The best beaches you absolutely need to visit in Thailand

Thailand has become one of the most cherished and trendiest destinations in Southeast Asia in recent years. Uncontaminated nature, exquisite beaches, and authentic culture make it exceptional.

Thailand is synonymous with adventure, good food, friendly people, and why not, a healthy dose of nightlife.

But besides all that, what are the most beautiful beaches in Thailand? The ones you really shouldn’t miss if you take a trip there?

Read on to learn more about Thailand’s best beaches, from the most famous to the most hidden!

Maya Bay, Phi Phi Don, and Bamboo Island

Maya Bay is the ideal starting point on our journey around the best beaches in Thailand.

This beach is one of the most illustrious of the even more famous Phi Phi Island, two stunning islands (plus a few islets) of southern Thailand. Maya Bay is located on one of the two, the island of Koh Phi Phi Leh.

It reopened in 2022 after four years of closure to tourists, and Maya Bay is also known for being the setting for Leonardo DiCaprio’s film The Beach.

You may be wondering, why it is one of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand. Let’s say that the crystal-clear waters, the fine sand of “I’m a Celebrity” style islands and the typical boats make everything magnificent!

The shutdown was ordered by the Thai authorities to safeguard nature, the true proprietor of Phi Phi Island. Back then, nature was really endangered by being compromised by the constant influx of tourists.

The second island of Phi Phi Island is Koh Phi Phi Don, actually formed by two islets joined by a strip of sand covered with palm trees.

Koh Phi Phi Don is simply stunning, especially as far as its bay is concerned. The bay of Koh Phi Phi Don is a limestone cliff entirely covered by a tropical forest. This natural barrier makes the bay truly an earthly paradise, sheltered from the winds, especially the monsoons.

Not far from Koh Phi Phi Don is a completely uninhabited island: Bamboo Island. Here you can really have a one of its kind experience! Snorkelling and seeing the underwater life of the Andaman Sea up close, which bathes Bamboo Island.

In a heartbeat, you can switch from the luxury resorts of Koh Phi Phi Don to the purest nature of Bamboo Island. Not to mention the Koh Phi Phi Leh Marine Natural Park and its Maya Bay.

This alone is worth a trip to discover the beaches of Thailand!

Similan Islands

Another essential destination, if you are hunting for the most beautiful Thai beaches, is that of the Similan Islands, nine islands mainly renown for diving.

In the Similan Islands, you can observe uncontaminated marine fauna up close, including every species of fish all the way up to whale sharks.

In the southern part of the Similan Islands, there is one point in particular that is truly incredible. Nicknamed The Pinnacle, it is very famous among diving experts since, if you are lucky, you can spot spectacular animals from here. An example? The leopard shark!

If you have never seen one, google it now because it seems like something artificial intelligence would come up with, while it really exists!

Even the coral reef in the Similan Islands National Marine Park will leave you breathless!

One of the most beautiful beaches of the Similan Islands and all of Thailand is Koh Tachai, recently added to the national park’s protected areas. The white sand, the rainforest that almost reaches the sea and the possibility of snorkelling make it simply unmissable.

Koh Kood

If you’re still wondering why Thailand’s beaches are so beloved, it’s time to introduce yourself to a little gem. The island of Koh Kood.

Located in the Gulf of Thailand, near Cambodia, Koh Kood is a wild place with totally uncontaminated beaches.

The green pantone on the island of Koh Kood wins everyone over and you can do a lot of wonderful hiking here, too. Its landscape varies massively, from its inner mountains to the cliffs that overlook bays and lagoons that are almost unknown to tourists.

Do we want to talk about the beauty of the combo hiking in the jungle + relaxing on a paradisiacal Thai beach?!

Among these, we recommend Haad Klong Yai Kee Beach and Secret Beach, both a tad difficult to reach but doesn’t this make them absolutely unmissable?

Railay Beach and Ton Sai Beach

Among the most beautiful beaches in Thailand, we cannot fail to mention Railay Beach, which can only be reached by sea making it somewhat even more suggestive.

Dedicate yourself to total relaxation on Railay Beach. Sunbathing on the sand: facing the crystal clear sea with a backdrop of limestone cliffs.

Alternatively, Railay Beach is commended for the possibility of diving, snorkelling or kayaking.

The atmosphere is one of peace and tranquillity. You will find it really hard to take the boat and leave Railay Beach!

At low tide, you can walk along the shoreline to another very nice beach: Ton Sai Beach. If you are a fan of climbing, Ton Sai Beach is the ideal place to practice this sport, given the rocky walls overlooking the sea.

Koh Kradan

Koh Kradan is another island that can apply for terrestrial paradise recognition. A tiny dot on the map, with a width of just 4km and practically covered only by beaches.

There is barely the presence of man in Koh Kradan. There are no roads, no motor vehicles, not even a village. Only some catering and accommodation businesses.

Needless to say, the island’s beaches are among the most beautiful in Thailand. The water is so transparent that you can observe fish even without a mask and mouthpiece.

In addition, at low tide, you can take long walks around Koh Kradan, thanks to the long surrounding sandbar.

At high tide, however, you can swim in one of the most extraordinary seas in the world!

Pattaya Beach

Every Thai beach boasts unique features that set it apart. For example, Pattaya Beach combines natural beauty with crazy nightlife!

Pattaya has had a really fascinating evolution: it was merely a simple fishing village until 1961, but then something happened… Pause for suspense…

As happened so many times in world history, the Americans came to upset the apple cart. They arrived in Pattaya in 1961, to seek some respite from the war they were fighting in Vietnam. They wanted to rest and enjoy themselves and that’s what happened.

The only problem was they never left Pattaya, thus transforming it into a tourist destination and seaside resort, where hotels, resorts and restaurants were incessantly built. Pattaya Beach today combines sea and fun and has become one of the best beaches in Thailand.

Being 150 km from Bangkok makes Pattaya Beach very popular throughout the year and not only for night owls who want to dedicate themselves to nightlife. Here you can also practise windsurfing, sailing and other water sports.

Koh Nang Yuan

Koh Nang Yuan is not only one of the best beaches in Thailand, but it also ranks among the top ten most beautiful beaches in the world.

The island of Koh Nang Yuan is actually formed by three small islets linked by a tongue of sand. And we hope this brief introduction intrigues you so much that you want to know more!

This place has kept the typical Thai charm intact, with an atmosphere of serenity and calm that in the city seems like a mirage. Consider that there are no cars, but only bungalows for tourists and then… Mother Nature!

Whether you are stressed or not, you will definitely return to Koh Nang Yuan, and if you are not reborn, you’ll be deeply relaxed at least!

Koh Phayam

Among the most beautiful beaches in Thailand, there are both the most widely known and those still to be discovered by tourists. Koh Phayam undoubtedly falls into the second category.

Koh Phayam is the second largest island in the Andaman Sea, where there are many uninhabited lands. Its beaches are really uncontaminated, that’s no overstatement, where you can relax in close contact with nature.

Think that Koh Phayam is so detached from mass tourism that the only means of transport are mopeds and … tractors!

The largest beach is Ao Yai, characterised by an immense expanse of white sand that plunges into the water.

Heaven Beach also deserves a visit, not only for the mangroves and the transparent green water but even for its Hippy Bar. This is built in the shape of a pirate ship, entirely in wood, which with the high tide makes it seem to those who drink feel like being on a vessel at sea.

Phuket and its beaches: Freedom Beach, Patong Beach and Kata Noi Beach

It’s finally time to tell you about one of the most famous places in Thailand: Phuket.

Phuket is the largest of the islands forming Thailand and has some of its best beaches.

Freedom Beach is what is called an essential beach: 300 metres of fine sand and fabulous turquoise water.

Patong Beach is directly connected to the island’s most touristy neighbourhood and offers all the amenities you could ever look for. Patong Beach is also particularly recommended for underwater activities.

Kata Noi Beach is a typical Thai beach with fine sand, and crystal clear water surrounded by palm trees.

Although slightly inflated, do not miss the opportunity to visit Phuket. It’s a must for everyone who chooses Thailand and its beaches!

Phang Nga Bay

Phang Nga Bay is one of those places that you have definitely seen in a photo, yet you may never have connected it to the beaches of Thailand. This bay is beloved for its Avatar-style landscape, with hundreds of lone assorted rocky islands, jutting out from the water.

The ecosystem of water, vegetation and rocks has become the habitat of countless species of birds and reptiles. Thus, a national park has been created to protect the entire area, including Phang Nga Bay.

The most famous rocky island overlooking the bay is Khao Phing Kan, also called James Bond Island. This was the background to some scenes of one of the 007 films: it’s your task to discover which!

Bottle Beach and Haad Rin

We are approaching the end of this far-and-wide trip to Thailand to discover its most beautiful beaches.

Koh Phangan is another island you need to visit if you want to see some of Thailand’s most stratospheric beaches.

Located in the far north of the island, Bottle Beach is usually reached by boat and this elevates it to an oasis of peace and silence. If you arrive from the east you will have the opportunity to observe a spectacular stretch of coast.

Bottle Beach is the right destination for long swims alternating with equally long naps on the sand!

Haad Rin is diametrically opposite Bottle Beach. Already highly popular in the 1970s, it was in the 1980s that it saw its maximum blossom with the Full Moon Party. This is not just any party but The Party, which celebrates the full moon every month and also gathers ten thousand people in Haad Rin.

Koh Phangan is the emblem of the Thai spirit: relaxation on the beach but also lots of fun.

Koh Tarutao, Lonely Beach and White Sand Beach in Koh Chang

A bit like the news wrapping up, here are the last places to visit in Thailand from this article.

Koh Tarutao is a fantastic island, appreciated for its countless excursions, from hiking in the jungle to kayaking in the mangroves. Koh Tarutao still has some completely deserted beaches, so get there before they’re discovered by everyone! 

Lonely Beach isn’t as solitary as its name would suggest. The village near the beach has become rather trendy, with a renowned dive centre, clubs and shops. However, Lonely Beach is still head and shoulders above the rest, with its crystal clear water, fine sand and lush vegetation.

Last but not least, White Sand Beach on the island of Koh Chang, which as the name suggests is characterised by its very white sand. In White Sand Beach you can find Thai beaches’ beauty, but also several typical restaurants, specialising in seafood.

Visit Thailand’s best beaches with WeRoad

With all the Thai beaches hitherto presented, we believe we have provided you with enough food for thought!

Now there is only one thing to do: set off! With WeRoad you can choose from three different tours that will take you to Thailand.

Take Thailand 360° Summer to spend an unforgettable summer combining beaches and culture, Thailand 360° Collection for a trip packed with comfort and Thailand and Cambodia for a backpacking adventure.

With all the available tours you have the opportunity to enjoy the enthralling Thai beaches, get in touch with the local culture and, of course, have loads of fun!

P.S. If you want to learn more about Thailand, read our guide with all the places not to be missed!