1. Koh Kradan Beach, Trang

Koh Kradan Beach is located just off the coast of Trang and is a little slice of paradise. The water is so clear that often, you can just sit by the shore and watch fish swim about. The white sandy beach is perfect for swimming when it’s high tide and low tide gives you the chance to walk endlessly due to the long sandbar that stretches along the island.

What we love: Compared to the other well-known beaches, this one is just slowly kicking off which means the beach isn’t as crowded as most places.

2. Ao Yai, Koh Phayam

Koh Phayam is the second largest island in the Andaman Sea and is greatly underrated, which is pretty perfect because we like it that way! You can reach it by flying or taking a bus to Ranong where you can then get on a boat to reach this stunning island. Unlike the places in Koh Samui or Phuket, a trip to Koh Phayam is like going back in time. Ao Yai is a stunning 2km long white sand beach where you can enjoy the islands without the looming amounts of tourists or vendors. The sunsets in this place are also incredible. Sit back, relax, and watch the sky turn into different shades of purple and pink.

What we love: The amount of time you spend trying to get to the island makes it one of the most perfect getaways in Thailand. Here, you will be able to enjoy a pristine beach without too many people. No big parties, no big resorts. Just a beautiful beach and laid back island living.

3. Koh Tarutao

A former work camp prison, Koh Tarutao is great for those that are looking for both adventure and deserted beaches. Located an hour away from Koh Lipe, this island definitely has a little bit of everything for everyone. You can camp in their National Park (they rent out tents) or you can opt to stay in a simple bungalow. The island is full of fun things to do and is perfect for those active beach enthusiasts.

What we love: Not only do you get deserted beaches all to yourself but you can also bike, kayak through mangroves, and hike here.

4. Railay Beach, Krabi

Railay can only be reached by boat, which makes the beach even more spectacular with its high limestone cliffs in the background. West Railay Beach is the most popular side for people searching for the best beach area. Visitors can spend the day at the beach filling their bellies with some street food and local fruit shakes. Try to avoid going here during peak season as the beach can gets too crowded. Off season however is another story.

What we love: The long stretch of white sand beach is pretty spectacular. The whole island has a very chilled out vibe as well making it ideal for a day of lounging around doing nothing.

5. Koh Tachai, Similan Islands

This island is one of the latest additions to the Similan National Park together with the island Koh Bon. Its 800km pristine sandy beach faces the east while behind it is a sprawling rain forest. The waters here are world renowned for snorkeling and scuba diving. There is a basic campsite on the island with a small restaurant but that’s pretty much it. If you stay for the night, there are guided tours around the island where you can explore more of the animals and wildlife.

What we love: The sea is incredible and is rich in marine life. The dive spot on the southern part of the island, “The Pinnacle” is world renowned and is a popular spot to see whale sharks, leopard sharks, and manta rays.

6. Tonsai Beach, Krabi

Situated right next to Railay Beach is the unassuming Ton Sai Beach. Although the beach front is a bit rocky and isn’t ideal for swimming, the entire vibe of the island makes up for it. During low tide, people are able to walk from Tonsai Beach to West Railay Beach by walking over the rocks. A lot of rock climbers opt to stay here as the value for accommodation is a lot better compared to Railay.

What we love: The cool reggae beach bars and the awesome laid back island vibe.

7. Ao Leuk, Koh Tao

Ao Leuk is located on Koh Tao and it is popular with both tourists and the locals. Beautiful white sand surrounds the protected cove and many people find that the snorkeling is superb here. The crystal blue waters stretch as far as your eyes can go! If you want something a little bit more remote, you can also go to Haad Sai Daeng where you have the possibility of seeing sharks when you snorkel.

What we love: The beach is fantastic and has great snorkeling! The long 200 meter stretch of white sand is just too alluring.

8. Haad Saikantang, Koh Pha Ngan

Before the whole full moon party madness happened, Haad Rin used to be one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. Nowadays, it is over developed and is no longer what it used to be. For a postcard perfect looking beach, head over to Haad Saikantang otherwise known as Leela Beach. The clear waters are perfect for swimming, although the water is a bit on the shallow side.

Why we love it: This palm fringed beach is so picturesque. Plus, we love the fact that the parties are accessible from here by just a short 10-15 minute walk.

9. Nang Beach, Krabi

Phra Nang Beach a very remote beach situated in the middle of Krabi and Ao Nang. Everyone needs to take a boat to reach the beach, but once there they are able to rent kayaks, explore the many caves and take rock climbing lessons. It is located right next to Railay but is inaccessible by land.

What we love: We love the fact that there are no resorts on this beach! Although there are a lot of people who visit the beach for the day, if you go early enough or leave late, you might catch this place and have it all to yourself.

10. Ko Kut

With limited number of accommodation and establishments, Ko Kut is definitely a great place to get away from it all. Located to the south of Ko Chang and Ko Maak, this entire island is dotted with beautiful beaches. Rent a motorbike and drive around the island, stopping in beaches along the way. Oh and did we mention that the sunsets in this island are pretty magical?

What we love: We love it for its ruggedness and its many picture perfect beaches. Plus you also know that the island isn’t over developed when it doesn’t have a 7/11 or ATMs for that matter..

11. Sunset Beach, Koh Lipe

Sunset Beach or Hat Pramong in Thai is located on the West side of Koh Lipe and was named after the spectacular sunsets that you can see while on the island. But I’m pretty sure you guys figured that out. Apart from its epic sunsets, the area is known for its delicious seafood.

What we love: Because we are suckers for good sunsets. But then again, who isn’t? We also love that compared to most parts of Koh Lipe, this particular beach feels less developed and still exudes that island vibe that we all love.

12. Koh Nang Yuan

This beautiful island is located a short board ride away from Koh Tao. Although it gets very busy during the day due to the many day visitors that come, if you stay on the island, you can catch it in all its glory during the mornings and afternoons. The island has a view point which shows off the beauty of the island perfectly.

What we love: The white sandy beaches and the crystal clear waters are phenomenal. Oh and the snorkeling in this area is pretty great too!

13. Mu Ko Ang Thong Marine National Park

This right here is the epitome of beauty! Easily accessible from either Koh Pha Ngan or Koh Samui, this national park is home to 42 different beaches and islands. Spend the day exploring the different islands on a boat or simply park yourself in one and enjoy the peace and quiet. The dramatic limestone islands and crystal clear waters make exploring this place one of the best activities to do in Thailand.

What we love: The peculiar shapes of the islands and the amount of islands make it a perfect day activity to do. There is also a great view point which you can climb to see the scattered islands amidst the turquoise colored waters.

14. Bamboo Island, Koh Phi Phi

Located just short boat ride away from Phi Phi Don is this stellar island with absolutely nothing on it. Yep, you heard me right. No fancy resorts or bars. Instead, you have the sand, the sea, and hopefully some sunshine. Apart from that, there is a small National Park which you can explore. Although this is an uninhabited island, it is still a popular day trip destination but it us nowhere as busy as Maya Bay.

What we love: There is something about uninhabited islands that pull on our heartstrings and gets us all excited. Plus walking around the island is pretty cool (it takes about half an hour)

15. Kata Noi Beach, Phuket

Kata Noi is just one of those places that hasn’t changed over the years. Although it is gaining more popularity, you can still find peaceful solace in this palm fringed beach. The seabed is mostly sand making it an ideal place to swim. During the day there are some stalls selling cold refreshments and light snacks.

What we love: Despite being in the busy island of Phuket, this beach is still relatively peaceful and quiet, making it a nice getaway from the islands.

Best Time to Visit the Beaches of Thailand

Although you can generally still go to Thailand all year round, you wouldn’t want to be stuck on a beautiful island while it’s hammering down with rain. In general, the rainy season runs throughout July to October and High Seasons runs from November to May. During High Season though, expect prices to go up as there is a high demand for accommodation and tours. In terms of the beaches and islands, you can split it up into two areas. We personally love traveling during off season as we can score good deals on accommodations but you have to be willing to be flexible with your travel plans. Generally, during the low season (July-October), some islands shut down, marine parks are closed for rehabilitation, and the boat services aren’t consisted.

The Gulf of Thailand

(Koh Samui, Koh Phan Ngan, Koh Tao, Hua Hin, Pranburi, Cha Am, Koh Chang)

Expect good weather from December to February. The weather is cool with light rain showers. During the months of March to May, the weather is scorching hot and is ideal for those that want sunshine all throughout their trip. June and July are good shoulder months except for the occasional one hour downpours usually in the afternoon. August to November are the peak months for rain.

Andaman Sea

(Phuket, Krabi, Koh Phi Phi, Khao Lak, Koh Lanta)

The west coast of Thailand by the Andaman Sea gets its best weather from November to March. March and May can be quite hot but by the beginning of late May you can expect random rain showers which peaks from September to October.

There you have it guys! Hopefully the guide, along with the resources listed below will come in handy when planning your vacation to the Thai islands. In case you haven’t checked out our other articles on Thailand, you definitely should as there are loads of useful tips and information.

Source: www.adventureinyou.com