So you’re traveling through Southeast Asia and you’ve hit all the big stops – Angkor Wat, Halong Bay, Luang Prabang, Bali, Bangkok, to name but a few – and now you’re ready for some serious relaxation. You look to the Thai islands, which are world-renowned for their beauty, adventure and great food. But which one do you choose?
If you’re looking for some serious quiet time, the heavy hitters probably aren’t going to be your thing. Koh Phi Phi, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan are not exactly a secret on the relaxing getaway list, and while you will find some places of peace and serenity there, prepare to spend a lot of time around partiers, backpackers and fellow tourists.
If that doesn’t exactly sound appealing, look to some of the less well-traveled options and find your serenity now.
An island in the Koh Lanta archipelago, Thailand (Photo: Arnon Polin via Shutterstock)
Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta is a nice compromise between the tourism-heavy islands and the extreme quiet and seclusion of the smaller ones. Here you can find both attractions for aquatic adventuring and nightlife, as well as less developed areas that offer respite from fellow travelers.
Koh Mak
Located just 40 kilometers off the coast and just south of Koh Chang, Koh Mak stands in stark contrast to other Thai islands if only for the lack of rowdy clubs and nightlife. This is a small island, perfect for getting to know the Thai way of life and doing little more than lying in the sun and catching up on writing your travel memoir. If you feel the need to be up and about, you can rent a motorbike to cruise around the island, take a cooking class or kayak through the beautiful waters and see the beaches that way. Be warned, Koh Mak gets seriously quiet in the off season with many resorts and restaurants closing down.
Koh Kradan
You’ll want to keep this one in mind if you’re traveling with a sweetheart, as it’s the perfect island to splash out for a nice resort and a romantic vacation from your travels. Koh Kradan is well known for the Underwater Wedding Ceremony held every Valentine’s Day, when couples can dive underwater and have an official witness their watery unions. The island is only four kilometers long and 1,000 meters at its widest point so you get a truly intimate experience here.
(READ MORE: 5 destinations for the perfect Asian wedding)
Koh Mook
Koh Mook is part of the same body of islands as Koh Kradan, but is larger and has more options for accommodations. There are several beaches to explore here, including a foreigner-favored “Farang Beach,” and you can kayak around the island. Koh Mook is also home to Morakot Cave, where you can swim through emerald waters and take a breather on white sand beaches.
A boat in Koh Mook, Thailand (Photo: drniti via Shutterstock)
Koh Lipe
This small island is located in close proximity to some of the more popular islands, such as Koh Phi Phi, but Koh Lipe retains the quieter, more tranquil feel you’ll miss in other areas. You can swim in pristine waters off the island’s three beaches and go snorkeling here. During certain times of year, you can travel directly from Koh Lipe to Langkawi, Malaysia, another renowned beach destination.