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Where in Thailand should you go to the seaside? Koh Samui, Krabi, Phuket or Koh Phangan?
Before my first trip to Thailand, I was suffering from decision paralysis: where should I go to find a lovely sea, lovely resorts and plenty of options for day trips?
Everyone recommended something different.
Some claimed that Phuket was the best. Others were sending everyone to Koh Samui. Krabi looked the best on Instagram, and travellers often mentioned Koh Phangan as the island with the best atmosphere.
So I decided to travel the length and breadth of Thailand bit by bit and make up my own mind.
So far, I’ve visited four regions (+ Bangkok, but that’s another story). This isn’t a comprehensive comparison of the whole of Thailand – I’m only writing about the places I’ve actually been to.
Thailand according to my recommendations
This is how I personally would choose if I were to recommend the best places.
You can click on each destination to get a detailed, practical guide.
- 🏝️ First visit to Thailand: Koh Samui
- 🏖️The most beautiful beaches:Koh Phanganand some outlying areasof Krabi(though I’ve heard the best ones are on Koh Tao, where I haven’t been yet. Has anyone been there? 💬)
- 🌴 The most beautiful natural scenery: Krabi
- 🍹 The widest choice of restaurants, hotels and activities: Phuket
- 🌊 The most peaceful atmosphere: Koh Phangan
- ❤️ Honeymoon or romantic holiday: Koh Samui
- 🎒 Backpacker vibe: Koh Phangan
- 👨👩👧👦 Family holiday: Koh Samui
- ⛵Most excursions:Krabi
- 🍻Best nightlife:Phuket
Thailand is a large country where the climate and weather vary from region to region. So this is another factor to bear in mind when making your choice.
- Winter (January–March):Phuket,Krabi,Koh Samui
- Spring (April, May):Koh Samui,Koh Phangan
- Summer (June–September):Koh Samui,Koh Phangan
- Autumn (October–December):it’s notpeak seasonanywhere, butPhuket andKrabi tend to have better weather
Compare flight prices to Thailand
Koh Samui: the best introduction to Thailand
Koh Samui has almost everything that most people imagine when they think of a tropical holiday.
Beautiful beaches, high-quality hotels, good restaurants, day trips to the surrounding area, nightlife and relatively convenient transport thanks to its own airport.
In our view, it is precisely this balance and the excellent range of services on offerthat are Koh Samui’s greatest strengths.
It isn’t the wildest island. Nor does it have the most dramatic scenery. Nor does it have the most beautiful beaches.
But in almost every respect, it is very good, modern and well-organised. Not too wild, not too sleepy.
On Samui, we also came across some of the best hotels we’ve stayed in in Thailand. Have a look at my reviews with photos:
What’s good about Koh Samui?
- a wide range of facilities – hotels and restaurants of all categories, modern shopping centres and local markets
- Easy to get around – the island is small and Bolt / Grab, as well as car and scooter hire, work well here
- lovely beaches – they aren’t the best in Thailand, but you’ll find both lively and quieter beaches here
- Opportunities for day trips to neighbouring islands
- Good access to healthcare – both state and private hospitals in several locations
- Fun for young people and peace and quiet for families – lively discos on one part of the beach, tranquillity at the other end. That’s Koh Samui.
What didn’t I like about Koh Samui?
- High prices – the most expensive place in Thailand (for example, Bolt/Grab are more expensive than in Europe)
- Very expensive flights – only Bangkok Airways and Scoot fly to the local airport = little competition
- Not such spectacular views or natural scenery
- Doesn’t feel as exotic as other islands
- No public transport – just scooter and car hire, and taxis / Bolt / Grab
Compare flight prices to Koh Samui: skyscanner.com
Koh Phangan: much more than just the Full Moon Party
If you only know Koh Phangan from the internet, the Full Moon Party is probably the first thing that springs to mind.
Having visited, however, we’d say that this reputation actually does the island more harm than good.
Yes, there really are parties here.
But most of the time, Koh Phangan feels much quieter than Phuket or Koh Samui.
It has fewer hotels, fewer tourists and a much more island-like atmosphere.
It was here that we really felt we were on a tropical island rather than at a major tourist resort.
The downside is a more limited range of services and, generally speaking, fewer things to do apart from the beach and excursions.
What did I like about Koh Phangan?
- a relaxed, at times almost Zen-like atmosphere
- great for practising yoga (lots of places on the west coast) and relaxing
- a variety of beaches – from very touristy to very secluded
- the most authentic Thai atmosphere – though apparently it’s even better on islands like Koh Chang or Koh Kood. Has anyone been there? 💬
- the only original Full Moon Party in the world – yes, even that has its charm
- Cheaper accommodation than on Koh Samui
What didn’t I like about Koh Phangan?
- No Bolt, no Grab, no regular taxis – we mainly travelled in a hire car
- Apart from the beaches, yoga and parties, there aren’t many other activities here
- No public transport
- There’s no airport on the island – you’ll need to fly via Koh Samui or the mainland
Phuket: much better than I expected
Before visiting Phuket, I’d read loads of horror stories.
Overcrowded. Commercialised. Too touristy. Dirty.
My experience of Phuket was quite different – much more positive.
Yes, you’ll find some very touristy spots here. But you’ll also find lovely beaches, high-quality resorts and a wide range of activities.
Phuket’s biggest advantage is the huge choice of everything.
Whether you’re looking for a budget hotel, a luxury resort, nightlife or boat trips, you’re likely to find it here.
What did I like about Phuket?
- long sandy beaches – probably the longest in the whole of Thailand
- Plenty of hotels catering specifically to digital nomads – good rates for long-term stays, co-working spaces, and good internet
- Plenty of options for boat trips and excursions on land
- Vibrant nightlife and parties
- Good resorts for package holidays
- Reliable Bolt/Grab services and public transport (limited, but at least there’s some)
- excellent accessibility by air from all over the world
What didn’t I like about Phuket?
- The well-known beaches are extremely overcrowded
- High prices for services and restaurants on the beaches
- The major towns are very touristy
- Patong is only for the hardy – as far as I’m concerned, it’s one big tourist trap
- Boat trips are extremely touristy – lovely spots, but expect large crowds
- 👉 I mainly booked my excursions through getyourguide.com
Krabi: Thailand as seen on postcards
If I had to choose one area that captivated me the most visually, it would be Krabi.
Here you’ll find those iconic limestone cliffs rising out of the sea that you’ll recognise from travel brochures and social media.
Whether it’s Railay Beach, trips to the surrounding islands or the views from the coast, Krabi feels the most exotic of all four areas compared.
If you’re heading to Thailand for the photos and breathtaking views, Krabi is the best destination for you.
On the other hand, you won’t find as wide a range of hotels and services here as you would in Phuket or Koh Samui.
What did I like about Krabi?
- the scenery and the picturesque coastline
- An exceptionally wide range of excursions – there are so many nearby islands that you could easily spend 10 days exploring them
- Compare the full range of options on getyourguide.com
- Great resorts and a wide range of holiday packages from travel agencies
- Bolt and Grab work well here
What didn’t I like about Krabi?
- Not enough beaches – Krabi has beautiful beaches, but there aren’t many of them and they’re harder to get to than, say, on Koh Samui
- Everything is quite far apart
- Popular spots are extremely crowded
Where would I go again?
If I were planning another holiday in Thailand today, my list would look like this:
1. Some new island
I love exploring. So naturally, I’d prefer somewhere new.
I’m most drawn to Koh Chang, Koh Kood and Koh Lipe, but also the mainland region of Koh Lanta.
💬 I’d love to hear your recommendations here: where in Thailand did you enjoy the most?
1. Koh Samui
The best combination of beaches, hotels, restaurants, comfort and atmosphere.
2. Krabi
The most beautiful natural scenery and the biggest ‘wow’ factor.
3. Koh Phangan
The best island atmosphere and tranquillity.
4. Phuket
A huge choice of everything, but at the same time the least distinctive experience of the four.
That doesn’t mean, of course, that Phuket is a bad place.
It’s just that if I had to choose only one place, the other three appealed to me a little more.
First time in Thailand? This might come in handy
Are you travelling to Thailand for the very first time?
Have a look at our other handy tips too – they’re the same whether you’re heading to Phuket, Koh Samui or anywhere else.
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