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Thailand islands holiday - Idyllic beaches

Dream islands and coral reefs

Route: Bangkok - Phuket - Ko Raya - Phuket - Ko Lanta - Ko Hai - Bangkok

During our Thailand islands holiday you'll escape to some of Thailand's most idyllic tropical hideaways in stunning natural surroundings where you can lie on the beach listening to the sea lapping the shore.

After a couple of nights in Bangkok, you'll take a short flight to Phuket and be whisked away by speedboat to your peaceful, traffic-free island getaway of Ko Raya where you'll stay right on the beach. Next, you'll travel to Ko Lanta where you can watch spectacular sunsets from your hammock. Finally, you'll sail on to Ko Hai in the tropical Trang archipelago.

Looking for something a little more lively? Try our island hopping to Ko Samui tour or build your own island holiday with our bite-sized Southern Thailand tours.

Duration	13 days / 12 nights	Accommodation	12 nights in a double room in authentic hotels. Accommodation level 3 (see accommodation page)
Price	£772 per person - based on 2 people sharing	Includes	Accommodation with breakfast, transport, excursions, English-speaking guides, and other some meals as described.
Transport	2 domestic flights, ferry, minibus	Excludes	International flights, drinks and other meals, excursions or entrance fees

Day 1: Arrival in Bangkok

On arrival in Bangkok you'll be picked up at the airport and transferred directly to your friendly hotel 10 minutes' walk (or 5 minutes by tuk-tuk) to the lively Khao San Road. The hotel is located right on the Chao Praya river where you can catch a river taxi to most of the sights around the city. Your room is tastefully decorated and has A/C. There's a nice pool, so begin your trip with a refreshing dip before you head into the city.

Thailand islands holiday - Bangkok hotel

Thailand islands holiday - Buddhist temple

Day 2: Bangkok

Today you can explore Bangkok at your own pace. One of the best ways to get around the sights of the city is by express boat. First stop is the Royal Palace, official residence of the Thai King Bhumibol. Then pop next door to the Wat Phra Kaew, the number one temple in Bangkok. Remember to dress appropriately; knees and shoulders covered. Last admission is at 3.30pm.

After you've gazed in awe at the huge golden Reclining Buddha at Wat Po, head across the river to Chinatown. Get off at Tha Ratchawong and follow the pier to Ratchawon Road into the heart of Chinatown with its many shops, restaurants and markets. It's easy to lose yourself in the frenzied maze of unmarked little streets but don't worry, whichever way you walk you'll always end up on a bigger street that is on your map.

Day 3: Bangkok - Phuket

In the morning, make your way back to the airport to catch the short domestic flight to the southern beach town of Phuket, the next stop on your Thailand islands holiday. Because Phuket is the most convenient departure point for most of the tropical islands of southern Thailand, you'll be returning here a couple of times on a stopover to your next island destination.

From Phuket airport simply take a taxi straight to your comfortable resort with pool right on Kata Beach (45 minute drive). Spend the rest of the day chilling by the pool or on the beach overlooking the beautiful bay.

Thailand islands holiday - Phuket from the air

Day 4: Ko Raya

In the morning you'll be picked up at your hotel by minibus and transferred to the pier where a speedboat is waiting to take you to your tropical hideaway on Ko Raya. The crossing takes 45 minutes. On Ko Raya you'll be staying in a lovely wooden bungalow with A/C and views across the bay or the shady palm tree garden.

The bay just outside your resort is one of the best for diving and a snorkeler's paradise. The coral fields are reputedly some of the most spectacular in Thailand and teeming with exotic fish, starfish, sea cucumbers, turtles and brightly coloured reefs. The water is so clear and so blue you'd almost think you're swimming in a (very large) hotel pool.

Day 5 and 6: Ko Raya

Your hotel has its own diving school, with excellent and friendly Finnish staff. If you're not planning on diving, snorkels are available for hire so you can explore the underwater world without taking a deeper plunge. Visibility in Ko Raya waters is excellent and can reach up to 25m and, with an average water temperature of 27°C, you won't need a wetsuit. Remember to cover up with a t-shirt though, the sun is deceptively strong on and in the water.

If you're interested in learning to dive, you can extend your stay on Ko Raya to take a full PADI Open Water Diving course. Just let us know in advance and we'll arrange it for you. Besides the beach right on your doorstep there are two other beautiful beaches on the island with sand as soft as icing sugar. They're a short walk away through the island's ‘interior’ and coconut palms.

Thailand islands holiday - Ko Raya diving

Day 7: Ko Raya - Phuket

This morning, you can make the most of your last few hours on Ko Raya before your Thailand islands holiday continues. You can take one last snorkel over the coral gardens, take a stroll along the beach and enjoy a last fruit cocktail at the beach bar. In the afternoon, you'll return to Phuket by speedboat. A transfer will meet you on dry land to take you back to your hotel (see image to the left).

We'll generally book you at the same hotel so you can leave some of your luggage in storage at the hotel before you leave for Ko Raya. Kata Beach is a lively resort with lots of interesting shops and a good variety of restaurants and bars. Enjoy the action one last time because tomorrow you'll be heading to another castaway island.

Day 8: Phuket - Ko Lanta

Today you'll travel from Phuket to Ko Lanta, a small island with idyllic long stretches of white beaches. You'll stay in a comfortable eco-resort in a quiet part of the island, tucked away in a secluded bay with a small beach and a lovely pool. The resort was built using only natural resources and the plants in the garden are all labelled so you can remember the names of those sweet smelling flowers and exotic trees. Your bungalow with views across the river, the beach or the lush tropical gardens.

Thailand islands holiday - Ko Lanta resort pool

Thailand islands holiday - kayaking on Ko Lanta

Day 9: Ko Lanta

The east coast of Ko Lanta is made up of dense mangrove forests, limestone islands jutting straight up from the sea and dark caves leading to hidden emerald lagoons. It's the perfect place for canoeing or kayaking. If you're staying ashore, you can also take a Thai cookery course so you can master the perfect Pad Thai noodles or Tom Yum soup, or take an elephant safari through the rainforest. The resort also organises Thai massage courses. There's plenty to choose from, but we'll leave the planning to you so decide whatever takes your fancy. Further along the coast you'll find plenty of bars, shops, internet cafes, spas and restaurants.

Day 10: Ko Lanta - Ko Hai

After breakfast around 8.30am it’s time to board the boat for the two-hour trip to the next island on your Thailand islands holiday. You’ll be heading further south to Ko Hai, a tiny island in the Trang archipelago, far from the tourist crowds and with a very serene, peaceful atmosphere.

You’ll stay in a traditional Thai-style bungalow right on the beach. Your bungalow has a private patio where you can relax and enjoy the peace and quiet as you look out across the beach and the blue bay. We selected this accommodation for its fantastic location on a beautiful stretch of sandy beach and, the fact that the bay is right on your doorstep means it is one of the few spots on the island where you can snorkel amongst coral and tropical fish.

Thailand islands holiday- beach bungalow

Thailand islands holiday - Ko Hai island idyll

Day 11 - 12: Ko Hai

After lunch, you can rent a snorkel at the restaurant and wade into the warm water to swim among the little clownfish, anemones and rainbow-coloured coral. The islands of the Trang Archipelago are still largely undiscovered by mass-tourism which means you'll have the place almost to yourself which really adds to the peaceful atmosphere.

Soft white sands, azure sea, sunshine... this is the perfect tropical getaway. Even though the region is virtually closed from May - October due to monsoon season, this Thailand islands holiday is too good to miss so we hope you'll be able to plan your trip somewhere between November and May. Pack your flip-flops, sun-hat, sarong and a good novel and you're all set.

Day 13: Ko Hai - Bangkok - departure to UK

Sadly your Thailand islands holiday ends today. In the morning it's time to bid farewell to your island idyll and arrange yourself the boat back to the mainland pier, from here you can organise yourself a taxi or bus to Krabi airport. From Krabi you'll fly back to Bangkok where you'll board the plane back to the UK.

When to go?
The best time of the year to take our Thailand islands holiday is from November to May. From June to October, it's better to avoid the south westerly islands due to the rainy season. During these months, the sea is rough, and many of the island resorts are closed. If you would like to do a Thailand islands itinerary between June to October, we would recommend islands off the southeast coast such as Ko Tao, Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Samui.

Thailand Islands Hopping - Accommodation (click to enlarge)

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