Thailand Island Hopping – West Coast (Self-Guided)

Arrive into Suvarnabhumi (BKK) or Don Mueang (DMK) airport at any time. Take the Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link into central Bangkok (~£1.50) or a shared minibus (~£5). Check into a hostel or budget guesthouse in the Silom, Sukhumvit, or Khao San Road area. Spend the evening exploring street food stalls and familiarising yourself with the city. Don't forget: all travellers entering Thailand must complete the Thailand E-Arrival form at least 3 days before arrival.

🚌Airport Rail Link from Suvarnabhumi to Phaya Thai station (~£1.50, 30 mins) or shared minibus (~£5)

🛏Lub d Bangkok Silom or Nap Pak Hostel Khao San Road — dorm from ~£8/night, private from ~£18/night

• →Complete Thailand E-Arrival form before departure (mandatory, free)
• →Arrive and transfer to central Bangkok via Airport Rail Link (~£1.50) or shared minibus (~£5)
• →Check in to hostel in Silom, Sukhumvit, or Khao San Road area
• →Explore nearby street food markets for dinner

Take an early morning flight from Bangkok (Don Mueang) to Trang Airport — book ahead with AirAsia or Nok Air for the best fares (~£35–50 one way). From Trang Airport, take a shared songthaew or minibus to Pak Meng or Kuan Tung Ku pier (~£5–8). Board a public longtail boat or speedboat ferry to Ko Ngai (~£8–12). Check into your beachside guesthouse and spend the afternoon snorkelling directly off the beach or exploring the island on foot.

🚌Flight Bangkok DMK → Trang (~£35–50). Minibus to pier (~£5–8). Longtail/speedboat to Ko Ngai (~£8–12)

🛏Ko Ngai Fantasy Resort or Coco Cottage — budget bungalow from ~£18–25/night

• →Fly Bangkok Don Mueang to Trang with AirAsia or Nok Air (~£35–50, book in advance)
• →Shared minibus from Trang Airport to Pak Meng Pier (~£5–8)
• →Ferry to Ko Ngai (~£8–12, ~45 mins)
• →Afternoon snorkelling off Ko Ngai beach (free or ~£5 for mask hire)
• →Sunset walk along the beach

Book a local snorkelling day trip from Ko Ngai — these depart daily and can be arranged directly at your guesthouse or at the pier (~£20–28 per person). The trip typically visits Ko Chueak for snorkelling among colourful coral and fish, Ko Kradan's crystal-clear shallows, and the unmissable Emerald Cave (Tham Morakot) on Ko Mook — a sea cave you swim through in darkness to emerge in a hidden beach lagoon. One of Thailand's most magical experiences. Return to Ko Ngai for the evening.

🚌Longtail/speedboat day trip from Ko Ngai pier (included in tour cost ~£20–28)

🛏Ko Ngai Fantasy Resort or Coco Cottage — budget bungalow from ~£18–25/night

• →Book local snorkelling day tour at your guesthouse or pier (~£20–28pp) visiting Ko Chueak, Ko Kradan, and Emerald Cave on Ko Mook
• →Swim through Tham Morakot (Emerald Cave) to the hidden beach inside
• →Snorkel among coral reefs at Ko Chueak
• →Relax on Ko Kradan's white sand beach
• →Evening at leisure on Ko Ngai

Catch the morning public speedboat or ferry from Ko Ngai to Ko Lanta (~£10–15, roughly 1–1.5 hours via Pak Meng or direct). Ferries run seasonally — check times at your guesthouse the night before. Arrive at Ban Saladan pier, Ko Lanta's main village, and grab a motorbike taxi or hire a scooter (~£8/day) to explore. Check into a beachfront guesthouse on Long Beach (Hat Khlong Dao) or Klong Khong Beach. In the evening, head to your accommodation's beachside restaurant for a seafood dinner — this replicates the included group dinner on the original tour.

🚌Public speedboat/ferry Ko Ngai → Ko Lanta (~£10–15). Scooter hire (~£8/day).

🛏Lanta Casuarina Beach Resort or Where Else? Ko Lanta — budget bungalow from ~£15–22/night

• →Morning public speedboat/ferry from Ko Ngai to Ko Lanta (~£10–15)
• →Hire a scooter at Ban Saladan pier (~£8/day) to explore the island
• →Check in to beachfront guesthouse on Hat Khlong Dao or Klong Khong
• →Free afternoon — swim, relax, explore old town Ko Lanta
• →Beachside seafood dinner at your guesthouse or a local restaurant (~£8–12)

A full free day to enjoy Ko Lanta at your own pace. The island is long and varied — explore the jungle interior, visit Ko Lanta Old Town (a charming stilted wooden fishing village), or head to the quieter southern beaches. Optionally, book a day trip to Ko Rok (also written Koh Rok), a pair of uninhabited national park islands famed for their crystal clear water and vibrant coral — trips available from ~£28–35pp booked locally at the pier or via GetYourGuide. Alternatively, rent a kayak (~£8/half day) or just read a book on the beach.

🚌Scooter hire retained from Day 4 (~£8/day). Day trip boat transfers included in Ko Rok tour cost.

🛏Lanta Casuarina Beach Resort or Where Else? Ko Lanta — budget bungalow from ~£15–22/night

• →Optional: Ko Rok island day trip — book locally at Ban Saladan pier or via GetYourGuide (~£28–35pp, includes snorkelling, lunch, national park fee)
• →Alternative: Visit Ko Lanta Old Town — free to explore, stilt houses, local coffee shops, Muslim fishing village charm
• →Kayak hire from your beach (~£8/half day)
• →Explore the southern tip of the island by scooter — viewpoints, jungle trails
• →Sunset cocktails on the beach

Take the morning public ferry from Ko Lanta to Krabi Town (~£8–12, ~1.5 hours), then a local songthaew or minibus from Krabi Town to Ao Nang (~£2–3, 20 mins). Alternatively, book a direct minivan transfer (~£8–10). Check into an Ao Nang guesthouse and spend the afternoon exploring the beachside strip or taking a longtail boat to the iconic Railay Beach (~£4 return, 10 mins from Ao Nang pier) — inaccessible by road and surrounded by dramatic limestone cliffs. Optional: kayaking tours available along the Krabi coastline (~£18–25pp, bookable via Klook or locally).

🚌Ferry Ko Lanta → Krabi Town (~£8–12). Songthaew to Ao Nang (~£2–3). Longtail to Railay (~£4 return).

🛏Ao Nang Buri Resort or Pak-Up Hostel Krabi — budget room from ~£15–25/night

• →Morning ferry Ko Lanta → Krabi Town (~£8–12, ~1.5 hrs)
• →Songthaew or minibus Krabi Town → Ao Nang (~£2–3)
• →Check in and explore Ao Nang beach and town
• →Longtail boat to Railay Beach (~£4 return, 10 mins) — stunning limestone cliffs, rock climbing, hidden caves
• →Optional: kayaking tour along Krabi coastline (~£18–25pp via Klook or local operator)
• →Optional: rock climbing introduction session at Railay (~£30–40pp)

A packed optional day — Ao Nang is an adventure hub. The headline experience is the Phi Phi Islands speedboat day trip (~£38–45pp), bookable via GetYourGuide, Klook, or directly at Ao Nang pier. It visits Maya Bay (The Beach), Monkey Beach, Loh Samah Bay for snorkelling, and Viking Cave — departures are plentiful. Alternatively or additionally: rent a kayak and paddle the mangroves and limestone karsts (~£15–20 half day), join a whitewater rafting trip on the Krabi River (~£25–30pp), or hike the Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea) — 1,237 steps to panoramic views of Krabi, free entry.

🚌Speedboat transfers included in Phi Phi tour cost. Local tuk-tuk to Tiger Cave Temple (~£3 each way).

🛏Ao Nang Buri Resort or Pak-Up Hostel Krabi — budget room from ~£15–25/night

• →Option A: Phi Phi Islands speedboat day tour (~£38–45pp via GetYourGuide/Klook or pier booking) — visits Maya Bay, Monkey Beach, Loh Samah Bay snorkelling, Viking Cave
• →Option B: Sea kayaking mangroves and limestone karsts (~£15–20 half day, local hire)
• →Option C: Whitewater rafting on Krabi River (~£25–30pp, bookable locally)
• →Option D: Hike Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Suea) — 1,237 steps, panoramic views, free entry
• →Evening: final beachside dinner in Ao Nang

Transfer to Krabi International Airport (KBV) for your return flight to Bangkok — shared minibus from Ao Nang to Krabi Airport takes ~45 mins (~£5–8). Fly back to Bangkok with AirAsia or Nok Air (~£30–45). Note: the G Adventures itinerary ends in Bangkok, so if you're flying home from Bangkok, factor in connection time. Your return flight should depart Bangkok no earlier than 15:00. Alternatively, if flying directly home from Krabi, international connections are available. Allow time to complete any remaining souvenir shopping at Ao Nang before departure.

🚌Shared minibus Ao Nang → Krabi Airport (~£5–8). Flight Krabi → Bangkok (~£30–45).

🛏N/A – departure day

• →Morning breakfast and final stroll on Ao Nang beach
• →Shared minibus transfer Ao Nang → Krabi Airport (~£5–8, ~45 mins)
• →Return flight Krabi → Bangkok (~£30–45 with AirAsia/Nok Air)
• →Alternatively: fly home directly from Krabi International Airport