Best Beaches in Thailand
Thailand is one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations. It has so much to offer, including temples, a wild nightlife, and the famous Thai smile that welcomes visitors from far and wide. It is also known to have some of the best beaches anywhere in the world.
There are so many beaches to choose from that it can be difficult to choose where to go. You can also choose from beaches that are close to where the action is, to those that see few visitors. To help you slim down your options, we have created a guide to some of the very best beaches that Thailand has to offer.
1. Hua Hin Beach, Hua Hin
Huan Hin beach is a fairly large beach and is located within a couple of hours drive from Bangkok. While it is not as stunning as some of the other beaches, its proximity to Bangkok makes it a popular escape for people that are living in Thailand’s capital city. Huan Hin is a popular tourist destination so you will find plenty to do, while the large size of the beach helps to prevent it from becoming overcrowded. In addition to being a tourist destination, Hua Hin is also the home of Klai Kang Won Palace, an official summer residence of the Thai monarchy. As such, Hua Hin’s nightlife is not as raucous as some of the nation’s other popular destinations.
2. Ao Phrao
Pattaya is one of Thailand’s most popular destinations, but a lot of visitors come more for the wild nightlife than the beaches. To be frank, the beaches of Pattaya leave a lot to be desired, but paradise is not too far away. Catch a ferry or speedboat to nearby Koh Samet and you can find yourself in a world of stunning tranquility.
Koh Samet is itself a popular tourist destination, but head south toward Ao Phrao and you will find a quiet and beautiful beach away from the crowds. The accommodation here tends to be more upmarket but the beach is still accessible to all and, thankfully, it does not get as busy as some of the other beaches on the island.
3. Sunrise Beach
Koh Lipe is an island found in the southwestern part of Thailand and is not far from the border with Malaysia. The island has seen a surge in tourism in recent years and this has marred the island’s natural beauty in places, but there are still some beaches that are just as stunning as they were before the crowds first started to arrive. If you get the chance, make your way to Sunrise Beach.
The beach is still quiet and relaxed, with white sands and beautiful, warm turquoise waters. As its name suggests, it is also a wonderful spot from which to watch the sun rise. Get there soon before too many crowds arrive so you can enjoy the beach in its full glory.
4. Ao Manao
Ao Manao beach is located on Thailand’s eastern seaboard and is just 5 kilometers from Prachuap Khiri Khan. The name ‘Ao Manao’ translates into English as ‘Lime Bay’, a name that was given due to the stunning limestone outcrops that form peninsulas to the south and the north of the beach.
The crescent shaped beach is usually relatively quiet and peaceful. It is also usually immaculately clean, thanks to regular clean-ups by the military personnel that are serving in the base on which the beach is located. You will also find accommodation here as well as a number of seafood restaurants.
5. Morakot Cave
Morakot Cave is located off the coast of Koh Muk, and island in Thailand’s southern Trang province. The cave’s name translates into English as ‘Emerald Cave’, a name it was given due to the way an emerald color is reflected on the cave’s walls at certain times of the day.
The cave itself is entered through a narrow tunnel that is 20m long and can be accessed by kayak or by swimming. Once inside, visitors will find a small lagoon and beach that is breathtakingly beautiful. The beach here is made from soft white sand and surrounded by high, jagged rocks surrounding the stunning emerald green waters.
6. Freedom Beach
Thailand’s Phuket Island is one of the world’s premier tourist destinations. Most visitors here will stay at Patong Town which is where most of the hotels, restaurants, bars, and other attractions are located. Patong Town also sits on the large Patong Beach, which is impressive in its own right.
Travel further afield, however, and you will find that Phuket is home to some of the finest of beaches of all on our planet. One such example is Freedom beach which is considered by many to be the best on the island. It is a little challenging to reach, meaning many don’t make the journey, but this makes the reward even greater for those that do make it.
7. Donald Duck Bay
The Similan Islands National Park are a small group of islands located off Thailand’s west coast. The islands are a major attraction for divers because of the abundance of coral and marine life found here. In addition to the diving, tourists also come here in large numbers to experience the stunning natural beauty of the islands for themselves.
One of the most popular of the Similan beaches is Donald Duck Bay, which gets its name from a nearby rock formation that resembles the Disney character of the same name. Tourist numbers are strictly limited here to help protect the surrounding environment and no overnight accommodation is available.
8. Bottle Beach
Koh Phangan is the home of the famous full moon parties where people from around the world come to take part in all night beach parties. For a lot of people, these events have contributed to make the Island more commercial than is ideal, but that does not mean to say that paradise cannot be found here.
If you are staying on Koh Phangan and you want a break from the parties, make sure to visit bottle beach. The beach here is simply stunning, and it is also relatively difficult to get to, which helps to keep tourist numbers down. You will also find places to stay, restaurants, and a number of bars.
9. Railay Beach
Krabi is one of Thailand’s most stunning coastal areas, which is quite a feat for a nation known for its beautiful coastline. Phang Nga Bay in particular is instantly noticeable to a lot of people, partly because the bay was used in scenes from the James Bond movie: The Man with a Golden Gun.
As you might expect, the crowds have come to visit the bay and the now named James Bond Island. The good news is that not far away is Railay Beach, which is less busy but just as beautiful. The beach is only accessible by boat, and you might also find that the monkeys living here will want to pay you a visit.
10. Maya Bay
Maya Bay is perhaps Thailand’s most famous beach, and arguably even the most famous tropical paradise on the planet. It came to fame in the year 2000 when it was the setting for the movie ‘The Beach’ starring Leonardo Di Caprio. As stunning as the beach was in the movie, the big screen did it no justice and it is even more beautiful in real life.
The success of the movie meant that tourists started visiting the island in their droves. Damage to the coral and a decline in the marine life here lead the Thai government to close the beach to visitors to help the ecosystem recover. It is expected to be opened to tourism again in 2021, and the number of visitors will be limited.
