Discover Thailand’s Best Beaches
Thailand offers a wealth of stunning beaches. The sand varies from golden to white, and the crystal-clear water reveals the ocean floor. You can enjoy Thailand’s best beaches year-round, as dry areas always exist when others are rainy.
However, Thailand’s coastal beauty is no secret. Many beaches have become crowded and less authentic due to their popularity. Nevertheless, even on busy islands and coastlines, you can still find quieter, more genuine spots. I’ve encountered these hidden gems during my travels.
1. Krabi
Experience Krabi’s Coastal Wonders
Krabi’s coastline undoubtedly matches the splendour of Vietnam’s Halong Bay. Towering limestone karsts create natural shelters around numerous bays and lagoons. Additionally, behind the beaches, lush tropical rainforests stretch inland.
The island’s charm lies in its secluded spots, ideal for peaceful retreats or as a relaxing finale to a broader Thai cultural tour. You’ll find lazy beach days and tranquil boat trips to nearby limestone islands for intimate lunches. If you seek more activity, other destinations might suit you better. Alternatively, you could explore Krabi’s more adventurous offerings.
Discover Tubkaak: Krabi’s Best Kept Secret
Tubkaak stands out as my favourite Krabi beach. Here, one of Thailand’s best beaches nestles between the sand and lush jungle gardens.
The Tubkaak Krabi Boutique Resort provides intimate service due to its limited capacity. Despite its remote location, several nearby restaurants are accessible on foot. During dinner, I witnessed the sun setting behind limestone islets, painting the Andaman Sea sky with vibrant colours.
Best Time to Go to Krabi
Plan your trip between mid-October and April for ideal weather. Although the green season from June to August brings some rain, it rarely reaches monsoon levels. Nevertheless, I generally avoid this period.
2. Phuket
Discover Your Tropical Haven
Phuket, Thailand’s largest island, is a key coastal destination. Located off the west coast near quieter Krabi, it boasts an international airport, making it perfect for short trips.
Despite its bustling nature and large hotels, Phuket still hides pristine beaches. Moreover, it offers the widest range of accommodations, from budget-friendly options to luxurious resorts.
Pansea Beach, fringed with palms, stands out as one of Phuket’s finest spots. Interestingly, only two hotels serve the entire bay, strategically placed to prevent further development. For families or couples, The Surin excels with its spacious hillside cottages overlooking the ocean.
The Surin: A Sunset Paradise
The Surin’s black-tiled pool reflects sunset colours. with mirror-like precision. Consequently, you’ll enjoy nightly displays of fiery oranges and deep indigos over the Indian Ocean.
A 20-minute stroll takes you to the next cove, where you’ll find various dining options and markets.
Nearby, Twinpalms Phuket offers luxurious comfort at a reasonable price. Upon arrival, you’re greeted with champagne and introduced to a beach butler for your comfort needs.
Additionally, the hotel operates several restaurants and beach clubs along the coast. Conveniently, shuttles run late into the evening, ensuring easy access to these venues.
Explore Old Phuket Town’s Rich Heritage
Old Phuket Town preserves the island’s authentic charm. Now part of modern Phuket City, it once thrived as a Portuguese trading port. The decaying buildings still showcase its early 1900s glory.
Few tourists venture here, but the trip is worthwhile. A guided street-food tour offers a deeper understanding of the town. You’ll wander through side-street stalls, food courts, and shophouse eateries. Furthermore, you’ll taste a blend of Indian, Chinese, and Malaysian cuisines, recipes passed down from original settlers.
Best Time to Go to Phuket
Plan your trip between mid-October and April. During this period, the west coast enjoys clear blue skies. Additionally, the sea remains at its calmest, ideal for beach activities.
3. Khao Lak
Thailand’s Hidden Coastal Gem
About an hour north of Phuket, on the mainland’s west coast, lies Khao Lak. Unlike Krabi’s tropical islands or Phuket’s trading past, Khao Lak maintains its traditional fishing village charm. Its markets clearly showcase a strong Thai identity.
More remote and spread out than popular beach spots, Khao Lak has avoided becoming a major resort destination. Consequently, it remains a quiet, rarely visited coastal retreat.
The coastline here is less sheltered than Phuket’s bays, with slightly choppier waters. Nevertheless, it’s an attractive option for families visiting Thailand. This appeal is evident in the wide range of available accommodations.
The Sarojin: A Serene Coastal Retreat
The Sarojin stands out as a favourite in Khao Lak. It exudes exclusivity while offering personalized service that feels like a private estate. The restaurant deserves high praise, and numerous activities keep you entertained on this tranquil coast.
Nearby, the Similan Islands form a marine national park. Consistently ranked among the world’s top 10 dive sites, they boast rich marine life and vibrant coral. Moreover, a speedboat ride across the Andaman Sea takes only about 90 minutes to reach these underwater wonders.
Explore Khao Sok National Park
Khao Lak’s key merit is its adjacency to Khao Sok National Park. This extensive sylvan expanse in southern Thailand exhibits karst topography, orchids, and rare animals including elephants and Schomburgk’s deer.
When beach relaxation becomes monotonous, the park offers a refreshing change. Khao Sok offers diverse outdoor activities. You can paddle through mangroves, or ride on the smooth trails – there are also beautiful hikes if you are feeling energetic.
Located about an hour inland, the park is ideal for day trips from Khao Lak. Alternatively, consider an overnight stay. The Elephant Hills floating camp on Cheow Larn Lake is particularly noteworthy for a unique experience.
Best Time to Visit Khao Lak
Plan your trip between November and February. During this dry season, you’ll enjoy pleasant temperatures.
Additionally, rainfall is minimal, ensuring ideal conditions for outdoor activities.
It’s the perfect time to experience Thailand’s best beaches and all the unique experiences these islands have to offer.
4. Koh Samui
A Tropical Paradise
On Thailand’s east coast, Koh Samui stands out as an ideal castaway destination. Even its airport, essentially a wooden hut, exudes tropical charm. You’ll arrive by propeller plane from Bangkok or Phuket.
Until recently, coconuts were Koh Samui’s main income source. Consequently, plantations blanket the island. Palm trees dominate the landscape, and from the air, the island appears as a green mass surrounded by azure waters.
Koh Samui’s busiest and biggest beaches are located on the east side. However, like Phuket, they’re crowded with international hotels and food chains. Instead, consider staying somewhere secluded, such as the Belmond Napasai on the north coast
Enjoy Koh Samui’s Nature and Nightlife
Staying at the Belmond Napasai offers the best of both worlds. Relax on its quiet white-sand beach and savour candlelit dinners featuring steamed snapper. Meanwhile, Bophut village is just a 20-minute drive away, offering lively local restaurants and bars in Portuguese stilt houses along the shore.
Additionally, Koh Samui serves as a gateway to Angthong National Marine Park. This untouched archipelago offers chances to spot dolphins, green turtles, and macaques during day trips.
When’s Best to Go to Koh Samui
Plan your trip between February and September. Furthermore, travelling outside Easter and summer breaks ensures quieter beaches and better value.
Thailand’s smaller islands
Thailand’s Intimate Island Retreats
For those seeking peaceful seclusion without the pressure to explore, Thailand offers several smaller islands.
5. Koh Samet
A Sunny Escape Near Bangkok
This T-shaped, 8 km (10 mile) long island boasts two unique features. Firstly, it’s Thailand’s driest island. Secondly, it provides the easiest access to quality beaches from Bangkok.
A two-hour car ride followed by a brief speedboat trip transports you from Bangkok’s bustling streets to Paradee Resort’s secluded beach. You’ll wade through waves to reach the sand, with no other hotels in sight.
While other resorts exist on relatively undeveloped Koh Samet, Paradee offers unmatched privacy in its own shallow-water cove. This adults-only retreat features 40 villas, each with a private terrace and outdoor dining area. However, due to limited activities, it’s not ideal for families.
When to Go to Koh Samet
You can enjoy Thailand’s best beaches year-round. Brief showers typically clear within hours. Moreover, heavy rainfall is extremely rare on this island.
6. Koh Kood
Thailand’s Ultimate Luxury Retreat
Soneva Kiri matches the opulence of Maldivian and Indonesian island resorts. Indeed, it successfully challenges their reputation for ultimate luxury.
An hour’s seaplane flight from Bangkok takes you to Koh Kood, a jungle-covered island near the Cambodian border. While a few modest hotels line one coast, Soneva Kiri occupies a secluded northern peninsula. Each private villa surpasses the size of typical small hotels, boasting its own pool and gardens.
Experience Eco-Luxury on Koh Kood
Soneva Kiri offers barefoot luxury in eco-friendly bamboo structures. Your personal host caters to every need. Besides relaxing in your villa or on the white-sand beach, you can explore numerous experiences. These include a self-serve chocolate room and a bamboo observatory.
When to Visit Koh Kood
Koh Kood welcomes visitors year-round. The driest season runs from October to May. Nevertheless, even during wetter months, showers are typically brief.
7. Koh Yao
A Tranquil Haven in Phang Nga Bay
Koh Yao Noi, one of Thailand’s best beaches, is a tranquil escape in otherwise bustling Phang Nga Bay between the well known hotspots of Phuket and Krabi. Across from the single-road village – on the other side of this rather large island – are a few local-style hotels, among them Six Senses Yao Noi.
To reach Koh Yao Noi, fly to Phuket first. Subsequently, a brief 15-minute speedboat ride takes you to Six Senses’ jetty. The resort’s highlight is its infinity pool, offering stunning views of Phang Nga Bay’s limestone pinnacles. Additionally, its secluded location ensures a serene atmosphere.
Indulge in Unique Experiences on Koh Yao
Six Senses Yao Noi offers luxurious experiences like candlelit beach dinners and extensive spa treatments. Moreover, they provide creative activities. You can try Muay Thai boxing lessons or gather fresh eggs for breakfast from the resort’s farm.
When to Visit Koh Yao
Koh Yao has distinct wet and dry seasons. For optimal weather, plan your trip between October and March. During this period, temperatures remain comfortably warm and rainfall is minimal.
Our Guides to Thailand
Travel Planning Guide for Visiting Thailand’s Best Beaches
Travel Insurance for Your Trip to Thailand
Buying insurance is always valuable when travelling abroad. Therefore, enjoy your holiday in Thailand stress-free with one of my favourite providers, Visitors Coverage Insurance.
Renting a Car in Thailand
Indeed, renting a car in Thailand is easy and is a great way to explore Thailand’s best beaches. Consequently, I recommend booking yours with Rentalcars.com – they offer a variety of operators for all budgets.
Finding the Perfect Accommodation
The best way to book your accommodation in Thailand is with Booking.com. In fact, it’s my go to site to compare and reserve places to stay each night, from affordable guesthouses to luxury hotels.
Booking Flights to Thailand
Lastly, for air travel, I recommend booking your flight with Omio. Moreover, it has been my favourite platform for years, as it allows me to book the cheapest flights to visit the best of Thailand.
