Phuket
Gateway
Suggested stay: 2 nights
An international airport, Old Town's Sino-Portuguese streets and a very good final-night base near Bang Tao or Kata.
Getting there: Direct international flights; ferries and speedboats from Rassada Pier.
Andaman Coast
Island Hopping in Thailand
The smoothest ferry chain in Asia, from Phuket down to the Malaysian border.
Why hop here
Thailand's Andaman coast is the gentlest introduction to island hopping. A single ferry corridor links Phuket, Phi Phi, Krabi, Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe, tickets are cheap and same-week bookable, and every island has accommodation at every price point.
The route runs naturally north to south: fly into Phuket, work down the chain and fly home from Krabi or Hat Yai. Doing it in reverse works equally well.
Phi Phi is best treated as two nights — a day at Maya Bay and a night out — before moving to the calmer Koh Lanta. Koh Lipe is the furthest and most beautiful, and only worth the crossing if you have ten days or more.
Everything closes down in the southwest monsoon. Koh Lipe effectively shuts from mid-May to mid-October and the Lanta–Lipe speedboats stop running.
BeachSnorkellingDivingFoodNightlifeWellnessIsland Tours
The islands
Islands to include in a Thailand route
How long to stay on each, what it is actually for, and how you get there.
Phi Phi
Scenery and nightlife
Suggested stay: 2 nights
Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and the Tonsai viewpoint. Loud in the village, serene at Long Beach.
Getting there: Ferry from Phuket 2h, from Krabi 1h30.
Krabi (Railay & Ao Nang)
Climbing and mainland base
Suggested stay: 2 nights
Railay's boat-only peninsula has world-class limestone climbing and two excellent beaches.
Getting there: Ferry from Phi Phi 1h30, longtail to Railay 15 min.
Koh Lanta
Slow island
Suggested stay: 3 nights
Nine west-coast beaches, sunset bars, no high-rises and the best value on the route.
Getting there: Ferry from Krabi or Phi Phi 1h–1h30.
Koh Lipe
Finale
Suggested stay: 3 nights
Powder sand in the Tarutao marine park, walk-in snorkelling and a single walking street. Reachable November–April only.
Getting there: Speedboat from Koh Lanta 3h30 (seasonal) or Pak Bara pier 1h30.
Transportation
How you travel between the islands
Journey times are for the standard service in high season. Crossings marked as weather dependent should never be booked on the day of an international flight.
- Phuket
- Phi Phi
- Krabi (Railay & Ao Nang)
- Koh Lanta
- Koh Lipe
| From | To | Mode | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phuket | Phi Phi | Ferry | 2h | Several daily sailings; speedboats do it in 50 min. |
| Phi Phi | Krabi (Ao Nang) | Ferry | 1h30 | Add a 15-minute longtail transfer to reach Railay. |
| Krabi | Koh Lanta | Ferry | 1h30 | Minivan-and-bridge combo also runs year-round in 2h. |
| Koh Lanta | Koh Lipe | Boat | 3h30 speedboat | Mid-October to mid-May only. |
| Koh Lipe | Hat Yai / Phuket | Transfer | 1h30 boat + 2h van | Via Pak Bara pier; fly home from Hat Yai. |
Best time to visit
Month-by-month conditions in the Thailand
Weather, crowds, price levels, sea state and what each window is actually good for.
| Months | Weather | Crowds | Prices | Sea conditions | Recommended activities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov–Feb | 26–32°C, dry and clear | High | Peak | Flat, excellent visibility | Everything; book Christmas and New Year months ahead |
| Mar–Apr | 31–35°C, humid | Moderate | High | Warm and calm; slight haze | Diving, Songkran festival mid-April |
| May–Jun | 29–32°C, first monsoon rain | Low | Low | Choppy; Lipe boats stop | Phuket, Lanta and Krabi at 40% off |
| Jul–Oct | 28–31°C, heavy showers | Low | Low | Rough; red-flag swimming days | Spa, food, short-hop Phuket–Phi Phi only |
Accommodation
Where to stay in the Thailand
Nightly rates are estimates for a double room in shoulder-to-high season and exclude peak holiday weeks.
Luxury
from $350/nightCliffside pool villas, five-star beach resorts on Bang Tao and Kamala, and private-pool suites on Lanta's quiet south.
Areas: Bang Tao and Kata (Phuket), Kantiang Bay (Lanta), Railay Beach
Mid-range
from $70/nightBeachfront bungalow resorts with pools and breakfast, boutique hotels in Phuket Old Town.
Areas: Long Beach (Phi Phi), Klong Dao and Long Beach (Lanta), Ao Nang
Budget
from $20/nightFan bungalows steps from the sand, hostels with dive-shop tie-ins and family guesthouses.
Areas: Tonsai (Phi Phi), Ao Nang, Sunrise Beach (Lipe)
Best area to stay
Koh Lanta's Long Beach — sunset sand, good food, easy scooter access to the whole island.
Best for couples
Railay Beach or Kantiang Bay on Lanta.
Best for families
Klong Dao, Koh Lanta: shallow, calm and walkable.
Best for nightlife
Phi Phi's Tonsai village and Patong on Phuket.
Best for beaches
Koh Lipe's Sunrise Beach and Phi Phi's Long Beach.
Itineraries
Thailand itineraries, planned day by day
Each plan sets out morning, afternoon and evening, where to sleep, how you travel and an estimated daily spend.
10 daysThailand
10-Day Thailand Island Escape
The Andaman ferry chain at a civilised pace: Phuket Old Town, two nights on Phi Phi, Railay's climbing cliffs and four slow nights on Koh Lanta.
First-timersBeachBudgetRelaxed pace
Estimated total ≈ $1,640 per person
View day-by-day planThailand island hopping: FAQs
- What is the best island-hopping route in Thailand?
- Phuket → Phi Phi → Krabi/Railay → Koh Lanta → Koh Lipe, flying out of Hat Yai. It follows the ferry chain in one direction with no backtracking.
- Can you island hop Thailand in the rainy season?
- Partly. Phuket, Krabi and Lanta stay open with discounted rates and frequent showers, but Koh Lipe closes and long speedboat crossings are cancelled.
- Is Phi Phi worth visiting?
- Yes, for two nights. The scenery around Pileh Lagoon and Maya Bay is exceptional; stay at Long Beach if you want to sleep before 2am.
- How much does two weeks in Thailand's islands cost?
- About $1,300–1,900 per person mid-range including international flights, or $750–1,000 on a budget. All figures are estimates and vary by season.