The Best Beaches in Thailand

Home to over 1400 islands, it’s no surprise that Thailand boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Think sugar-white sands and clear turquoise waters worthy of a postcard. From lively stretches lined with bars to deserted coves you can enjoy all to yourself, Thailand has something for every kind of traveller.

Need some inspiration? Whether you fancy watching the sunset from a beanbag on a beach in Koh Lanta or snorkelling in the waters of Koh Lipe, here’s our round-up of the best beaches in Thailand.

Railay Beach, Krabi

Railay Beach is not only one of the best beaches in Krabi, but it’s also one of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand. Its setting is as picture-perfect as it gets, with limestone karsts rising from sparkling waters and lush jungle providing a dramatic backdrop to golden sands.

With soft golden sands, Railay Beach is perfect for relaxing days in the sun. But there’s more to the beach than sunbathing and scenery – it’s also a dream for adventure seekers. You can go rock climbing, explore caves, kayak through bioluminescent plankton, or hike up to the famous Railay viewpoint.

Great for: outdoor adventures and stunning scenery

How to get there:

Due to the towering cliffs surrounding it, Railay Beach is only accessible by boat – something that adds to its charm. The journey there is all part of the adventure though. Long-tail boats run regularly to Railay from both Ao Nang Beach and Krabi Town.

You can also get ferries to Railay Beach from other islands in Thailand such as Phuket, Phi Phi islands, Koh Lipe, Koh Lanta and Koh Kradan.

Popular ferry routes include:

Ao Nam Mao Pier to Railay Beach
Duration: 15 minutes

Koh Phi Phi to Railay Beach
Duration: 40 mins

Koh Lanta to Railay Beach
Duration: 1 hour

Paradise Beach, Koh Kradan

Lesser known than many of Thailand’s other islands, Koh Kradan is a dream for beach lovers. In fact, the island is often praised for having some of the best beaches in the world - not just in Thailand.

Although every beach on this small island in Thailand’s Trang province is equally impressive, our favourite is Paradise Beach with its blinding white sands and transparent waters. Its colourful coral reefs also make it the perfect spot for snorkelling.

Despite Koh Kradan’s natural beauty, the island is still undeveloped. There are no roads or ATMs and there’s a lovely relaxed and peaceful atmosphere, making it an ideal place to experience a more authentic side to Thailand.

Great for: amazing snorkelling and a tranquil atmosphere

How to get there:

You can get a boat to Koh Kradan from a range of different destinations include Trang and Koh Lanta.

Popular ferry routes include:

Koh Lanta to Koh Kradan ferry
Duration: 1 hour 5 mins

Koh Mook to Koh Kradan ferry
Duration: 15 mins

Trang to Koh Kradan ferry
Duration: 30 mins

Bang Bao Beach, Koh Kood (Koh Kut)

Bang Bao Beach is without a doubt one of the best beaches in Thailand. Located on Koh Kood near the Cambodian border, it’s simply stunning with palm-fringed white sands and shallow waters that feel like a swimming pool.

A bit like Paradise Beach in Koh Kradan, Bang Bao Beach remains undeveloped and uncrowded. Days here are all about relaxing and enjoying the underwater world - slink into a swing in the sea, snorkel with vibrant coral reef or take a stroll along the wooden pier to soak up the glorious sea views.

Great for: quiet undeveloped beaches and natural beauty

How to get there:

You can get a ferry to Koh Kood from a few destinations in Thailand including Laem Sok Pier near Trat and the islands of Koh Mak and Koh Chang.

Popular ferry routes include:

Laem Sok to Koh Kood ferry 
Duration: 1 hour

Koh Chang to Koh Kood ferry
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Koh Mak to Koh Kood ferry
Duration: 30 minutes

Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi Leh

No list would be complete without Maya Bay. Located on Koh Phi Phi Leh, this stunning lagoon shot to fame after featuring in the film ‘The Beach’. In fact, it became that famous that overtourism eventually led to the beach closing for a few years. Luckily, it reopened in 2022 with some restrictions in place, including limits on visitor numbers and a swimming ban to help protect the ecosystem. 

Although you can’t swim in its turquoise waters, Maya Bay is well worth visiting for the scenery alone – towering limestone cliffs encase a secluded cove with sparkling white sands and turquoise waters, creating one of Thailand’s most famous views.

Great for: Iconic views and postcard-perfect scenery

How to get there:

Maya Bay is only accessible by boat. From Koh Phi Phi Don, you can reach the beach by longtail boat in around 15 minutes. Tours also run from Phuket and Krabi, although the journey takes slightly longer.

Sunrise Beach, Koh Lipe

Located in Thailand’s Satun province, Sunrise Beach on the island of Koh Lipe is actually closer to Malaysia than mainland Thailand. Although its location makes it a little bit harder to reach, it’s still relatively busy with tourists who have caught on to the fact that Koh Lipe is one of the best beach areas in Thailand. Although it’s no way near as busy as places like Koh Phi Phi and Krabi.

Koh Lipe is famous for its Maldives-like coastline and Sunrise Beach is one of the best places to experience it. Think powdery white sands and clear azure waters backed by lush jungle. It’s also a great spot for snorkelling, with colourful coral reef just off the beach. And of course, sunrise! As you probably guessed from its name, this beach is the place to be for stunning sunrises. And with plenty of amenities nearby, you can enjoy it with a coffee!

Great for: Snorkelling and sunrise views

How to get there:

The easiest way to reach Koh Lipe is by ferry from Pakbara Pier in Satun province, which takes around 1 and a half hours. However, you can also get a ferry from Langkawi in Malaysia, along with other Thai islands such as Koh Phi Phi and Phuket.

Popular ferry routes include:

Pakbara to Koh Lipe ferry
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Langkawi to Koh Lipe ferry
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lipe ferry
Duration: 4 hours

Long Beach, Koh Lanta

An endless stretch of soft golden sands and clear waters makes Long Beach not only one of the best beaches in Koh Lanta, but in all of Thailand. Known locally as Phra Ae Beach, Long Beach is the perfect place to experience Koh Lanta’s famous laid-back atmosphere – take a stroll along the 5km stretch of sand or a refreshing dip in the calm shallow waters. Despite its natural beauty, Long Beach also has plenty of amenities, with relaxed beach bars and restaurants dotted along the coastline.

Koh Lanta is known for its laid-back atmosphere and Long Beach, locally known as Phra Ae Beach, is a great place to experience it – take a stroll along the 5km stretch of sun-soaked sands and splash around in the clear turquoise waters. One of the great things about Long Beach is that even though it’s beautiful, there are plenty of amenities here too with restaurants and bars lining the sun-soaked shoreline.

Long Beach in Koh Lanta is also one of the best beaches in Thailand to watch the sunset. Slip into a deck chair on the sand, order a cold Chang and watch the sky turn beautiful shades of orange and pink as it disappears into the glistening waters.

Great for: Sunsets and laid-back beach bars

How to get there:

Koh Lanta can be reached by ferry from Krabi, Phuket and Koh Phi Phi. Once on the island, Long Beach is located on the west coast and is easily accessible by taxi, tuk-tuk or scooter.

Popular ferry routes include:

Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta
Duration: 30 minutes

Krabi to Koh Lanta ferry
Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes

Phuket to Koh Lanta
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes

Banana Beach, Coral Island

Although Phuket has its fair share of beautiful beaches, a short boat ride from the island will take you to one of Thailand’s best beaches - Banana Beach on Coral Island. This tropical parade features a banana-shaped bay with jungle-lined white sands lapped by crystal-clear waters.

The island is renowned for its colourful coral reefs, making it a great choice for a snorkelling adventure. But the lively beach has plenty more activities to offer, from kayaking to parasailing and boat rides. To avoid the day-trip crowds, we’d recommend visiting as Banana Beach as early as possible!

Great for: Snorkelling, water sports and a fun day trip from Phuket

How to get there:

Banana Beach on Coral Island is only accessible by boat. You can get a boat from Phuket in around 30-45 minutes. You'll find plenty of tour operators in Phuket offering day trips to the island.

Ready for an idyllic beach break? Whether you fancy rock climbing on Railay or snorkelling in Koh Lipe, there’s a beach in Thailand to suit every taste. Make your trip even more memorable by island-hopping between these beautiful destinations by ferry – just use our Deal Finder to find the best deals and book your ferry today. You can also check out our blog for more information on travelling to Thailand.