Island hopping in Eastern Thailand: Koh Samui, Koh Tao, and Koh Phangan
Koh Nang Yuan, Thailand
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Everyone must know by now about the movie “The Beach” and it’s real life location in Maya Bay in Thailand. Due to over tourism, the Thai government has decided to close the beach to allow it to recover (and rightfully so). Though I’ve never been, and probably don’t plan to, I had surmised correctly that before closure, this beach would welcome thousands of visitors a day. So the iconic beach photo with just you, would have to be shared with hundreds of others. Luckily, there are other Thai islands that can give you just as good of an experience without as many people.
The West Thai islands include Koh Phi Phi and Phuket (as well as Krabi, which is on the mainland) and the East Thai Islands are Koh Samui, Koh Tao, and Koh Phangan. Each set of islands offers more or less the same thing in my experience, amazing beaches, good food, tons of bars.
I decided to take an overnight bus from Bangkok to Chumphon, where I then took a ferry to the East Thailand islands (roughly 2 hours and 45 minutes in duration) (Check out my blog post on what to see and do in Bangkok). Once I got to Koh Samui, I simply took a cab to my accommodation. Everything is quite close by so you can take taxis or scooter to get around each of these islands. I’ll highlight some of the places I recommend seeing on each island below and there is also a Google Map at the end of this post with all these points of interest.
Koh Samui
The most popular and built up of the east islands. Here you will find restaurants, beaches, and bars for your heart’s content.
Koh Samui isn’t all beaches though, you can appreciate it for its jungle atmosphere as well. The Magic Garden (or Secret Buddha Garden) on this island is quite tranquil, featuring small streams and moss covered statues with buddhist influences. This area also offers panoramic views of Koh Samui.
Koh Samui Secret Garden, Thailand (ISO 100, 48 mm, f/22, 1/8 s)
The Na Muang Waterfalls can be found further inland from the coast and they feed a natural pool that you can swim in. The name is translated to 'purple waterfalls' due to the purple shade of the rock faces around them. Getting there is easy as it is very accessible from the Main ring road (Route 4169).
In the northeast of the island, you will find the Temple of the Big Buddha. Pretty self-explanatory what is here but the size of the buddha is quite remarkable. The Temple is open to all visitors but remember to dress appropriately since it is a place of worship for many. The best times to come are in the early morning hours.
W Hotel, Koh Samui, Thailand (ISO 125, 5 mm, f/3.9, 1/1000s)
I’m not one to stay in ultra luxurious accommodation when I travel, I’d rather spend my money on experiences. However, the W Hotel here on Koh Samui has an excellent bar area (WOOBAR) boasting impressive views of this island paradise (Villas here go for at least $500/night - HARD PASS). You can also venture down to the beach on hotel grounds and soak up the sun there.
Look for ultra chill drink spots on the beach to take in the sunsets night in and night out. You can’t go wrong with The Library. When the sun goes down, you will usually be entertained by fire spinning shows along the beach, which are impressive to say the least.
Koh Tao, Thailand (ISO 100, 27 mm, f/4, 1/1000 s)
Koh Tao
This island isn’t as well known as Samui of Phangan but was personally my favorite. The views at Charm Churee Villas at sunset were the best I’ve seen in these parts. The private beach there was pristine as well and you also have the option of renting kayaks.
Snorkeling at Mango Bay can be booked through your accommodation on Koh Tao as well. The water here is usually calm and clear where you can see massive coral reefs under the surface.
Mango Bay, Koh Tao, Thailand (ISO 125, 5 mm, f/3.9, 1/1250 s)
To get a bird’s eye view of the entire island and do some hiking, head on over to the John Sewun Viewpoint. The trail can be quite rigorous in parts but the sweeping views are absolutely worth it and the hike takes about 20 minutes total. Plus it’s nice to take a break from the beach for a day. There usually is a fee of 50-100 baht to get there.
Some of the notable beaches on Koh Tao that you should visit are Ao Tanote and Sairee beaches. In my experience, these beaches were so very quiet and chill, leading to the most relaxing and zen-like time there. You can’t go wrong with either.
Koh Tao Sunset, Thailand (ISO 125, 5 mm, f/3.9, 1/1000 s)
