The islands of Thailand - a paradise vacation for every taste

Fans of ecological, extreme, historical tourism turn their eyes to the southeast of Asia, where the kingdom of Thailand (abbreviated as Thai) is located on two peninsulas (Indochina and Malacca). From the west, the state is washed by the Andaman Sea, in the east - by the South China (Gulf of Thailand).

The Land of Smiles has bypassed the resorts of Egypt and Turkey, which are popular for Russians, in terms of favorable tourist offers. Magnificent beaches in the south, mountains and tropical wilds in the north, attract tourists with any requests and desires. The state is rather big, there are more than two hundred islands alone. To enjoy the trip, you need to specify your requests in advance. Let's try to figure it out and choose the right point on the map of the state, which is increasingly called a piece of paradise. We will talk about the best islands in Thailand for holidays in 2022.

Paradise islands

Many land areas are located in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand off the mainland of Thailand. Most of the small sites are uninhabited. Large islands settled down and developed as tourist resorts. Most hyped today:

NAME OFFICIAL	LOCAL NAME	PROVINCES	ON THE POINTS OF THE WORLD
Koh Chang	Chang	Trat	East, Gulf of Thailand
Kut	Kud	Trat	East, Gulf of Thailand
Lanta Yai	Lantay	Krabi	South
Poppy	Mark	Trat	East, Gulf of Thailand
Phangan	Koh Phangan	Suratthani	South, Gulf of Thailand
Phi Phi Lay	Pi-Pi-Le	Krabi	South
Phi Phi Don		Krabi	South
Sichang		Chonburi	East Coast
Samet	Samed	Rayong	East Coast
Koh Samui		Suratthani	South, Gulf of Thailand
Tau	Tao	Suratthani	South, Gulf of Thailand
Tapu	O. James Bond	Phangnga	West, Andaman coast
Phuket		Phuket	Southern Thailand
Similan Islands		Phangnga	South, Andaman coast

The main advantage of the numerous beaches of Thailand is white sand, golden under the bright sun, warm clear sea, palm trees and jungles, places not affected by civilization.

To choose the best island for yourself, you need to answer a few questions:

• private trip or with the help of a travel agency;
• purpose of the trip: beach, excursions, extreme sports, sex;
• family holidays, small children, honeymoon;
• price corridor: economy, maximum comfort.

Based on the answers received, you can explore the possibilities of Thai resorts.

Unique pearls

Of the mainland resorts, the most famous are Bangkok and Pattaya, and the most famous Thai island is Phuket, it is the largest among hundreds of brothers.

Phuket

World-class tourist mecca 50 by 21 km - that's what Phuket is. Here the entertainment industry is developing at its maximum. It is located in the Andaman Sea not far from the mainland so much that they were connected by a 500-meter bridge. You can not only get here by bus, but fly in - there is an airport. As for excursions and exotic:

• monkey, crocodile, snake shows;
• elephant riding, elephant bathing;
• Thai dances, boxing, colorful performances with the history of the country;
• pineapple plantations, pearl farms;
• night parties, festivals;
• travel by water to uninhabited islands and much more.

It will appeal to both party-goers and those who like to retire, family and single, young and mature.

• availability of an airport, direct flight;
• beautiful virgin nature, waterfalls, tropical forests, jungles;
• there are all the benefits of civilization;
• a huge selection of entertainment, from sports to striptease;
• incredibly, but there are both noisy cheerful places and completely deserted;
• for children - a water park, a zoo, a butterfly garden and a lot more.

• in the Thai zone, Phuket is the most expensive resort in all respects;
• May-November there is nothing to do here: the rainy season, the sea is stormy;
• It takes a long time to get to Bangkok, and there are many attractions.

Koh Samui

The next largest is Koh Samui (250 sq. km), has a small airfield. You can get here by ferry from the capital. Located in the Gulf of Thailand. One of the most expensive land plots.Thai cuisine, massage parlors, gorgeous beaches, developed infrastructure. There are many natural masterpieces here:

• multi-stage waterfalls;
• rocks Grandmother and Grandfather;
• oceanarium;
• safari park, zoo;
• shell museum.

There are no noisy entertainments, night parties, a calm corner of nature, where flora and fauna are the main inhabitants. Koh Samui is the best place for romantic dates, honeymoon for newlyweds. Families with small children will love it too.

• awesome jungle, real, without decorations;
• there is no civilization, not even hotels in the center;
• the sea is cleaner than in Phuket and Pattaya, the beaches are clean;
• the air is clean, the environment is good, there are few cars and motorcycles;
• on the main beaches (Lamai, Chaweng) there are many hotels, shops, restaurants, ATMs, massage services and more;
• water sports are excellent here: skiing, moto, diving, snorkeling;
• you can easily and quickly move to small uninhabited beaches, be alone.

• the airport is small, it does not accept international ships, it takes a very long time to get there by land transport;
• here you will not have fun from the heart, and the prices are high;
• far from the main attractions in the north of Thailand.

Koh Chang

The island "Elephant" (as Chang is translated) can only be reached by ferry. The eastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand is an ecological fairy tale - untouched jungle, water transparent to invisibility, clean air. Add to this coral reefs, cascading waterfalls sparkling in the sun with transparent jets.

There are no bars, water parks, hypermarkets, water sports activities are prohibited. Here time stops and you can merge with nature. The status of a national natural park requires any action to be commensurate with the preservation of the integrity of the environment.

It is at this resort that you can communicate with elephants: ride, bathe, feed, study. Very appealing to families with children, married couples of age, people tortured by the speed of life in civilization. Any tourist will find joy and pleasure here.

Phangan

"Hanging out" in the waters of the Gulf of Thailand near Koh Samui, one of the five largest Thai surface areas. The place is youth, every month here on the full moon on the beach of Haad Rin an unforgettable Full Moon Party show is held. Party people dance house, reggae, techno all night long. On other days, the usual noisy discos rumble here.

Phi Phi archipelago

Another archipelago of the Andaman Sea has 6 volcano-tectonic formations. The largest are the inhabited Phi Phi Don, the cinema Phi Phi Lei, where the filming of the movie "The Beach" with DiCaprio took place.

There are restaurants, hotels, parties, shows on the little Don. But the main visitors here are engaged in underwater fishing, diving, swimming with a mask and snorkel, exploring boat routes through all the islands of the archipelago. Sheer cliffs stick out around, underwater caves are visible. The water world is full of sea monsters - barracudas, moray eels, leopard sharks. On Leya you can retire and merge with nature, on the Don - get rid of the night party, age does not matter.

Koh Chang, the Phi Phi archipelago, Phangan are far from each other, but very similar in infrastructure, have almost the same tourist reviews.

• not crowded, calm, quiet on the beaches;
• once a month on Phangan there is a Full Moon party, on the only Phi Phi beach there are discos, they don’t bother with noise, it’s even nice to participate sometimes;
• a paradise for divers, especially in the archipelago;
• very neat clean beaches, no plastic bottles, bags;
• at any time you can swim away to an uninhabited beach - romantic, adrenaline;
• on the archipelago (Lanta) you can observe the life of the natives, real ordinary life, compare it with the noisy advanced bustle of the metropolis and think about the eternal.

• difficult to get to any of these islands, with transfers to different modes of transport, with surcharges;
• there are no sights (temples, historical monuments, architecture), except for natural ones;
• boring nightlife: a few bars with folk bands, sometimes fire shows;
• there is no shopping at all, only ordinary clothes and souvenirs can be bought;
• there are no water sports activities on Chang, the conditions of the reserve do not allow using a boat or diving.

Similan Islands

A microarchipelago of volcanic origin in the Andaman Sea is a national marine reserve. You can't live here, you can come on a tour. As an exception, several sites have primitive bungalows and restaurants. A ferry goes here, you can hire a high-speed spitboat. Open to the public from November to May inclusive.

This place is an Eden for biologists, divers, snorkelers. Forty species of exotic birds, 25 species of different-sized reptiles, 30 species of mammals. The main attraction was ... sea water! Its transparency is such that at a depth of 35 meters you can see coral gardens, stingrays, bright tropical fish, and sea turtles.

Koh Tao

Hotels, bars, water skis, motorcycles, kayaks. The highlight is professional diving schools, even Russian-speaking ones.

Koh Kood

Waterfalls, diving, fishing, kayaking, snorkeling. The ethnic fishing village of Ao Yai, standing on the water, is an ordinary little miracle where you will be caught fish, cooked and fed.

These places are distinguished by rich underwater life, have identical reviews.

• very far from the beaten tourist paths and civilization, which saves nature, preserves its originality;
• It is easy to become a real savage diver, even there is no asphalt and cars;
• the best places to calmly explore the underwater world;
• Koh Kut is the cleanest sea and air in Thailand.

• very difficult road to the place of rest;
• the beaches of the Andaman Sea are closed during the rainy season (May-November);
• there are no land-based entertainment, ATMs, bars, nowhere to spend money;
• there is no transport to see the whole land;
• sights are only natural, there is nothing man-made;
• problems with electricity: they can turn on for several hours and that's it.

Samet

Resort island, which is part of the national reserve. This is an ideal place for a beach holiday, from here it is easy to get to Bangkok and Pattaya with their sights. Virgin nature, lack of asphalt roads, many small sandy beaches surrounded by natural vegetation. Peace and tranquility reigns here, the beaches are not crowded, there are no sights, hotels and restaurants are cozy and quiet.

Great place for couples, families with kids. The azure sea, white sand, the absence of the roar of civilization - everything is conducive to happy moments. True, Thais who want to relax in nature flock here for the weekend, then it becomes crowded and fun, but only two days a week.

• a large selection of inexpensive guesthouses, hotels of different comfort;
• inexpensive delicious seafood;
• there are no problems with moving around the island: rent a motorbike, there is a taxi, songteo;
• the beaches are wide, clean, the sea is transparent;
• wild nature, rocks, many viewpoints.

• a protected area, so you have to pay 200 baht to enter the coast;
• all the sights of the island can be seen in one trip, then only the sea, sand, a restaurant with a gorgeous sunset and that's it;
• food, water, everything else is delivered to the island by boats, so the price tag is higher for all services than in neighboring territories.

How do you want to relax

1. If you are going to Thailand to get rid of it in full, then you don’t have to look at the islands, the most seething entertainment life, with excursions, dances, night parties, is waiting for you on the mainland - Pattaya, Bangkok. Sex tourism, shopping are also here. The most civilized entertainment island is Phuket, but it is many times calmer than mainland cities.

2. Family holidays with children depend on various factors. If you need a connection with nature, the sea, peace, you can choose any piece of land on the surface of the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, the question of the season will decide everything. Excellent options - Phuket, Koh Samui. It will be worse to rest with children on Koh Phangan, Koh Chang, it will be very bad - on Samet, Tao, Kut. If you intend to actively hang out with a child, stay on the mainland, in Pattaya.

3. You will find a calm rest on clean beaches, but with civilized living conditions on Koh Chang, Koh Phangan, Samet, Koh Samui.

4. "Wild" tourism is possible on Samet, Kude, Similian, Mak, Surin.

5. The best diving and snorkeling is on Tau, the volcanic archipelagos of Similian, Surin, Phi Phi.

6. International youth party for the whole night and for several days - Phangan, where young people from many countries of the world constantly communicate, get acquainted, dance, relax.

7. Honeymoon trips, honeymoons are best spent in the romantic corners of Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Chang, Phi Phi Don.

No bad weather

It is desirable to choose a place of rest here according to the weather. For any day you can find an island where it will be warm, dry, comfortable.

Spring

It is hot 10 months a year in Bangkok and Pattaya, the most predictable area in terms of weather. Air warms up to +35, water - +28. Precipitation is short, pleasantly cooling the air. Bad weather for tourism here happens in September-October.

In March, southern Thailand enjoys good weather. April is an unstable month. The weather is hot, but the Andaman Sea is stormy: Phuket, the southern islands, Krabi are more comfortable for surfers catching a wave. Rains are frequent but short. And in the Gulf of Thailand in March - peace and heavenly grace.

The Thai north in spring is the dry season. Forests are burning, constant smog, stuffy and no one talks about a comfortable stay. And at the end of May, the rainy season “turns on” here.

Summer

Phuket, Andaman Sea in the summer months, tourists are not invited. June-August is frankly rainy here, the sea is worried, it is impossible to swim.

In the Gulf of Thailand at this time it is sunny, pleasant, comfortable.

Autumn

September-October Thailand rests from tourists, heavy rains, floods, lack of navigation between the islands, sometimes there is not even electricity. But there are corners where the weather will be good: during these months you can safely book a vacation on Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Tao.

November is on the list separately, because the beginning of the month is a transitional period in the weather. The weather is getting better, the rains are leaving, the Andaman Sea is becoming kind and peaceful. Navigation opens. From November, the tourism season begins in the south.

The Gulf of Thailand at this time takes rain baths, floods, sea unrest on the coast. In the north (Chiang Mai) - dry, pleasant weather.

Winter

Winter Andaman Sea - calm, sunny, no rain. The best time to visit this part of Thailand is December-February. That is why tourists from the northern countries go to Thailand in winter, in the Thai January summer - Krabi, Lanta, Phi Phi, Phuket.

In the Gulf of Thailand in December - rains and stormy weather are not for swimming. Powerful short tropical showers are not conducive to sea travel and relaxation in sun loungers. The wettest month here is January. And only at the end it becomes dry and sunny here.

It is cool in January in the north of the state: from evening to morning, you may need a warm jacket, windbreaker.

The last month of winter - February - is excellent for tourism, dry, sunny throughout the territory.

Summarize:

• The most comfortable weather in the whole kingdom is February, March.
• On the Siamese sands, the hottest month is May. The rainiest point is the eastern beaches of Koh Samui in January. From February to mid-October - paradise islands.
• In the north, the best vacation is in December-February. The worst period is March-April.
• The Andaman Sea will delight beachgoers from mid-November to mid-March. April is already very hot.
• There is nothing to do in Phuket in September-October. From July to October, there is also “no ice” here - it rains.
• Pattaya and Hua Hin are open to tourists ten months a year. September-October - pause.

Why Choose Thailand

The land of smiles is how this corner with palm trees and bounty beaches is positioned. Thais are constantly coming up with new stories, quests. A walk through the jungle on elephants can be decorated with “bathing a pink elephant”. Instead of an ordinary boat, a bamboo raft will suddenly appear at the crossing of the river. Beautiful Thai women performing incendiary but graceful dances suddenly turn out to be transvestites, and wild monkeys.

• Excellent opportunities for ecotourism. Exciting journeys through small uninhabited islands, the purest water in the sea, waterfalls and ancient Buddhist temples - everything breathes with primordial nature, calm passage of time, relaxes, strains, heals the body and soul.
• Inside Thailand, very comfortable prices are available to tourists with a minimum budget.
• A separate item in favor of Thailand will be Thai massage, known throughout the world. Relaxing massages, restoring, healing on different parts of the body - Thai masseurs are unsurpassed masters of their craft.

• Thais are very hospitable people, peaceful, kind. They bow to the tourists, rejoice at the meeting. Unobtrusive good service, goodwill make the kingdom more interesting than boorish Turkey, tearing money out of Egypt's hands. It's filled with positivity here.
• Thai cuisine is spicy, not for everyone, but there is always a lot of food, it is inexpensive.
• Places of residence - for every taste, both in price and in comfort. You can live in a high-rise apartment, you can live in a bungalow by the sea.

• high humidity, it is necessary to adapt;
• the concept of cleanliness among Asians differs from European standards not for the better;
• there are obsessive sellers of all sorts of nonsense, pestering on the beach, on the street, in the store;
• the sea has the purest salt water, you can’t drink water from the tap.

What you need to know about the country and its rules

Thailand is the territory of summer. It is always warm here, there are seasons, but there are only two of them, they are called the “dry season” and the “rainy season”. Officially, this is a kingdom, here all the beaches, natural resources belong to the king, are called municipal and absolutely free. The crime rate is low, but petty thieves scurry among the crowds of tourists, ready to appropriate even what lies unattended on the beach mat.

The capital is Bangkok, a city of contrasts. According to the time zone, the country lives 4 hours earlier than Moscow.Ancient Buddhist temples side by side with skyscrapers, Buddhist drums - with the fun of nightly parties. Thais are deeply religious people, but there is sex tourism in the excursion prices.

Language, writing

The language is Thai, there are 72 letters in the alphabet, there are no cases, genders, plurals. There are four tones of pronunciation, the interpretation of the word can change from intonation. Therefore, it is highly recommended not to raise your voice when communicating - they can be regarded as an attack or an insult.

Thais do not speak Russian, they learn English, but it is also difficult to understand it. As an option: install a Google translator on your smartphone in advance, which translates the voice text into the language you need (Thai). There is an online photo translator application for smartphones, with which you can translate menu texts, signs, announcements through the camera.

Religion

Buddhism is the main religion of the Thais, the state. They also practice Islam and Christianity. They enter the temples barefoot, without leaving their chest, arms and legs open, you can take long clothes to visit the current temple. Important: women are forbidden to talk to the monks, touch them.

Border inspection

To come to Thailand for 10-29 days, you do not need to apply for a visa, it is enough to have a passport. You must have air tickets, insurance, bank cards (at least two), cash, international driver's license (A, B). A first-aid kit with the drugs you need is obligatory; if necessary, buy conventional medicines on the islands.

Thai customs has its own rules for import and export. Without declaring, it is possible to transport $20,000 in both directions, equivalent to another currency. You can take out the local currency from the country no more than 50 thousand baht.

Customs does not welcome drugs, electronic cigarettes, especially vapes. Regular cigarettes can be brought across the border no more than 200 pieces. By the way, since 2018, bans on smoking on beaches began, recreations for smoking were set aside, sanctions were announced for violations (a year in prison, a $3,000 fine). It is forbidden to import porn magazines, erotica, toys for adults.

Large images of the national flag, unused stamps, sand, earth, corals (only a ready-made souvenir), precious metals and stones cannot be exported from the country. You can take away only a small Buddha, no higher than 12 cm, as a keepsake. A separate rule for exotic durian is only in a vacuum, in a suitcase, the rest of the fruit can be carried in hand luggage.

Transport

You will have to get to Thailand from Moscow by plane, the flight duration is 8-10 hours. Then you will move to your island by taxi, ferry, spitboat, longtail. These are very interesting trips in themselves.

The transport system in Thailand allows independent movement of tourists. Most rent bikes, cars and ride wherever they want. Buses, tuk-tuks are considered public transport: trucks with benches in the back for transporting passengers. In the capital they are called songkhteo.

Money

The state currency is the Thai baht. There are 100 satangs in one baht. At the beginning of the year, 1 baht was equal to 1.8 rubles. The course is floating, tourists multiply the price by 2 to understand how much it costs in rubles. 1 dollar = 32 Thai baht, 1 euro = 36 (the exchange rate is floating, the figures are approximate).

Thailand has an excellent network of ATMs, there are on every corner.Please note that the commission for withdrawing money from the card (with transfer to baht) is not a percentage, but a fixed amount - from 150 to 220 baht in different banks. The minimum commission (150 TNV) is at AEON ATMs. It is more profitable to withdraw large sums. You can withdraw a maximum of 30 thousand baht.

Without commission, you can withdraw money from the card at any branch of the bank, having a passport with you. It is more profitable to change to the local currency, euros, dollars, the exchange rate for the ruble is not profitable. Any currency is exchanged here only for baht, it will not be possible to get hold of dollars.

Another point is that in small shops and shops they do not accept any currencies other than the local one. Only in large shopping centers you can pay with a bank card. Have cash on hand if you want to buy souvenirs, drink, eat.

Traditions

The royal family is sacred to every Thai. Even in jest, one cannot say trouble about the royal family - this is a criminally punishable act. The portrait of the king is depicted on all bills, so money should be treated with respect.

Funny story here with the calendar. The Thai chronology comes from the death of the Buddha, now the country is not 2022, but 2562. And the new year comes to them on April 13-15. The tradition of the holiday is dousing with water. But they are happy to celebrate the European, Chinese New Year, of course, for tourists.

Oriental "sweets"

Thai cuisine is a separate attraction. Alcohol is treated calmly here, served for lunch and dinner. Beer is served with ice. They make their good wines from fruits and berries, they have their own rum and whiskey. Alcohol is sold by the hour: 11:00 - 14:00; 17:00 - 24:00.

The hotels provide breakfast, sometimes dinner. "All inclusive" is not listed here, except perhaps in five-star hotels.When choosing a restaurant to dine, go to a place where there are a lot of Thais. The food will be cheaper, the service will be faster. The portions are very large, no need to order several dishes, you can not cope. When placing an order, be sure to clearly say “no spicy”, otherwise it will be so spicy that you won’t take it in your mouth.

Street food is popular in Thailand. Makashnitsa - kitchens on wheels with a stove and grill roll around the streets, offer food for a snack. It is always fresh, more often cooked in front of the buyer. Can be found on trays of fried insects. But those who often visit or live in Thailand are sure that the Thais do not eat it, they expose it for the exotic.

As for prices, you can dine in a cafe for 150-300 baht, in a restaurant - 600. The main thing is that there is a lot of food everywhere, at every step, you can choose according to taste and price. Experienced tourists advise you to definitely try the most delicious dishes (price per serving in baht):

• fried rice - 60-100;
• pad thai (fried noodles) - 60-100;
• tom yum (soup) - 80-120;
• kebabs (meat / fish) - 10-20 for 1 skewer;
• spring rolls (pancakes with filling) - 70-100;
• sweet rice with mango - 80-100;
• Thai pancakes - 40-50;
• freshly squeezed fruit, berry juices - 50-70.

How much to spend, what to save

Is it possible to calculate the budget for a trip to Thailand? The amount will depend on which island you are going to, how long you will be there, what you will do, what living conditions suit you. Where you can save painlessly:

• a short trip does not require a visa;
• cheaper tours at the end of August, the first half of September;
• in Pattaya, all prices (housing, fruits, transport) are reduced in June-September;
• you can live in star hotels or in a tent;
• you can swim, sunbathe, without shopping, excursions;

• an independent trip will require the cost of housing, transport, food, you can calculate which is cheaper - a tour or savages;
• don't forget round-trip airfare;
• by buying a local SIM card, you can save half your Internet costs;
• European food in the kingdom is more expensive than Thai cuisine;
• boat trips are cheaper than spitboat trips by half.

More than ten million tourists visit Thailand every year. The kingdom is actively developing new territories for guests, paving the way to uninhabited sushi, bays. Curious tourists will explore the Khmer ruins, admire ancient Sukhothai, children will frolic in water parks, young people will attend night parties, introverts will find harmony on uninhabited islands - everyone will find their piece of happiness here. It's hard to describe, easier to see. Hospitable Thailand will meet you with a kind smile, will remain in memory, will beckon and wait again.