Beyond Phuket: Thailand's Islands for the Curious, the Hungry, and the Hard-To-Impress.
- Peter G
- Mar 23
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 28
Phuket? Over it. Koh Phi Phi? Packed tighter than a Khao San Road bar at midnight. You want more. You want Thailand without the filtered haze of mass tourism. You want an island that still feels like it has secrets.
Let me take you to three islands that haven’t given up their soul. Each with a distinct rhythm, a signature flavor, and places to sleep that don’t insult your standards. One for sanctuary. One for sensation. One for that uncut slice of jungle-meets-sea magic that hasn’t been paved over yet.
Koh Yao Noi – Where the Wi-Fi is Weak and the Vibes Are Strong
Halfway between Phuket and Krabi lies Koh Yao Noi—Thailand’s middle finger to the Instagram generation. No beach clubs. No mega-malls. Just rubber plantations, water buffalo, and the kind of sunsets that make you forget what day it is.
This is for the barefoot elite. The quiet rebels. The ones who can hear silence and not get twitchy.
5-Star (Virtuoso): Six Senses Yao Noi
Jungle villas that drip with eco-luxury. Your private pool overlooks the jagged limestone karsts of Phang Nga Bay. Everything smells like lemongrass and wet earth. The kind of place where wellness doesn’t feel like punishment. Book through us for the Virtuoso perks—spa credits, upgrades, the works.
4-Star: Cape Kudu Hotel
Whitewashed walls, driftwood accents, and a breezy coastal vibe that feels straight out of a Kinfolk spread. Chic but unpretentious. The infinity pool is small, but the ocean is yours.
3-Star: Koyao Island Resort
Thatched-roof bungalows right on the beach. No pretense, just authenticity. The kind of place where the sand gets into your soul and stays there.
What to Eat:
Pla Plao—whole white fish crusted in salt and grilled over coals until the skin is crackling. Served with fresh herbs, sticky rice, and a chili-lime dipping sauce that bites back. Best eaten with your hands and zero regrets.
Koh Samui – Hedonism with a Hint of Soul
Yeah, yeah—Koh Samui has airport lounges and luxury malls, but don’t write it off just yet. Scratch the surface and you’ll find Buddhist temples older than your parents’ marriage, night markets that thrum with life, and beaches where time folds in on itself.
Samui’s a chameleon. You can party till 4am or be in bed by 8, full of grilled prawns and gratitude.
5-Star (Virtuoso): Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui
Private hillside villas, personal infinity pools, and views of the Gulf of Thailand that make you question your life choices up to this point. It’s discreet wealth, not dripping gold. Did someone say White Lotus? Booking the Four Seasons with Priority One gives you exclusive access to Virtuoso amenities - early check in, late check out, Room Upgrade, Food and Beverage credits etc.
4-Star: Sala Samui Chaweng Beach
Minimalist design, soft lighting, and cocktails made by people who give a damn. Pool access suites, adults-only wings—this is grown-up indulgence.
3-Star: Baan Bophut Beach Hotel
Right on the sand in Fisherman’s Village. You hear the waves when you fall asleep. The service is genuine, the beer is cold, and the beach is six steps from your bed.
What to Eat:
Gaeng Som—a searingly sour Southern Thai fish curry that doesn’t pull its punches. Made with turmeric, tamarind, and snakehead fish or shrimp. Locals eat it with jasmine rice and a side of schadenfreude watching tourists cry.
Koh Kood – The Jungle Whisperer
Koh Kood (or Koh Kut, depending who’s spelling) is what people think Bali was like 30 years ago. Thick jungle, waterfalls you can swim in, beaches with no bars blasting Pitbull. It’s raw. Remote. Underrated—for now.
This is where you come to detox from people. Or fall in love with them.
5-Star (Virtuoso): Soneva Kiri
Accessible by private plane and boat. Each villa is a temple to barefoot luxury—open-air bathrooms, private waterslides into your own pool, and a wine cellar that could make a sommelier weep. If Willy Wonka were into sustainability and $1,000-a-night villas, this would be his summer home.
4-Star: High Season Pool Villa & Spa
Private plunge pools, clean design, and the kind of spa where the massages don’t feel phoned in. Right on the sand. Feels luxe without being loud about it.
3-Star: The Beach Natural Resort
Think eco-chic, not eco-bleak. Solar panels, bamboo bungalows, and a vibe that says, “I care about the planet and good bedding.”
What to Eat:
Hoi Chak Teen—grilled sea snails you suck from the shell, dipped in a chili vinegar that hits every corner of your mouth. It’s rustic, primal, and delicious in a way that bypasses the brain and goes straight to the gut.
The Priority One Travel Difference
We don’t do cookie-cutter itineraries. We do curated chaos. The good kind.
Virtuoso Perks: Upgrades, late check-outs, breakfast that doesn’t taste like cardboard, and surprises we’re not allowed to write about.
Custom Experiences: Want a private longtail boat to a hidden beach with a cooler full of Singha and grilled squid? We know a guy.
Tastemaker Travel: You’ll be there before the influencers ruin it.
You’ve done Phuket. You’ve done Phi Phi. Now it’s time to do Thailand right.
Three islands. Three flavors. One unforgettable trip.
Book with Priority One Travel - because the world’s best places aren’t always the most obvious ones.
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