One Week in Southern Thailand: Islands and Andaman Coast

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. See also the Thailand island hopping itinerary for a dedicated island-focused route.

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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. Browse Krabi tours and Four Islands trips or 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. For Phuket travellers, the Phuket–Phi Phi–Krabi ferry is a convenient way to connect the islands. 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.

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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). Book Phuket–Phi Phi–Krabi ferry tickets on Klook if combining the Andaman islands.

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.

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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

Prices listed are approximate as of 2026.

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Where to stay — Route A (Andaman Coast)

Ao Nang / Krabi (Days 1–3)

Ao Nang is the practical base for this leg — most boats to Railay and the Four Islands depart from here. Budget: Pak-Up Hostel in Krabi town (฿250–400 dorm) is the best budget base for boat connections, with straightforward transport links to Ao Nang pier. Mid-range: Aonang Princeville Resort on the beach strip offers reliable comfort at approximately ฿1,800–3,500/night. Upscale: Centara Anda Dhevi Resort has hilltop pool villas with Andaman views at approximately ฿3,500–7,000/night.

Koh Phi Phi (Days 4–5)

Accommodation on Phi Phi concentrates around Ton Sai Bay. Budget: Bay View Resort in Ton Sai has fan rooms at approximately ฿800–1,500/night. Mid-range to upscale: Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort is on Laem Tong Bay — the quietest bay on the island, accessible by longtail only — with rooms at approximately ฿3,500–7,000/night. Book ahead in high season (December to February).

Koh Lanta (Days 6–7)

Budget: Lanta Riviera on Klong Dao beach from approximately ฿800–1,500/night. Mid-range: Pimalai Resort & Spa on Kantiang Bay — the best beach on the itinerary — at approximately ฿5,000–12,000/night; book well in advance between December and March. Budget travellers can also base themselves in Lanta Old Town on the east coast, where guesthouses start from approximately ฿500/night.

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Where to stay — Route B (Gulf Islands)

Koh Samui (Days 1–2)

The north coast is quieter than Chaweng. Budget: The Tango Beach Resort in Maenam at approximately ฿800–1,500/night. Mid-range: Bo Phut Resort & Spa in Bophut at approximately ฿2,500–5,000/night, close to Fisherman’s Village. Upscale: Anantara Bophut faces north toward Koh Phangan and has rooms at approximately ฿5,000–10,000/night.

Koh Phangan (Days 3–4)

Budget: Haad Salad Resort on the quiet north coast at approximately ฿800–1,500/night, near decent snorkelling. Mid-range: Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan on Koh Ma bay has a private-feeling location with good offshore snorkelling at approximately ฿4,000–8,000/night.

Koh Tao (Days 5–7)

Budget: Blue Wind Bakery & Bungalows on Sairee beach from approximately ฿400–600/night. Mid-range: ACTV Resort has hillside rooms with sea views at approximately ฿1,500–3,000/night. Most dive schools on the island offer basic accommodation from approximately ฿300/night when booked alongside a course.

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Restaurant recommendations by stop

Ao Nang: Lae Lay Grill is a panoramic seafood restaurant perched above the bay — expect approximately ฿300–700/person. The beachfront food stalls along the main strip do pad thai and fresh spring rolls at ฿60–100.

Koh Phi Phi: Papaya Restaurant in Ton Sai village handles Thai staples reliably at approximately ฿150–300/person. Le Grand Bleu is the better option for fresh seafood on the island at approximately ฿400–800/person.

Koh Lanta: Lazy Days on Klong Nin beach has good Thai and Western food with sunset views at approximately ฿300–600/person. The Fish & Chips Shop on Klong Dao is unexpectedly consistent for a casual meal at approximately ฿200–400/person.

Koh Samui: The Fisherman’s Village Friday Night Market in Bophut is the best evening for street food, with individual dishes at ฿60–150. Zazen in Bophut covers Thai-European fine dining at approximately ฿400–800/person.

Koh Tao: Café del Sol on Sairee handles breakfast well at approximately ฿150–300. Barracuda Bar & Restaurant on Sairee is the most reliable evening option, with meals at approximately ฿300–600/person.

See also: Krabi travel guide · Koh Phi Phi guide · Koh Lanta guide · Koh Samui guide · Koh Tao diving guide · Koh Phangan Full Moon Party · Thailand island hopping itinerary