The 20 Best Beaches in All of Thailand

TripAdvisor users voted Kata Noi the best beach in Thailand. It’s clean, family friendly, easy to reach but not overrun by tourists. The northern end of Kata Noi is a favourite with surfers, especially during the rainy season.

As Thailand’s largest island, Phuket is also one of the country’s most visited destinations. Laem Sing is a small, pretty beach on Phuket’s west coast and not as crowded as some of its neighbours. There’s not much to do here other than relaxing, working on your tan and enjoying the stunning scenery.

Also known as Airport Beach, Mai Khao is much quieter than you’d expect, given its location so close to Phuket’s airport. The fact that it stretches over 11 km certainly helps to give this beach a deserted feel.

According to The Telegraph, it’s likely that the only other creature you’ll meet while strolling here will be a water buffalo.

Only minutes away from crowded Patong Beach, Freedom Beach is a hidden gem. The only ways to get here are by longtail boat or by climbing down a steep path, so only the most intrepid travellers come here to feel the soft sand between their toes and to bathe in the clear waters.

Koh Lipe has become a bit of a party destination according to The Telegraph. However, Hat Chao Ley or Sunrise Beach is a quieter 2 km stretch of white sand and turquoise waters that provide great snorkelling. As the name implies, it’s also the perfect spot for watching the sunrise.

Koh Phi Phi Don is a magnet for tourists looking for the slice of paradise portrayed in Leonardo DiCaprio’s The Beach, even though the movie was actually filmed on nearby Koh Phi Phi Lee. A popular diving and snorkelling destination, it can be crowded but it’s still spectacularly beautiful.

Bamboo Island, or Koh Mai Phai, is more like the remote island of The Beach. The casuarina-covered island is in a national park and camping on the beach is your only accommodation option.

The Telegraph says that the only things that might disturb your peace are bird song and, once in a while, park rangers.

Railay has been named one of Thailand’s top beaches by TripAdvisor users. With many visitors spending their time climbing the dramatic limestone cliffs, the beach itself offers plenty of space for soaking up the sun.

Koh Kradan in Hat Jao Mai National Park has several resorts dotted along its main beach but, as The Telegraph says, there is ‘blissful co-existence’ between the conservation and resort aspects here. Kayaking and snorkelling are popular activities.

Even though Koh Kood is the fourth largest island in Thailand, it’s still quite undeveloped for tourism. There are several good beaches here but Kluai with its powdery sand and seaweed is the one where you can really indulge your inner castaway.

Koh Samui is the second largest island in Thailand and also one of the country’s most popular destinations. Stretching over 7 km, palm-fringed Chaweng is the largest beach here. It’s well developed and bustling, with a hopping nightlife.

Mae Nam is Chaweng’s quieter cousin, with what The Telegraph calls an 'unhurried' pace of life. It’s popular with backpackers who simply want to chill out under the coconut palms.

Limestone outcrops jut from the turquoise water, making Phra Nang one of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand. TripAdvisor users voted it as one of the country’s best, too.

Phra Nang is just a short walk away from Railay Beach and while it can get crowded, it still makes for a relaxing day complete with a massage right there on the sand.

Located on the Krabi mainland, Tubkaak is blissfully quiet, with only a handful of hotels. There’s not much to do here except enjoying the views of the Koh Hong archipelago and appreciating the glorious sunsets.

Koh Phangan is known for its full-moon parties but if you need some peace and quiet, look no further than Thong Nai Pan.

Noi and Yai are the two adjacent beaches here and while they’re quite well developed, they’re also secluded and clean, with impossibly clear water. It’s no wonder that TripAdvisor users consider this one of Thailand’s top beach destinations.

Gently curving between two headlands, laid-back Haad Salad is 600 m in length and quite narrow in parts. However, it is unspoiled and a nearby coral reef makes for good snorkelling.

The name Haad Salad means 'pirate beach', a nod to the days when this secluded cove was a hangout for buccaneers.

The Telegraph calls Long Beach a firm favourite among Koh Lanta’s child-friendly beaches. Stretching over about 5 km, Long Beach or Phra Ae is so spacious that even on the busiest days it doesn’t feel crowded.

While Long Beach is Koh Lanta’s most popular beach, Kantiang is one of the island’s best. It’s quiet and peaceful, with clear and calm waters and soft, golden sand. The lush and hilly landscape here also provides unforgettable sea views.

While not exactly remote, Koh Jum’s mountainous topography means that cars are few and far between, lending the island a peaceful air.

As The Telegraph says, the most adventurous activity here is snorkelling rather than bar-hopping. Andaman Beach is the main stretch of sand on Koh Jum and is home to some bungalows and tree houses among the lush vegetation.

Koh Tao is a diving Mecca and at Ao Tanot, snorkelling is a favourite pastime. TripAdvisor users voted this one of Thailand’s best beaches, raving about the abundant marine life and how clean the beach is.

If you want a serious adrenaline rush, swim out to the big rock jutting from the water and try your hand at cliff diving.