15 Best Beaches in Thailand You Need to Visit

Quick answer: Thailand’s best beaches sit on two coasts. On the Andaman Sea side, Railay and Phra Nang in Krabi, Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi Leh and Nai Harn and Freedom Beach in Phuket are the stand-outs, and they are best from about November to April. On the Gulf of Thailand side, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao have their wettest weather roughly from October to December. Below are 15 beaches, what each one is like, and the seasonal rules and closures to check before you go.

How to choose a beach in Thailand

Most of Thailand’s best-known beaches are in the south, on either side of the Malay peninsula:

• The Andaman coast (west): Phuket, Krabi (including Railay and the Phi Phi islands), Phang Nga (the Similan Islands), Ranong (Koh Phayam) and Satun (Koh Tarutao). This is limestone-cliff country, with dramatic scenery and many island-hopping trips.
• The Gulf of Thailand (east of the peninsula): Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, which are linked by ferry.
• The eastern seaboard, closer to Bangkok: Pattaya and Koh Samet, which are popular for shorter trips from the capital.

Some beaches are easy to reach and therefore busy. Others are on islands or behind cliffs and take more effort to get to, but are quieter. The list below mixes both, so you can pick what suits you.

When to go: the two monsoons

According to the Thai government’s climate guide, the southwest monsoon brings rain and rough seas to the Andaman coast from about mid-May to mid-October. The northeast monsoon follows from about mid-October to mid-February; it is cool and dry for much of the country, but in the south it can bring rain to the Gulf coast into December. In practice, the Andaman side is at its best from about November to April, while Samui, Phangan and Tao are usually wettest from October to December. Exact timings vary from year to year, so check a forecast close to your trip.

The 15 best beaches in Thailand

1. Ao Yai, Koh Phayam (Ranong)

Koh Phayam is a small, car-free island in the Andaman Sea, off Ranong province near the Myanmar border. Ao Yai is its long main beach. The island has no big resorts or crowds; it is a place for simple bungalows, quiet sand and easy-going island life. Getting there takes time, which is part of what keeps it quiet: travel to Ranong by road or air, then take a boat from the Ranong pier.

An earlier version of this article called Koh Phayam the second-largest island in the Andaman Sea. That is not correct; it is a small island, and the claim has been removed.

2. Railay Beach (Krabi)

Railay is one of Krabi’s most famous beaches and one of Thailand’s best-known sights. It sits on a peninsula cut off from the mainland by limestone cliffs, so you reach it by longtail boat, usually from Ao Nang or Krabi town.

The soft white sand is only part of the appeal. Railay is surrounded by cliffs, caves, limestone towers and jungle, and the cliffs are a major rock-climbing area. “Railay” covers several beaches close together, including Railay West, Railay East and Phra Nang (number 7 below), so it is easy to combine lazy beach time with exploring on foot. Upmarket stays on the peninsula include the Rayavadee and Bhu Nga Thani resorts.

3. Koh Tarutao (Satun)

Koh Tarutao, the main island of Tarutao National Park in Satun province near the Malaysian border, offers long, empty beaches together with things to do: cycling, kayaking through mangroves and jungle walks.

The island has an unusual history. In 1938 Thailand’s Corrections Department built a penal colony here for political prisoners, and visitors can still walk to the remains of the prison settlement. Boats run from Pak Bara pier on the Satun mainland, and the island lies north of Koh Lipe. Stays are in national park accommodation, including campsites, so book through the Department of National Parks. According to the department, Tarutao and Lipe stay open year-round, while the nearby Adang-Rawi islands close from mid-May to mid-October; boat services are still reduced and seas rough during the monsoon.

4. Nai Harn Beach (Phuket)

Nai Harn, near the southern tip of Phuket, is one of the island’s most popular beaches. It is known for clear water, white sand and, in the dry season, gentle swimming conditions. Small cafés and food vendors nearby make it easy to spend a whole day there.

An earlier version of this article said Nai Harn is suitable to visit all year. In the dry season, roughly November to April, the bay is usually calm. During the southwest monsoon, roughly May to October, Phuket’s west-facing beaches, Nai Harn included, can have strong waves and rip currents. Lifeguards put up red flags when swimming is unsafe; stay out of the water when they are flying, and swim only between the flags.

5. Koh Tachai and the Similan Islands (Phang Nga)

Koh Tachai and Koh Bon were added to Mu Ko Similan National Park in Phang Nga in 1998. The island has a long white-sand beach backed by rainforest, and nearby Tachai Pinnacle is a well-known dive site where divers sometimes see large marine life such as manta rays. (An earlier version of this article said the beach was 800 km long, which was a clear error.)

Important: Koh Tachai itself has been closed to visitors since 2016 because of damage from overcrowding. Officials have discussed reopening it with strict limits, but we found no confirmed reopening date as of October 2026. Dive boats have generally still visited the surrounding waters. If you want a Similan beach, the main Similan islands are open in season, which normally runs from 15 October to 15 May. The park closes for the rest of the year, overnight stays on the islands are not allowed, and visitor numbers are limited, so book through a licensed operator and check the park’s current rules.

6. Haad Rin, Koh Phangan (Surat Thani)

Haad Rin, on the southeastern peninsula of Koh Phangan in the Gulf of Thailand, is the island’s best-known beach area. It has long stretches of white sand and blue water framed by coconut palms and headlands, and the beach is lively, with volleyball, swimming and water sports such as kayaking. Places to stay range from resorts to budget beachfront rooms.

Haad Rin Nok (Sunrise Beach) hosts the Full Moon Party, which is held around each full moon and draws very large crowds. If you want a calm beach day, avoid the days around the party, or stay on the quieter Haad Rin Nai (Sunset Beach) side.

7. Phra Nang Cave Beach (Krabi)

Phra Nang Cave Beach is on the Railay peninsula and is often called one of Thailand’s most beautiful beaches. Limestone cliffs, popular with rock climbers, rise straight out of the sand. The water is shallow, which makes it a favourite with families looking for calmer swimming. The beach is named after the cave shrine at its eastern end.

The Rayavadee resort sits right beside the beach, and short paths nearby lead through caves and viewpoints. Boat vendors sell snacks and fruit along the sand. Phra Nang gets crowded in the peak months (about November to April). The shoulder months of May and October usually bring fewer people, but they fall in the rainy season, so expect some showers and rougher seas.

8. Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi Leh (Krabi)

Maya Bay, on Koh Phi Phi Leh in Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, is a shallow turquoise bay almost enclosed by huge limestone cliffs. It was the setting for the Leonardo DiCaprio film The Beach (2000), which made it world famous.

Mass tourism badly damaged its coral, and the national park closed Maya Bay on 1 June 2018 to let the reef recover. It reopened on 1 January 2022 with new rules. As CNN reported at the time, boats could no longer enter the bay; they docked at a pier in Loh Samah Bay on the other side of the island, and visitors walked in along boardwalks, with limits on boats and visitor numbers. Swimming in the bay is still not allowed. The bay also now closes every year from 1 August to 30 September, and in 2026 it reopened on 1 October. Check the current rules and entry fee with your boat operator before you book.

9. Pattaya Beach (Chonburi)

Pattaya Beach is a busy city beach on the Gulf of Thailand, about 150 km southeast of Bangkok (an earlier version of this article said it was about an hour south of Bangkok; by road it usually takes longer). The beach runs for about 2.7 km in front of the city centre. Phra Tamnak Hill, topped by the Big Buddha at Wat Phra Yai, rises at its southern end and separates Pattaya from Jomtien Beach.

Pattaya was a fishing village until the 1960s and is now a large resort city with hotels and shopping. It is a good choice for water sports such as parasailing and jet-skiing that smaller beaches do not offer, and for walking the beachfront promenade, but it can be crowded. The beach has suffered from erosion, and a restoration project begun in 2018 set out to widen it again.

10. Chaweng Noi Beach (Koh Samui)

Chaweng is Koh Samui’s busiest beach, so its smaller, quieter neighbour at the southern end, Chaweng Noi, is a popular alternative. The shallow water, calm surf and relaxed shoreline make it good for a day away from the crowds.

You can eat at small beach restaurants with tables on the sand or book a beachfront massage. Samui is on the Gulf side, so its wettest weather usually falls between October and December; plan a beach trip for roughly January to April for the most reliable conditions.

11. Freedom Beach (Phuket)

Freedom Beach is a small, clear-water cove between Patong and Karon on Phuket’s west coast, good for a day of relaxing and snorkelling. It is hard to reach by land, so most people take a longtail boat from the southern end of Patong Beach, a short ride of about 10 to 20 minutes. Boats are hired per boat, so agree the price before you set off.

There is also a steep forest path from the headland, and an access fee is usually charged to walk in. Freedom Beach is a classic picture of a quiet tropical Thai cove. The dry season, roughly November to April, is the best time to go, and boats may not run when monsoon seas are rough.

12. Ao Prao Beach, Koh Samet (Rayong)

Koh Samet, about 220 km southeast of Bangkok, is a popular weekend escape for people from the capital, thanks to its clear water and soft white sand. Most of its beaches face east, but Ao Prao is the main beach on the western shore. It is calmer than the busy east-coast beaches and good for watching the sunset.

Ao Prao is another good choice for families: the water is calm for swimming in the dry season, and in the evening you can eat seafood at the beachside restaurants. Most of the island is part of Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park, so foreign visitors pay a national park entry fee on arrival.

13. Sairee Beach, Koh Tao (Surat Thani)

Sairee is Koh Tao’s longest and most popular beach, a white-sand stretch of about 1.7 km on the island’s west coast. It is the island’s liveliest area, with plenty of cafés and bars. Koh Tao is especially well known for scuba diving, and many dive schools are based along Sairee.

The long, narrow beach is good for walking. Because it faces west, Sairee is known for its sunsets and is popular with photographers. (An earlier version of this article said you can see both sunrise and sunset from it; the beach faces west, so sunset is the view to come for.)

14. Koh Poda (Krabi)

From Krabi, it is common to take a boat out to the nearby islands, and Koh Poda is one of the best known. It lies about 5 km off Railay and is part of Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park.

Koh Poda is visited on day trips, often as part of the “four islands” tour, which also takes in the twin islands of Koh Tup and Koh Mor, joined by a sandbar at low tide. Boats can be booked through travel agents and hotels in Ao Nang and Krabi. Expect postcard views of white sand and limestone rock rising out of the sea, and a national park fee.

15. Klong Muang Beach (Krabi)

Ao Nang is Krabi’s main mainland beach town, and it is often packed with visitors.

Head north along the coast to Klong Muang and the feel is very different: a quieter beach with fewer people, some larger resorts, massage on the shore and good sunsets. Klong Muang is a short drive from Ao Nang. There are fewer shops and restaurants than in Ao Nang, and parts of the beach are rocky at low tide.

The 15 beaches at a glance

Before you travel: entry rules and park rules

Entry rules for Indian travellers have changed several times since 2024. As reported in September 2026, Indian ordinary passport holders visiting for tourism can enter Thailand without a visa for up to 30 days, down from the 60 days allowed earlier. Every foreign visitor must also fill in the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online before arriving. These rules can change at short notice, so check the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi and the official TDAC website before you travel, and keep your passport valid well beyond your return date.

Many of the beaches above, including Maya Bay, Koh Poda, Koh Tarutao, the Similans and Koh Samet, are inside national parks. Expect:

• a national park entry fee, which is higher for foreign visitors;
• seasonal closures, which are announced by Thailand’s Department of National Parks and can shift by a few days each year;
• conservation rules such as no swimming at Maya Bay and limits on visitor numbers. Since 2021 the department has banned sunscreens containing oxybenzone, octinoxate, 4MBC or butylparaben in marine national parks, with fines of up to 100,000 baht; use a reef-safe sunscreen.

Planning a longer trip? See our guide to the best places to visit in Bangkok, or compare Thailand with the best beaches in Malaysia and the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time to visit Thailand’s beaches?

For Phuket, Krabi and the other Andaman coast beaches, roughly November to April. For Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, avoid the wettest months of about October to December. Monsoon timings vary each year, so check forecasts.

Can you swim at Maya Bay?

No. Since the bay reopened in 2022, swimming has not been allowed, to protect the recovering coral. Maya Bay also closes every year from 1 August to 30 September.

Which Thai beach is best for families?

Calm, shallow beaches such as Phra Nang Cave Beach in Krabi, Chaweng Noi on Koh Samui and Ao Prao on Koh Samet suit families in the dry season. Always follow lifeguard flags.

Is Koh Tachai open to visitors?

No. Koh Tachai has been closed to visitors since 2016, and no reopening date had been confirmed as of October 2026. The main Similan islands are open in season, normally from 15 October to 15 May.

Do Indians need a visa for Thailand?

As reported in September 2026, Indian tourists can enter visa-free for up to 30 days, and every foreign visitor must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card before arrival. Confirm the current rules with the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi before you book.

This guide combines two earlier eDefines articles on the same topic.

Details checked in October 2026 against Thailand’s Department of National Parks announcements, the Thai government’s climate guide, park and island records, and travel reporting by CNN and Time Out. Seasonal closures and entry rules change, so check before you travel.