Island hopping in Thailand
Two coasts, five classic routes, three kinds of boat. The route matters less than the month and the boat — get those wrong and you spend eight hours being wet and crowded.
Island hopping in Thailand splits into two coasts with opposite seasons: the Andaman (Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi) is best November to April and the Gulf (Samui, Tao) January to August. A private boat day costs $105–128 per person; a shared speedboat seat costs about 40% less.
- Private boat from$105 per person
- Shared seatAbout 40% less
- Andaman seasonNovember–April
- Gulf seasonJanuary–August
Five that are worth a day
| Route | From | Best months | Boat | Private |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phi Phi & Maya Bay | Phuket | Nov–Apr | Speedboat | $118 |
| Phang Nga Bay | Phuket / Krabi | Year-round | Longtail + canoe | $105 |
| Krabi Four Islands | Krabi | Nov–Apr | Longtail | $92 |
| Ang Thong | Koh Samui | Jan–Aug | Speedboat | $128 |
| Similan Islands | Khao Lak | Oct–May only | Speedboat | $165 |
Month first, boat second
Thailand has two monsoon systems that run opposite each other. The Andaman coast — Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi, Similan — is dry from November to April and rough from May to October, when some islands close outright. The Gulf coast — Samui, Phangan, Tao — is at its best January to August and wettest in October and November.
So the question is never “which is the best island”, it is “what month am I travelling”. In July, the Gulf wins. In February, the Andaman wins. Anyone selling you a Phi Phi day trip in September is selling you a rough crossing.
Speedboat, longtail or catamaran
Speedboat — 45 minutes to Phi Phi, first at Maya Bay, bumpy in a swell, no shade. Longtail — slower, open, unbeatable inside Phang Nga's caves and hongs, wet in a chop. Catamaran — stable, shaded, slower, best with children and for sunset sails.
We match the boat to the route: speedboat for Phi Phi, longtail inside Phang Nga, catamaran for the sunset. Never “whatever is available”.
The 06:30 question
Every route has a crowd curve. Phi Phi is empty at 07:30 and unbearable by 10:00. Ang Thong's viewpoint is a queue by 11:00. Leaving ninety minutes earlier than the standard tour is the single biggest improvement you can buy, and it costs nothing but an alarm.
National park fees, life jackets in adult and child sizes, snorkel gear, drinking water, fruit and a dry bag. Lunch on a beach rather than a buffet hall. Towels on the catamaran only.
Things that ruin a boat day
Seasickness — take something an hour before, not on the boat. Sunburn on the back of the legs, which nobody remembers to cream. Boat shoes that do not grip a wet deck. And the assumption that you can do two routes in one day: you cannot, the crossings eat the time.
Can we do Phi Phi and Phang Nga in one day?
No, not properly. They are in opposite directions from Phuket and the transfer between them is two hours of open water. Pick one.
Are the Similan Islands open?
They close annually for the monsoon, roughly mid-May to mid-October. We check the current dates before quoting — the closure moves slightly each year.
Is island hopping suitable for young children?
On a catamaran, yes from about four. On a speedboat, from about six, and only in calm months. The Gulf routes are generally gentler than the Andaman in a swell.
Do we need to know how to swim?
No, but you need to be comfortable in deep water at snorkel stops. Life jackets are provided and the crew stay with nervous swimmers.
Tell us the month.
We will tell you which coast is actually working, and which route to take.
Written and checked by the Travel Thailand Tour team, Bangkok · Last updated · Prices are per person and were correct at the time of writing.