Everyone loves Thailand and it’s definitely one of our favourite countries, we’ve visited it a lot! It has great beaches with clear water and white sand, amazing nature with waterfalls and tropical forests and a rich culture. It’s a very popular destination and tourist hotspots such as Bangkok, Phuket and Phi Phi Islands can get really crowded. We know some hidden gems in Thailand that haven’t been impacted as much by mass tourism, so we would recommend getting there before everyone else. If it’s your first time in Thailand, we have a guide of Best Places to Visit in Thailand for First Timers.
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Koh Kood
Are you looking for a tropical paradise island with empty beaches and turquoise water? Then Koh Kood is definitely the place! It’s the fourth biggest island in Thailand but nowhere as touristy as Koh Samui or Koh Pha Ngan.
Transport, Accommodation & Food in Koh Kood
It’s also within easy reach from Bangkok. You can get there within 6-7 hours by taking a bus to Koh Chang or Trat and then an hour ferry. We booked from a local travel agent but you can also do it online on 12GoAsia and the transfer will cost you around £24. You can also fly to Trat airport from Bangkok if you are short on time and then take the ferry.
There are plenty of accommodation options on the island that offer a decent standard for an affordable price. You can stay in a beachfront resort or opt for a homestay depending on your budget. We stayed in a place called Baan Sangchan and paid £25 per night. The place is around a 25 minute walk away from the main beach which is fine during the day but we wouldn’t recommend it in the evening as the roads are not lit up. We rented a motorbike which was less than £5 per day and we recommend this as a way of getting around the island.
When in Koh Kood we would recommend trying local food at KMONLOS restaurant. We had Massaman curry there and it was one of the best meals we had in Thailand. There are also options to grab western style breakfast and cakes on the Island.
Things to Do in Koh Kood
Koh Kood has plenty of picture perfect remote beaches you can get to easily by motorbike and you will have most of the beach to yourself on some of them! Khlong Han located in the north was definitely our favourite. It’s truly the definition of paradise, with fine white sand and crystal clear blue water. There are also plenty of palm trees providing shade and swings to sit on. We would also recommend visiting Bang Bao Bay. It’s a great spot for snorkelling just off the beach shore. The water is really calm, making it a perfect spot for swimming. If you want to spend more time relaxing we recommend getting a drink at Koh Kood Resort.
The island also has more to offer than just beaches. You can drive through the jungle and local villages to explore more. Just watch out for monkeys on the road! There are plenty of waterfalls you can visit, we recommend seeing Khlong Chao Waterfall. You will walk through a small forest to get to the falls but it’s pretty easy and it takes around 10 minutes.
Koh Mook
Koh Mook (or Koh Muk depending how you spell it) is located in the Southern part of Thailand by the Andaman sea. It has great beaches, a chilled out vibe and you can visit amazing sea caves making it one of the hidden gems in Thailand.
Transport, Accommodation & Food in Koh Mook
Getting to the island is pretty straightforward. Island hopping in the south of Thailand is a great option and Koh Mook should be one of your stops. If you’re coming from Koh Lanta the ferry would take 1 hour and costs around £20. If you’re making your journey from Koh Lipe it would take around 2 hours and you can expect to pay around £30. You can also fly to Trang airport and book a combined bus and boat transfer on 12GoAsia to reach the island. Bring cash to the island to cover your stay! There is one ATM by Koh Mook Supermart but it takes high commission and it’s not reliable.
There are plenty of accommodation options on the island. We stayed in a basic bungalow for £15 per night at Koh Mook Sea View Bungalow. If you’re after somewhere more luxurious you can stay at Koh Mook Sivalai Beach Resort but the prices are over £100 a night in high season.
The island has a great local feel and laid-back vibe. The main street in the village has some independent restaurants with Miss Island being our favourite. They serve delicious and fresh food and have plenty of vegetarian options. You have a great choice from authentic Thai dishes, comforting western options (we had a great vegan burger there) and on-site bakery. We recommend getting their banana muffins for breakfast, they cost less than £1 each.
Things to Do in Koh Mook
The beaches on the island are very peaceful and you will have plenty of space there for yourself. You can walk to Sivalai Beach from the village. It has beautiful white sand, clear water and it’s surrounded by nature. Charlie Beach should also be on your list. It’s surrounded by limestone cliffs and it’s a great place to watch the sunset. It’s located on the opposite side of the island but you can walk there within 30 minutes or there are tuk-tuk drivers by the pier that can take you there for around £2 per person one way. While there you can use sunbeds if you get a drink from Mong Bar. The shakes there were great and they cost less than £2.
Emerald Cave Boat Trip from Koh Mook
We loved relaxing on the beaches and sometimes were lucky enough to have them to ourselves, but our favourite thing was taking a trip to Emerald Cave. You can rent a kayak and get there from Charlie Beach but we wouldn’t recommend it as you can’t kayak through the cave.
We therefore decided to hire a longtail boat to take us to Emerald Cave. We booked the tour from a local agent on the main street. It was well worth it as we paid £30 for the both of us and that included snorkelling stops and visiting Koh Kradan – another small island.
When visiting Emerald Cave you will swim through a narrow dark passage (with a headtorch on) to get to a secret beach with pristine sand and turquoise water, that is surrounded by limestone cliffs. It’s definitely worth the swim as you get a feeling that you’re on a desert island. We recommend getting there early to beat the tours coming from Koh Lanta and other islands.
We also loved snorkelling off the boat. They took us to some secret spots with well-preserved coral where we saw incredible marine life and had all the space to ourselves. They dropped us off at Koh Kradan for 1 hour, where we did more snorkelling there just off the shore and chilled on the beach. Koh Kradan must have some of the clearest water and the whitest sand we saw in Thailand and the competition is high.
Pai
Everyone knows Chiang Mai but less than 4 hours away from there you can find the chilled village of Pai. It’s definitely gaining popularity so we would recommend visiting it before it gets too crowded. Pai has a great relaxed atmosphere with amazing nature surrounding it.
Transport, Accommodation & Food in Pai
There are plenty of minivans that can take you from Chiang Mai to Pai for less than £10. However, there are safety concerns over them as accidents are common due to the winding and bumpy roads. We saw an accident ourselves and that made us think that getting a private car is a better option as it’s not going to cost you that much more, especially if you share the price with other travellers. We took a car on the way back and paid less than £20 each based on 3 people sharing.
There are plenty of affordable accommodation options. We stayed in 17stories which cost £25 per night. It was a little bit out of the centre but we rented a motorbike to move around. We would definitely recommend considering a motorbike in Pai as there are plenty of nature spots you can see and you can stop whenever you want. The nature surrounding Pai is great and you can really feel like you escaped the hustle and bustle of daily life.
Pai has a fantastic walking street with a night market where you can get plenty of delicious food. You will need to try Khao Soi when in the region – it’s a noodle soup in curry broth. For restaurant choices we recommend Charlie and Lek Health Restaurant for affordable local dishes and Ganita Cafe if you’d like to grab some western options.
Things to Do in Pai
Our highlight was the Bamboo Bridge and all the scenery on the way there. Just a warning – the roads are pretty bad so if you’re not comfortable on a motorbike then take a taxi or a tour. You need to pay THB30 (less than £1) for the entrance to Bamboo Bridge. It’s about 800 meters long and it was built as a way for monks to walk from the temple to the main village. The views of the mountains nearby are amazing and the atmosphere is very peaceful. You will be surrounded by rice fields and forests. You can also see a temple there called Wat Phaem Bok.
On the way to Bamboo Bridge we stopped in a place called Coffee View, which was a great spot to relax and admire the views. You can also stop off at Pam Bok Waterfall. It’s fairly small and you pay to walk up to it but we were able to see it well enough from the parking lot.
We also went to Pai Canyon which is a free attraction and it offers great views over the valleys, especially at sunset. Yun Lai viewpoint was another highlight of our trip. You will get a great panoramic view of mountains and farmlands that surround the area. You can even stay there for the night as there are tents and bungalows to rent at the top. It would be an amazing experience to wake up there for the sunrise.
Koh Mak
Koh Mak is a peaceful island in the Gulf of Thailand, known for its pristine beaches and serene atmosphere. It remained mainly unaffected by mass tourism preserving its natural beauty and peaceful environment. That makes it one of the hidden gems in Thailand for a relaxing holiday away from the crowds.
Transport, Accommodation & Food in Koh Mak
Koh Mak is located just south of Koh Chang and the boat ride from there takes around 45 minutes. You can book tickets directly with local travel agents or again on 12GoAsia. We paid around £13 including a taxi to the pier from Koh Chang. If you’re coming from Bangkok you can reach the island in less than 7 hours. You will need to book a combined van and ferry transfer that will cost around £25. There is also an option to fly to Trat airport and get a 45 minutes ferry from there.
The island offers a wide range of accommodation, from budget-friendly beach huts to luxury resorts. We can personally recommend Koh Mak Living. We paid £30 per night for a clean and comfortable bungalow. The location is very convenient to get to the main village and the beach. We also stayed in Miss You Beach Resort for £20 per night which is right on the beachfront. There are plenty of hammocks and comfy seats if you want to chill on the beach.
While on Koh Mak we recommend going for an evening drink in Head in the Clouds bar. Definitely choose a spot upstairs, there are comfy bean bags to sit on and it’s a great place to watch the sunset. You can also grab a great meal there for around £4-5 per person. There are definitely cheaper spots on the island though, for example The Chill Restaurant where a meal will cost you as cheap as £2.
Things to Do in Koh Mak
Ao Kao Beach is a great place to relax and it’s located conveniently on the main side of the island. It has maintained its natural charm providing a tranquil escape. However, the best beach on the island is Ao Soun Yai Beach that gives you a proper feeling that you have landed in paradise. There are resorts around it if you want to stay directly there or you can reach it within a 20 minutes walk through the local village. The beach has a long stretch of white sand, plenty of palm trees and clear water.
Our highlight was a day trip to Koh Kham. You can either kayak there from Ao Soun Yai or get a motorboat which will cost you around £10 return including the entrance fee to the island. The little island wasn’t busy at all and we had plenty of space to chill on the beach and snorkel. The coral there is really rich and you can see a lot of colourful fish as well as sea urchins! There is also a little beach shack where you can get a refreshing drink.
Koh Larn
Koh Larn is a small island known for its crystal clear waters, soft sandy beaches, and a relaxed atmosphere that feels far away. It is less popular with foreign tourists, however locals like to go so we would avoid the weekend if you can to beat the crowds.
Transport & Accommodation in Koh Larn
Koh Larn is located just off the coast of Pattaya which makes it really easy to get to when you land in Bangkok. You can get a minivan from Bangkok to Pattaya, then easily take a ferry from the pier. The slow ferry takes around 1 hour and costs less than £1. You can also get a speedboat which will get you there within 20 minutes and you can expect to pay around £6.
The area around the pier is well developed with decent roads and a 7-eleven supermarket. To get around the island you can either rent a scooter or local songtaews are frequent and very affordable . A one way journey will cost you less than £2.
Of course, you can stay in Pattaya and visit Koh Larn for a day trip, but if you’re looking to experience authentic hidden gems in Thailand we’d recommend staying on the island. Koh Larn offers great options for affordable accommodation.
Things to Do in Koh Larn
Koh Larn literally means coral island and that’s definitely true. There are plenty of spots to snorkel directly off the beach and the marine life is very diverse. Nual Beach is stunning and you really don’t have to swim far from the shore to see a variety of colourful fish. You can also see monkeys that tend to hang out by the cliffs at the far end of the beach. Tien Beach is another great option. It’s smaller, making it very relaxing to chill there and enjoy the sunshine.
We hope our guide has helped you discover some hidden gems in Thailand ready for your next adventure! Want more hidden gems in Thailand? We have a full guide on Koh Yao Yai’s Best Beaches for you.
