Welcome to my guide on the top 3 islands in Thailand. I have visited Thailand many times over the last few years. It has become a place I love more and more on each visit. Coming from Europe, Thailand is located perfectly at the entrance to Southeast Asia. Once arriving in Bangkok you will experience how unique the culture of this country is.
I had previously heard from friends that Thailand is a place that has become very crowded over the last few years. It’s true that there are a lot of tourists who come here. But I have learnt that if you do a bit of research it is easy to find unspoilt and untouched places with no crowds at all!
I’ve learned that this country is a paradise like no other! All the beautiful islands and all the great food really has made all my trips to Thailand just perfect. I highly recommend it if you’re thinking of traveling to Asia.
My name is Iver Paulsberg. I am 28 years old and I grew up in a small town in Norway named Lillestrøm. I am a guy who loves traveling and especially wandering into the unknown. I love looking for what few people have ever seen before. It makes me super excited.
I have always been interested in different cultures as well as having a general curiosity in the planet we live on. All the different landscapes, creatures, seasons and being able to travel and capture a fraction of a moment drives me to always bring my camera wherever I go.
With that being said, some of the best moments do happen without the camera being present. But having photos from those trips reminds me of all the good memories. My family has always been supportive and values memories and experiences over money which I think has helped me become who I am today.
My Latest Amazing Thailand Adventure
I have visited Thailand multiple times over the last few years. On one of my latest trips I visited the south as well as the islands in the east of Thailand. I started off by flying to Krabi to explore the area including Phi Phi Islands and Koh Lanta. Then I made my way to the east and visited Koh Kood, Koh Mak and Koh Chang.
Those four weeks in Thailand were probably my favorite of all my visits to this country. The beautiful landscapes around Krabi with Railay and Tonsai beach being my favorite, as well as exploring the caves on Koh Lanta was nothing short of amazing.
Then I found the best beach in Thailand on the island of Koh Kood with crystal clear waters, an underwater sculpture park, great food and massages along the way.
Top 3 Islands in Thailand
As a photographer for Thai Airways I have been lucky to be able to travel to many of the islands around Thailand. Depending on what kind of experience you are looking for, there is definitely one beautiful island for everyone to enjoy. As I love beautiful beaches and fun experiences making a top 3 islands in Thailand list wasn’t hard at all.
Number 1 is Koh Kood. I did not expect to find such a beautiful unexplored island in Thailand. With small roads leading you through the jungle you will end up finding some of the best beaches in all of Thailand. They also built a small underwater sculpture park just outside of the island which is a fun experience. The beauty of this island simply blew me away!
My favorite beach in all of Thailand is found in front of the resort I stayed in when visiting Koh Kood. The water was crystal clear and the sand was just so soft! And best of all, there is almost no one at this beach. The resort is called Koh Kood Resort.
Number 2 is Koh Lipe. Koh Lipe is a small island located all the way in the south of Thailand. With beautiful blue waters it is called the Maldives of Thailand. The island is very small so there are no cars or bikes driving you around, which gives the place a special charm.
The island is a perfect getaway with your loved ones. Here you will find a good island vibe. Combine that with pretty beaches and blue waters and you have yourself a winner!
Number 3 has to be Koh Lanta. The reason for this is that the island offers almost whatever you are looking for. I spent a week on this island with some good friends of mine and we had tons of fun exploring this beautiful destination.
We meet a lot of fun people, had great local food, went on boat trips, explored the island on motorbikes and most importantly we found one of the coolest caves I have ever visited. With tight gaps, huge spiders and bats flying closely overhead. Such a cool experience!
Another island worth visiting is Koh Yao Noi. My favorite moment from all my travels in Thailand was waking up on the island of Koh Yao Noi to one of the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen overlooking Phang Nga National Park. It was so special because I really did not expect to see something as beautiful as this.
Amazing People, Culture and Food of the Thai Islands
I always try to talk to local people I meet on the way and my meeting with the Thai people has been very good. It is a people full of joy and they are always there to help you out whenever you need anything.
They have a beautiful culture and you will get to experience some of the most mind blowing temples there are in this world. Most of the islands do not have big temples like you find in and around Bangkok, but you will probably still get to see a big Buddha or two.
The food in general all over Thailand is amazing. It’s worth visiting Thailand just for that. With that being said I am now talking about the local food. I always try to avoid touristy places unless they are ranked high on TripAdvisor as my experiences with those are never very good.
My all time favorite Thai dish is the classical Pad Thai. It is just the best! I also love the Mango Sticky rice as a dessert!
Tips for your Visit to the Top 3 Islands in Thailand
If you are spending 7-14 days in Thailand I would recommend combining two islands to be able to see some more of Thailand. I think flying down to Krabi, to spend a couple of days in that area visiting the beautiful Railay Beach, before going down to Koh Lanta. After the first week is over I would make my way down to Koh Lipe for some serious relaxing!
The Thai people are very used to tourists visiting their country and I can guarantee you that someone has travelled to the exact same spot you are going. Give them a smile and ask how they are and I am sure you will get a smile back and maybe some good stories.
Also make sure to bring you swimming trousers and make sure to try all the different dishes when eating out and you will have the best time ever! Thanks for reading my guide on the top 3 islands in Thailand! Happy island hopping everyone 🙂
