TRAVELThailand Has Islands Most Tourists Never Find8 min read

Ko Kradan — Where Roads Don’t Exist

Ko Kradan sits in Trang province and the Thai tourist board has named it one of the country’s most beautiful islands. What makes it stand apart is the complete absence of roads or villages. The island is essentially a string of beach resorts on one side, with Hat Chao Mai National Park blanketing everything else. The main beach delivers a long stretch of powdery white sand against deep blue water, with limestone karsts rising in the distance and a coral reef just offshore. Activities are deliberately scarce — that’s the point. Visitors come to sunbathe, sip cocktails, and kayak around the island’s perimeter. In the evenings, a forest path leads to Chonglom Bay Beach, where the sunsets rank among the best in southern Thailand. For travelers who find most Thai islands too commercial, Ko Kradan answers that complaint directly.

Ko Phayam — No Cars, No Cell Signal

Despite being the second-largest island in the Andaman Sea, Ko Phayam has largely avoided the tourist overload that affects many Thai islands. There are no cars here, cell reception is limited, and the permanent population sits just above 500. A 45-minute speedboat from the port town of Ranong puts it within practical reach of Bangkok, yet it feels genuinely remote. The island splits its character between two main beaches: Aow Yai handles the action — boogie boarding, surfing — while Aow Khao Kwai (Buffalo Bay) is quieter, edged by mangroves and dramatic rock formations. Beyond the beaches, Ko Phayam supports hiking, biking, yoga, diving, and dusty scooter trails. The local food scene punches well above its weight, particularly for vegetarians, which surprises most first-time visitors.