The Best Beaches in Thailand
SRC:https://www.afar.com/magazine/7-thailand-beaches-for-every-type-of-traveler Thailand Best Beaches
East-facing Sunrise Beach sits protected by a shallow bay. Snorkel out to the coral reef and the small islet of Koh Kra, or simply spend the morning greeting the sun as it crests the water. A 20-minute walk westward takes you to Sunset Beach, the smallest of Koh Lipe’s shores. The hippie vibe here extends to the hammocks, bungalows, and locals. Snorkel from the beach at high tide (bring water shoes; the shore’s a bit rocky), sip a Singha beer at an outdoor restaurant, or scramble onto the boulders for a front-row seat come sunset.

3. Sai Nuan and Sairee Beaches, Koh Tao

Koh Tao-also known as Turtle Island-has some of the best snorkeling and diving in Thailand. The surrounding waters are home to around a quarter of the world’s tropical fish. Mae Haad Pier is crowded with outfitters offering access to the island’s top dive sites.

Only accessible via a short hiking path from the pier, Sai Nuan Beach is blissfully undeveloped, with a few bungalows and hammocks hiding in the trees. There’s more action underwater here-you may spot turtles and parrotfish not far from the shore.

Sai Nuan’s sister beach, Sairee-on the opposite side of Mae Haad-is bustling by comparison. Lanterned beach bars, restaurants doling out drink buckets, and fire dancers light up this long, popular stretch of sand come nightfall. During the day, avoid the crowds by renting scuba gear and hanging out underwater with a different kind of beach life.

4. Bottle Beach, Koh Phangan

Despite Koh Phangan’s size and notoriety-maybe you’ve heard of the full-moon parties held on Haad Rin Beach-it’s still only reachable via ferry from the mainland or Koh Samui. Of its sandy shores, Bottle Beach is the hardest to access, but it’s more than worth the trip.

Hire a taxi boat from Chaloklum-or make a difficult, two-hour trek across the island’s jagged, rocky interior-to get to this pristine slice of nature. Either way you come, you’ll be rewarded with clean white sand, cerulean water, and plenty of nodding palm trees for shade. Equally picturesque is the Bottle Beach viewpoint, which is reached via a path behind the row of restaurants on the east end of the beach. The hike up takes 30 minutes and ends with views over the water and all of Koh Phangan.