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What makes Thailand’s beaches so special?
- Thailand’s stunning tropical islands epitomize the typical bucket-list beach, featuring powder-soft white sands, warm turquoise blue waters, and gently swaying palms.
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How many beaches does Thailand have?
- The Land of Smiles is home to thousands of breathtakingly beautiful beaches, all with different attractions and activities to offer.
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Which are the top beaches to visit in Thailand?
- Here are some of the country’s top beaches to visit for an idyllic beach break.
Best Time to Visit Beaches in Thailand
- November to April – Dry season with sunny skies, perfect for swimming, island hopping, and beach relaxation.
- December & January – Peak tourist season with ideal weather and lively beach scenes in places like Phuket and Krabi.
- May & October – Shoulder season with fewer crowds, warm temps, and occasional showers.
- June to September – Rainy season in much of Thailand, but still enjoyable on eastern Gulf Coast beaches like Koh Samui.
- Late November – Great time to enjoy calm seas and sunshine before the high-season crowds arrive.
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1. Baan-Kai Beach
Relax on quiet shores and enjoy a peaceful sunset retreat.
Baan-Kai Beach on Phangan is the longest beach on the island with a wide variety of activities, particularly water sports. The four-kilometer-long beach is easy to get to and has a cool beach club in the center of the beach where young people relax beneath swaying palm trees. Baan Kai Beach offers several water-sports options, including stand-up paddling, kayaking, and kitesurfing and there is a small kitesurfing school in the middle of the beach, which provides taster lessons and complete courses. The beach has several access roads, and a village in the northern area and a short, sandy path leads directly to the beach from most car parks.
Unnamed Rd Ban Tai, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani 84280, Thailand
2. Chaweng Beach
Explore lively nightlife and enjoy exciting water activities.
Chaweng Beach is the largest and busiest beach in Koh Samui with plenty of lively action all year round. The beach is home to many bars, pubs, and nightclubs which attract a young crowd of party-goers, along with massage parlors, restaurants, and water-sports suppliers. The seven-kilometer-long beach is lined with coconut trees and is divided into four sections: North Chaweng, Central Chaweng, South Chaweng and Chaweng Noi (Little Chaweng). Activities at the beach include scuba-diving, snorkeling, kayaking, stand-up paddling, and sightseeing trips to nearby Ko Tao and the Angthong National Marine Park.
Chaweng, Bophut 84320, Thailand
3. Haad Rin Beach
Experience thrilling full moon parties and admire vibrant beach vibes.
If it’s a vibrant nightlife you are looking for than Haad Rin Beach on Koh Phangan is the place to go. The beach is home to the most clubs of any kind on the island and crowds reach peak levels during the Full Moon party when between 30,000 and 60,000 flocks to the beach to party. Aside from being the party capital of the island, Haad Rin is a beautiful bay surrounded by cliffs with a long, white sandy beach and azure blue water. The spacious beach has plenty of accommodation and dining options and is a popular spot with young travelers to hang out in the evenings. Jet skiing is very popular at Haad Rin Beach, as well as surfing in the rainy season from October to November.
Moo 4 | Ban Tai, Ko Pha Ngan 84280, Thailand
4. Haad Yao Beach
Walk along soft sands and savor a quiet, romantic escape.
Located in the north-west of the island, Haad Yao Beach is a soft sandy beach with gleaming white sand and crystal-clear water that attracts young holidaymakers for its dream beach setting. There are cool beach bars and restaurants all along the beach that play music all day, and a nearby village has accommodation and other essentials. Water sports here include swimming, snorkeling along the nearby reef, kayaking and boating. A diving school at the beach offers diving excursions to the well-known Sail Rock, which is between Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.
Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand
5. Haad Yuan Beach
Discover secluded shores and enjoy a peaceful weekend getaway.
Haad Yuan Beach is a small, sandy beach situated in the south-east of Phangan with large rock formations and a very picturesque setting. The tiny bay is enclosed by giant smooth rocks and offers excellent swimming year-round, and huge palm-trees separate the beach from an enormous jungle which stretches right up to the hills, giving the beach a special charm. The beach can only be accessed by boat, which is an adventure in itself, and there are plenty of accommodation options for all budgets, as well as fantastic restaurants, including the highly recommended Garden Eden, Bamboo Hat and Ocean Rock, laid-back beach bars, two open-air clubs.
Koh Pha-Ngan, Ko Pha-ngan District, Surat Thani, Thailand
6. June Juea Beach
Admire stunning sunsets and enjoy a relaxing beach escape.
June Juea Beach is a well-hidden bay and beach on the west coast of Koh Tao with small sandy areas, plenty of rocks and trees and gin-clear water. The perfect hideaway for honeymoon couples, the remote beach is not easy to find and an idyllic escape from the hustle and bustle of other beaches. There is a small bar that serves delicious drinks, and a wooden walkway which visitors can use to walk to the end of the beach, but otherwise the beach is quiet and peaceful with not much else to do except relax, sunbathe and swim. Canoes and snorkeling equipment are available to rent, and there is a lovely little reef to explore.
6/7 Moo 3 | June Juea Beach, Koh Tao 84360, Thailand
7. Kamala Beach
Explore calm waters and enjoy a family-friendly, relaxing retreat.
Kamala is a fishing village that lies just north of Patong with a beautiful enclosed bay with a long, palm-tree lined crowd-free sandy beach surrounded by forested hills. One of the most beautiful places in Phuket, Kamala has small hotels, villas and apartment rentals around the village and several luxury villa developments on the headland to the south. There are a large number of sun-loungers for hire and a pretty promenade lined with bars and restaurants for dining and drinks options. There are plenty of water activities to enjoy, including banana boating, jet-skiing, scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, stand-up paddling, and swimming and the beach is easily accessible by car and scooter and from the southernmost popular resort of Patong, which is only a few miles from Kamala Beach.
Kamala, Kathu, Phuket 83150, Thailand
8. Karon Beach
Walk along golden sands and enjoy an easy, affordable beach day.
Located on the west coast, between Patong and Kata, Karon Beach is the third-longest beach on Phuket Island and one of the most popular holiday destinations in Phuket. The long, white sandy beach is lined with several large resorts, as well as restaurants and shops, including the famous Karon Bazaar, and offers a wide array of water sports and activities, ranging from snorkeling and scuba-diving to kayaking, jet-skiing, banana boating, stand-up paddling, and more. The nearby Karon Centre has a bustling, vibrant atmosphere with a good choice of dining, shopping, and nightlife entertainment, as well as a beautiful Buddhist temple hosting a bi-weekly market. The southern end of the beach hosts excellent restaurants and lively nightlife spots.
Karon, Phuket, Thailand
9. Kata Beach
Ride exciting waves and explore vibrant local attractions.
One of the most beautiful and relaxed beaches in Phuket, Kata Beach is a pleasant bay with a small, palm-lined beach and a busy, but relaxed and calm atmosphere. Impressive rocks tower majestically over the beach which boasts clear, shallow waters which are perfect for swimming, snorkeling and splashing about – particularly for families with small children. Kata also has an impressive range of dining options, from budget street food to fine dining establishments, a lively but not too raucous nightlife, and an array of accommodation options all close to the beach. Surfers flock to catch Kata's waves from May to October.
Pakbang Road, Kata Beach, Karon, Phuket 83100, Thailand
10. Kata-Noi Beach
Relax on quiet shores and enjoy a romantic, peaceful getaway.
Located just south of the central Kata Beach, Kata-Noi Beach is a beautiful little bay along Phuket’s west coast with a charming beach of lovely soft sand and stunning scenery. Home to some of Phuket’s most luxurious resorts and restaurants, the beach can be busy in the high season, but the waters are crystal-clear and offer fantastic swimming and snorkeling. The hillside road next to the beach is lined with an array of best sunset bars where you can soak up stunning views over the sand and out to the horizon while sipping colorful cocktails and dining on fresh Thai food. Kata Noi Beach is very popular with surfers in the low season between May and October.
Karon, Phuket 83100, Thailand
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