2021 Update - Backpacking Travel Guide

sland hopping in Thailand is one of the most memorable experiences for your vacation in Thailand. Island hopping and organizing an Island hopping itinerary can be quite confusing. We've done all the work for you and have some of the best itineraries. ISLAND HOPPING ROUTES You'll start your trip in Bangkok Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) Airport. If you're taking an International flight you will likely arrive at Bangkok Airport - Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and will have to transfer from BKK to DMK. Here are some basic facts: South Andaman Sea West of Thailand Mainland Gulf of Thailand East of Thailand Mainland It takes time to go from one side to the other side. In general the Northernmost and Southernmost islands of the North & South Andaman Sea are less developed and more beautiful. South Andaman SeaThailand Island Hopping Itinerary START: Fly into Hat Yai Airport (HDY) END: Fly out of Trang Airport (TST), Krabi Airport (KBV) or Phuket Airport (HKT) or hop to another itinerary below depending on how much time you have. Plan to spend 3-5 days per island for a relaxing trip. -- SOUTH -- FLY IN - Hat Yai Airport (HDY) ($30-$35USD to/from Bangkok DMK 1h30m Thai Air Asia) Take Van or Taxi to Pak Bara Pier .... Then take speedboat to: Koh Lipe Koh Bulon Koh Kradan Koh Mook Koh Ngai FLY OUT - Trang Airport (TST) ($30-$40USD to/from Bangkok DMK 1h29m Thai Air Asia, Nok Air) Koh Lanta Koh Jum FLY OUT - Krabi Airport (KBV) ($45-50 to/from Bangkok DMK 1h Thai Air Asia, Thai Lion Air, Thai Vietjet Air) Koh Phi Phi FLY OUT - Phuket Airport (HKT) ($30-$35 to/from Bangkok DMK1h25m Thai Air Asia, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air) Koh Yao Yai Koh Yao Noi FLY OUT - Krabi Airport (KBV) ($45-50 to/from Bangkok DMK 1h Thai Air Asia, Thai Lion Air, Thai Vietjet Air) -- NORTH -- ITINERARY HOP - North Andaman Sea #1 or #2 Itinerary - Phuket to Ranong via Bus (300 THB, 5h 20m) or Taxi (4500 THB, 4h 30m) or Local Bus (450 THB 8h 30m) ITINERARY HOP - North Andaman Sea - Krabi to Ranong via Local Bus (360 THB, 6h) Taxi (3500 THB, 4h 30m) ITINERARY HOP - Gulf of Thailand Itinerary - Krabi to Surat Thani via Taxi (2000 THB, 2h 15m) or Bus (250 THB, 5h) or Minivan (250THB 5h) North Andaman Sea #1Thailand Island Hopping Itinerary START: Fly into Ranong (UNN) Airport (HDY) END: Fly out of Ranong (UNN) Airport or connect to another itinerary below depending on how much time you have. Plan to spend 3-5 days per island for a relaxing trip. -- NORTH -- FLY IN - Ranong (UNN) ($25-75 to/from Bangkok DMK 1h29m Thai Air Asia, Nok Air) Take a Taxi/Van to Ranong Pier ... then take a speedboat to: Koh Chang Koh Payam -- SOUTH -- ITINERARY HOP - South Andaman Sea Itinerary - Ranong to Phuket via Bus (? THB) or Taxi (5000 THB) ITINERARY HOP - South Andaman Sea Itinerary - Ranong to Krabi via Taxi (6000 THB) ITINERARY HOP - Gulf of Thailand Itinerary Ranong to Surat Thani via Bus (270 THB) or Taxi (4500 THB) ITINERARY HOP - Gulf of Thailand Itinerary Ranong to Chumphon via Taxi (4000THB) North Andaman Sea #2Thailand Island Hopping Itinerary START: Fly into Ranong (UNN) Airport END: Fly out of Ranong (UNN) Airport or hop to another itinerary below depending on how much time you have. Plan to spend 3-5 days per island for a relaxing trip. -- NORTH -- FLY IN - Ranong (UNN) ($25-75 to/from Bangkok DMK 1h29m Thai Air Asia, Nok Air) Take a Taxi/Van to Ranong Pier ... then take a speedboat to: Kao Lak Khao Sok -- SOUTH -- ITINERARY HOP - South Andaman Sea Itinerary - Khao Sok to Phuket (3000THB, 2h 30m) ITINERARY HOP - South Andaman Sea Itinerary - Khao Sok to Krabi via Bus (450 THB, 4h 30m) or Taxi (3000 THB, 3h) ITINERARY HOP - Gulf of Thailand Itinerary - Khao Sok to Surat Thani via Van (250 THB, 2h 30m) or Taxi (2000 THB, 2h) Gulf of ThailandIsland Hopping Itinerary (South to North) START: Fly into Chumphon Airport (CJM) END: Fly out of Surat Thani Airport (URT) or hop to another itinerary below depending on how much time you have. Plan to spend 3-5 days per island for a relaxing trip. -- NORTH-WEST -- FLY IN - Chumphon Airport (CJM) $40-50 (Bangkok DKK 1h15m Thai Air Asia, Nok Air) Take a Taxi/Van to ZZZ Pier ... then take a speedboat to: Koh Tao Koh Phangan Koh Samui FLY OUT - Surat Thani Airport (URT) ($25-30 to/from Bangkok DMK 1h Thai Air Asia, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air) OR Koh Samui Airport (USM) ($165-180 to/from Bangkok DMK 1h 10m Bangkok Airways) -- SOUTH-EAST -- ITINERARY HOP - South Andaman Sea Itinrary via Krabi - Surat Thani to Krabi via Van (400 THB, 3h) Bus (250THB, 2h 15m) or Taxi (2000 THB, 2h 15m) ITINERARY HOP -South Andaman Sea Itinrary via Phuket - Bus/Taxi Flight from Surat Thani to Phuket via Bus (250THB, 5h) or Taxi (4000THB, 4h) ITINERARY HOP - North Andaman Sea #1 or #2 Itinrary via Ranong Surat Thani to Ranong via Bus (250THB, 2h 15m) or Taxi (3800THB, 3h) Fast Boat Sandbank Trip! Fast Boat SOUTH ANDAMAN SEA he islands of the South Andaman Sea are some of the most Beautiful islands in Thailand. Turquoise waters and relatively healthy coral reefs surround. South Andaman Sea Thailand - Island Hopping Route & Itinerary (South to North) FROM TO TRANSPORT MODECOMPANY PRICE TIME Bangkok DMK Airport Hat Yai Airport (HDY) Thai Air Asia THB ($35USD) 1h 30m Hat Yai Airport (HDY) Pak Bara Pier Shared VanPrivate Taxi 280 THB ($USD) 1665 THB ($USD) 2h2h Pak Bara Pier Koh Lipe Bundhaya Boat 650 THB ($USD) 1h 30m Koh Lipe Koh Bulon Bundhaya BoatSatun PakbaraJolly Travel 550 THB ($USD) 550 THB ($USD) 600 THB ($USD) 1h Koh Bulon Koh Kradan Bundhaya Boat 765 THB ($USD) 50m Koh Kradan Koh Mook Bundhaya Boat 255 THB ($USD) 10m Koh Mook Koh Ngai Bundhaya Boat 298 THB ($USD) THB ($USD) 30m Koh Ngai Trang (Pak Meng Pier) Koh Ngai Camping Boat 1800 THB ($USD) 1h Trang (Pak Meng Pier) Trang Airport (TST) Taxi ? THB ($USD)) 1h Trang Airport (TST) Bangkok Airport (DMK) Thai Air AsiaNok Air THB ($40USD) 1h 30m Koh Ngai Koh Lanta Bundhaya Boat 600 THB ($USD) 30m Koh Lanta (? Pier) Koh JumKoh Phi Phi ? BoatBundhaya Boat ? THB ($USD) 550 THB ($USD) ?h1h Koh Jum Krabi Town ? Boat ? THB ($USD) ?h Krabi Town Krabi Airport (KBV) Taxi 550 THB ($USD) 30m Krabi Airport (KBV) Bangkok Airport (DMK) Thai Air AsiaThai Lion AirThai Vietjet Air THB ($50USD) 1h Koh Jum Koh Phi Phi (Ton Sai Pier) Boat 750 THB ($USD) 30m Koh Phi Phi Phuket Rasada Pier Bundhaya Boat 765 THB ($USD) 1h Phuket Rasada Pier Phuket Airport (HKT) Taxi 800 THB ($USD) 1h 30m Phuket Airport (HKT) Bangkok Airport (DMK) Thai Air AsiaNok Air Thai Lion Air THB ($35USD) 1h 25m Koh Phi Phi Koh Yao Yai Koh Yao Sun Boat 1200 THB ($USD) 1h 40m Koh Yao Yai Koh Yao Noi ? Boat ? THB ($USD) ?h Koh Yao Noi Ao Nang (Chonglard Pier - Krabi) ? Boat ? THB ($USD) ?h Ao Nang (Chonglard Pier - Krabi) Krabi Airport (KBV) ShuttleTaxis 250 THB ($USD) 667 THB ($USD) 1h 30m 35m Krabi Airport (KBV) Bangkok (DMK Airport) Thai Air AsiaThai Lion AirThai Vietjet Air THB ($USD) THB ($50USD) 1h South Andaman Sea Island Hopping Summary So which island should you hop to next? FROM TO AND PRICE FAST BOAT COMPANY Notes PARKBARA PIER -- Parkbara Pier -- Koh Lipe (450THB) Bundhaya Speed Boat KOH LIPE Langkawi (900THB) -- Koh Lipe -- Koh Bulone (550THB) Koh Kradarn (1150THB) Koh Mook (1150THB) Koh Ngai (1250THB) Koh Lanta (1360THB) Koh Phi Phi (1560THB) Phuket Rasada Pier (1950THB) Bundhaya Speed Boat KOH BULONE Langkawi (1600THB) Koh Lipe (550THB) -- Koh Bulone -- Koh Kradarn (765THB) Koh Mook (765THB) Koh Ngai (893THB) Koh Lanta (1300THB) Koh Phi Phi (2125THB) Phuket Rasada Pier (2635THB) Bundhaya Speed Boat KOH KRADARN Langkawi (2400THB) Koh Lipe (1150THB) Koh Bulone (765THB) -- Koh Kradarn -- Koh Mook (255THB) Koh Ngai (340THB) Koh Lanta (950THB) Koh Phi Phi (1488THB) Phuket Rasada Pier (2253THB) Bundhaya Speed Boat KOH MOOK Langkawi (2400THB) Koh Lipe (1150THB) Koh Bulone (765THB) Koh Kradarn (255THB) --Koh Mook-- Koh Ngai (298THB) Koh Lanta (800THB) Koh Phi Phi (1360THB) Phuket Rasada Pier (2040THB) Bundhaya Speed Boat KOH NGAI Langkawi (2600THB) Koh Lipe (1250THB) Koh Bulone (893THB) Koh Kradarn (340THB) Koh Mook (298THB) -- Koh Ngai -- Koh Lanta (600THB) Koh Phi Phi (1148THB) Phuket Rasada Pier (1828THB) Bundhaya Speed Boat KOH LANTA Langkawi (2300THB) Koh Lipe (1360THB) Koh Bulone (1300THB) Koh Kradarn (950THB) Koh Mook (800THB) Koh Ngai (600THB) -- Koh Lanta -- Koh Phi Phi (500THB) Phuket Rasada Pier (1200THB) Bundhaya Speed Boat KOH PHI PHI Langkawi (2975THB) Koh Lipe (1560THB) Koh Bulone (2125THB) Koh Kradarn (1573THB) Koh Mook (1360THB) Koh Ngai (1148THB) Koh Lanta (550THB) -- Koh Phi Phi -- Phuket Rasada Pier (765THB) Bundhaya Speed Boat PHUKET RASADA PIER Langkawi (3400THB) Koh Lipe (1920HB) Koh Bulone (2635THB) Koh Kradarn (2253THB) Koh Mook (2040THB) Koh Ngai (1828THB) Koh Lanta (1200THB) Koh Phi Phi (765THB) -- Phuket Rasada Pier -- Bundhaya Speed Boat Wanderasm South Andaman Sea Island Ratings - Beach and Water So which islands do we recommend? ISLAND(ISLAND) BEACHES WATER CLARITY(ISLAND) MARINE LIFE / SNORKLEING(ISLAND) ACTIVITIES / EXCURSIONS(OFFSITE) DIVING(ISLAND) DIVING(OFFSITE) KOH LIPE ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Wanderasm South Andaman Sea Island Ratings - Eat, Sleep, Party, Relax So which islands do we recommend for eating, sleeping, partying and relaxing? ISLAND DINING OPTIONS ACCOMODATIONS PARTY / DRINKING OPTIONS YOGA / MIND & BODY SPA / MASSAGE NOTES KOH LIPE ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Wanderasm South Andaman Sea Island Ratings - Backpacker / Solo Travel / Couple / Family & Kid and Digital Nomad Friendly So which islands do we recommend for each category of travelers? ISLAND BACKPACKER BUDGET FRIENDLY SOLO TRAVEL FRIENDLY COUPLE FRIENDLY / ROMANTIC SECLUSION FAMILY / KID FRIENDLY DIGITAL NOMAD FRIENDLY WIFI SPEED (ISLAND) NOTES KOH LIPE ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Wanderasm South Andaman Sea Island Ratings - FINAL Scores So which islands scores the highest for ? ISLAND WANDERASM OVERALL SCORE NOTES KOH LIPE 94 Koh Lipe (Thailand) Scores WANDERASM SCORES NOTES BEACHES ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ WATER CLARITY (ISLAND) ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ MARINE LIFE / SNORKLEING (ISLAND) ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ HIKING (ISLAND) ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ACTIVITIES / EXCURSIONS (OFFSITE) ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DIVING (ISLAND) ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DIVING (OFFSITE) ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ INSTAGRAMABLE / INSTAGRAMABLE ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DINING OPTIONS ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ACCOMODATION OPTIONS ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ PARTY / DRINKING OPTIONS ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ YOGA / MIND & BODY ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ SPA / MASSAGE ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ BACKPACKER BUDGET FRIENDLY ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ SOLO TRAVEL FRIENDLY ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ COUPLE FRIENDLY / ROMANTIC ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ SECLUSION ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ FAMILY / KID FRIENDLY ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ DIGITAL NOMAD FRIENDLY ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ WIFI SPEED (ISLAND) ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Budget ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ WANDERASM OVERALL SCORE 94 Additional Notes: WANDERASM DESTIONATION SCORE GUIDE 98-100 - World's Top Destinations 95-97 - Must Go Destinations 90-94 - Outstanding Destinations 85-89 - Very Good Destinations 80-84 - Good Destinations 75-79 - Mediocre Destinations 50-74 - Not Recommended WANDERASM DESTINATION DAILY BUDGET PRICE GUIDE (BUDGET PER PRSON PER DAY IN USD) ¢ - <$20 - Extremely Good Value $ - <$20-50 - Value $$ - $50-100- Budget $$$ - $100-200 - Mid range $$$$ - $200-500- Luxury $$$$$ - $500-1000 - Ultra Luxury $$$$$+ - $1000+ - Ultra Luxury Extravagant Plus