Phuket
Bang Tao Beach
Eight kilometres of sand fronting the Laguna resorts — room for everyone, with beach clubs at the north end.
Beach clubsFamily friendlyLong walks
Thailand's Best Beaches & Islands
From Krabi's limestone coves to Samui's palm-lined bays — the beaches worth the journey.
Koh Samui
Chaweng Beach
Samui's liveliest stretch: watersports by day, beach bars and night markets after dark.
NightlifeWatersportsRestaurants
Phuket
Freedom Beach
A steep path keeps the crowds off this white-sand cove near Patong — clear water and barely a beach bar in sight.
QuietSnorkellingWhite sand
Hua Hin
Hua Hin Beach
Five gentle kilometres of sand below the royal town — pony rides, kite surfing and seafood shacks.
KitesurfingFamily friendlySeafood
Pattaya
Koh Larn (Coral Island)
A 30-minute ferry from Pattaya delivers surprisingly clear water and six beaches to choose from.
Day tripFerry accessWatersports
Koh Samui
Lamai Beach
Chaweng's calmer sibling: good swimming, a relaxed strip of restaurants and the Grandfather/Grandmother rocks.
SwimmingRelaxedRestaurants
Koh Phi Phi
Maya Bay
The famous cove restored by conservation closures — visits are capped and swimming restricted, but the scenery remains unmatched.
Protected parkSnorkelling nearbyIconic scenery
Krabi
Phra Nang Beach
Cave shrines, karst towers and powder sand at the tip of the Railay peninsula.
CavesClimbingIconic scenery
Krabi
Railay Beach
Reachable only by boat, framed by limestone cliffs — one of Thailand's most photogenic beaches and a world rock-climbing mecca.
ClimbingLongtail accessSunset views
Koh Samui
Silver Beach
A compact boulder-framed cove between Chaweng and Lamai with calm, glass-clear water.
SnorkellingCalm waterSmall & scenic