The Ultimate Beach Guide: 22 Best Beaches in Thailand

Thailand hosts some of the best beaches globally; fine white sand, crystal blue water, the yellow sun, green palm trees, and orange/red sunsets. For fun lovers, party lovers, couples, honeymooners, families with kids, seniors, adventure enthusiasts, and every type of traveler, Thailand has a beach for everyone. Below is the list of the 22 best beaches in Thailand that can effectively provide information on where to go for the best beach vacation ever.

1. Phi Phi Islands

The Phi Phi Islands located in the Andaman Sea are among the most popular tourist attractions in Thailand that offer pristine sandy beaches. Phi Phi Leh and Phi Phi Don are islands with a marvelous exotic look with water of incredible blue color and the sand of white hue. Swim through colorful coral reefs with fishes, birds, sharks, and turtles, trek up cliffs for beautiful scenery, or just enjoy sun and sand at the beach and a cold drink at a beach bar.

2. Phuket

Phuket is the largest island in Thailand boasting over 30 great beaches along the western and the southern coastal lines. Some parts such as Patong and Karon of Phuket feature comparatively vibrant entertainment options, water activities, markets for shopping, and numerous restaurants. Take a dip in the warm waters on the less crowded northern beaches such as Mai Khao, Nai Yang, and Nai Thon.

3. Krabi

Andaman coast, particularly Krabi province is gifted with more than two hundred islands, which have hills full of forests, sandy beaches, mangrove vegetation, and coral gardens. Some famous tourist destinations are Railay Beach, Hong Island, Ao Nang Beach which is suitable for families, and Koh Lanta which is full of life.

4. Ko Lipe

Locally known as the Maldives of Thailand, Ko Lipe is an enchanting island in the extreme south on the border of the Andaman Sea. There are no cars and no high risers to speak of on this island; the attractions include lakes, forests, sea turtles, and some of the best underwater adventures in Thailand.

5. Hua Hin

Hua Hin is another beach resort located on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand It boasts a beautiful promenade of restaurants, souvenir shops, hotels, and golf courses that directly face the stretch of beach. For those who want to visit other nearby attractions, there is the Sam Roi Yod National Park which has pinetop bays and a mangrove swamp forest perfect for a quiet exploration.

6. Pattaya

Pattaya is the most popular and largest Thai beach city, regardless of whether people like it or not. Situated on the Eastern Gulf Coast, Pattaya offers its visitors fast-paced nightlife, seafood restaurants, towering hotels, museums, and temples as well as a lively and vibrant gay scene.

7. Ko Samet

Ko Samet is the nearest sea beach destination from Bangkok and so it is crowded during weekends and holidays. It has quintessential Thai beaches such as Hat Sai Kaew with soft sand, beachside cafes, fresh seafood, and a party scene while others lie undiscovered behind the rocky cliffs around the island.

8. Ko Samui

Ko Samui is the second largest island in Thailand and is considered one of the best beach destinations due to its nice sand coastline, nice resorts, and active coastal cities. Some of the famous beaches are Chaweng and Lamai, though all along the coast there are also other places like Mae Nam, about, and Lipa Noi.

9. Ko Pha Ngan

Not only does it have the internationally-renowned Full Moon Party at Hat Rin, but Ko Pha Ngan is home to many more attractions for visitors. The eastern coast of the island is comparatively untouched; numerous sandy bays suitable for swimming and snorkeling are located nearby. Or opt for Thong Nai Pan, a more famous beach with palm-fringed sandy shores, laid-back cafes, and beachside cottages.

10. Ko Tao

Ko Tao ‘Turtle Island’ is famous for its incredible coral reefs and dive sites although it also boasts some of the Island’s most beautiful beaches. Go to Hat Sai Ree for extensive sandy beaches if you are seeking a quiet to Ao Chalok Ban Kao which is a good place for snorkeling with quiet coves just off the shore.

11. Khao Lak

It is situated on the Andaman coast of Thailand in the province of Phang-Nga, north of the more popular tourist destination, Phuket. Close to the rich green rainforest and with the sea replete with reefs it has long and beautiful sandy beaches such as Nang Thong, Bang Niang, and Khuk Khak which remain mostly untouched and almost free from any commercial activity.

12. Ko Chang

The second largest island in Thailand, Ko Chang has more than 50 kilometers of coastline with many beautiful sandy beaches washed by the sea and lined with coconut palms, and it is embraced by the growing tropical rainforest. Some beaches, such as White Sand Beach and Klong Prao beaches provide accommodation, shopping, and food facilities, though the island’s other beaches are secluded and mostly untouched.

13. Hua Hin

The beach at Hua Hin is furnished with a charming seafood walkway that contains restaurants, shops, hotels, and golf courses. The beautiful Sam Roi Yot National Park in the vicinity has calm beaches with pine trees and mangrove swamps for beach-combing.

14. Ko Kut

Located as a part of the Mu Ko Chang National Park, Ko Kut is relatively less explored and inhabited by small fishing communities and dense forests, estuaries, and several virgin beaches with hardly any tourism. Spend your days at Ao Phrao admiring the sunset or take a swim at Ao Noi if you don’t want to be surrounded by people.

15. Ko Mak

Ko Mak is a low-key mid-sized island between the more famous Ko Chang and Ko Kut that offers a great laidback atmosphere. The palm-lined west coast has beautiful bathing beaches such as Ao Suan Yai and Ao Pra, and breathtaking sunset impressions.

16. Ko Wai

This is a small uninhabited island located in Mu Ko Chang National Park and it provides shores with white powdery sand and crystal clear water of different shades of blue surrounded by greenery. Make it your home at the Ko Wai Paradise Beach Resort and go kayaking to various secluded beaches.

17. Ko Kradan

Ko Kradan also falls within the Hat Chao Mai National Park and is situated in the Andaman Sea off southern Thailand near the Malaysian border. Circumscribed by coral, pristine, soft, clean sand beaches with fantastic swimming and snorkeling in the aqua-clear waters with fish of all the colors of the rainbow.

18. Ko Tarutao

Ko Tarutao Marine National Park is one of the most special ones as it has more than 50 islands that have no residents, dense with old-growth rainforest, and with good healthy coral reefs. Ko Tarutao is the administrative center of the park and is occupied by two beautiful beaches. This is best enjoyed when one hires a private boat or takes a ferry.

19. Ko Phayam

Ranong can be reached by direct flight while Ko Phayam can only be reached by a longtail boat as the island is located near the Burmese border. No cars, dusty roads, and not too many locals, it makes you feel in the middle of nowhere, and that is awesome. Go for swimming and snorkeling and explore the south coast bays where tourists don’t frequent.

20. Botakin

Visiting Ko Chang? One must not lose the taste to venture to Botakin Beach, a beach that can only be accessed by passing through the jungle hiking trail and with an amazing backdrop of limestone karsts rising from the sea. This is a beautiful and quite large sandy beach on the East coast of the island in a small cove and with excellent snorkeling.

21. Ao Thong Nai Pan

Ko Pha Ngan’s northeast: Ao Thong Nai Pan has a sheltered, progressively shelving beach that is fringed with waving casuarina trees and enclosed by steep forested cliffs. Traditional longtail boats painted blue and white are visible in Thong Nai Pan Noi and Thong Nai Pan Yai – two relatively untouched beaches with some hippie characteristics and forests to the back.

22. Banana Beach

Banana Beach, also known as Hat Tham Phang on the east coast of Ko Samet, still attracts fewer tourists because it is located far from the ferry pier. The curved bay is sandy with powdery golden sand and a bright turquoise blue sea perfect for swimming with the forest as the backdrop.

Thailand boasts a coastline of more than 3400 km, and the above list only features the best beaches. While other remote islands are gradually opening to tourists, Thailand's beaches remain places that people wish they could be. Therefore, put on your swimming costumes, there’s no need to take a camera as you’ll be coming with your perfect beach vacation in mind.