Why island hopping belongs on every Southeast Asia itinerary
I’ve done a lot of things in Southeast Asia. Night buses through Vietnam, motorbike loops through the mountains, temple circuits that blur together after a while. But the moment I stepped off a longtail boat onto a white sand beach with limestone cliffs rising straight out of turquoise water, I understood something: the islands are where this region really shows off.
Thailand gives you the easiest logistics and the widest range from party to chill. The Philippines has the best beaches and water clarity but makes you work for it. Indonesia offers the most diversity, from car-free party islands to volcanic crater lakes in the middle of Flores. If you’re planning your backpacking route through Southeast Asia, the islands deserve a dedicated chunk of your itinerary.
Thailand islands: the easy entry point
Thailand’s island game is the most accessible in the region. Ferry systems are reliable, hostels are everywhere, and you can bounce between islands without losing a full day to logistics. The key thing to understand: Thailand has two separate coasts that operate on different monsoon schedules. Don’t try to hit both unless you have the time.
Gulf islands (east coast): Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Koh Samui
Koh Tao is the island I’d send every solo backpacker to first. It’s the cheapest place in the world to get your PADI dive certification, and the dive schools create instant friend groups that spill into nightlife. The island is small enough that you keep running into the same people, which makes it absurdly easy to build a crew. Hostels like The Dearly and Taco Shack are social hubs. As experienced travelers consistently say, Koh Tao is the easiest place in Thailand to make friends.
Koh Phangan is the happy medium. Famous for the Full Moon Party in Haad Rin, but outside of that one beach, the island is surprisingly bohemian. Strong yoga and meditation scene in Srithanu; northern beaches like Bottle Beach and Haad Yao feel like a different world. Rent a scooter. Phangan is bigger than Tao, and without one you’ll feel stuck. Koh Samui gets largely dismissed by backpackers as being for families and honeymooners. Overpriced taxis, resort beaches, no real hostel culture. Skip it.
The Gulf route is simple: ferry to Koh Tao, then down to Koh Phangan, then Samui if you want. Companies like Lomprayah and Seatran run multiple daily connections.
Andaman islands (west coast): Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe
Koh Phi Phi is polarizing. The limestone cliffs are some of the most spectacular scenery in Southeast Asia, full stop. But the island itself is a backpacker Disneyland: fire shows every night, buckets of cheap alcohol, and crowds that overwhelm the scenery. Two nights is plenty. Pro tip: rent a private longtail at 6 AM to see Maya Bay before the speedboats arrive.
Koh Lanta is what Phi Phi would be if it grew up. Backpackers consistently vote it the best chill island in Thailand: good infrastructure, beautiful beaches, social beach bars without the chaos. Stay near Long Beach or Klong Nin. Take the 4 Island Tour from Lanta instead of from Phi Phi for the same scenery with far fewer crowds. If you gravitate toward adventure travel by day and a cold beer at sunset, Lanta is your island.
Koh Lipe gets called the Maldives of Thailand, and the water color justifies the comparison. Harder to reach, which keeps it quieter. The Andaman route runs Krabi to Phi Phi to Lanta to Lipe. Important warning: crossing between the Gulf and Andaman coasts takes a full travel day.
Philippine islands: the best beaches, the toughest logistics
Here’s the golden rule experienced backpackers repeat: Thailand is easy with great food and reliable transport. The Philippines has significantly better beaches but is logistically painful. Ferries get cancelled. Travel takes all day. Budget at least three weeks.
Palawan: El Nido, Coron, and the expedition between
El Nido is the poster child for Philippine island hopping. The organized tours (A, B, C, and D) take you through lagoons, hidden beaches, and snorkeling spots framed by towering karst limestone. More commercialized than you might expect, but the scenery is jaw-dropping. Don’t miss Nacpan Beach, accessible by land. If the crowds overwhelm you, nearby Port Barton offers a quieter alternative.
Coron is the pick for underwater experiences: Japanese WWII shipwrecks, coral reefs that look high-definition, and Twin Lagoon as a bucket-list stop. The catch is there are almost no beaches in town; you need a boat for everything. Hire a private one to beat the group tour crowds at Kayangan Lake.
Then there’s the El Nido to Coron boat expedition, which multiple travelers have called the single best experience in all of Southeast Asia. Multi-day trip on a local boat, sleeping on remote islands, snorkeling untouched reefs. Operators like Tao Philippines and Big Dream Boat Man run it. Book this.
Siargao: the cool kid island
Siargao has become the coolest island in the Philippines, replacing Boracay in the backpacker conversation. Best known for surfing (Cloud 9 is world-class), but the cafe culture and nightlife have made it a full destination. Stay in General Luna for the social scene. Fair warning: it’s getting pricier as popularity grows.
Budget travelers report spending around 20,000 PHP ($350 USD) per week by staying in hostels and eating at local carinderias. Social hostels like Mad Monkey and Frendz come up repeatedly. The Philippines is consistently praised as one of the friendliest countries for solo female travelers. For more budget travel strategies, I’ve covered cost-saving approaches in a separate guide.
Indonesian islands: beyond Bali
Most backpackers fly into Bali and never leave. That’s a mistake. As experienced travelers consistently advise: skip Kuta and Seminyak, and use Bali as a launchpad for everywhere else.
Gili islands: pick your speed
Three tiny, car-free islands off Lombok, each with a different personality. Gili Trawangan is the party island. Gili Meno is the quiet honeymoon island. Gili Air is the perfect middle ground: social enough to meet people, quiet enough to hear yourself think. If you only have time for one, most backpackers pick Gili Air. Fast boats from Bali take about two hours.
Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan
Nusa Penida is visually spectacular, and Kelingking Beach is worth the trip alone. But the roads are rough and dangerous on a scooter. Hire a car with driver if you have any doubt about your riding skills. Nusa Lembongan is the easier option: closer to Bali, simpler to navigate, still beautiful.
Flores and Komodo: the real adventure
If you’re after adventure travel destinations that feel genuinely wild, Flores delivers. Fly into Labuan Bajo for Komodo National Park, then travel overland across the island on the Trans-Flores Highway.
In Labuan Bajo, book your Komodo boat tour in person, not online. Redditors report saving 30 to 50 percent by negotiating at the harbor. Manta Point is non-negotiable for diving. The Flores overland route runs Labuan Bajo to Ruteng to Bajawa to Ende to Maumere. Even if something looks like a few hours on the map, expect a full day. The must-do is Kelimutu volcano and its tri-colored crater lakes: stay in Moni village for the 4 AM sunrise trek.
The famous Lombok to Flores boat expedition is a four-day rite of passage. Bucket showers, sleeping on a communal deck with 20-plus strangers, simple food. Rough but unforgettable. Do not go during rainy season from January to March. If this kind of experience calls to you, check out our guide to finding adventure partners on the road. For truly remote diving, Raja Ampat is world-class, and the Maluku route is perfect for anyone chasing off the beaten path experiences.
Best seasons for each island chain
Here’s the rule that catches first-timers off guard: dry season in Thailand is rainy season in Indonesia. You cannot assume good weather everywhere at once.
Thailand Gulf Islands (Tao, Phangan, Samui): Best December to April. Heavy rain September to November.
Thailand Andaman Islands (Phi Phi, Lanta, Lipe): Best November to April. Full monsoon May to October; some islands shut down entirely.
Philippines (Palawan, Siargao): Dry season November to May. Typhoon season June to October.
Indonesia (Bali, Gili, Flores, Komodo): Best April to October. Rainy November to March.
The practical takeaway for a longer Southeast Asia trip: do Thailand and the Philippines first (November to April), then swing to Indonesia as it dries out.
What island hopping actually costs
Thailand: Koh Tao and Phangan are the most budget-friendly. Dorm beds $8 to $15, local meals $2 to $4, diving $30 to $50 per day. Expect $30 to $50 daily total on Gulf islands.
Philippines: Around $350 per week if you stay in hostels and eat local. El Nido tours run $20 to $30 each. Siargao’s western cafes rival Manila prices, so stick to local eateries.
Indonesia: Money stretches twice as far on Flores compared to Bali. Book Komodo trips in person for major savings. Gili Islands are mid-range.
Moving constantly is more expensive than staying put. Daily costs drop significantly once you settle somewhere for a week. Night ferries save an accommodation night. And the most repeated advice: don’t pre-book everything. Book your first few nights and follow the flow.
Party islands vs. chill islands
Choosing the wrong island for your vibe can genuinely ruin a few days. Here’s the honest breakdown.
Party islands
Koh Phi Phi: Party every night, no moon phase needed. Fire shows, buckets, beach raves. Bars like Stockholm Syndrome and Slinky Beach Bar are ground zero. Koh Phangan: The Full Moon Party is legendary, but you can stay away from Haad Rin and visit for just one night. Gili Trawangan: The party Gili. Bars and nightlife along the main strip, but smaller and more contained than Phi Phi.
Chill islands
Koh Lanta: The “grown-up backpacker spot.” Social without being obnoxious. Gili Air: Snorkeling, sunset drinks, early bedtimes. Koh Lipe: Beautiful and remote. The effort to get there filters out the party crowd. Port Barton: The chill alternative to El Nido.
The social sweet spots
These islands build community through activities, not alcohol. Koh Tao’s dive schools create bonds that carry into evening. El Nido’s island hopping tours put you on a boat with the same group all day. Siargao’s surfing culture attracts an activity-focused crowd. If you’re weighing solo versus group travel, these islands make the solo option easy because community happens naturally.
Tips for meeting people on islands
Don’t over-plan. The best connections happen when you stay flexible. Someone at your hostel will mention an island you’ve never heard of, and that detour becomes the trip highlight.
Get on a scooter. Almost every island thread on Reddit says this: to truly enjoy Lanta, Phangan, or Nusa Penida, you need two wheels. It opens the whole island and becomes an instant conversation starter at random beach bars.
Join group activities. Diving on Koh Tao. Island hopping tours in El Nido. Surfing lessons in Siargao. There’s a reason shared experiences make travel unforgettable: your first open water dive with a stranger creates a bond no amount of hostel small talk can match.
Use the right tools. If you’re heading to islands and want to find travelers on the same route, HitchHive lets you connect with people heading to the same destinations. Splitting a private boat in El Nido or finding someone for the Lombok-Flores expedition saves money and makes the experience better.
Putting your island route together
For two weeks, pick one country and go deep: the Thai Gulf islands or the Palawan spine with the El Nido-Coron expedition. For a month, combine two countries. For three months, do all three sequenced around the monsoon calendar.
The biggest mistake is trying to collect islands like stamps. As experienced backpackers consistently say: less is more. Spend four or five nights on an island instead of two. The magic of island hopping isn’t ticking off a list; it’s finding the one place where you cancel your next ferry and stay another week.
Whether you’re chasing world-class diving or a hammock with a view, Southeast Asia’s islands deliver in ways the mainland can’t replicate. Use HitchHive to find travel companions for boat expeditions and island hopping tours, because these experiences are always better shared. Now go book that first ferry.
Continue your journey
Done with the islands? These guides cover the rest of Southeast Asia:
- Best Backpacking Routes Through Southeast Asia — Plan your complete itinerary with routes for every timeline and budget
- The Banana Pancake Trail Guide — Head inland for the classic overland route from Thailand to Vietnam
- Off the Beaten Path Southeast Asia — Discover hidden gems in Borneo, Sumatra, and Southern Laos
Leave a Reply