{"id":98373,"date":"2016-02-17T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-02-17T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelstartblg.wpenginepowered.com\/thailand-island-hopping\/"},"modified":"2025-11-04T13:53:16","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T13:53:16","slug":"thailand-island-hopping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/thailand-island-hopping\/","title":{"rendered":"The Beginner’s Guide To Thai(sland) Hopping"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is a guest article for the Travelstart Blog by Rob Christian. Rob loves chocolate, lives at CN&CO<\/a>, works at life, always up for a cheeky drink. But only if it’s cheeky. Part of the MAD2Run-Joburg to Cape Town 2016 team.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Thailand as a holiday destination has long been a firm favourite for South Africans of all ages, with its popularity having increased significantly over the past decade. There are many reasons that contribute to Thailand\u2019s appeal: the beaches<\/a>, the nightlife, and the affordability<\/a> aspect, plus it’s visa free<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Thailand really has so much to offer the holiday-goer. That said, how do you know where to start when planning your Thailand trip? Here\u2019s a handy Thai island hopping guide to the beautiful Southeast Asia<\/a> holiday destination.<\/p>\n

When it comes to the coast two of the main areas most popular among travellers are:<\/p>\n

The Gulf of Thailand<\/strong>
\nThe Andaman Sea<\/a><\/p>\n

Both of these areas offer the option to hop around to some spectacular islands, and since there are regular ferries operating every day, it is a very appealing and affordable option for economical travellers and backpackers.<\/p>\n

The Gulf of Thailand<\/h2>\n

\"thailand\"<\/p>\n

A rather large Gulf comprising many islands <\/a>(bordering the South of Thailand), the three main islands that feature on most tourist\u2019s must-visit destinations are: Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Pha Ngan. The word \u201ckoh\u201d translates into \u201cisland\u201d and in this context, it introduces the name of each island in the Gulf.<\/p>\n

Koh Samui<\/h2>\n

Koh Samui<\/a> is by far the largest island out of the three and is a central point for travelling to the other two. As the second largest island in Thailand (after Phuket) you will find sandy beaches, coral reefs, coconut trees and tourist resources in abundance across the island.<\/p>\n

Koh Tao<\/h2>\n

\"turtle\"
\nKoh Tao<\/a> (which translates into \u201cTurtle Island\u201d due to its turtle outline and shape) is a mecca for scuba diving and snorkelling. When compared to the other two main islands, this island is a lot more rustic and tucked away in the gulf. Covering an area of about 21km\u00b2, it is pretty easy to get around the entire island in one day, especially if you rent a scooter. Koh Tao is less developed than Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan, but has become increasingly popular especially with the mid-20s backpacker crowd in search of relatively inexpensive scuba diving certification. While the main focus is diving due to the abundant fish life and close proximity of dive sites to the island (you can get to two dive sites in about 40 minutes) there is also some jungle hiking to be done in exploring the eastern side of the island, which is far less open to development due to the sloping geography. For those wishing to take part in a traditional Muay Thai<\/a> <\/a>(Thai kickboxing) lesson, this is easily arranged and you will soon learn how hard it is to train in tropical heat.<\/p>\n

Koh Pha Ngan<\/h2>\n

Koh Pha Ngan is a popular destination for backpackers and partygoers. Probably most famous for their Full Moon Party<\/a>, a monthly dance music festival set on Haad Rin Nok Beach which is scheduled every month at full moon. The event primarily features electronic music and attracts around 30,000 party-goers in a normal month who enjoy the tropical beach, party atmosphere and beach buckets filled with booze.<\/p>\n

Also read:<\/strong><\/p>\n