One Week in Southern Thailand: Islands and Andaman Coast
Contents
- Overview
- Route A: Andaman Coast — Krabi, Phi Phi, Koh Lanta
- Day 1: Ao Nang, Krabi
- Day 2: Railay Beach
- Day 3: Four Islands day trip
- Day 4: Travel to Koh Phi Phi
- Day 5: Maya Bay and snorkelling
- Day 6: Travel to Koh Lanta
- Day 7: Koh Lanta’s southern beaches
- Route B: Gulf Islands — Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao
- Days 1–2: Koh Samui
- Day 3: Travel to Koh Phangan
- Day 4: Koh Phangan
- Day 5: Travel to Koh Tao
- Days 6–7: Koh Tao diving or snorkelling
- Budget comparison
Overview
This page covers two separate one-week routes — the Andaman coast (Route A) and the Gulf island chain (Route B). Both are designed as standalone weeks or as the southern leg of a 2–3 week Thailand trip.
Route A: Andaman Coast — Krabi, Phi Phi, Koh Lanta
Best season: November to April
Arrival: Fly Bangkok to Krabi (1h20m, from ฿900 on AirAsia). Or fly to Phuket and take a bus or taxi to Ao Nang (1.5 hours).
Day 1: Ao Nang, Krabi
Arrive Krabi. Transfer to Ao Nang Beach (30 minutes). Settle in, walk the beachfront, arrange tomorrow’s longtail to Railay.
Day 2: Railay Beach
Longtail from Ao Nang to Railay (15 minutes, ฿150 per person). Full day on the peninsula: Railay West beach in the morning, walk across to Phra Nang Cave Beach (the most spectacular cove). Afternoon: optional rock climbing intro session with Hot Rock or King Climbers (฿1,200–1,800). Return to Ao Nang by longtail at sunset.
Day 3: Four Islands day trip
Full-day longtail tour covering the Four Islands near Krabi — Koh Gai (Chicken Island), sandbar walk at Koh Tub, snorkel stop, beach at Koh Daeng. Departs 9am, returns 4pm. ฿600–900 per person. Book through your guesthouse.
Day 4: Travel to Koh Phi Phi
Ferry from Ao Nang to Koh Phi Phi Don (45 minutes speedboat or 2 hours ferry). Check in. Afternoon: hike the viewpoint (20 minutes, ฿30) for the signature Phi Phi view of both bays simultaneously. Evening: Ton Sai village.
Day 5: Maya Bay and snorkelling
Join an early snorkel tour (departs 7:30am) covering Maya Bay before the crowds, Viking Cave, and the offshore reef sites. ฿700–1,200 per person. Afternoon: second viewpoint visit for sunset, or rest on Long Beach.
Day 6: Travel to Koh Lanta
Speedboat from Phi Phi to Koh Lanta (1 hour, ฿500–700) or via Ao Nang (via ferry). Check in to a beach guesthouse on Klong Dao or Klong Nin. Afternoon: settle, rent a scooter.
Day 7: Koh Lanta’s southern beaches
Scooter the west coast road: Klong Nin → Kantiang Bay (the most beautiful beach) → Bamboo Bay → Koh Lanta National Park (lighthouse, viewpoint, ฿200 entry). Return to Klong Dao for sunset and dinner. Depart: ferry from Koh Lanta to Krabi (1.5 hours), then fly home or continue.
Route B: Gulf Islands — Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao
Best season: February to August
Arrival: Fly Bangkok to Koh Samui (1h15m, Bangkok Airways, ฿2,500+) — expensive but direct. Budget option: fly to Surat Thani (฿900) + ferry to Koh Samui (2.5 hours, ฿300 Lomprayah).
Days 1–2: Koh Samui
Day 1 — Arrive, settle on Chaweng or Bophut. Evening at Fisherman’s Village and the Friday Night Market (if Friday).
Day 2 — Ang Thong Marine National Park day trip (departs 8am from Ban Rak pier, ฿1,500–2,000) — the best day trip from Samui.
Day 3: Travel to Koh Phangan
Ferry from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan (30 minutes, ฿200). Check in. If it’s Full Moon night: Had Rin (be prepared for crowds). If not: explore the island by scooter, head to Thong Nai Pan beach (northeast coast, 40 minutes by scooter — the island’s best beach).
Day 4: Koh Phangan
Full day on Thong Nai Pan or the north coast beaches. Haad Salad has good snorkelling. Yoga drop-in class at one of the north coast shalas (฿300–500).
Day 5: Travel to Koh Tao
Ferry from Koh Phangan to Koh Tao (1 hour, ฿250). Check in, organise the next days with a dive school.
Days 6–7: Koh Tao diving or snorkelling
Two options:
- Diving: If you have a PADI/SSI certification, book 2 fun dives per day (฿700–900 per dive). Chumphon Pinnacle on day 7 if you’re Advanced Open Water.
- No certification: Half-day snorkel tour on day 6 (฿500–700, covers Japanese Gardens and Shark Bay). Day 7: rent a scooter, visit Hin Wong Bay and Tanote Bay independently.
Depart: ferry to Koh Samui or Surat Thani, then flight home.
Budget comparison
| Andaman (Route A) | Gulf (Route B) | |
|---|---|---|
| Flights (to/from Bangkok) | ฿1,800–3,600 | ฿1,800–5,000 |
| Accommodation (7 nights avg) | ฿7,000–21,000 | ฿5,600–21,000 |
| Activities (key items) | ฿5,000–8,000 | ฿4,000–10,000 |
| Food (7 days) | ฿2,100–4,200 | ฿2,100–4,200 |
| Estimated total | ฿15,900–36,800 | ฿13,500–40,200 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Andaman or Gulf coast for a week in the south?
- The Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta) has more dramatic limestone scenery, better diving at the offshore sites, and is best November to April. The Gulf chain (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao) has better diving for beginners on Koh Tao, the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan, and is reliable February to August. If you're visiting in December–April, the Andaman is excellent. If May–August, the Gulf chain is the better bet.