When Malaysians think about an island holiday in Thailand, the first idea is usually to book a flight. Fly to Phuket, land somewhere in southern Thailand, then figure out the rest from there. But if you enjoy road trips, there's another way to do it. Southern Thailand is filled with beautiful islands that are surprisingly accessible when driving from Malaysia. Of course, unless there's a bridge or vehicle ferry involved, you can't literally drive your car onto the island. The idea is to drive from Malaysia to the nearest town or pier, park your car and continue the final part of the journey by ferry or speedboat. And honestly, that's part of the adventure. Instead of seeing only an airport and a hotel, you get to experience southern Thailand along the way. Stop for food, spend a night somewhere unexpected, explore a small town and turn what would normally be an island holiday into a proper Thailand road trip. Here are seven beautiful Thai islands worth adding to your next drive from Malaysia.
1. Koh Lipe
If clear blue water and white sandy beaches are what you're after, Koh Lipe is probably already somewhere on your Thailand bucket list. Located in Satun province in southern Thailand, Koh Lipe is one of the more convenient island escapes for Malaysians travelling by road. The usual approach is to drive towards the Satun area and continue to a departure point such as Pak Bara Pier before taking a boat to the island. Once you arrive, the car becomes completely unnecessary. Koh Lipe is small enough that much of the island can be explored on foot, and the atmosphere is exactly what you'd expect from a tropical getaway. There are beaches, snorkelling trips, diving, seafood restaurants and plenty of places where doing absolutely nothing for a few hours feels perfectly acceptable. It's a particularly nice option when you want a proper island holiday without first having to drive deep into Thailand.
2. Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta is a great choice for people who like the idea of an island but don't necessarily want to leave the road-trip experience behind. Located in Krabi province, Koh Lanta feels more relaxed than some of Thailand's busier beach destinations. You'll find long stretches of beach, viewpoints, small restaurants and plenty of places where you can slow down for a few days. The biggest advantage for a road trip is that getting there with a vehicle is much more practical than many smaller Thai islands, with road and ferry connections forming part of the journey. Having your own car once you're there also gives you the freedom to explore different parts of the island without constantly arranging transport. Wake up, pick a beach and drive there. See an interesting restaurant on Google Maps? Go. Want to spend the evening somewhere on the other side of the island? No problem. Koh Lanta is one of those places where bringing your car actually becomes part of the holiday rather than something you need to leave behind.
3. Phuket
Calling Phuket an island sometimes feels strange because of how developed and connected it is, but yes, Phuket is Thailand's largest island. And unlike most islands on this list, you can simply drive there.Phuket is connected to mainland Thailand by road, which makes it one of the easiest major Thai island destinations to visit with your own Malaysian car. The drive is obviously much longer than a quick Hat Yai weekend, so this is better suited to travellers who have several days to spare. But that's also what makes it a proper road trip. Once you're there, you have beaches, old-town streets, viewpoints, cafes, restaurants, nightlife and plenty of places to explore beyond the hotel area. Having your own car is especially useful if you want to see different sides of Phuket instead of staying around one beach for the entire holiday. Just remember that Phuket can get busy, particularly around popular tourist areas, so give yourself extra time when driving around.
4. Koh Mook
If Phuket sounds a little too busy for the holiday you have in mind, Koh Mook offers something very different. Located off the coast of Trang, Koh Mook is smaller, quieter and feels much more laid-back. You can drive from Malaysia towards Trang province, head to the appropriate pier and continue to the island by boat. One of Koh Mook's best-known attractions is Emerald Cave, but the island isn't only about ticking attractions off a list. It's the kind of destination where slowing down is part of the experience. Have a late breakfast. Spend the afternoon at the beach. Walk around without having a strict schedule. For Malaysians who have already done Hat Yai, Krabi and Phuket a few times, Koh Mook can make a refreshing change.
5. Koh Kradan
Koh Kradan is the sort of place people imagine when someone says, “Thai island.” Clear water, soft sand and that beautiful blue-green sea that makes you want to take your phone out every five minutes. The island sits off Trang province and is normally reached by boat, so the road-trip portion of your journey takes you towards the mainland departure point before you leave the car behind. Koh Kradan is particularly appealing if your idea of a good holiday involves spending more time in the water than shopping. Snorkelling, swimming and relaxing on the beach are the main attractions here. Compared with Thailand's larger tourist destinations, there isn't a huge city waiting for you once the sun goes down. And that's exactly why people come. Sometimes you don't need shopping malls, traffic and a packed itinerary. You just need a beach.
Whichever island you choose, remember that you're still taking a Malaysian-registered vehicle into Thailand before you reach that beautiful beach. So don't only prepare your swimsuit and hotel booking. Check the latest Thailand entry requirements, make sure your passport and vehicle documents are ready and sort out your Thailand vehicle insurance before the trip. With Drive2Thai, Malaysian drivers can purchase Thailand vehicle insurance online before reaching the border. Choose your preferred coverage, submit your vehicle details and receive your policy digitally. TM2 and TM3 forms are included too, helping you get the essential vehicle paperwork ready before the drive. Then comes the fun part. Pack the car, choose the playlist and start driving north. The car might not make it all the way onto the beach but getting there is half the adventure anyway.
