Thai coast and islands off the beaten path.
Less-touristed coastal towns and islands in Thailand, for travelers seeking fewer crowds but all the beauty.
Karon
This dense mix of resort hotels, pool villas, and local housing spreads across forested hillsides right down to a long stretch of turquoise-water beach, maki…
Choeng Thale
This Phuket town fronting calm water, where multi-storey buildings with dark gabled roofs and white balconies line the shoreline among palms, backed by a liv…
Amphawa
A canal-side town in Samut Songkhram province at the northwestern edge of the Bay of Bangkok, Amphawa has a walkable waterfront centre lined with cafés and r…
Chalong
A waterfront town on Phuket's southern coast, Chalong is home to Wat Chalong — formally Wat Chaiyathararam and considered the most important of Phuket's Budd…
Ko Panyi
A fishing village in Phangnga Province built entirely on stilts over the water by Bugis seafarers who migrated from Indonesia, Ko Panyi is home to descendant…
Hua Hin
Thailand's oldest beach resort city, Hua Hin sits on the Gulf of Thailand coast in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, a few hours south of Bangkok.
Ko Kut
Large island in the Gulf of Thailand's Trat Province, Ko Kut is known for its beaches along the western coast, a waterfall called Khlong Chao that flows year…
Songkhla
Songkhla sits where Songkhla Lake opens into the Gulf of Thailand, giving this southern Thai provincial capital beaches on multiple sides — including Samila…
Patong
Phuket's busiest beach resort sits on the island's west coast, with a long stretch of sand backed by a dense concentration of hotels, restaurants, and shops.
Ko Ngai Winla
This compact island on Thailand's southern Andaman Coast, Ko Ngai is part of Lanta Islands National Park and known for its diving and long white beaches.
Surat Thani
Southern Thai city on the Gulf of Thailand coast near the mouth of the Tapi River, Surat Thani is the main departure point for Ko Samui, Ko Tao, and Ko Pha N…
Phrom Khiri
Water cascades over broad granite slabs into a dense tropical forest in this upland district of southern Thailand's Nakhon Si Thammarat province, where lush…
Rawai
A sandy bay lined with longtail boats at low tide, Rawai sits at Phuket's southern tip where forested hills meet the sea, offering a working waterfront feel…
satun
Satun is a town on Thailand's southern Andaman Coast that serves as the gateway to the surrounding islands of the Andaman Sea, including Ko Tarutao, Ko Adang…
Mai Khao
A low-rise coastal town on Phuket's northern edge, where a highway runs between forested hillsides and a broad blue bay, with aquaculture ponds, palm groves,…
Kamala
This laid-back beach town on Phuket's west coast, Kamala lines its sandy promenade with open-air bars, bungalow guesthouses, restaurants, and massage shops s…
Prachuap Khiri Khan
Coastal town in western Thailand where the country narrows to just a short distance from the Myanmar border, Prachuap Khiri Khan sits between the Gulf of Tha…
Si Racha
Si Racha, a Gulf of Thailand coastal city in Chonburi province, is the birthplace of Sriracha hot sauce, which takes its name from the town.
Ko Phayam
This pocket-sized Andaman Sea island in Ranong Province, close to the Myanmar border, draws independent travellers with an unusually dense café and restauran…
Rayong
A coastal city on Thailand's Eastern Gulf, Rayong sits on the Gulf of Thailand with a walkable centre full of cafés and restaurants.
Pak Phanang
A southern Thai town where a long sandy beach lined with wind-bent palms meets a calm open sea, offering a low-key coastal escape on the Gulf of Thailand.
Phang Nga
This small provincial capital in southern Thailand sits on a low plain at the northern edge of Phang Nga Bay, ringed by mountains on all sides — a geography…
Nakhon Si Thammarat
One of Thailand's most ancient cities, Nakhon Si Thammarat served as the administrative centre of the south for much of its history and was once the Kingdom…
Hat Yai
Southern Thailand's largest city and its commercial hub, Hat Yai draws cross-border visitors from Malaysia and Singapore for its dense concentration of resta…
Narathiwat
This compact town on the Gulf of Thailand coast in Thailand's deep south, Narathiwat sits at the mouth of the Bang Nara River where it meets the sea, with a…
Ban Ang Sila
This coastal fishing town in Chonburi Province, a short drive from Bangkok, Ang Sila is known for its stone mortar craftsmanship and dried seafood products.
Ranong
A small provincial town on Thailand's northern Andaman Coast, Ranong sits at the water's edge with mountains close behind and a food-and-drink scene concentr…
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
The ruins of the Ayutthaya Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, spread across this island town at the confluence of the Chao Phraya and Pa Sak rive…
Trat
This walkable town on the Trat River near the Cambodian border, with a centre full of cafés and restaurants and a waterfront shaped by fishing and maritime t…
Uttaradit
A north Thai river town where a calm waterway lined with lush tropical greenery flows past a low-rise centre, with upland country close by and enough cafés a…
Chumphon
This coastal town on the Central Gulf Coast of southern Thailand, Chumphon serves as the main gateway to the islands of the Gulf of Thailand and has a walkab…
Nuea Khlong
This small Thai town on the water's edge, Nuea Khlong pairs a modest café and dining scene with easy access to both coastal surroundings and nearby upland co…
Takua Thung
A small Thai town sitting directly at the water's edge with upland country close by, making it a practical base for those drawn to both coastal and highland…
Thai Mueang
Compact Thai town on the Andaman coast with a walkable central café and restaurant scene, easy access to nearby water, and upland country within reach for th…
Khao Saming
This Thai town where the water meets the edge of upland country, Khao Saming offers a low-key coastal base with easy access to forested hills rising just inl…
Su-ngai Padi
A little Thai town sitting directly on the water with upland country close by, offering a quiet base for those drawn to both coastal and highland scenery in…