The map at a glance
We do not reproduce any publisher or tourist office map: airports are listed below and every destination links to its own page.
| Zone | Towns and islands | Suggested base | Best season |
|---|---|---|---|
| South, Andaman coast (west) | Phuket, Khao Lak, Phang Nga, Krabi, Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe | Phuket or Krabi | November to April |
| South, Gulf of Thailand (east) | Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao | Koh Samui | roughly January to August |
| Centre | Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Pattaya, Koh Chang | Bangkok | November to February |
| North | Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pai | Chiang Mai | November to February |
Distances and travel times from Phuket
| Destination | Distance | Time | Best way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khao Lak | about 90 km | 1 h 15 to 1 h 45 | car or transfer |
| Phang Nga Bay | about 50 km to the piers | 1 h, then boat | speedboat tour |
| Phi Phi | about 48 km by sea | 1 h (speedboat) to 2 h (ferry) | see the Phuket - Phi Phi ferry |
| Krabi | about 165 km | 2 h 30 to 3 h | car, minibus or ferry |
| Khao Sok | about 170 to 190 km | 2 h 30 to 3 h | car or excursion |
| Koh Lanta | about 250 km | 4 h 30 to 5 h | minibus and ferry |
| Koh Samui | about 330 km as the crow flies | 6 to 8 h by road and ferry; about 1 h by direct flight | plane or bus and ferry |
| Bangkok | about 860 km | 12 to 14 h by road; about 1 h 30 by plane | plane |
The South from Phuket
Phuket is the gateway to the Andaman Sea. Three excursions come up everywhere: Phi Phi and Maya Bay, Phang Nga Bay and the Similan Islands (closed in summer). To sleep elsewhere, compare Phuket or Krabi. To the east, the Gulf islands (Samui, Phangan, Tao) are reached via Koh Samui or Koh Phangan: the season is shifted there, with less rain from January to August.
Airports
Phuket (HKT) handles international and domestic flights. Other useful gateways: Bangkok (BKK, Suvarnabhumi, and DMK, Don Mueang), Krabi (KBV), Koh Samui (USM), Chiang Mai (CNX). To leave Phuket airport, see Phuket airport and the beaches.
Sample itineraries
- 1 week: Phuket with Phi Phi and Phang Nga; see Phuket in 3 days.
- 2 weeks: Phuket, Khao Lak or Krabi, then Koh Lanta or Koh Lipe.
- 3 weeks: add Bangkok, Chiang Mai and a Gulf island.
Entry rules and season
Entering Thailand requires the digital arrival card: see TDAC. On the Andaman coast the monsoon brings waves and closes some excursions from May to October: see the best time to visit Phuket.
Going further
Power sockets: plugs and voltage in Thailand. To stay connected: eSIM in Thailand.
