Boat and Ferries
There are over 1,000 islands and islets scattered along Thailand’s extensive coastline, both off the coasts on Andaman Sea and within the Gulf of Thailand. Some of them are simple rocky outcrops that just protrude above sea surface, few are quite large, most are small to medium in size and few of them are inhabited. Formerly most of Thailand's islands were uninhabited, apart from some communities of sea gypsies, also known as Chao Ley. In last decades many have been developed for tourism, however, less than 10% of them have resident population throughout the year. Phuket is Thailand's main island, the largest by extension, the most developed and the only one connected to the mainland by Sarasin Bridge; Koh Chang is the second largest and Koh Samui is the third by extension. Phuket and Koh Samui are the only ones with their airports. These large islands and the other with resident population are connected to the mainland by regular ferry services all the year round, which allow easy movement to locals and tourists, contributing over the last years at their tourism development. Thailand has three main areas where the islands are spread: the area on Andaman Sea off western coast, where lie Phuket, Phi Phi Islands, Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe; the southern Gulf of Thailand where are placed Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Pha Ngan; and the eastern Golf of Thailand, between Bangkok and the Cambodian border, where lie Koh Samet, Koh Chang, Koh Mak and Koh Kood. In the our web pages dedicated to Boat & Ferry listed below, we have done our best to give to you most information possible about the main piers, schedules and fares of each island connected to mainland by regular ferry services.
Please note: Schedules and fares are subject to change without prior notice, seasonally prices are lowered or raised, the routes are reduced or deleted.
