We Went Island Hopping to Round Up Thailand’s Best Beaches

by Noreen Flanagan April 27, 2018

Seventeen km from Phuket Town, you’ll find Rawai beach which is known for its white beaches. But with shallow waters busy with boat traffic, it’s not Thailand’s top spot for swimming. Rather, Rawai acts as a gateway to the smaller, more private islands off the coast of Phuket. It’s where everyone goes to board a traditional Thai longtail boat (or one of the many speedboats for hire lining the shore) for day trips to nearby Coral Island, Koh Lone or Racha Island.

For a quieter, scene we took a boat to the Rang-Yai, a private Island about 15 minutes by boat from Phuket. The water is bath-like warm (seriously) and the mood is very chill. Between dips in the water and naps in your beach lounger, check out Rangyai Pearl, a tiny shop on the island that is reputable and known for its high-quality pearls. (In case you are in the market for an Island, this one is for sale for around $211 million.)

If you need help narrowing down your choices, here are our top 5 beaches in Thailand!