The 10 best beaches in Thailand

19.11.2023 - 19:07 / lonelyplanet.com

White sand, turquoise waters and palm trees are on the itinerary of just about every visitor to Thailand. And in this respect, the country delivers.

Over 1500 miles of coastline and 1430 islands means a lot of postcard-perfect beaches. And when you’re finished sunbathing, many of these sandy areas also offer activities such as snorkeling, diving or rock climbing, not to mention access to Thailand’s amazing cuisine and unique cultural experiences.

Simply put, it's all a bit overwhelming. To help you make the call, we’ve put together a list of Thailand’s best beaches. There’s a lot to choose from, so we’ve tried to touch on every coastal region of the country, featuring a mix of beaches – listed here in no particular order – that are on the beaten path and islands that take a bit more work to get to.

With an almost stage-like backdrop of sheer, towering karst cliffs, Railay, in Krabi Province, boasts the most dramatic setting of just about any beach in Thailand. Those cliffs – as well as the karst formations that jut out from the sea – are also great for climbing, with lots of established routes. Alternatively, if you don’t want to strap on a harness, make the hike to Railay’s lagoon, which involves a stop that offers amazing views over the peninsula. Railay is also well positioned for boat jaunts to ocean-based climbing spots in the area or trips to hidden beaches and snorkeling spots in Phang-Nga Bay.

Planning tip: Railay is not on an island, but those cliffs mean that it can only be reached by boat from Ao Nang, Ko Phi-Phi, Krabi or Ao Nam Mao.

Although sometimes dismissed as little more than the easiest island retreat from Bangkok, Ko Samet is a seriously beautiful island. Its sand is so white and fine, it’s been eulogized in Thai literature. Tubtim Bay, on the island’s east shore, offers an excellent balance of good accommodation, a solid restaurant and a great beach as well as access to semi-hidden, lesser-known coves and tiny beaches.

Local tip: More popular with Thais than foreigners, Ko Samet also offers something of a cultural experience, drawing lots of Thai university students and the domestic LGBTIQ+ crowd. A late-night, beachside acoustic guitar session fueled by a bottle of Sang Som is the classic Ko Samet experience.

Few of those in search of a Thai beach opt to head to the country’s east, but those who make it there will be rewarded by some of Thailand’s most beautiful – and little-visited – islands. Perched at the edge of the Gulf of Thailand – just across from Cambodia – Ko Kut is the remotest of a tiny archipelago of islands that includes the more well-known Ko Chang. The beaches here, especially those on the island’s west coast, such as Hat Khlong Chao, have sand as fine as talcum powder