Beaches
The best beaches in Thailand, coast by coast
Thailand has two coasts, each with its own rainy season. Choose the right side for the right month and you get limestone cliffs, coral reefs and sand that squeaks underfoot. These are the beaches worth the journey.
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The longtail boat cuts its engine short of the shore, and you wade the last few metres. Behind the beach, limestone cliffs rise straight up, climbers dotted across the rock face. There is no road to Railay, and that is exactly why it feels the way it does.
Thailand has more than two thousand miles of coastline and hundreds of islands, and the beaches in the photographs are not all as good in person. The decision that matters most is which coast you choose. The Andaman Sea in the west is at its best from November to April, while the Gulf of Thailand in the east gets its heaviest rain from October to December. We have grouped the beaches by coast, so you can match the beach to the month.
Short answer: which are the best beaches in Thailand?
Railay West and Phra Nang in Krabi are the most dramatic, Kata Noi and Nai Harn are the best on Phuket, and Koh Lipe has the clearest water. Between January and August the Gulf coast takes over, with Koh Phangan, Koh Tao and Koh Kood. Travelling in December? Choose the west coast.
Best for scenery: Railay West, Krabi
Best for families: Kata Noi, Phuket
Best for snorkelling: Koh Nang Yuan, off Koh Tao
Best for peace and quiet: Koh Kood
Best for clear water: Koh Lipe
Rayavadee
Rayavadee beneath the cliffs at Railay.
Krabi and Railay: the cliffs of the Andaman Sea
Railay West has become Thailand's postcard beach. The peninsula is cut off by cliffs, so the only way in is by boat from Ao Nang. The sand is soft, the water calm, and the sun sets straight into the sea between the islands.
Phra Nang, a ten-minute walk from Railay, is lovelier still. It lies beneath an overhanging cliff with a cave where local fishermen have left offerings for generations. Arrive early, before the day boats.
Boats from Ao Nang also run to Koh Hong and Poda, islands of lagoons and white sand. Hire a private longtail and set off early to beat the groups.
Rayavadee: between two beaches on Railay
Rayavadee occupies the tip of the Railay peninsula, between Phra Nang and Railay East, with pavilions scattered through gardens beneath the cliffs. You can stroll down to Phra Nang before the day-trippers arrive. For couples who want the beach almost to themselves.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Rayavadee
Phuket and Phi Phi: beyond Patong
Phuket is known for Patong, but its best beaches are in the south. Kata Noi is a small bay with calm water and few bars, good for children. Nai Harn, further south, is one of the island's finest, with a lagoon behind it and locals swimming after work.
Freedom Beach is reached by boat from Patong or by a steep path. It is small and framed by jungle, giving you the feel of an island without leaving Phuket.
Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi Leh, made famous by the film The Beach, was closed for several years to let its coral recover. Visits are now limited, swimming is not allowed, and the bay closes for a few months each year. See it, but build your day around Phi Phi Don and snorkelling at Bamboo Island instead.
Further south: Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe
Koh Lanta is a long, flat island whose beaches suit families and anyone who wants to slow down. The west coast has sunset beaches such as Klong Dao and Long Beach, and the national park at the southern tip has a lighthouse and monkeys.
Koh Lipe, close to the Malaysian border, has some of the clearest water in Thailand. Sunrise Beach and Pattaya Beach on Lipe have white sand, and the reefs of Tarutao National Marine Park lie just offshore.
Both are best from November to April. In the rainy season several boat routes stop running.
Anantara Rasananda
Anantara Rasananda at Thong Nai Pan Noi, Koh Phangan.
The Gulf of Thailand: Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao
On the east coast the seasons flip. From January to August you get sunshine and calm seas, while October to December brings the most rain.
Koh Samui has an airport and plenty of hotels, but its best beaches are the smaller ones. Silver Beach, between Chaweng and Lamai, is a little cove of boulders and clear water.
On Koh Phangan, Haad Rin is famous for its full moon parties, but the north coast is the quiet side. Bottle Beach is best reached by boat, and Thong Nai Pan has two bays of golden sand backed by jungle.
Koh Tao is the diving island. Sairee Beach is lively at night, and from Koh Tao a short boat ride takes you to Koh Nang Yuan, three small islands joined by sandbars and one of Thailand's best snorkelling spots.
Anantara Rasananda: at Thong Nai Pan Noi
Anantara Rasananda sits at Thong Nai Pan Noi on Koh Phangan's north-east coast, with pool villas and the beach right below. It is a world away from the full moon parties. For travellers who want the island at its calmest.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Anantara Rasananda
The east coast: Koh Kood, Thailand's quiet island
Far to the east near Cambodia lies Koh Kood, a jungle island with few roads, rivers spilling into the sea and beaches where you are often alone. Ao Tapao and Klong Chao are among the finest. There are no big parties and very little traffic.
Getting here takes effort: a flight or bus to Trat, then a speedboat. The reward is a beach that looks like Thailand did thirty years ago.
When is the best time to go?
Andaman Sea (Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe): best from November to April. May to October is the rainy season, with big waves and red flags.
Gulf of Thailand (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao): best from January to August. October to December is the wettest period.
Koh Kood and the east coast: best from November to May.
Christmas and New Year are peak season: west coast prices are highest from mid-December. Book early.
Thailand's beaches: your questions answered
What is the most beautiful beach in Thailand?
Railay West and Phra Nang in Krabi are widely seen as the most dramatic, with limestone cliffs and calm water. Koh Lipe has the clearest water.
Which part of Thailand is best in December?
The west coast, with Phuket, Krabi and Koh Lanta, has the best weather in December. The Gulf islands are in their rainy season then.
Can you swim at Maya Bay?
No, swimming is not permitted at Maya Bay. Visitor numbers are capped, and the bay closes for several months a year to protect the coral.
Where is the best snorkelling in Thailand?
Koh Nang Yuan off Koh Tao, the reefs around Koh Lipe and the Similan Islands are among the best. The Similans open roughly from mid-October to mid-May.
Which beaches in Thailand are best for families?
Kata Noi and Nai Harn on Phuket and the beaches of Koh Lanta have calm water and good facilities. Avoid Haad Rin on full moon weekends.