3 off-the-beaten-path islands of southern Thailand

The islands in the south of Thailand are touristy – that’s a fact. On most islands you go to, you’ll find tourists sprawled everywhere, from young backpackers, to couples, to families. I really don’t enjoy super touristy places and tried my best to find some off the beaten track islands to visit. Here are a few places I visited that are less on the radar, to help you plan your own off the beaten path island adventure!

Koh Lanta

A large island with a laidback vibe. Fairly crowded with backpackers and families, but with lots of restaurants, bars, and plenty to explore

This was my first stop in Thailand. I was getting over a breakup and wanted an island that was a bit off the touristy path, had a chilled vibe, yet still had people around and things to do. I would say it did a pretty good job fitting this description.

Arriving in Koh Lanta, my first impression was that it was busier than I expected. There’s a main road that runs through the island, and it’s quite busy with cars and motorbikes, and lined with restaurants and shops. However, when I arrived to my hostel, Banana Way, I was immediately greeted with the warmth and kindness of the owner, Banana, and found myself out of the bustle of the “city” and surrounded instead by nature. I immediately felt at ease.

Koh Lanta is a relatively big island, taking around 1.5 hours to drive from the northern to southern end. There are plenty of beaches to lounge at, and tons of restaurants and bars lining the beach. There are also a few nature spots to check out, like waterfalls and a national park.

The crowd on Koh Lanta is pretty varied. There are plenty of backpackers in their twenties and thirties, and you also have a lot of families traveling. If you’re a backpacker, there are plenty of hostels and it’s very easy to meet people and enjoy nightlife. And if you’re a couple or a family, there are also lots of accommodations catering to more peaceful stays. I would say that Koh Lanta has something for everyone.

While Koh Lanta is a relatively chilled out island, allowing you to choose between relaxing and having a peaceful stay, or going out and enjoying nightlife and restaurants, I wouldn’t say it’s a place to go for a truly relaxing island getaway. There is a lot to do on the island and you can do things at a relaxed pace, but it’s not a place to enjoy a true island getaway. I think it’s simply a bit too busy for that.

Overall, I would recommend Koh Lanta if you’re looking for a place that’s more chilled out and relaxed, but still with plenty of things to do, knowing that you’ll be around a fair amount of people, but not amongst massive tourist crowds like on Phuket.

Koh Phayam

A tiny island perfect for backpackers looking for a chilled out, off the beaten path place

Koh Phayam is the laidback, off the beaten path, backpacker’s paradise. I truly loved it here. It’s a relatively unknown place, so it attracts more of the adventurous type, willing to go to random places most people don’t go. It's also a very small and laidback island, so it draws those that are seeking more of a go-with-the-flow, chill for the day, kind of vibe.

The island is very small, taking only about 15 minutes to drive from one end to the other, and there are no cars on the island! This makes a pretty big impact on the vibe, allowing it to feel cozy, quaint, and peaceful. While it’s a small island, it packs a punch. There are some extremely cool bars and places to go there, probably some of my favorite that I’ve been to in all of Thailand. There is really something special about this island. It feels very peaceful and really draws you in. At the same time, it’s quite a social island, with people catching sunset together, playing volleyball, and going out to bars, restaurants, and parties. It’s the kind of place where you can enjoy doing your own thing, but there’s also a very laidback, social vibe if you want it. It’s also the kind of place where there’s not much to do, but rather a place just to be, hang out, and enjoy.

Koh Phayam draws a more chilled out backpacker crowd that doesn’t need to be in the thick of the action, doing all the popular things, all the time. The crowd is a bit older than the typical Southeast Asia backpacker crowd, somewhere between mid-twenties and early-thirties. You’ll also find some families there, though it’s not a common crowd, which I think is really cool!

This is the place to go if you want to have a laidback base for a week, or two, or even three. I highly recommend staying at Tropical Hostel for the best place to meet people, while also being able to chill and do your own thing. It’s also right across from the beach, and a very good place to watch sunset.

Read my full Guide to Koh Phayam here.

Koh Kood

A medium sized, very local island, perfect for relaxing and getting a taste of the local culture

Koh Kood is the most local island I visited in Thailand, and I really enjoyed it for that. It’s actually a decent size island, taking about 45 minutes to drive from one end to the other. It doesn’t feel so small, nor so big. Every other Thai island I’ve been to, or heard about friends going to, had far more tourists compared to Koh Kood. And that’s what stands out to me most about it - that it’s a very local island and allows you to have both a relaxing island experience while also getting to experience local Thai culture.

There are mostly couples on this island, with a few backpackers and a few families. Since there aren’t so many other people to meet, it may not be the best for a solo traveler, unless you’re okay with the high chance of spending some time on your own.

The island is very nice for driving around and just exploring. You can visit the many beaches there, see a nice temple overlooking the water, stroll through a local fisherman village, and check out some waterfalls. It’s a good place to spend a few laidback days exploring the island and enjoying relaxing beach time, while not being surrounded by tourists.

Overall, I would highly recommend Koh Kood for couples or friends looking to get off the beaten path and have a peaceful island experience that’s probably the most immersed in local culture that you’ll find in the Thai islands.