Are you wondering where are the most beautiful beaches in Thailand? The country is full of heavenly places and you could get lost in the sea of information about Thailand beaches that the internet has to offer. That’s why I decided to post a list of the beaches I liked the most in Thailand!
I will also include accommodation recommendations to make it easier for you to plan your trip. Are you ready to be blown away? Let’s get this top 10 going!
- Koh Lipe – Sunrise Beach
- Koh Kradan Beach
- Koh Kood (or Ko Kut) Beach
- Koh Samui – Saweng Beach
- Koh Samui – Mae Nam Beach
- Krabi – Railay Beach
- Koh Phangan – Thong Pan Nai Yai Beach
- Koh Lanta – Kantiang Beach
- Koh Jum Beach
- Phuket – Mai Khao Beach
You can locate the 10 beaches above on this map of Thailand :
1. Sunrise Beach (Koh Lipe)
We’ere starting this list with a great one! The island of Koh Lipe is located in the Strait of Malacca, south of the country (near Malaysia). It is undoubtedly the most beautiful beach in the entire the island and as the name suggests, it is a magical spot to watch the sun rise.
Also called Hat Chao Ley by the local people, this sandy beach is known to be one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Thailand. To get the most out of this beach, you can stay at the Castaway Resort, which offers beautiful sea views and wooden bungalows at affordable prices.
2. Koh Kradan Beach
Koh Kradan Island is a paradise lost east of the Andaman Sea. The island is not very popular yet its sandy beaches are truly magnificent. As you can see, the water is crystal clear and the beach is also an excellent diving spot where you can see sea turtles.
You will notice that there aren’t many hotels on the island and I’m sure you won’t complain about it! You’ll have to book ahead of time though, to make sure to have some place to stay for the night. The Coral Garden Resort is one of the best hotels on the island, located a stone’s throw from the beach and offering bungalows that blend in with the surrounding nature.
3. Koh Kood (or Ko Kut) Beach
We’re heading east, to the Gulf of Thailand, to the island of Koh Kood (also called Ko Kuta), right next to the Cambodian border. The whole region is a truly heavenly spot that hasn’t been spoiled by mass tourism yet.
Koh Kood is one of the most important islands in the area and it is also the fourth largest island in Thailand. It has both a slightly rocky coastline as well as endless beaches of sparkling fine sand. You can rent a beachfront bungalow at Seafar Resort which is a really great place to enjoy this beach at affordable prices.
4. Chaweng Beach (Koh Samui)
Koh Samui is a must-visit island in Thailand. It is also in the Gulf of Thailand but is located further south. Koh Samui is known to have beautiful sandy beaches and one of the most popular of the island is Chaweng Beach.
Chaweng Beach is located east of the island, not far from Koh Samui’s airport. To make the most of it, you can book a room at the Chaweng Regent Beach Resort which is really one of the best resorts in the area.
5. Mae Nam Beach (Koh Samui)
We’re still in Koh Samui but heading north this time to get to Mae Nam Beach. The sand is a yellow color and lots of people visit this beach, but it is also a nice place to discover if you want to go out for a drink at night in a lively atmosphere. The Coco Palm Beach Resort is one of the nicest hotels in the area, with a great pool, gorgeous sea views and very competitive prices.
If you are looking for more places to visit in Thailand, make sure to check this Thailand bucket list.
6. Railay Beach (Krabi)
Railay Beach is one of the most famous beaches in Thailand. It is located in Krabi and the best thing about it is not its fine sand or crystal clear water but the incredible view it offers. It might remind you of James Bond Island and Phang Nga Bay if you’ve been there before.
To be able to easily visit Railay Beach, you can book at Sand Sea Resort which, as its name suggests, is conveniently located on Railay Beach. The setting is really heavenly, don’t you think?
7. Thong Nai Pan Yai Beach (Koh Phangan)
Some resorts on this beach are absolutely great and one of the best is the PingChan Beachfront Resort where you can rent villas for a little more than $100 a night.
Read More: Best Thai Beers You Should Try
8. Kantiang Beach (Koh Lanta)
Let’s go back to Krabi to visit the famous island of Koh Lanta, located in the Andaman Sea and made famous by the reality TV show of the same name. Koh Lanta is one of the biggest islands of Thailand and therefore has many wonderful beaches. The greatest of them all is undoubtedly Kantiang Beach which is located in a bay, south of the island.
If you’d like to find a place to stay near Kantiang Beach, you can book at the beautiful Houben which offers a breathtaking view of the bay. Keep in mind the hotel is for adults only.
9. Koh Jum
The small island of Koh Jum is located between Krabi and Koh Lanta. It is not very popular yet has an absolutely magnificent coastline. Since they are not very crowded, the beaches of Koh Jum are ideal for travelers seeking adventure.
As for accommodation, there are only a few hotels on the island so remember to book in advance. My favorite in Koh Jum are the wooden bungalows of Coco Bar which cost only $30 a night for a countryside setting, just a short walk from the sea.
10. Mai Khao (Phuket)
Phuket also has great beaches if you know what you’re looking for and where to go, and Mai Khao is one of my favorite. If you’re travelling to Phuket soon, don’t forget to check out my blog post about the most beautiful beaches in Phuket.
What is your favorite beach in Thailand? Let me know in the comments below!
Let’s wrap up this list with more pictures of Thailand’s heavenly beaches and of course, if you want to follow my adventures in Asia, please subscribe to my social media : Facebook Page, Facebook Group, Instagram and Pinterest.
Happy holidays!
MF
Hi, I am hoping you can help me. We are 4 girlfriends in our late 30’s traveling to Thailand on 23 August. We will arrive in Bangkok the evening and then want to go to an island for 7 nights. We don’t like backpacker vibes. We love beautiful clean beaches and love swimming in the sea as well as snorkeling. At night we would like to have sundowners and go to cute little restaurants.
Initially We considered Koh Lipe but from forums I read that weather can be bad and that it takes very long to get there. When we check out on the 1st of September we have to leave the island and be at Bangkok airport by 6pm.
The other option was Koh Lanta but I am also worried about the weather. Where do you recommend we go given we only have 7 nights and what we like?
Looking forward to your response!
Best, Christelle
Hello Christelle, thank you for your message. I was about to recommend Koh Tao actually (calm, nice beaches and very good for snorkelling) but you will have the same issue with the weather. It’s rainy season in August in Thailand so you are going to have that problem no matter where you are in the country. But at the same time, it doesn’t rain every day so just go to your favorite place and cross your fingers it doesn’t rain when you are there. I hope I helped. 🙂 Enjoy your trip 😉