Seven days on the Andaman coast — an island-hopper’s itinerary from Phuket to Koh Lipe

Itinerary · Andaman

The Andaman coast spans two of Thailand’s most-visited provinces. Our Phuket province guide covers the island’s distinct neighbourhoods, beaches, and Old Town beyond the resort strip — and our Krabi province guide goes deep on the archipelago, from Railay Beach to the quieter islands most itineraries skip.

Most first-timers do Phuket and call it the Andaman. They are wrong, and they know it by day three. The real coastline begins where the resort wristbands end — at the Rassada pier in old town Phuket, on a 7am ferry going south. Here is the week we wish we had planned the first time.

Days one and two — Koh Yao Yai

The largest island in Phang Nga Bay is the one tourists skip. Rent a scooter at the pier, ride the eastern coast road, and stop at any beach where you cannot see another foreigner. There will be several. Sleep at a fan-cooled bungalow on Loh Paret Bay; eat where the longtails come in.

Days three to seven — Krabi, Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe

Ferry south to Krabi for one night of provisions and a long shower. Three days on Lanta — south end, not north — then the speedboat across the Tarutao marine park to Koh Lipe for the last two nights. The crossing is rough between June and October. Plan accordingly, or plan elsewhere.

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Getting from Phuket to the islands

The ferry network on the Andaman coast runs on a seasonal schedule that changes significantly between November–April (calm seas, reliable crossings) and May–October (monsoon, reduced or suspended services on some routes). In high season, Rassada Pier in Phuket Town is the main hub: ferries depart daily to Koh Phi Phi (approximately 90 minutes), to Koh Lanta via Koh Phi Phi (around 3 hours total), and to the Koh Yao islands east of Phuket (45 minutes). Tigerline and Ao Nang Princess are the main operators on the Krabi–Lanta–Lipe corridor. Fares are 400–900 baht depending on route and season.

For the lower Andaman — Koh Mook, Koh Kradan, and Koh Lipe — ferries depart from Pak Bara pier in Satun province or from Trang’s Kantang pier. Koh Lipe is the furthest south (about 90 minutes from Pak Bara) and is reachable by speedboat or slower car ferry depending on sea conditions. From October to May, a through-service runs between Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe allowing the whole week-long itinerary to be done without retracing.

Koh Phi Phi: worth the crowds

Koh Phi Phi Don, the inhabited island (as distinct from Phi Phi Leh with its Maya Bay), divides opinion sharply. The main strip around Ton Sai Bay is genuinely crowded and commercially dense. But the viewpoint hike (40 minutes, steep, entirely worth it), the snorkelling off the east coast, and the overnight option of sleeping somewhere quiet on the north end of the island where the crowds don’t reach — these make it worth a night or two rather than the common day-trip. Koh Phi Phi Leh and Maya Bay are subject to periodic closures for environmental recovery; check current status before building your itinerary around them.

Koh Lanta: the best base

Koh Lanta Yai is the Andaman island that most people who’ve done this route wish they’d spent more time on. Long Pech Beach and Khlong Nin Beach on the west coast have the widest range of accommodation — from bamboo bungalows to small boutique resorts — and the road running the length of the island connects them without requiring a boat. The national park at the southern tip (closed June–October for nesting season) has one of the best snorkelling reefs accessible by longboat. Lanta Old Town on the east coast is a 200-year-old Chinese-Malay fishing community and deserves a half-day.

Koh Mook and the Trang islands

The Trang islands — Koh Mook, Koh Kradan, Koh Ngai, and Koh Libong — are the section of this itinerary most likely to be cut for time and most regretted when cut. Koh Mook’s Emerald Cave (Tham Morakot) is a sea cave accessible only by swimming through a dark 80-metre tunnel at low tide; the lagoon inside, completely enclosed by limestone, is extraordinary. Koh Kradan has what many experienced Andaman travellers consider the best house reef snorkelling in the whole region, with strong populations of sea turtles. Accommodation on both islands is simple — beach bungalows, family-run guesthouses — and significantly cheaper than Phi Phi or Lanta.

Koh Lipe: the end of the line

Koh Lipe is an anomaly — a tiny island with 27 beaches, a walking street of restaurants and dive shops, and a border checkpoint for boats crossing to Malaysia’s Langkawi. It has grown rapidly from a backpacker outpost to a mid-range resort island but retains a sense of manageable scale. Walking Street connects the main beaches in about 15 minutes; there are no cars on the island. The snorkelling off Sunrise Beach is reliable year-round in high season, and the dive sites in the surrounding Tarutao Marine National Park — Stonehenge, Eight Mile Rock — are among the best in Thailand for soft corals. Most visitors fly out from Hat Yai (90 minutes by road from Pak Bara) or connect onward to Langkawi.

Practical notes for the route

Book ferry connections at least 24 hours in advance in peak season (December–February). Island guesthouses fill up quickly during Thai New Year (Songkran, mid-April) and Christmas–New Year — book a month ahead for those periods. Pack light: moving between islands is significantly easier with a backpack than a wheeled suitcase. Most piers have left-luggage storage if you need to drop bags before a day trip. Sunscreen, a dry bag for electronics, and reef-safe products (requested at several marine parks) are worth packing from Bangkok rather than buying on the islands where selection is limited and prices higher.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time to visit the Andaman coast? November to April is high season — calm seas, reliable ferries, and clear visibility for snorkelling. May to October is monsoon season; many resorts close and ferry services are reduced. Phuket and Krabi remain open year-round but the southern islands are best avoided outside high season.

Can I do this itinerary in one direction, ending in Malaysia? Yes — Koh Lipe has regular boat connections to Langkawi, Malaysia, making this a natural end point for a one-way journey. A ferry from Koh Lipe to Langkawi takes approximately 1.5 hours and runs from October to April.

Is Maya Bay open? Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi Leh has been subject to closures and restricted access since 2018. Check current opening status with the Department of National Parks before your trip — access rules change seasonally.

Frequently Asked Questions