With mass tourism on the rise, it is getting difficult to find an undeveloped beach on Thailand’s islands. However, some unspoiled beaches still remain for those who are willing to seek out that special piece of paradise! During the pandemic that started in 2019, I went to great lengths and lots of pleasure to travel through almost all of Thailand’s islands in search of the very best beaches. Most islands were deserted – no visitors and almost no accommodation and tourist restaurants open. Luckily I always found a place open and many times I was the only guest staying at much-reduced rates in a resort bungalow right by the beach.
In this series of 10 posts (see list below the map) I offer my guide on the very best beaches of Thailand’s islands with accommodation. Make sure to read the special notes at the bottom of this post.
Why Travel to Thailand’s Islands?
- The low-down: The islands of Thailand are renowned for their beauty. While Thailand received a whopping 40 million international tourists pre-pandemic, we can only hope that post-pandemic this number will be much lower so not to overburden the beautiful and fragile environments.
- The brightest highlight: To find the best beaches on Thailand’s islands, you need to read all the posts – in particular the last one: “The Top 10 Best Beaches”. See the links below the map.
- Intrepid destination: While the days of Thailand’s islands being an intrepid destination is long gone, I discovered several beaches which even in high season will have very few visitors. When I visited many of the islands during the pandemic, almost every place was an intrepid destination. Sadly this won’t last long.
- GlobeRovers score (10 is highest): Many of Thailand’s islands (more so the remote and least visited) are stunning so it gets a GlobeRovers Score of 8.3 out of 10.
Thailand Beaches for Intrepid Travellers
Thailand is world-renowned for its beautiful islands. The country’s year-round pleasant weather, temperate oceans, palm-fringed islands, and white sand beaches with crystal clear turquoise waters make it a dream vacation spot for many people around the world.
Combine these idyllic features with Thailand’s delicious food, rich history, colourful traditions, affordable costs, top-notch accommodation, and friendly, beautiful people, and you have the ultimate holiday destination.
During Pre-Covid 2019, Thailand welcomed almost 40 million international arrivals. Domestic tourism is even more significant as the country is a much-beloved travel destination for its 69 million residents.
Every island has its own charm and the intrepid traveller will be rewarded with a paradise beach where few have ventured.
The vast majority of Thailand’s 1,430 islands are uninhabited and some are merely a few rocks and trees. While it is technically possible to pitch a tent on any island, except for those strictly off-limits due to Thailand’s military presence, less than 50 islands have established accommodation. This varies from camping and basic bungalows to super-luxurious resorts fit for kings and queens.
While most of Thailand’s islands with accommodation are government-owned and open to free enterprise, some islands are fully or partially protected, and managed by the Department of National Parks, which may provide basic bungalows and campsites. A few islands are privately owned and offer accommodation, while a small number are outposts for the Royal Thai Armed Forces, some of which allow limited day visits but no overnight stays.
For most of us travellers, the convenience of booking accommodation online is an important driver for where we will spend our next holiday. Even with a choice of fewer than 50 islands, however, choosing the best place for a special holiday is a daunting task. No wonder that the vast majority of visitors to Thailand’s islands, particularly first-timers, book at the most well-known islands such as Phuket, Samui and Phi Phi.
Even when less popular islands are chosen, many head to the developed beaches. Experienced travellers know that the best places are the least visited, so avoiding the tourist hot-spots is the secret to having paradise all to yourself.
Here we uncover some of the lesser-known beaches of Thailand’s islands where it is possible to get away from the masses and enjoy unspoiled nature.
We focus on islands with accommodation for easy access to the beach.
The islands of Thailand can be divided into seven main regions. See below the map links to each region for a detailed discussion.
See further down for links to each of the 7 regions
Tough Decision
Deciding which of Thailand’s many islands is the perfect match for a dream holiday can be daunting. With almost 50 islands offering some form of lodging, and many having several beaches with accommodation—each with their own appeal—it is hard to choose the right spot.
In this age of increased tourism and ever-encroaching development, it is becoming more challenging to avoid the crowds and find an unspoiled and undeveloped island on which to stay.
We can only hope that Thailand will rein in its thirst for the tourist dollar and control the development of its islands to protect the pristine beaches and natural attractions for future generations
And then there is the garbage!
While Thailand is known for its idyllic and picturesque islands, many visitors have encountered unsightly piles of trash on its beautiful beaches. Even though most resort operators regularly clean the beaches directly in front of their properties, you can often find plenty of garbage just a few metres beyond. While it is not expected that rubbish that washes up daily, such as plastic bottles, should be removed on a regular basis, much of the trash has been lying on the beaches for a long time. Other than some environmentally conscious travellers, it seems like no one takes responsibility to remove the rubbish.
When I come across trash on the beach, I often talk to the nearest resort manager and suggest hiring local school children or organising energetic travellers for a “clean-up party” at least once a year. The response I generally get is: “We clean in front of our resort. The rest of the beach is the government’s responsibility”.
It is so disheartening when you think you’ve found a special spot, but it is covered in heaps of rubbish! Perhaps it is time to stop pointing the finger and commit to an annual beach clean-up. That will help Thailand’s islands remain a true paradise.
Click for more details on each of the 7 regions
Overview and map of Thailand’s Islands – YOU ARE HERE
Region 1: Southern Andaman (Koh Lipe area)
Region 2: Lower Central Andaman (Koh Mook area)
Region 3: Upper Central Andaman (Koh Lanta area)
Region 4: Northern Andaman (Koh Phayam area)
Region 5: Central Gulf of Thailand (Koh Samui area)
Region 6: Eastern Gulf of Thailand (Koh Chang area)
Region 7: Northern Gulf of Thailand (Koh Samet area)
The 10 Best Beaches on Thailand’s Islands
Notes when reading the details in each region
- In the Thai language, “koh” means “island”, so the correct way to refer to the island of Phuket, for example, is “Koh Phuket” rather than “Koh Phuket Island”. “Ao” means “beach”, so “Ao Nang” means “Nang Beach”. “Mu koh” means “archipelago”, so “Mu Koh Ang Thong” means “Ang Thong Archipelago” .
- Some of Thailand’s islands have the same or similar names. Some examples include Koh Chang in the Gulf of Thailand, and Koh Chang Noi along the northern Andaman Coast; and Koh Ngam Yai and Koh Ngam Noi near the town of Chumphon, which is far from Koh Ngam at the southeastern tip of Koh Chang near Cambodia.
- Covid-19 is decimating the tourist infrastructure on Thailand’s islands. Most tourist services, including accommodation and transport services, available pre-Covid are not currently accessible, and may not be restored for a while.
- While some islands can be reached by public ferries, speedboats and long-tail boats, some are only accessible by private boat rental.
- Much effort has been made to provide information that is as accurate as possible, but please do your own extensive research to get the latest information.
- This article focuses on the best beaches on islands with accommodation, though islands managed by the National Parks offering tents for rent are also included. We also include noteworthy islands and beaches of interest with no accommodation.
- This article is not intended as a comprehensive guide to all islands of Thailand.
☛ Read more: Blog posts of Thailand
READ MORE:
CNN Traveler: The 11 best islands in Thailand
Top 10 Best Thai Islands that need to be on your bucket list
Blog post and photos by Peter who has been travelling almost full-time since 2005 and has been to over 122 countries. He visited several countries, such as Japan, more than 20 times. Peter is Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of GlobeRovers Magazine, an independent travel magazine focused on intrepid destinations.