Southern Thailand offers a huge variety of options for perfect beach holidays. On the West coast you can choose one of Andaman sea islands such as Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, or opt for coastal beach in Krabi or Khao Lak. Discover the best West Coast Thailand resorts and most popular West Coast Thai beaches for vacations to plan your luxury holiday in Southern Thailand.
West Coast Thailand Resorts, Islands & Beaches
The most popular Southern Thailand destinations on West Coast Thailand are listed below. For more detailed information about the entire area, explore our detailed guide to Andaman Coast.
Phuket
Phuket is the largest island of Thailand. Phuket is situated in the Andaman Sea waters off the west coast.
The island is among the finest beach destinations in the world offering magnificent bays, fine palm-fringed white sand beaches, glittering seas, picturesque small surrounding islands, delightful Sino-Portuguese architecture and memorable hospitality of local people to millions of visitors.
Krabi
Krabi is a popular beach destination in Southern Thailand. Krabi province abounds with plenty of natural attractions including over 150 islands, gorgeous white sand beaches, turquoise water, flourishing coral reefs, towering limestone cliffs, numerous caves and waterfalls, making the scenery of the province both inland and at sea simply stunning.
The most popular areas on the mainland of Krabi province are Ao Nang, Railay and Krabi Town.
Ao Nang (Krabi)
Ao Nang is Krabi's most developed beach and the place where most of the visitors to Krabi province on West Coast Thailand end up.
Ao Nang is a seaside strip of hotels, guesthouses, bars, restaurants, and souvenir shops. Ao Nang Beach is not the prettiest beach in the area, but if you are looking for some nightlife and a lively atmosphere it might be a good place for you.
Ao Nang is the perfect base for exploring the Andaman Sea islands on boat tours such as this popular 7 Islands Sunset Tour with BBQ Dinner and Snorkeling.
Railay Beach (Krabi)
Railay Beach is a small peninsula with four beaches in Krabi.
Though the area is on the peninsula, Railay feels like an island because it is accessible only by boat. Here you will find a tropical paradise with tranquillity, gorgeous white sand beaches, aqua blue sea, incredible limestone cliffs and caves. Even if now Railay is quite developed and can be overcrowded, especially in a high season, the beach and scenery are still impressive, making Railay one of the most beautiful areas in Thailand.
Krabi Town
Krabi Town is the administrative capital of Krabi province on West Coast Thailand. The town itself is not the top destination but it‘s still a charming local town located along the banks of a river. Krabi Town is an important port for local fishermen and for tourists taking boats to the islands of province or other nearby attractions. Krabi Town is a perfect place to stay if you want to escape the crowds and be not too far from all the natural attractions the province has to offer.
Tiger Cave Temple or Wat Tham Suea, located close to Krabi town, is the temple is built in stunning natural surroundings consisting of tropical rain forest, caves and mountains. Wat Tham Suea is a Thai Buddhist meditation centre and home to monks who worship and live in this scenic environment.
Koh Phi Phi
Koh Phi Phi is a small archipelago of six islands.
Koh Phi Phi islands are widely considered to be amongst the most beautiful islands in the world. Koh Phi Phi are one of the most popular islands in Thailand especially after they came to fame worldwide after the Leonardo Di Caprio movie “The Beach” was filmed in Maya Bay. You can stay overnight on Phi Phi Islands or you can choose to visit them on a day trip from Phuket or Krabi.
Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta is an island in the Andaman Sea and part of Krabi province on West Coast Thailand. Koh Lanta is located about 80 kilometers south of Krabi Town and is much more laid-back travel destination than province’s most popular spots Ao Nang, Koh Phi Phi and Railay.
Koh Lanta has several beaches that have seen plenty of development and offer various facilities for tourists, including internet shops, minimarts, restaurants and many types of accommodation such as resorts, guesthouses and bungalows. The southern end of Koh Lanta is the place where the office of Mu Ko Lanta National Park is located and the tranquility of the beaches makes tourists fascinated.
Khao Lak
Khao Lak is the coastal area offering white sand beaches, glittering seas, and rich nature.
It is a beautiful, secluded place that is great for couples, families and nature lovers. Khao Lak is also the starting point for snorkeling tours to the Similan and Surin Islands, where you can see multicolored coral reefs and extremely diverse ecosystem. Staying here, you can enjoy many activities such as visiting magnificent natural limestone caves and lagoons at Phang Nga Bay and short-distance boat trips to several offshore islands off West Coast Thailand to give you the enjoyable moments.
Khao Sok National Park
Khao Sok National Park covers tropical forests with a very rich flora and wildlife. Waterfalls and caves are accessible by trekking routes in the lush forest. The highlight of the national park is its iconic limestone hills. It is best to go to the park with at least one overnight stay as you can choose a characteristic accommodation of Raft House (Floating Bungalow) in Cheow Lan Lake or the Treetop Hut in the jungle.
Koh Phayam
Koh Phayam is a nice island in the Andaman Sea about 35 km from Ranong.
It‘s a laid-back and one of the most beautiful of Thailand‘s islands. Koh Phayam is a perfect place for those who want to get away from everything and just spend some time in one of its wide and uncrowded beaches.
Ranong
Ranong is a small border city and a major fishing and trading port in Southern Thailand. The city an attractive spot for growing numbers of travellers who want to use a border crossing with Myanmar for traveling overland to Kawthaung in Myanmar or other way. Ranong is also a starting point of traveling to a pair of exceptionally laid-back nearby Thai islands of Koh Phayam and Koh Chang Noi.
The city itself has very limited tourist interest as it is only offering a peaceful atmosphere and not much more. However the surrounding area contains various natural attractions. In Ranong you can find hot springs, unspoiled mangrove forests, mountains, jungle, nice waterfalls, islands, scenic coastline and even a canyon.
West Coast Thailand Transportation
Transportation options for a trip in West Coast Thailand can be found and transport tickets can be booked by this search form.
Weather on West Coast Thailand
Weather conditions are at their best on the West Coast from November to March. A cooling wind keeps the heat at bay and humidity level is low in Phuket, Krabi, Koh Phi Phi, Khao Lak and Koh Lanta. From March to May the temperature rises as the cooling wind departs and the humidity rises.
In April monsoonal weather usually arrives, which is expected to last until October. Peak rainfall levels are usually experienced in September and October. Outside of these months, the rain can often come in a short, heavy shower, usually in the afternoon.
All West coast destinations have similar weather conditions throughout the year as they all experience the impact of the Andaman sea. Temperatures and weather conditions in these locations might differ a bit in short term but in long term it's not notable.
For the best time to visit West Coast destinations check our weather ratings chart.
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You are planning to continue your trip up north or move to the East Coast after visiting the West Coast of Southern Thailand? Check when is the best time to visit Thailand's other destinations and choose destination with the best possible weather conditions wisely.