Thailand’s 10 Best Beaches and Islands

Without a doubt one of the world’s top beach destinations is Thailand. After all the hustle and bustle of Bangkok and exploring the temples of Chiang Mai, nothing comes close to some downtime on the coast. You can count on each beach bringing a different experience, whether you prefer relaxing in Koh Lanta, partying in Koh Phangan, or soaking up the views in Krabi, Thailand has it all.

Choosing Your Perfect Beach Escape

Dotted with tropical islands and beaches, Thailand’s coast is known for the iconic longtail boats, food, drink and a vibrant party scene.

If you have already been to Thailand you will probably know, it can be hard to choose the best beach in Thailand. There are so many options and the choices depend on your personal preferences, where in the Thailand you’ll be, what sort of trip you are taking. There are over 500 islands plus many more beaches in Thailand. It can be a bit overwhelming to know which beach or island in Thailand is the best to spend your holiday.

Map of Thailands Beach and Island Resorts — Where are Thailands Beach and Islands

The 10 Best Beaches and Islands

Phuket: Most Popular Beach Island

Phuket stands as one of the prominent travel destinations In most travel itineraries for Thailand visits. It’s the largest island in Thailand, just off the west coast across from quieter Krabi. Phuket has an international airport, making it ideal if you’re short on time.

As Thailand’s largest island, Phuket is a well-developed tourist destination due its impressive coastline, boasting long stretches of sandy beach, hundreds of accommodation options, along with plenty of restaurants and a big party scene.

There’s so much to explore on the island, however, some of Phuket’s best beaches are:

Nai Harn Beach in Phuket – a popular destination boasting crystal clear water, white sand, and a calm atmosphere. This beach has a consistent climate making it suitable to visit year-round.

Freedom Beach in Phuket – a hidden gem that’s not too far from Patong. An ideal hideout, The beach is captivatingly serene because it is still not packed with too many bars and restaurants.

Want more from Thailand – Check out this Thai Travel Itinerary.

Krabi: Best Place to Beach Hop

Situated opposite the island of Phuket, Krabi is renowned for its clear blue waters and white sands. It’s also one of the best areas to beach hop and explore its beauty for yourself.

The resort offers so many different attractions, such as lazing on Railay or Ao Nang beaches, rock climbing, or even heading to the town’s local nightclubs.

As Krabi is on the mainland, you can either fly there or take a local train or bus from Bangkok. Similar to Phuket, Krabi has a variety of luxury and budget accommodation options, such as the Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort or the budget Lanta Pura Beach Resort. To get the most out of the town, you’ll want to visit anytime from November to March.

Koh Phi Phi: Best for Snorkelling

Known all around the world through its unforgettable appearance in the movie “The Beach”, Koh Phi Phi is an attractive archipelago. Only accessible by ferry, either from Krabi or Phuket, the Phi Phi Islands are adored for their natural beauty. Away from all the hustle and bustle of the mainland, you have the perfect opportunity to relax on its beautiful beaches, whether that’s on the larger island of Phi Phi Don or its smaller neighbour, Phi Phi Leh.

Ko Phi Phi Thailand Boat in Tropical Islands

Thanks to the islands having clear waters and large amounts of marine life, the Phi Phi Islands are the best place to try out some snorkelling, with plenty of opportunities to encounter colourful fish and turtles.

Surrounded by towering limestone cliffs on three sides, the beaches boast silky soft sand, crystal-clear waters teeming with exotic fish, and vibrant coral reefs.

Koh Lanta: Best for Escaping the Crowds

As an island south of Krabi, Koh Lanta is the best spot for those looking for a quiet holiday. It’s an island that isn’t as popular as some of the ones mentioned above, which means it’s the perfect opportunity to relax in peace.

Koh Lanta is a tranquil mix of nature, beautiful beaches and relaxing island experience. The island is compact, however, still large enough to also take one or two day trips.

Long Beach in Koh Lanta is breathtakingly beautiful with crystal clear waters and white sand that stretches for miles. Thanks to Long Beach’s south-facing position, it offers views of Koh Phi Phi on the horizon, along with magnificent sunsets.

Koh Samui: Thailand’s Most Laidback Island

Koh Samui is Thailand’s second largest island, boasting beautiful beaches, clear waters, waterfalls, spectacular viewpoints and temples. The island has its own airport and is loved by tourists for its laidback lifestyle, where relaxing sports such as yoga and golf are popular.

Koh Samui’s busiest beaches are located on the east side. However, they’re also the most beautiful. Like Phuket, they are popular with tourists and all that come with that.

It’s easy to reach Koh Samui either by ferry from the mainland or by plane from Bangkok. From Koh Samui you can also travel out for a day to the Angthong National Marine Park. This is a protected mini archipelago with no development. Here you’ll spot dolphins, green turtles and macaques.

Koh Tao: Thailand’s Affordable Island

Koh Tao is just north of Koh Samui and as it’s a lesser-known island, it’s a great way to escape. Not only is it less hectic, but the island is also much more affordable than Thailand’s larger resorts. Koh Tao has several beautiful beaches and is renowned as a superb diving destination.

One of the main attractions on Koh Tao is scuba diving and there are plenty of diving schools where you can learn the ropes and explore the clear waters. If diving isn’t your thing, then there’s always Sairee Beach to relax on.

Additionally, Nang Yuan Beach in Koh Tao is a stunning destination that sets itself apart from the other beaches. With its white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters and phenomenal snorkelling opportunities, Koh Tao is a must-visit destination for travellers seeking that peaceful, scenic beach experience.

Koh Phangan: Thailand’s Best Full Moon Party

You’ll find Koh Phangan slightly north of Koh Samui and it’s the best island to visit if you want to experience a full moon party. Koh Phangan is associated with Full Moon Parties, a signature event that takes place every month on Haad Rin beach. It’s considered to be one of the biggest parties in Asia, with 20,000 visitors coming each month.

However, Koh Phangan has more to offer than just a Full Moon party. If you want to experience the island’s real gems, you’ll need to get off the main drag and up to the majestic viewpoints, down to the hidden bays, and into the depths of the Koh Phangan jungle.

If the Full Moon Party is not your scene, then head to Bottle Beach on Koh Phangan. Situated at the opposite end of the island, this secluded beach is far away from the full-moon parties. Making it an ideal escape for those seeking peace and tranquility. This serenity comes at a price, the beach’s secluded location makes it challenging to access. With a 15-minute hike through the trees and down some steep inclines, the beach offers beach soft, light sand and turquoise blue water, making it worth the effort to reach.

Koh Lipe: Best for Marine Life

Located a little further out at sea, close to Malaysia’s border, Koh Lipe has some of the most incredible fish species in the world. This means its main attractions include snorkelling and scuba diving.

Koh Lipe is a laid back tropical island, where you will find vibrant coral reefs and white sandy beaches. It is an island where most go for meditation, yoga, and beach clean-ups more than cheap cocktail buckets and the party scene. The island has relaxing beaches, such as Pattaya and Sunrise Beach, which you can access by strolling up and down Walking Street.

Koh Lipe is a tiny paradise, which you can easily get around by foot. The island has no cars or buses, which gives it a relaxing atmosphere. The only public transport offered is a scooter with sidecar or a long tail boat. Additionally, The island is part of the Tarutao Marine National Park which contains 51 islands in total. Some nearby islands which can be easily visited are Koh Adang, Koh Rawi, and Koh Tarutao.

Koh Chang: Best for Hiking

Ko Chang island, known also as ‘Elephant Island’ named because of its elephant shaped headland, is Thailand’s third largest island after Phuket and Samui. Koh Chang has plenty to offer, from jungle covered mountain peaks to sweeping bays, great waterfalls to flourishing coral reefs, beach huts to luxury resorts.

If you’re seeking some adventure during your Thailand holiday, then you might want to think about staying on Koh Chang. Located south of Pattaya City and near the border of Cambodia, Koh Chang attracts plenty of tourists thanks to its national park and hiking trails. You can stay close to White Sand Beach, which gives you the option of relaxing and swimming along with any hiking.

As one of the least developed islands in the entire country, it provides a bit of secluded magic. Thanks to this there is more ‘contained’ nightlife, far less traffic and distinct local vibes. The best this about Koh Chang … the island equally caters for the activity-adventure lover and the beach devotee. What more could any island going tourist want.

Koh Samet: Best for Staying Close to Bangkok

If you don’t want to venture too far south, then Koh Samet allows you to experience island life without travelling far from Bangkok. The island has many famous beaches, such as Ao Phai, and plenty of restaurants and bars to enjoy in the evening. The Koh Samet Archipelago area is under the National Park Department of Thailand and therefore entry fees must be collected from everyone entering the Island.

Koh Samet is little island only 6.5km long and is known for it’s idyllic beaches, deliciously fresh seafood, and relaxing bars. However, because it is conveniently located close to Bangkok, many locals often travel to Koh Samet for a weekend getaway.

Koh Samet boasts a number of fine white sandy Beaches such as Hat Sai Kaew, the island’s most popular beach. If you are looking for a quieter beach, head to Koh Samet Beach instead. Koh Samet Beach is a long narrow beach that stretches across the island and is quite peaceful as not many tourists visit.

As you may have noticed, there are so many incredible beach options to choose from in Thailand, whether you prefer the hustle and bustle of Phuket, the views from Krabi, or partying in Koh Lipe. Along with the popular resorts of Koh Samui and Koh Phi Phi, you can also look into other islands such as Koh Mun Nork and Koh Kood, which are less known to tourists, giving you a truly authentic Thai experience.

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