Thailand Beaches
East coast

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This, the Gulf [east] Coast, has a much less heavy rains than the west coast but longer, from June - Dec.

Thailand's best overall sightseeing [non-beach] time is the cool season, Nov- Feb. Worst is April - Sept, hot and sticky. March -May is the hot season. The rainy season is June - Oct.

The 'curse of the longtails' makes many previously desirable beaches a pain in the head now. These taxi boats are fitted with unsilenced truck engines, so put 2 or 3 together on water and it sounds like a 747 coming...and going....and coming....
Beaches that are only accessible by boat, or used as a longtail terminal have drone and diesel smell problems. Notably noxious are Krabi beaches and the Phi Phi islands. Hey Mr Thai Environment Minister, put a noise suppressor on them!

Pattaya Beach [beach pictures]
A town dedicated to body rentals [and we don't mean boards], Pattaya does have an attractive, clean corniche overlooking a narrow, coarse, yellow sand beach, loaded with powerboats and murky green water that will probably grow you a second head if you spend too much time in it.
The rest of the town is a hideous mess, tho' it turns a curious and not unpleasant colour after dark, with all the pink-lit 'bar-beers' [half outdoor girlie bars] around.
Initially Bugbog's reaction to Pattaya was 'Yuk'! However, it does perform a social function with typical Thai relaxed grace and humour. Sad, ugly, old, lonely love rejects with all the fashion sense of a third degree burn briefly experience a kind of South Seas romance here - usually over a few days or even weeks, travel with a girl they meet here, treat her like a princess and pour money over her that'll support her family for a year.
Not for beach freaks, but an easy 3 hours bus from Bangkok and then super Ko Samet is just a step away.

* Hat Sai Kaew [Diamond beach], Ko Samet [Bugbog's choice of best in Thailand] [beach pictures]
A 3-hour bus ride from Bangkok and 40 min. ferry get you to charming old Ko Samet. The island, in spite of its years as a top Thailand Beaches resort has retained an easy tranquility that new upstarts like Ao Nang have already lost. The reason is simple: No airport and virtually no road has limited developement.
Most of the island is still covered by forest fringed by soft white beaches [mostly on the east coast].
One of the best is the biggest, Hat Sai Kaew, with a couple of well sorted and not expensive bungalow clusters. Bugbog's hotel choice was Sai Kaew Villa, for good facilities at a low price, and great beach/hotel interface.
Or try Ao Hin Kok for more tranquility but still access to Sae Kaew's excellent evening beach dining setup.
For isolation, try pretty Ao Thian [Candlelight Beach], far south, but only if you don't mind basic facilities. Best Dec-March.

Hat Chaweng, Ko Samui [beach picture]
Ko Samui, Thailand's 3rd largest island, is no longer a deserted tropical hideaway, but is still one of the world's most popular resort islands, with great sands, loads of activities and entertainment - particularly nightlife. Now it has its own airport and herds of sand grazers arrive hourly.
Chaweng Beach, the party zone of the island on the eastern shore, is overdeveloped and commercial, but has a lot of action in a beautiful location. Don't go there if you object to crowds and garbage.
Quieter but slightly less appealing beaches are Maenam and Bophut on the tranquil north coast. Best Dec-March. Book ahead if possible.

Hat Rin [picture top left], Ko Pha Ngan
The place for backpackers and party animals in Thailand. Hat Rin is globally known as a prime rave venue, especially at the famous full moon party [the island's legendary event started in '89].
The island's best sand, the glorious Hat Khuat [Bottle Beach], is a sheltered, secluded bay on the north coast, with some resort bungalows. [By boat from Ao Chalok Lam Bay].
Alternatively there's Ao Thong Nai Paan, two crescent-shaped coves with a laid-back ambience. Best Dec-March.
If you go for Hat Rin's full moon party any month, try to get there a few days early to secure accommodation, or take a high speed boat from Bophut pier, Ko Samui on the day. Buy a single ticket so you can decide when you've had enough and negotiate a return trip.
The event is infinitely more commercial than it used to be, with a glitter ball of bars and sound systems pumping out the necessary juice, though illegal drugs are in short supply due to a stellar performance by the local constabulary.

Hat Sai Ree, Ko Tao is one of Thailand's largest diving venues, with warm, clear gulf waters, is known for its inexpensive certification courses. It is relatively undeveloped and less commercial compared to its neighbours, Ko Phangan or Ko Samui.
For beaches try the 2 km stretch at Hat Sai Ree, Ko Tao's longest beach, for facilities and action, or Ao Chaloke Ban Kao on the south coast, for shelter from the monsoon rains.
Best Dec-March. Book ahead if possible. June - Oct can see heavy rain and strong winds.

Ko Chang island, quite a way [200 miles/320kms] south-east of Bangkok, is big and sophisticated enough to have air-con available if you choose, but undeveloped enough to feel you are in a relatively undiscovered tropical paradise. This mountainous island is covered with dense vegetation and offers many excellent beaches but only one seriously touristy village [so far] - Bang Bao on the island's southwest corner - which is the source of most diving/ snorkelling/ elephant riding / expeditions.

Ko Mak island, 10 miles [16kms] south of Ko Chang, is even less known than its maturing [not in a good way!] neighbour with only a handful of small hotels but a lot of pristine white beaches totally bereft of towel-bagged sunbeds along the 15 mile of crystal water shoreline.

Operators offering tours to Thailand can be found in our listings here: Thailand Tours

And if you're interested in travelling around Thailand's beaches you might also consider these guides:

Vietnam Beaches | Malaysia Beaches | Philippines Beaches | Australia Beaches

Best Beaches in the World | Indian Ocean | Pacific Beaches