This route is all about swimmable water, postcard beaches, and easy ferry hops—with one optional “wow” day for the Similans if you’re traveling in-season.
Day 1 — Arrive Bangkok → Fly to Phuket
- Check in, grab a sunset dinner, and keep the night easy (you’ll thank yourself tomorrow).
Day 2 — Phuket beach day + optional Similan planning
Pick your flavor:
- Pure beach day (Kata/Karon-style chill), or
- Book a Similan Islands day trip if you’re traveling during the open season.
Similan note: Mu Ko Similan National Park is seasonal—open roughly Oct 15–May 15 (example: Oct 15, 2025 through May 15, 2026).
Day 3 — Ferry/speedboat to Phi Phi
- Afternoon: settle in + snorkel/kayak
- Sunset: Phi Phi viewpoint (classic for a reason)
Day 4 — Phi Phi → Krabi (Ao Nang/Railay)
- Morning: island cruise vibes (Pileh Lagoon / viewpoints / snorkel)
- Afternoon: ferry onward to Krabi area
- Evening: Railay/Ao Nang beachfront dinner
Maya Bay heads-up: it has had seasonal conservation closures (Aug–Sep) in recent years—so if it’s on your must-do list, double-check current access rules when you book. Smarten Plus
Day 5 — Krabi → Koh Lanta
- Koh Lanta is where the trip gets deliciously slow: long beaches, fewer crowds, golden sunsets.
- Night: low-key beach bars (more “toes in sand” than “all-night rave”)
Day 6 — Koh Lanta best-beach day
Choose one:
- Koh Rok / Koh Haa snorkel day (reef-y water, gorgeous visibility)
- Or a “do nothing” day: Long Beach → Kantiang Bay → sunset drink
(High-season boats often connect Lanta ↔ Phi Phi and nearby islands; schedules can be seasonal.) Koh Lipe Island
Day 7 — Koh Lanta → Krabi/Phuket → Fly out
- Build buffer time for boat schedules, then fly onward.
Optional swap if you’re obsessed with remote beaches: Koh Lipe is stunning, but it’s best as its own mini-trip because transfers are longer and more seasonal (boats commonly run mid-Oct through May). Ploysiam Speedboat
Alternate 7-day itinerary #2: Nightlife-First (Gulf: Koh Samui → Koh Pha-ngan → Koh Tao day trip)
This is the “sunset beach days + big nights” plan—built around Full Moon Party and Samui’s nightlife hubs.
Day 1 — Arrive Bangkok → Bangkok night
- Street food + rooftop vibes + early-ish sleep.
Day 2 — Fly to Koh Samui (base yourself near Chaweng)
- Day: beach + pool recovery from travel
- Night: Chaweng area is the classic “easy nightlife” zone
Day 3 — Samui: warm-up night + optional ethical elephant visit
- Day option: Samui Elephant Sanctuary (ethical, no-riding style visits). samuisanctuary
- Night: Fisherman’s Village / beach bars / night markets, then don’t stay out too late…
Day 4 — Ferry to Koh Pha-ngan (Haad Rin area if partying)
- Sunset dinner, hydrate, and get your game plan ready.
Getting around note: Lomprayah is a major ferry operator in the Gulf routes (Samui/Pha-ngan/Tao). Lomprayah High Speed Ferries
Day 5 — Full Moon Party night
- The Full Moon Party is held on Haad Rin Beach and runs monthly (dates vary). Full Moon Party Thailand
- Pro tips: closed-toe shoes, minimal valuables, tons of water, plan your ride home before midnight.
(If your dates don’t line up with Full Moon: Pha-ngan still has plenty of nightlife pockets—just less “20,000 people on the sand.”)
Day 6 — Hangover cure: Koh Tao snorkeling/diving day trip
- Ferries between Pha-ngan and Tao are typically about ~1 to 1 hr 45 min depending on boat type. Ferryhopper
- Back to Pha-ngan for a mellow dinner (your ears will be grateful).
Day 7 — Pha-ngan → Samui → Fly out via Bangkok
- Easy ferry back, then onward flights.