No matter your budget, your taste in travel or preferred time of the year, there really is a Thai island – and, yes, including Koh Samui, the star location of the heavily hyped third series of The White Lotus – for absolutely everyone.

There are, after all, more than 1400 idyllic forested limestone isles spread along nearly 3500 kilometres of Thai coastline.

On the far west coast, the Andaman Sea flows south from Myanmar through the remote Surin Islands and Similan Islands National Park, neither of which allows for overnight stays but can be reached on “live-aboards” or day trips from Khao Lak, on the mainland north of Phuket.

Phuket – Thailand’s largest and most developed island – is also the hopping-off point for Phang Nga Bay, where you will find the unspoilt islands of Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai, which we’re recommending over Koh Phi Phi, a once-Edenic spot now burdened with rubbish, water pollution, lowbrow tourists and jaded locals.

Sail south instead to laid-back Koh Lanta, and onwards to Koh Lipe, bordering the pristine prehistoric wilds of Tarutao National Marine Park. Monsoons sweep along the Andaman coast from June, with rainfall steadily increasing until October.

Over the summer months, the Gulf of Thailand has you covered, with fine sunny skies and calm seas for 10 months of the year. This region embraces Koh Samet, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao in the east, and the Trat province islands, including Koh Kood and Koh Chang as you head south-west towards Cambodia.

No wonder Thailand is expected to welcome a record-breaking 40 million visitors in 2025, many of whom will be drawn to the country’s dreamy beaches and islands, the jewels in Thailand’s tourism crown.

In the wake of The White Lotus, Traveller ranks, in order of greatest and across a range of price points, our dozen favourite Thai islands, including that dream streaming island.

Koh Larn, Bay of Bangkok

Best for a snapshot of a typical holiday island for Thais.
Tell me more A short hop from the Thai capital, a 45-minute public ferry ride from the busy shores of Pattaya, Koh Larn’s stripe of white beach lapped by turquoise waters is among the prettiest in the country. Also known as Coral Island, Koh Larn lures visitors on day trips and weekend breaks from Bangkok, which makes it feel more local than most other holiday islands. Sweet little cafes, friendly family-run restaurants and barbecue street food stalls line the pastel-coloured streets, which you can rent golf buggies to explore. There are basic guest houses and small hotels on the island, but it makes more sense to visit for the day, staying on the mainland instead, skipping grotty over-touristed Pattaya for cheerful Jomtien Beach down the coast.
When to go The dry season is from November to May, but the rainy season brings life to Chonburi’s rainforests, filling little-visited waterfalls to sensational effect.
Where to stay Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach has double rooms from $455 including breakfast. See hyatt.com

Koh Chang, Gulf of Thailand

Best for families looking to get off the beaten track.
Tell me more Koh Chang, which translates as “Elephant Island”, is named after its voluminous shape and is a favourite holiday spot for Thais seeking beachside R&R. As such, it feels relatively quiet compared with big hitters such as Phuket and Koh Samui, while still offering a good choice of places to stay, including a nice range of family-friendly resorts with great swimming pools, kids’ clubs and watersports centres. In Mu Ko Chang National Park, it’s one of 50 islands sprinkled along the immaculate Trat province coast, where the beaches – long, cottony stretches of soft sand and crystal-clear waters are – the main draw. If not on par with Koh Lanta or Koh Tao, the diving and snorkelling are still rather good; expect to encounter angelfish and clownfish (Nemos) around the shore and, at sea, turtles, reef sharks and porpoises.
When to visit As temperatures top 35 degrees, March and April may be too hot and humid for some families. Better to stick to the November-to-March high season, which is lively without being overwhelmed with tourists.
Where to stay Centara Koh Chang Tropicana Resort & Spa has garden-view double rooms from $294, all-inclusive. See centarahotelsresorts.com

Koh Phangan, Gulf of Thailand

Best for a wellness break with a side of snorkelling.
Tell me more You can see the lush green curves of Koh Phangan from Koh Samui’s north coast. The slow ferry takes one hour and 45 minutes and the fast boats will have you there in under an hour. The island is best known for its notorious Full Moon parties – don’t take any valuables and never leave your drink unattended – but the monthly raves are just a tiny part of the island’s identity. Phangan has a thriving wellness scene, with yoga studios, fitness centres, Muay Thai boxing clubs and detox retreats scattered along the coast. Inland, there’s a steamy national park laced with hiking trails and waterfalls, while Ang Thong National Marine Park is an easy long-tail boat ride away for diving and snorkelling.
When to visit As in Koh Samui, the weather is temperate for most of the year – just try to avoid June and November, when torrential rains prevail.
Where to stay Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas has double rooms from $434 including breakfast. See anantara.com

Koh Racha Yai, Andaman Sea

Best for the honeymooning in the dreamy intimate setting and high-end hotels.
Tell me more In glowing green waters 20 kilometres off the southern tip of Phuket, Koh Racha is one of two sister islands, also known as the Raya Islands. Small but perfectly formed, Racha Yai is ringed by five beaches with blinding-white sand so soft you immediately sink up to your ankles. The island’s proximity to Phuket, its beaches and fish-filled bays make it a popular spot for day trippers. Stay overnight and you’ll feel as if you’ve got the island to yourself – for at least a few hours each morning and night. During the day, you can walk or ATV around the island, making a snorkelling stop at Lha Bay, which gets fewer visitors. Wave goodbye to the tour boats at 5pm and settle in for a stupendous sunset paired with a seafood dinner caught that day by the island’s fishermen. Low light pollution makes for glitter-bomb night skies.
When to visit the best time is from December to March, but prices start to drop in April and May as temperatures soar. Avoid the July-to-October monsoon season.
How to do it The Racha has double rooms from $514 including breakfast. See slh.com

Koh Samet, Eastern Gulf of Thailand

Best for Samet’s best-of-both-worlds vibe will appeal to bohemians.
Tell me more Bangkok’s affluent set slide into Samet at the weekend to hang out in bars with DJs and dazzling fire shows on fashionable Ao Phai beach. Venture beyond the party zone and you’ll find a little-visited national park with golden, boulder-strewn beaches, peaceful coral reefs, shacks with kayaks for hire, and a web of cycling and hiking trails. Despite the island’s popularity, accommodation options aren’t as attractive or well managed as elsewhere, consisting mainly of guest houses, bungalows and a handful of resorts.
When to visit Ferries run to the island throughout the year, but thunderstorms sweep in and out of this region from June to October. The November and May shoulder seasons are better value than the December-to-April high season.
Where to stay Slicker-than-most, Sai Kaew Beach Resort has double rooms from $265, including breakfast. See saikaewbeachresort.com

Koh Tao, Gulf of Thailand

Best for Divers, sporty young things and outdoorsy types.
Tell me more Whale sharks as big as buses, beefy barracuda, elegant black-tip reef sharks, UFO-like stingrays, pulsating pink cuttlefish peeking through the portholes of spooky shipwrecks – divers flock from across the globe to view these attractions in the marine-rich waters surrounding Koh Tao. It’s a super spot for learners too, with Padi deep-water courses generally cheaper than at Koh Samui or Koh Phangan. Try Simple Life Divers (simplelifedivers.com), where three-and-a-half-day open water courses start from $514. Snorkellers needn’t miss out, as colourful corals bursting with reef fish are just offshore; the deep limpid rock pools at Mango Beach are especially vibrant. There are rock climbing, trail running, Muay Thai boxing and dancing with the sand between your toes at Sairee Beach’s bars.
When to visit Koh Tao enjoys hot, sunny weather and typically calm seas with excellent visibility most of the year, excluding the monsoon months of June and November.
Where to stay A hideaway villa at Haadtien Beach Resort costs from $776, including breakfast and transfers to and from Mae Haad pier. See haadtien.com

Koh Kood, Southern Gulf of Thailand

Best for Switching off from the outside world.
Tell me more If you were to conjure up an idyllic vision of Thailand, it might look something like Koh Kood, with its golden beaches, Tiffany-blue waters, lush jungle, mangrove forests and secret rock pools and waterfalls – which makes it all the more surprising that it remains so undeveloped. That’s partly due to the limited season, limited flight and ferry services, and annoying sandflies (which are really only a problem on certain beaches at sunrise and sunset). Make the effort to get there and the pay-off is the Thailand dream scene of 50 years ago, all hazy golden days, empty swirls of beach, pristine waters frequented by sea turtles and stingrays, and traditional Thai hospitality. A small but eclectic mix of accommodation covers everything from beachside shacks to trendy Airbnb bungalows to family-run resorts and the eye-wateringly expensive eco-luxury escape Soneva Kiri.
When to visit Between October and May; Koh Kood closes and ferry services are suspended during the summer monsoon season.
Where to stay Ultra-luxury eco-resort Soneva Kiri has one-bedroom bay view pool villas from $1751, including breakfast and private aircraft transfers. See soneva.com

Koh Lanta, Andaman Sea

Best for Socialising sans sleaze, Koh Lanta is the spot for solo travellers.
Tell me more A cluster of 16 islands in the luminous blue-green Andaman Sea, a few hours south of Phuket and Krabi by speedboat or ferry, Mu Koh Lanta National Park shares many of the same glorious natural attributes as its neighbours: rippling coastline, white powder beaches studded with boulders and some of the planet’s most biologically diverse coral reefs. It’s also home to sea nomads known as the Chao Le, as well as an abundance of wildlife, including 130 bird species, flying lemurs, dusky leaf monkeys, Sunda slow lorises and a shrinking population of highly endangered dugongs. The diving is, naturally, tip-top, but Koh Lanta’s slower pace of life and warm local community endows a real sense of escape. Accommodation ranges from beach bungalows to private villas, family-run resorts and a couple of luxury hotels, with most located on the largest island, Lanta Yai.
When to visit Koh Lanta’s peak season is from November until March. Temperatures soar in late April and May but hotel rates drop by as much as 40 per cent. Limited availability means it’s best to book well in advance for the biggest savings.
Where to stay Pimalai Resort & Spahas double rooms from $265, including breakfast. Speedboat transfers take 90 minutes from Phuket’s Rassada Pier 4. See slh.com

Koh Lipe, Southern Andaman Sea

Best for Lazing on gorgeous beaches by day and stargazing by night.
Tell me more This boomerang-shaped island 800 kilometres from Bangkok is so far south it’s kissing Malaysia. Despite the far-flung location, tourism has started to take hold, with more than 100 guest houses and small resorts now peppering the four-square-kilometre island, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a little patch of paradise to call your own. Hike around the island to seek out mesmerising white sands and sparkling reefs teeming with tropical fish. Hop on a long-tail to explore the wonders of Koh Tarutao Marine Park, where dusky langurs, crab-eating macaques and Sunda slow lorises roam ancient forests and stingrays, carpet sharks and whale sharks patrol the waters.
When to visit Koh Lipe is open throughout the year; however, Tarutao Marine Park closes in the May-to-September monsoon season.
Where to stay Akira Beach Resort overlooks a strip of sand fronting the Andaman Sea, with rooms from $443. See akiralipe.com

Koh Samui, Gulf of Thailand

Best for Its slower pace, stellar sunsets and mix of buzzy bars and atmospheric beachside restaurants make it the ideal island for couples.
Tell me more Smaller than its rival Phuket, and more expensive to reach thanks to Bangkok Airways’ near-monopoly on flights to the island, Koh Samui has maintained a cheerful sense of community. Most resort towns – Bophut, Chaweng, Choeng Mon and Mae Nam – are on the east and north-east coasts. Here you’ll find the best beaches and lively after-dark restaurants and bars. More luxurious resorts, such as the Four Seasons Resort – famed as the backdrop to the third series of The White Lotus – and celebrity-frequented health retreat Kamalaya are hidden in the island’s quieter corners. There’s snorkelling on the coast, but to throw yourself properly into underwater action take a boat trip into Ang Thong National Marine Park, a pretty puzzle of 42 rainforest islands, resplendent coral reefs and turquoise lagoons.
When to visit Koh Samui usually experiences heavy rains in June and November but remains mainly bright and sunny with calm seas most of the year.
Where to stay The exclusive Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui has pool villas from $2506 including breakfast. See fourseasons.com

Phuket, Andaman Sea

Best for Plentiful beaches, endless activities and wide range of accommodation options make Phuket a sure bet for multigenerational groups.
Tell me more Blonde bombshell beaches, the ethereal green Andaman Sea, coral reefs and scattered jewel-like islands – there are plenty of reasons for Thailand’s biggest island also being its most popular. With 50 years of tourism under its belt, there’s something for everyone here, from beach clubs and party zones to wellness retreats and Muay Thai boxing schools, to elephant sanctuaries and Buddhist shrines, to water parks and the Peranakan-heritage Old Town. You’ll have your pick of places to stay, too: private villas, budget digs, family-friendly resorts, untra-rich hangouts. On the downside, much of the coast has been messily overdeveloped – Banana Beach, Laem Sing and Nai Harn are exceptions and prices tend to be higher than in the rest of the country.
When to visit December to March is the sunny high season, but you’ll find discounted deals on spa breaks over the rainy but still warm summer months.
Where to stay Pavilions Phuket has double rooms from $242, including breakfast. See pavilionshotels.com

Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai, Phang Nga Bay

Best for Nature lovers looking to slow their pulse to that of a Buddhist monk.
Tell me more These ravishing sister islands – Little Long Island and Big Long Island – amid Phang Nga Bay’s towering limestone sea stacks, almost halfway between Phuket and Krabi, feel a world away from the tourist throngs. The islands’ laid-back Muslim populations have kept development to a minimum, leaving a beautiful tangled mass of deep green jungle, shadowy rubber plantations and rickety fishing villages to explore. The creamy white beaches are beautiful to look at but tend to be tidal and not ideal for swimming, so book a hotel with a pool. Rare birds litter the islands, including the endangered hornbills that thrive in this area – you’ll hear them squawking before you spot their cartoonish yellow beaks. Hotels’ private boat transfers will b pricey, but there are also regular small ferry services from Bang Rong pier for less than $31 a head each way.
When to visit Protected by Phang Nga Bay, these islands have a slightly longer season than Phuket; sunseekers should visit between November and April.
Where to stay The luxury resort Six Senses Yao Noi has pool villas from $1130, including breakfast. See sixsenses.com

This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared in the Telegraph UK.

Five top tips for a perfect Thailand trip

Transport
Thailand’s taxi and tuk tuk drivers can be sharks; download Uber or Grab (South-East Asia’s most popular ride-hailing app) to skip the aggressive roadside haggling and avoid being ripped off.

Money
Credit cards are accepted in hotels, malls, convenience stores and on ride-hailing apps, but you’re going to need cash for everything else. ATMs charge a shocking THB220 ($9.85) for every withdrawal, so be sure to factor in the additional cost.

Beaches
Thailand’s famed beaches may look tranquil in photos – and even in person – but they can disguise dangerous currents and rips, particularly in the monsoon season. As in Australia, pay special attention to the beach flag warnings.

Crowds
China’s big national holidays attract an enormous number of visitors to Thailand, pushing up prices and often overwhelming attractions. Times to avoid include Lunar New Year, in January or February, and the early October Golden Week holiday.

Communications
Tourist SIM cards are available at airports, but it’s much cheaper to buy a local SIM with a month of unlimited data from one of the big three providers – AIS, TrueMove or DTAC. You’ll find branches on almost every corner.