Thailand
The best beaches in Thailand: where to go and when
First trip: pick one coast, not both. Nov–Apr go Andaman — Railay, Kata, Karon, Patong, Ko Lanta, Ko Lipe. Feb–Sep go Gulf — Chaweng, Lamai, Choeng Mon, Ko Tao. Near Bangkok: Pattaya (2 h) or Hua Hin (3–4 h). Allow 3–4 nights minimum per beach base.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
GuideThailand
Key facts
- Andaman coast season
- Nov–Apr (dry)
- Gulf coast season
- Feb–Sep (dry)
- Minimum nights per beach
- 3–4
- Closest beach to Bangkok
- Pattaya, about 2 h by road
- Air hub for the Andaman
- Phuket (HKT) or Krabi (KBV)
- Air hub for the Gulf
- Koh Samui (USM) or Surat Thani (URT)
- Peak crowds and pricescheck
- Late Dec–mid Jan and around Songkran (13–15 Apr)
Our top picks
Ranked for a first or second trip to Thailand, one base per coast. Each pick names who it suits and the months that work. Nights are the minimum that does the place justice; add a spare night per week for boats and storms.
- Railay, Krabi → /rai-leh
- Kata → /kata
- Karon → /karon
- Patong → /patong
- Chaweng → /chaweng
- Lamai → /lamai
- Choeng Mon → /choeng-mon
- Ko Tao → /ko-tao
- Ko Lipe → /ko-lipe
- Pattaya → /pattaya
- Hua Hin → /hua-hin
| Beach | Why go | Best time | Cost (2026 estimate) | Nights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Railay, Krabi | Limestone cliffs, climbing, boat access only | Nov–Apr | Longtail day trip 1,500–2,500 THB | 3 |
| Kata, Phuket | Calmer swimming beach, walkable to Karon | Nov–Apr | Mid-range room 1,500–3,500 THB/night | 3–4 |
| Karon, Phuket | Long sand, resorts, families and couples | Nov–Apr | Mid-range room 1,500–3,500 THB/night | 3–4 |
| Patong, Phuket | Nightlife, shopping, everything on foot | Nov–Apr | Budget room 800–1,800 THB/night | 3 |
| Chaweng, Koh Samui | Longest Samui beach, airport 15 min away | Feb–Sep | Mid-range room 1,500–4,000 THB/night | 4 |
| Lamai, Koh Samui | Quieter Samui base, good value | Feb–Sep | Mid-range room 1,200–3,000 THB/night | 3–4 |
| Choeng Mon, Koh Samui | Small bay, shallow water, families | Feb–Sep | Mid-range room 2,000–4,500 THB/night | 3 |
| Ko Tao | Cheapest place to learn to dive, reefs off shore | Mar–Sep | Open-water course 9,000–12,000 THB | 3 |
| Ko Lipe | Far south, clear water, small island | Nov–Apr | Speedboat from Pak Bara 1,200–1,800 THB | 3 |
| Pattaya | 2 h from Bangkok, easy weekend | Nov–Feb | Budget room 700–1,500 THB/night | 2 |
| Hua Hin | Royal seaside town, calm water, golf | Nov–Feb | Mid-range room 1,200–3,000 THB/night | 2–3 |
How we chose
We ranked on four things a traveller can act on: how easy the beach is to reach from Bangkok, whether the water is swimmable in the months you are likely to travel, how much a bed costs at the mid range, and how much there is to do when the weather turns. We kept one pick per coast so the list does not push you into a two-coast trip in ten days.
We left out beaches that need a private boat or a longtail charter to reach, and beaches where the only practical base is a resort with no village. Those can be good days out; they are not good first bases.
- Reachable by public transport or a scheduled boat
- Swimmable in a defined dry season
- A village or town within walking distance
- Mid-range room under about 4,000 THB in high season
- Something to do on a wet day
When to go
Thailand has two coasts with two different dry seasons. The Andaman side (Phuket, Krabi, Ko Lanta, Ko Lipe) is dry Nov–Apr and wet May–Oct. The Gulf side (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Ko Tao) is dry Feb–Sep and wet Oct–Jan. Pick the coast by your travel month, not by the beach you saw in a photo.
Peak crowds and prices run late Dec to mid Jan and again around Songkran (13–15 Apr), when domestic travel spikes. Shoulder weeks in Nov and Apr give the same water with fewer people. The monsoon does not mean rain all day; it usually means one heavy burst and a rougher sea, which can cancel boats.
| Month | Andaman (Phuket, Krabi) | Gulf (Samui, Ko Tao) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov | Good, start of dry season | Wet, boats can cancel |
| Dec–Feb | Best, peak crowds late Dec | Mixed to good |
| Mar–Apr | Hot and dry, Songkran crowds | Best, calm sea |
| May–Jul | Wet, some boats cancelled | Good |
| Aug–Sep | Wet | Good, cheapest diving |
| Oct | Wet, worst month | Wet, worst month |
Getting there
Fly into Bangkok first, then take a domestic flight rather than an overnight bus; every overnight bus costs you a day of beach. Phuket (HKT) and Krabi (KBV) serve the Andaman. Koh Samui (USM) has its own airport; Surat Thani (URT) is the cheaper gateway for Samui, Phangan and Ko Tao, followed by a bus and a ferry.
From Krabi or Phuket, Railay and the Phi Phi islands are reached by longtail or speedboat from Ao Nang or Rassada pier. Ko Lipe is reached by speedboat from Pak Bara, or by ferry from Langkawi in high season. Pattaya and Hua Hin are road trips from Bangkok, 2 h and 3–4 h respectively, with buses and minivans from the eastern and southern terminals.
| Beach | Gateway | Transfer time |
|---|---|---|
| Railay, Krabi | Krabi (KBV) or Ao Nang pier | Airport to Ao Nang 30–45 min, boat 10–15 min |
| Kata, Karon, Patong | Phuket (HKT) | Airport to west coast 45–60 min |
| Chaweng, Lamai, Choeng Mon | Koh Samui (USM) | Airport to Chaweng 15 min |
| Ko Tao | Surat Thani (URT) or Chumphon | Bus and ferry 3–5 h total |
| Ko Lipe | Pak Bara pier | Speedboat 1.5–2 h |
| Pattaya | Bangkok | Bus or minivan about 2 h |
| Hua Hin | Bangkok | Bus or train 3–4 h |
Map
Coordinates are approximate beach or town centres, for orientation only. Check the individual beach page for the exact stretch of sand and the nearest pier.
| Beach | Approximate coordinates |
|---|---|
| Railay | 8.0110, 98.8370 |
| Kata | 7.8200, 98.2990 |
| Karon | 7.8460, 98.2940 |
| Patong | 7.8960, 98.2960 |
| Chaweng | 9.5350, 100.0620 |
| Lamai | 9.4700, 100.0450 |
| Choeng Mon | 9.5720, 100.0800 |
| Ko Tao | 10.0950, 99.8280 |
| Ko Lipe | 6.4890, 99.3060 |
| Pattaya | 12.9270, 100.8770 |
| Hua Hin | 12.5700, 99.9580 |
Questions people ask
The best beaches in Thailand: where to go and when?
Nov–Apr go Andaman: Railay, Kata, Karon, Patong, Ko Lanta, Ko Lipe. Feb–Sep go Gulf: Chaweng, Lamai, Choeng Mon, Ko Tao. Near Bangkok year-round: Pattaya (2 h) and Hua Hin (3–4 h). Pick one coast per trip and allow 3–4 nights per base.
When is the best time to go in Thailand?
For the Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi, Ko Lipe), Nov–Apr. For the Gulf (Samui, Ko Tao), Feb–Sep. Avoid late Dec–mid Jan for prices and Songkran (13–15 Apr) for domestic crowds. October is the wettest month on both coasts.
How many days do I need in Thailand?
Seven days covers Bangkok plus one region. Ten days adds a second stop, usually the north or one coast. Fourteen days allows Bangkok, the north and one coast. Add one spare night per week for boats and storms.
Which Thai beach is best for families?
Kata and Karon on Phuket have calmer water than Patong. Choeng Mon on Koh Samui is a shallow bay with resorts close to the sand. Hua Hin is calm and 3–4 h from Bangkok by road.
Is Phuket or Koh Samui better?
Phuket for Nov–Apr, more beaches and direct international flights. Koh Samui for Feb–Sep, a smaller island and its own airport. The choice is mostly about your travel month, not the beach.
Do I need to book ferries in advance?
In high season, book speedboats and island ferries a day or two ahead, especially to Ko Lipe and Ko Tao. In the monsoon, morning crossings are more reliable; afternoon boats are the ones most often cancelled.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialTourism Authority of Thailand
- officialAirports of Thailand
- secondaryWikivoyage – Thailand