Home of the Thai Island & Coastal Directory
Welcome to Thai Island Quest (formerly Thai Island Times), an independent, reader-supported newsletter sharing the beauty, challenges and distinctive identities of Thai islands and coastal areas. Yes, all of them.
For more background on the newsletter, hit the About page.
Announcement: The Thai Island & Coastal Directory, my attempt to cover every island in Thailand (800+ at least) and a slew of mainland coastal areas in a single guide, will be published in full, right here at Thai Island Quest, starting late December 2022 and finishing sometime in 2023. An intro and the first chapter are free, but only paying subscribers can access the entire guide — and much more.
On this page you’ll find a regularly updated table of contents with links to all articles ever published in this newsletter, except for the Island Wraps. You can also browse the complete archives over on the homepage.
Click any headline below the photo to view an article in full.
Thai Island & Coastal Directory
Table of Contents & how to use the Thai Island & Coastal Directory
Published January 3, 2022
Intro to the Thai Island & Coastal Directory
Published December 21, 2022
Making sense of ALL the Thai islands
Published May 30, 2020
The many shapes and sizes of Thailand’s islands
Published May 13, 2020
Geographical terms and trivia from Thai islands and coastal areas
Published September 4, 2020
Intro to the Eastern Gulf of Thailand
Published December 28, 2022
Mu Ko Chang
Published January 4, 2023
Trat coast & offshore islands
Published January 8, 2023
Chanthaburi coast & islands
Published January 11, 2023
Mu Ko Samet & Ko Mun
Published January 15, 2023
Rayong coast & offshore islands
Published January 23, 2023
Intro to the Southern Thai Andaman Sea
Published February 5, 2023. Paid.
Mu Ko Libong & Ko Rok
Published February 8, 2023. Paid.
Trang coast & offshore islands
Published February 21, 2023. Paid.
Ko Sukorn & Mu Ko Phetra
Published February 27, 2023. Paid.
Mu Ko Bulon & Mu Ko Khao Yai
Published March 12, 2023. Paid.
Mu Ko Adang & Ko Khai
Published March 19, 2023. Paid.
Ko Tarutao & Mu Ko Sarai
Published March 27, 2023. Paid.
Satun coast & offshore islands
Published March 30, 2023. Paid.
Intro to the Upper Gulf of Thailand
Published April 14, 2023. Paid.
Mu Ko Samae San, Ko Khram & Ao Sattahip group
Published April 25, 2023. Paid.
Ko Si Chang, Ko Larn & Mu Ko Phai
Published April 27, 2023. Paid.
Chonburi coast & offshore islands (Part I: Mueang Chonburi, Si Racha & Pattaya)
Published May 17, 2023. Paid.
Chonburi coast & offshore islands (Part II: Sattahip)
Published May 19, 2023. Paid.
Samut coasts (Part I: Samut Songkhram & Samut Prakan)
Published May 25, 2023. Paid.
Samut coasts (Part II: Bang Khun Thian, Samut Prakan & Chachoengsao)
Published May 28, 2023. Paid.
Phetchaburi coast
Published May 31, 2023. Paid.
Island groups
An overview of Trat and Mu Ko Chang
Published December 30, 2022
Mu Ko Poda: The ‘local islands’ of Krabi
Published November 14, 2021
An overview of the Bulon island group
Published June 9, 2021. Paid.
Ko Thalu and Ko Kudi: Unexpectedly marvelous scenery east of Ko Samet
Published May 28, 2021
An overview of the Butang (Adang) archipelago
Published November 16, 2020
Islands
Ao Maya, Ko Phi Phi Leh: Forever the paradigm
Published January 26, 2023
Ko Gai: The ‘separated sea’ at dawn
Published November 18, 2021
Ko Sukorn: A spin through the beaches, farms, viewpoints and villages
Published October 2, 2021. Paid.
Ko Sukorn: The geography, culture and folklore of ‘Pig Island’
Published September 30, 2021
Ko Lao Liang: An isolated, spectacular pair of islands in Mu Ko Phetra
Published September 23, 2021. Paid.
Ko Phetra: Gnarly cliffs, brilliant beaches and zero tourism development
Published September 18, 2021
Ko Samet: A ride down the spine
Published September 4, 2021
Ko Bulon: Low-level tourism meets graceful island life
Published June 16, 2021. Paid.
Ko Kradan: The beach walk of a lifetime
Published April 20, 2021
Ko Kradan: A modest name for a dazzling island
Published April 16, 2021. Paid.
Ko Jum / Pu: Beach walks and bike rides
Published March 9, 2021
Ko Jum / Pu: Why the two names?
Published February 20, 2021. Paid.
Ko Chik: A pair of obscure, charming islands near the Welu wetlands of Chanthaburi
Published January 8, 2021. Paid.
Ko Chang (Trat): Hiking the unfinished road to Wai Chaek Beach and beyond
Published December 1, 2020
Ko Lipe: Finding quiet spots on one of Thailand’s most popular islands
Published November 2, 2020
Ko Rawi and Ko Hin Ngam: Remote beaches and cursed hornfell stones
Published October 17, 2020. Paid.
Ko Adang: Tremendous views, black sand and jungle trails
Published October 11, 2020
Ko Kradat: Where the deer roam free
Published September 26, 2020
Ko Phayam: Relaxing out a storm
Published September 11, 2020
Ko Wiang: A rugged karst island in remote Thung Maha Bay
Published August 28, 2020. Paid.
Ko Mook: The island that turned me into an island lover
Published August 14, 2020
Ko Tarutao: A beastly island with riveting history
Published May 20, 2020
Ko Phitak: A serene fishing island in Chumphon
Published May 5, 2020. Paid.
Mainland coastal areas
Samut Prakan: Siamese history near the mouth of the Chao Phraya River
Published November 8, 2021. Paid.
Bang Khun Thian: Exploring the eroded coast of Bangkok
Published October 22, 2021. Paid.
Bang Boet / Tham Thong: Searching for sand dunes and doodlebugs
Published October 7, 2021. Paid.
Rayong: Gazing back at Ko Samet from Khao Laem Ya and beyond
Published September 9, 2021
Hat Sai Kaew: A gorgeous Navy-controlled beach in Sattahip
Published August 26, 2021
Bang Saray: A slice of peace and quiet near the urban sprawl of Pattaya
Published August 19, 2021
Krabi: Running a solo marathon during a tropical depression
Published May 15, 2021
Trat: Beach hopping in the ‘narrowest part of Thailand’
Published May 4, 2021
Kaeng Krachan: Jungle curry in a rainstorm
Published March 23, 2021
Khao Sam Roi Yot: Caves, cliffs, wetlands and shrimp farms
Published July 20, 2020
Stories, issues and interviews
Violence will never define Isaan
Published October 7, 2022
The thrill of an airport floor
Published January 26, 2022
Adventures in merit making
Published October 14, 2021. Paid.
Meeting a landmine disposal team on a beach near Hat Lek
Published April 6, 2021
Eight questions about Thai islands and coastal areas as 2020 fades away
Published December 30, 2020
How a solar eclipse viewed from a beach in Prachuap changed Thailand forever
Published December 18, 2020
How tourism and a national park pushed the indigenous people of Ko Lipe into a corner
Published October 26, 2020
Remembering Wally Sanger of Ko Kradan, Hawaii and the open seas
Published August 21, 2020
Covid-19 pandemic
Test & Go: Thailand’s new hope for an inbound tourism recovery
Published November 1, 2021
Could new inbound travel rules save the 2021-22 tourism high season in Thailand?
Published October 18, 2021
Should Thailand’s tourism reopening programs be suspended?
Published August 21, 2021
Assessing the Phuket Sandbox and looking ahead to Samui Plus
Published July 15, 2021
The good, the bad and the funny: Highlights from the ‘Phuket Sandbox’ launch
Published July 7, 2021
Phuket Sandbox: A bit of chaos at the last minute
Published June 30, 2021
Phuket Sandbox: Tourism savior or risky rush towards more problems?
Published June 3, 2021
Thailand prepares to drop quarantine for vaccinated inbound travelers to Phuket
Published June 2, 2021
What will it take for Thailand to reopen inbound tourism without quarantine?
Published March 19, 2021
A zero-sum approach to Covid-19 could have a lasting impact on foreign tourism in Thailand
Published August 7, 2020
These Thai national parks are now open
Published July 2, 2020
Tourism workers are struggling in coastal Thailand. Here’s how to help.
Published May 6, 2020
Other stuff
‘Thai Island Times’ is now ‘Thai Island Quest’
Published December 8, 2022
Things float around
Published May 1, 2022
On the future of Thai Island Times
Published September 21, 2021
One year of Thai Island Times
Published May 1, 2021
Ko Tako: Respecting the Sacred Pineapple
Published April 1, 2021
A visual tour of coastal Thailand
Published April 28, 2020