep descent down a sandy, slippery track. The experienced driver slipped once, but still got us safely to our destination. When we arrived at our accommodation, we were taken to our safari-style lodge, which cost just €9 per night for two people.
Bottle Beach is very remote and can only be reached on foot, with a 4 x 4 wheeler or by boat taxi. Accordingly, there are not many people on site, but rather day tourists who only spend a few hours there. There are 4 restaurants that serve everything from breakfast to dinner, a wonderful viewpoint that we climbed up to and simply a beautiful palm beach where we could relax. The ascent to the viewpoint takes about 20 minutes through the jungle, but is not suitable for people with walking difficulties, as you also have to climb. Especially at the end, it is a real balancing act on the stones to reach the destination. You should therefore not be afraid of heights.
What we didn’t know beforehand was that the power supply is switched off for 2 hours every day, as the machine’s oil is changed from 4pm to 6pm. This shutdown didn’t bother us and we spent most of the time happily lying on the free sunbeds in our accommodation, playing pool, swimming in the sea or eating in one of the restaurants. In the evenings there are also fire shows in the restaurants, but these are still very amateurish as the waiters try their hand at them.
Getting around: A scooter is also the best way to explore the island on Koh Phangan. However, the roads are not always in the best condition, so caution is advised. Alternatively, cheap tours or private boat taxis can be hired. If you want to come to the island for the parties, you should make sure you book your accommodation in good time, as they are usually fully booked weeks in advance.
Koh Tao – The diving paradise
Koh Tao is the smallest of the three islands and a true paradise for divers. The island is known worldwide for its diving schools and many travellers come here to get their diving licence. The underwater world around Koh Tao is breathtaking, with colourful coral reefs and a variety of marine life. As there are almost 60 diving schools on the island, it was difficult for us to choose one as we were also travelling on a budget. However, the prices are almost the same everywhere, and the boats and service hardly differ. We wanted to do at least 10 fundives, but we only paid 800 THB per dive due to the number of dives.
We also snorkelled in Shark Bay, where we saw the largest sea turtle yet and where there are also blacktip reef sharks. There are also many great bars and restaurants that are elevated and therefore offer a wonderful view over the islands to the sea. These are particularly beautiful at sunset. But there are also many restaurants on the beach with the sunset in view, so we could even eat on the sand. The food options are extreme and vary greatly, so there is not only Thai and Western food, but also international dishes. We particularly liked the delicious fruit juices and shakes.
However, we found accommodation via Booking.com* and came across Escape Divers, which at the time had a special offer of 40% off more than 10 dives. Therefore, 10 x fun dives cost only 5,400 THB and were a real bargain. In addition to the 60 diving schools, Koh Tao also has restaurants, massage shops, cannabis shops and a few souvenir shops.
Getting around: On Koh Tao, you can either get around by scooter or on foot. The island is relatively small, so you can reach many places without a vehicle.
Arrival and best time to travel
Getting there: All three islands – Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao – are best reached via Koh Samui, as the island has its own airport. From there, you can take a ferry to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Alternatively, you can also take the ferry from Surat Thani, Chumphon or Donsak.
Best time to visit: The best time to visit these islands is between December and April, when the weather is dry and pleasant. October to December is the rainy season, with frequent short but heavy showers that can affect diving conditions, especially on Koh Tao.
Conclusion
Each of the three islands in Thailand has its own charm and offers unique experiences. Koh Samui impresses with its diversity, Koh Phangan with its mix of relaxation and partying, and Koh Tao is a must for divers. Travelling via Koh Samui or Chumphon, and travelling from December to April, you can make sure you get the most out of your island adventure. We were there in August/September and there were short showers almost every day, but this didn’t affect us in any way as it finally cooled us down a bit. No matter which island you choose, you’re sure to make some unforgettable memories.
