More Andaman Islands

Beyond Phuket, Phi Phi and Koh Lanta, Thailand's Andaman coast has quieter islands that most visitors never see: Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai in Phang Nga Bay, the Similan and Surin island parks far offshore, and the Trang islands south of Lanta. This guide explains what each group is like, when you can go and how they connect by boat.

The Andaman Sea is Thailand's western coast, facing the Indian Ocean, from the Myanmar border in the north to Malaysia in the south. The big names, Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi, Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe, have their own guides on this site. The islands on this page are smaller, slower and in some cases only open part of the year.

They have one thing in common: the southwest monsoon. From about May to October, rain and swell reach the whole coast, boats run less, and some islands close completely. Plan the trips on this page for the dry season, roughly November to April, and you will see them at their best.

Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai: village islands in Phang Nga Bay

The two "long islands" of Koh Yao district lie in the middle of Phang Nga Bay, between Phuket and Krabi, surrounded by limestone islands rising from the sea. They are farming and fishing islands with a population that is almost entirely Muslim, and they have kept a rural feel that is rare this close to Phuket.

Koh Yao Noi, the smaller, has more places to stay and a community-run homestay program; Koh Yao Yai is bigger and even quieter. Longtails cross between them all day. Both are open all year, though boat services thin out in the monsoon. Our guide to Koh Yao Noi covers the island, the boats from Phuket and Krabi, and how to dress and behave in a conservative community.

Choose it for: quiet, scenery, cycling, village life. Not for: nightlife or swimming at every tide.

The Similan and Surin Islands: national parks for snorkelers and divers

Far out in the Andaman Sea, about 70 km off the Phang Nga coast, the Similan Islands are a national park of nine granite islands with white sand, boulders and some of Thailand's best-known dive sites. The Department of National Parks (DNP) opens the park only from 15 October to 15 May and closes it for the rest of the year. Foreign adults pay 500 baht, every visitor needs an e-ticket, and daily numbers are capped. Most people visit on a long speedboat day trip from Thap Lamu pier near Khao Lak, or dive it from a liveaboard.

The Surin Islands, farther north near the Myanmar border, are a separate national park with the same season and the same 500-baht fee. TAT highlights Ao Mae Yai, a large, sheltered bay, as their best-known beach. Many dive liveaboards combine the two parks.

Our guide to the Similan Islands explains the season, e-tickets, the visitor cap, day trips and liveaboards, and why Koh Tachai is still closed.

Choose it for: snorkeling, diving and one unforgettable day at sea. Not for: the monsoon months, or anyone who gets badly seasick.

The Trang islands: beaches between Lanta and Lipe

South of Koh Lanta, off Trang province, lies a group of small islands with clear water and few people. Koh Kradan has the classic white beach, Koh Mook has a fishing village and the Emerald Cave, reached by swimming through a dark sea tunnel into a hidden lagoon, and Koh Ngai is a resort island with calm, shallow water. Farther south, Koh Libong and Koh Sukorn are larger village islands that few foreigners visit; TAT notes that dugongs still feed on the seagrass around Libong.

Koh Mook and Koh Kradan are in Hat Chao Mai National Park, while Koh Ngai belongs to Mu Ko Lanta National Park. Our guide to the Trang islands compares them, explains the Emerald Cave and the park fees, and covers the boats from Trang and Lanta.

Choose it for: quiet beaches and a slow trip down the coast. Not for: shopping, nightlife or ATMs on every corner.

How the islands connect by boat

In the dry season, a network of speedboats runs along the coast. The operator Tigerline, which has run boats on this coast since 2003, lists stations at Phuket, Phi Phi, Koh Yao Noi, Koh Yao Yai, Koh Jum, Koh Lanta, Koh Ngai, Koh Kradan, Koh Mook, Koh Libong, Koh Sukorn, Koh Bulone and Koh Lipe, with onward boats to Langkawi in Malaysia. It gives its operating window as 07:00 to 18:30, adjusted by route, season and weather. Other companies run parts of the same coast.

Some typical crossings (Tigerline figures, the DNP for the Similans and Travelfish for Koh Yao Noi; October 2026):

Two practical points apply to the whole network. First, on small islands without a pier, you change from the speedboat to a longtail offshore and wade ashore, so pack light and keep electronics in a dry bag. Second, the UK Foreign Office warns that boats between the mainland and islands have sunk or collided, often because of overloading, poor maintenance or rough monsoon seas. Do not board a boat that looks overloaded, check that there are life jackets, and wait for the next one if the weather turns.

Our guide to an Andaman island-hopping route from Phuket to Koh Lipe puts these legs together, and the overview of ferries in Thailand covers booking and safety. For the first leg from Krabi, see our guide to getting from Krabi to Koh Lanta.

National park fees on these islands

Most of the islands on this page are in national parks, and the fee depends on the park and, in some cases, the island. As of October 2026, foreign adults pay:

• 500 baht for Mu Ko Similan and Mu Ko Surin (Category 4 parks);
• 400 baht for Koh Ngai and the other special-zone islands of Mu Ko Lanta, such as Koh Rok;
• 300 baht for Ao Phang Nga National Park, which tours from Koh Yao Noi often visit;
• 200 baht for Hat Chao Mai National Park (Koh Mook, Koh Kradan) and for Mu Ko Lanta's headquarters area; see our page on Mu Ko Lanta National Park.

Fees are charged per park, not per stop, and tours usually include them. Keep the receipt; park staff may ask to see it.

When to go

The dry season, roughly November to April, is the time for all of these islands. The Similan and Surin parks are open only from 15 October to 15 May. The Trang islands are at their best from December to May, according to TAT, which notes that some resorts there do not open until mid-November. Koh Yao Noi is open all year, but sea crossings are rougher and less frequent in the monsoon. Our page on the best time for the Thai islands compares the Andaman and Gulf seasons, and the guide to Khao Sok National Park is a good inland option when the sea is rough.

Frequently asked questions

Which lesser-known Andaman island is easiest to reach from Phuket?

Koh Yao Noi. Speedboats from Bang Rong pier on Phuket's east coast take about 30 to 40 minutes, and the island is open all year. It is a good choice for a few quiet days at the start or end of a Phuket trip.

Can you visit the Similan Islands all year?

No. The Department of National Parks opens the Similan Islands only from 15 October to 15 May and closes them for the rest of the year because of the monsoon and to let the reefs recover. The Surin Islands follow the same season.

Can you island-hop from Phuket to Koh Lipe?

Yes, in the dry season. Speedboats run down the coast via Phi Phi, Koh Lanta and the Trang islands to Koh Lipe, and you can stop on the way. In the monsoon, services are reduced or stop, so plan this route for roughly November to April.

Are the smaller Andaman islands good for families?

Some are. Koh Ngai's calm, shallow beach and Koh Yao Noi's resorts suit families in the dry season. The Similan day trip is long and the crossing can be rough, so it suits older children better than toddlers. Check medical facilities, which are basic on small islands.

Sources

• Tigerline Ferry – Stations and network (checked October 2026)
• Tigerline Ferry – Official timetables and pricing structure (checked October 2026)
• Department of National Parks – Mu Ko Similan National Park (checked October 2026)
• Department of National Parks – Hat Chao Mai National Park (checked October 2026)
• Tourism Authority of Thailand – Phang Nga (checked October 2026)
• Tourism Authority of Thailand – Trang (checked October 2026)
• The Nation – Similan and Surin close for the monsoon (26 May 2026) (checked October 2026)
• The Nation – National park fees by category, 7 June 2022 (checked October 2026)
• Travelfish – How to get to Ko Yao Noi (checked October 2026)
• UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office – Thailand: safety and security (checked October 2026)