Thailand has two coastlines, the Gulf of Thailand in the east and the Andaman Sea in the west, with many islands off both. Some beaches are busy, but many are still calm places to swim, read and watch the sunset. This guide picks quieter beaches on both coasts and a few within a drive of Bangkok, with the best season and the easiest way to get there.
Two coasts, two seasons
The two coasts have different weather, so choose the coast first.
- Gulf of Thailand (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao): Koh Samui's wettest months are October to December, which is the opposite of most of Thailand. April to September stays fairly dry, and January and February usually have the best weather. Samui suits a mid-year holiday.
- Andaman Sea (Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe): the national park authorities close the Similan Islands from 16 May to 14 October, during the southwest monsoon. If you plan to visit this coast in those months, check the forecast and the boat operators' notices first.
The quietest beaches usually take more effort to reach, so plan the transport before the hotel.
Gulf of Thailand: Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao
Koh Samui
Samui is the most developed of the three Gulf islands, but it still has calm corners.
- Chaweng Noi: a smaller bay next to busy Chaweng. It suits couples who want restaurants nearby without the crowds of the main beach.
- Maenam: on the north coast, with a slower, more traditional feel. It suits families and longer stays.
- Lipa Noi: on the west coast, one of the island's best places to watch the sunset, and much quieter than the east side.
Koh Phangan (away from the parties)
Away from the Full Moon Party at Haad Rin, most of Koh Phangan is peaceful.
- Bottle Beach (Haad Khuat): remote and harder to reach than the island's other beaches. It suits travellers who want complete quiet. Ask your accommodation how to get there.
- Haad Salad: a quiet bay that suits couples and snorkelling on calm days.
- Thong Nai Pan: twin bays with soft sand, a mix of simple and upscale resorts, and calm water in good weather.
Koh Tao
Koh Tao is known for diving, but it also has quiet coves.
- Freedom Beach: a small beach with few facilities. Bring water and snacks.
- Tanote Bay: a bay framed by large rocks, popular for snorkelling from the shore.
Getting there and between the islands
From Bangkok, Bangkok Airways flies to Koh Samui almost every hour, and the flight takes about 1 hour. The overland option is Lomprayah's combined bus and boat ticket from Bangkok, which takes about 11 hours.
Lomprayah also runs high-speed ferries between Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, and from Chumphon and Surat Thani (Donsak) on the mainland. Each high-speed leg takes about 45 to 90 minutes. Lomprayah shows all its fares only in its booking system at lomprayah.com. Its phone numbers are 089 873 0008-9. For every option in detail, see our guide How to Get from Bangkok to Koh Samui.
Andaman Sea: Krabi, Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe and Phuket
Krabi
Ao Nang is Krabi's main beach town and base for island boat trips. For a quieter stay, look just north of it.
- Klong Muang: a long, relaxed beach with a local feel that suits families and couples.
- Tubkaek: quiet and more upscale, with views of the limestone islands. It is popular with honeymooners.
Smile Taxi Service drives from Phuket Airport to Ao Nang Beach for a fixed ฿2,200 by sedan, ฿2,400 by SUV or ฿3,000 by van (book a sedan from Phuket Airport to Ao Nang). For hotels at Klong Muang or Tubkaek, ask for a quote on WhatsApp. Our guide How to Get from Phuket to Krabi compares the other options.
Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta is a relaxed island for travellers who find Phuket too busy.
- Long Beach (Phra Ae): a long stretch of sand for beach walks, swimming and sunsets.
- Klong Dao: popular with families, with calm water on good days, so it suits children.
- Kantiang Bay: a sheltered bay in the south of the island with a few boutique resorts and good snorkelling.
For ways to reach the island, see How to Get from Bangkok to Koh Lanta.
Koh Lipe
Koh Lipe is in the far south of the Andaman Sea, close to the Malaysian border. The journey there is long, so it suits a longer stay. Sunrise Beach faces east and has coral close to shore. Sunset Beach, on the west side, is quieter and a good place to spend the evening. Check current flight and ferry schedules with the operators before you plan the trip.
Phuket's quieter beaches
Phuket has busy beaches such as Patong, but the south of the island is calmer.
- Nai Harn: popular with local people for peaceful swimming, with a lake behind the beach.
- Kata Noi: a small, pretty beach, quieter than neighbouring Kata. It suits families and couples.
- Ao Sane: a small rocky cove next to Nai Harn, good for snorkelling, with very few facilities.
Smile's fixed fare from Phuket Airport to Patong Beach is ฿1,000 by sedan, ฿1,100 by SUV or ฿1,400 by van (book a sedan from Phuket Airport to Patong). For hotels at Nai Harn, Kata Noi or other beaches, ask for a quote on WhatsApp. If you continue from Patong Beach to Ao Nang Beach in Krabi, the fixed fare is ฿2,600 by sedan, ฿2,800 by SUV or ฿3,200 by van (book a sedan from Patong to Ao Nang).
The Similan Islands (no overnight stays on the islands)
The Similan Islands National Park is open from 15 October to 15 May. Foreign visitors pay ฿500 per adult and ฿250 per child. Visitors are allowed only from 08:00 to 16:00, with a limit of 3,325 people a day. There is no camping or park accommodation on the islands, so you visit on a day trip or a liveaboard boat. Koh Tachai has been closed to the public since 2016.
Which beach suits what you want
- Calm water for swimming: Klong Dao on Koh Lanta, Chaweng Noi on Koh Samui and Nai Harn in Phuket.
- Snorkelling from the beach: Sunrise Beach on Koh Lipe, Ao Sane in Phuket, and Tanote Bay and Freedom Beach on Koh Tao.
- Sunsets: Lipa Noi on Koh Samui, Sunset Beach on Koh Lipe and Long Beach on Koh Lanta.
- Complete quiet: Bottle Beach on Koh Phangan, Freedom Beach on Koh Tao and Ao Sane in Phuket. These beaches have few facilities, so bring water and snacks.
Beach areas within a drive of Bangkok
With only a few days, you do not need to fly. Smile Taxi Service has fixed fares from Bangkok's airports to three beach areas on the Gulf coast: Ban Phe Pier, where boats leave for Koh Samet, the island of Koh Chang, and the seaside town of Hua Hin.
| Destination | From Suvarnabhumi (BKK) | From Don Mueang (DMK) | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ban Phe Pier (for Koh Samet) | ฿1,800 / ฿2,100 / ฿2,600 | ฿2,000 / ฿2,400 / ฿2,800 | Pattaya to Koh Samet |
| Koh Chang | ฿3,700 / ฿4,000 / ฿4,600 | ฿4,000 / ฿4,200 / ฿4,800 | Pattaya to Koh Chang |
| Hua Hin | ฿2,000 / ฿2,200 / ฿2,800 | ฿2,000 / ฿2,300 / ฿2,800 | Bangkok to Hua Hin |
Fares are sedan / SUV / van, per vehicle, one way. On the Koh Chang route the car crosses on the car ferry, which adds ฿80 per person and ฿120 per car. You can book directly: a sedan from Suvarnabhumi to Ban Phe Pier, a sedan from Suvarnabhumi to Koh Chang or a sedan from Suvarnabhumi to Hua Hin.
How a Smile transfer works
Smile fares are fixed, per vehicle (not per person) and one way, with expressway tolls included and no meter. A sedan takes up to 3 passengers and 2 bags, an SUV up to 5 passengers and 4 bags, and a van up to 7 passengers and 5 bags. The fare is the same for one passenger or a full car.
- Airport pickups: 60 minutes of free waiting, counted from the actual landing time. A name sign costs ฿100 and a child seat ฿300, both on request.
- Before the trip: the team sends the driver's name, car and plate number. An English-speaking driver can be requested when you book, subject to availability.
- Payment: pay the driver in cash (Thai baht) at the end of the trip. If you can only pay by card, message the team and you will receive a PayPal payment link, with a 5% fee added.
- Cancellation: free up to 24 hours before pickup. After that, a cancellation or change costs 25% (less than 24 h), 35% (less than 12 h) or 50% (less than 2 h) of the price, and a no-show 100%, also when you pay the driver in cash (details).
All routes and prices are on the fare list.
Staying safe and comfortable
- Respect red flags on the beach, and do not swim when the sea looks rough.
- Ask locally about currents, and do not swim alone at remote beaches.
- Carry water and stay in the shade around midday.
- Carry cash: national parks take cash at the gate, and on remote beaches you may not find a cash machine nearby.
- Pack a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, a waterproof bag for your phone and money, and mosquito repellent.
- Check the ferry schedule for your return before you leave the mainland or the next island.
Emergency numbers in Thailand: police 191, Tourist Police 1155, ambulance 1669, fire 199.
Third-party times and prices in this article were checked in September 2026. Confirm them with the operator before you travel.
FAQ
When is the rainy season on Koh Samui? Koh Samui is wettest from October to December. January and February usually have the best weather, and April to September is fairly dry.
How do I get from Bangkok to Koh Samui? Bangkok Airways flies almost every hour, and the flight takes about 1 hour. Lomprayah's combined bus and boat ticket takes about 11 hours; its fare is shown in Lomprayah's booking system.
How do I travel between Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao? Take Lomprayah's high-speed ferries. Each leg takes about 45 to 90 minutes.
When can I visit the Similan Islands? From 15 October to 15 May. The park fee for foreign adults is ฿500.
Which beach areas can I reach by car from Bangkok? Koh Samet (by car to Ban Phe Pier, then by boat), Koh Chang (the car crosses on the car ferry) and Hua Hin. From Suvarnabhumi, a Smile sedan costs ฿1,800 to Ban Phe Pier, ฿3,700 to Koh Chang and ฿2,000 to Hua Hin.
To book your beach transfer, choose your route on the booking page or message us on WhatsApp.