The Andaman coast is a tropical patchwork of islands, limestone karsts, white sand beaches, and party towns. It stretches from the Malaysian border up through Phuket and Krabi, with a cluster of islands between them that each has a distinct character. Here's how to plan your way through it.
Best time to visit
November to April for the best weather — dry season, calm seas, clear water for snorkelling and diving. May to October is monsoon season: rougher seas, fewer boat services, and reduced visibility underwater. If you're planning around island-hopping or diving, stick to dry season.
How to get around
The Andaman coast runs from south to north, and most people start by flying into Phuket or Krabi. Inter-island ferries link the major destinations — book transfers in advance during high season (December to February) when ferries fill up. Long-tail boats are available for private island tours and shorter hops.
Ko Lanta
Ko Lanta is the quietest of the main Andaman islands — more village, less resort complex. The west coast beaches are long and good for sunsets. The pace is slower than Phi Phi or Phuket; it attracts people who want a few days of beach time without the party atmosphere. Three nights here is comfortable. December and January are the peak months when the island feels most alive; come in March or April if you want even more space.
The national park at the southern tip of the island is worth a half-day trip — mangroves, caves, and a viewpoint over the surrounding islands.
Ao Nang
Ao Nang is the mainland base for the Krabi area — a small beach town that gives you ferry access to the limestone islands nearby (Railay Beach, the Phi Phi Islands). It's more commercialised than Ko Lanta and less dramatically beautiful than Phi Phi, but it's logistically useful as a hub. Sunset viewpoints above the town are worth the walk in the evening.
Phi Phi
Despite everything you've heard about crowds, Phi Phi is genuinely beautiful. The limestone formations rising out of turquoise water are as striking in person as they look in photos. The trick is to get onto the water early — hire a private long-tail boat for a morning and you can reach bays and beaches that the large tour boats don't reach before the groups arrive.
Phi Phi Don is the inhabited island with accommodation and nightlife; Phi Phi Leh is uninhabited and where the famous Maya Bay sits (from The Beach). Maya Bay has a recovery plan in place with managed visitor access — check the current rules before visiting.
Three nights on Phi Phi gives you time to explore without feeling rushed.
Ko Yao Yai
For a quieter alternative to the main party islands, Ko Yao Yai sits in the middle of Phang Nga Bay and feels noticeably more rural. Rubber plantations, fishing villages, mangrove kayaking. It works best as a one or two-night addition to a longer Andaman itinerary — a reset day between busier stops. Prices are higher than you'd expect for the level of development, which reflects the scarcity of options rather than the quality.
Phuket / Patong
Patong is what it is: a large beach resort town with the full range of nightlife that implies. Bangla Road is the main entertainment strip — if that's what you're looking for, it delivers. If it isn't, Phuket has calmer beaches elsewhere — head south to Kata or Karon, or to the quieter bays on the island's west coast.
Phuket Town itself (away from the beach resorts) has a genuinely interesting old town area with Sino-Portuguese architecture, good coffee shops, and food that's significantly better than anything on the Patong strip.
Practical tips
- Carry cash on smaller islands — ATMs are scarce and card machines often unreliable
- Check sea conditions before booking transfers; even in dry season, weather can change quickly
- Bring reef-safe sunscreen — standard sunscreen damages coral reefs and is increasingly restricted at marine parks
- Insect repellent is essential, especially at dawn and dusk
- Dress modestly when visiting temples and local villages
- Download offline maps before leaving mobile signal behind