7 Best Islands Near Koh Samui

Koh Wua Talap ("Sleeping Cow Island" in Thai), is home to the headquarters of Ang Thong National Marine Park. The island is the second-largest in the archipelago. It features basic infrastructures including bungalows, an information desk, a restaurant, a first aid centre, and a sea kayak rental desk.

Koh Wua Talap is on the circuit of most of the day trips in the marine park. Along with a lovely, clean beach, the island has a stunning coconut tree grove, lush vegetation, stunning viewpoints, and a nature trail to the Hua Boke cave under a mountain.

Koh Phangan is Thailand’s 5th largest island that's located just 12 km north of Koh Samui and is still barely developed. Ferries from the mainland and Samui are at hand to get there, leaving frequently throughout the morning and early afternoon. It features a hilly, lush tropical jungle interior, many idyllic, long white-sand beaches and over 20 nearby dive sites. 

Featuring a good choice of accommodation options for all budget types, Koh Phangan’s main claim to fame is largely due to its many full-moon, black moon and half-moon parties held on the beach of Haad Rin. The rugged, mountainous interior is also more dramatic than many other islands in Thailand.

Koh Tao (“Turtle Island” in Thai) lives up to its name, being one of the greatest scuba diving destinations in southern Thailand. The perfect white-sand beaches which ring the hilly 21-sq-km island are surrounded by the crystal-clear waters of the Gulf of Thailand.

The compact island is about 60 km to the north of Samui and was only really “discovered” in the early 1980s, but now supports a varied selection of hotels, from budget guesthouses and beach bungalows up to 5-star luxury resorts. So far from civilisation and while still being relatively easily reached, it is the idyllic tropical island paradise.

Koh Mae Koh (Mother Island) is situated just a kilometre north of Koh Wua Talap and is the second most-visited island in Angthong Marine National Park. It is especially famous for its 2 stunning viewpoints – most of the panoramic photos you see of the park are taken from them, and for its emerald lagoon named Talay Nai in Thai.

Talay Nai is a vivid green ‘small sea’ that contains seawater surrounded by limestone cliffs. It is connected to the sea by underground tunnels. The island features a cool beach bar, and kayaks are available for rent.

Koh Taen, a short 5 km boat ride from Samui's south coast, is often part of snorkelling and fishing day trips departing from Thong Krut. This small island of 7.5 sq km offers bungalow accommodation at hand, a couple of restaurants and a wooden walkway through a mangrove swamp.

The Koh Taen Conservation Society has erected helpful blue signs identifying plants and buildings of historical interest. Most of the day trips to Koh Taen also include neighbouring Koh Mudsum in their itineraries. It's also an interesting island to visit or stay on and it hosts 2 hotels.

Ang Thong National Marine Park is a pristine archipelago of 42 islands in the Gulf of Thailand. The islands feature towering limestone mountains, thick jungle, white-sand beaches, fertile mangroves, waterfalls and hidden coves and lakes to explore.

Within sight of Koh Samui, Ang Thong is a protected area of more than 100 sq km of land and sea and home to a rich variety of exotic wildlife and sea creatures. Snorkelling, hiking, sea kayaking, diving, sailing and simply relaxing on one of its idyllic beaches are the main activities to enjoy on Ang Thong.

Koh Mudsum and Koh Taen are small islands that often come together as a package, a short boat ride from Samui's south coast. Fishing or snorkelling are usually thrown in as part of the boat tour package, offered as a day trip by local tour companies and individuals. 

Koh Mudsum is basically one long beach that is unfortunately rather unkempt in places. There's also a dead reef directly offshore, which makes swimming tricky, and a pearl farm that's open to visitors.