| 6 mins read
By Joseph Francis
Ranging from the rugged, cliff-backed coves of the Andaman to the shimmering, scintillating tropical sands of the Thai Gulf islands, this list of the top beaches in Thailand is essential reading for anyone thinking of hitting the Land of Smiles this year. Expect plenty of palm trees, potent bucket cocktails and more bamboo beach bars than you can shake a plate of pad Thai noodles at!
Sairee Beach, Koh Tao
Despite Koh Toa’s rep as the place to be for scuba and snorkelling in Thailand, the pin-point of an island in the Gulf still packs one hefty punch on the beach front. Its sandy piece de resistance is surely the ivory-white stretches at Sairee Beach, where the palm trees bow graciously down to the aquamarine waters, huge boulders pepper the dunes and bubbling little bamboo cocktail bars lurk invitingly just meters from the shore.
Haad Rin, Koh Pha Ngan
Buckle up and crack out the neon wear for iconic Haad Rin Beach. Poking its way out between the rollers of the Thai Gulf from the southern side of Koh Pha Ngan, this wide length of alabaster sand is the legendary home of the Full Moon Party. And while that heady shindig draws the biggest crowds each month (an estimated 30,000 travellers have attended in the past), Haad Rin pulses with fire shows and DJ sets, potent bucket cocktails and all-night parties most days of the year.
Mae Nam, Koh Samui
Mae Nam can be found curving its way around the northern stretches of Koh Samui. Less trodden than the likes of Chaweng and Lamai in the south, this lengthy stretch of shimmering white sand is set to the soft sounds of the lapping Thai Gulf and the twisting aromas of pad Thai noodles from the makeshift eateries that pepper the palm groves all around. Beautiful broadside views of Koh Pha Ngan in the distance add to the charm, while all the digs are hidden away somewhere along the backcountry jungle paths. That means peace, quiet and privacy.
Patong Beach, Phuket
The heady, high-energy staple of Thailand’s so-called ‘Jewel of the Andaman’ is a medley of gaudy strip clubs and sleepless ex-pat bars, leaning sun umbrellas and dubious massage parlours. If you can handle the hawkers and perpetual come-ons from folk here, and don’t mind sharing the sands with jet skiers and over-tanned Russians at various stages of inebriation, Patong’s liveliness is actually darn charming and fun. Oh, and the water’s eminently swimmable, and there are plenty of backpacker digs to choose from!
Ao Nang Beach, Krabi
Ao Nang Beach is a long and lazy affair; peppered with rows of deck chairs, backed by swaying palms and overshadowed by soaring walls of vine-clad, jungle-dressed limestone peaks. Just a stone’s throw from the streets of Krabi, it’s a popular escape from the city, and a prime jump-off point for touring the various islands of the Andaman. The south end of the sands here also boast a clutch of bargain massage joints, where it’s possible to get a hot stone or spot of coconut wrap with a view of the lapping ocean. Nice.
Tonsai, Krabi
Separated from uber-popular Railay Beach by one great big bulwark of limestone cliffs, Tonsai enjoys its own little-secluded piece of the Andaman coast. Part of the attraction is how difficult this one is to get to. Backpackers must first scale and clamber over a series of rocks and ravines to reach the sands (lazier folk will opt for the longboat connection from Krabi town, but where’s the fun in that?). The pay off? Soaring coastal mountains (cue Tonsai’s resident crowd of rock climbers) dressed in wild jungles, a smattering of lazy Rasta bamboo bars and a truly pretty little cove of powdery yellow sand.
Long Beach, Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta’s appropriately-named four-kilometer stretch of sand has something of a chameleon quality. For the partiers, there are bamboo beer bars aplenty, while the high-season brings a smattering of hedonistic DJ parties to the jungle joints close by. Backpacker bungalows are all neatly spread out, so there’s oodles of space to kick-back and unwind. There’s always a prime sunbathing spot available thanks to the length of the beach, and the waters go from soft lapping waves in the center to dramatic cliff breaks to the south.
Chaweng, Koh Samui
Chaweng is arguably the quintessential, picture-perfect tropical Thai beach. With its alabaster-white sands and cerulean shore waters, punctuated now and then by a bobbing longboat or bent palm tree, it’s almost singlehandedly responsible for the rise and rise of Koh Samui. These days, the stretch can get a little busy during the height of the season, but there’s no denying the perennial beauty of those sparking waves and that verdant tropical setting.
Thong Nai Pan, Koh Pha Ngan
Hidden away from the party-mad stretches of Haad Rin, between the palm-peppered hills and rainforest-clad mountains on the north-eastern shore of Koh Pha Ngan, Thong Nai Pan is a fine spot for curing that hangover and getting a dash of much-needed R&R in the home of Thailand’s (in) famous Full Moon Party. A cluster of beachfront bungalows and low-key boho bars hide amidst the coconut groves, each offering sunrise views that are simply to-die-for!
Laem Tong Beach, Koh Phi Phi
Once you’re done with the bucket bars and Muay Thai shows of Koh Phi Phi town (perhaps the top partying spot in Thailand after Pha Ngan!), be sure to make a beeline for this hidden section of sand on the northern fringes of the island. Beset by rows of swaying coconut palms and banyan trees, the sands are shady and much emptier than Phi Phi’s other beaches. Bobbing longboats dot the watersides, while the pretty outline of Bamboo Island and other karst islets adds another dimension to the view.
Joseph ‘Rich’ Francis is a freelance travel writer who has travelled extensively in Asia and Europe. He particularly enjoys the jazz bars of Poland, the ski slopes of Austria and the beaches and cities of India.
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