5 underrated Thai islands you have to visit

A girl chills in a hammock on the beach in Koh Phangan.

While popular destinations such as Bangkok, Phuket and Koh Samui rule the roost in Thailand, there are several lesser-known island destinations that are just as good for a Thai retreat. If you want white sand beaches, quiet coves and inlets or simply a taste of stunning scenery away from the crowds, these hidden islands are nothing short of perfect.

Koh Phangan

You’ll find sunsets like these in Koh Phangan.

Koh Phangan is so much more than a nightime playground. In addition to a selection of incredible sandy beaches, visitors can go on a hike through the island’s lush tropical jungle interior to Phaeng Waterfall National Park or rent a boat and row out to one of many fantastic surrounding snorkelling spots.

Koh Phangan has 20 dive sites, offering the chance to get up close and personal with a bevy of colourful fish. There’s also Thong Sala Night Market where you can sample some of the island’s best food, or even learn to make your own Thai fare at the C&M Study Centre.

But, of course, its headline act is the world-renowned Full Moon Party, a festival-like event which takes place on Koh Phangan to celebrate the full moon, taking place roughly once every month. Here, you can buy alcohol by the bucket and dance the night away to banging tunes. Who wouldn’t love that?!

Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta is a great spot for those who love relaxing holidays.

An abundance of graceful palms, quiet beaches and inviting seas are prominent features of the beautiful island of Koh Lanta. Now an ideal destination for those looking for a luxury getaway, this island district still guarantees miles of unspoiled beaches and vast culture.

For divers, the Hin Muang outcrop is a fantastic place to catch a glimpse of barracudas, moray eels and the occasional whale shark, while Mu Koh Lanta National Park has hiking trails, its own stretch of beach and a lighthouse which you can visit.

Koh Phi Phi

Koh Phi Phi was one of the filming locations for Leonardo DiCaprio’s 2000 film The Beach.

Overlooked by soaring cliffs, Koh Phi Phi is set in a magnificent bay with a curving white sand beach. With no roads on the island and a jungle-like terrain, you’ll feel as though you’ve escaped to a tropical paradise.

You might want to simply lay back and enjoy the sunshine on the island’s glorious white sand, but those looking for a little more action can try their hand at diving, sailing or trekking. The Phi Phi Islands are also a world-class destination for rock climbing with the island offering over 600 different routes to explore.

Koh Racha Yai

Lying just 20 kilometres south of Phuket, Koh Racha Yai is an island with crystal clear waters and is also a popular destination for divers and snorkellers, with challenging dive sites for advanced divers, as well as appropriate depths for beginners and snorkellers. With little light pollution, the sky above Koh Racha Yai comes alive at night to become a stargazer’s paradise.

Day-trippers from Phuket make up most of the visitor numbers here, but if you want to stay for a while then why not try The Racha – one of Thailand’s premier deluxe island hideaways. Set on a pristine beach, this environmentally responsible resort provides ultra-luxurious accommodation in addition to a beautiful wellness spa and watersports centre.

Koh Madsum

The famous Thai longboats can also be found on the beaches of Koh Madsum.

Koh Madsum is another destination that is popular amongst the day-tripping crowd as it is only a half-hour boat ride away from Koh Samui. Get up close and personal with the island’s marine life with a spot of snorkelling, and see parrotfish, colourful wrasse, moray eels and maybe even a turtle or two. The island’s forest is also home to a plethora of wildlife, or if you simply want to sit back and relax then there are few spots more tranquil.

Do you agree or disagree with my list? Let me know which underrated Thai islands you would recommend in the comments!