View Poll Results: The Best Thailand Beach

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  • Koh Chang

    5 10.20%
  • Koh Samet

    8 16.33%
  • Phuket

    3 6.12%
  • Koh Samui

    3 6.12%
  • Koh Tao

    1 2.04%
  • Koh Lanta Yai

    1 2.04%
  • Phi Phi Island

    4 8.16%
  • Koh Pha ngan

    6 12.24%
  • Similian Islands

    5 10.20%
  • The best Thai beach is not on these islands

    19 38.78%
Multiple Choice Poll.
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  1. #1

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    dirtydog's Avatar
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    The Best Thailand Beach

    I think this will have to be done over a few threads to find the best Thailand beach so this one the poll shall be on Thai islands, don't worry I doubt if Pattaya will be included in any of these polls unless the thread is on untreated sewage, and I feel sure Pattaya beach will win awards for that one.

    So on the Eastern seaboard we have Koh Chang and Koh Samet, they both have some nice beaches, there are a few others but nobody seems to go to them, well apart from Koh Larn, but hardly anybody stays overnight there.

    Going down into southern Thailand there are loads of islands but I've only listed the main ones,although I can't imagine Phuket winning nor probably places like Koh Samui or Koh Phi Phi, the beaches are probably slightly over commercialised, so place your votes or tell us what is the best beach in Thailand.

  2. #2
    Sprayed On Member
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    For me the best beach is Tong Nai Pan Yai on Koh Pha Nang. Its a 45 min drive down a mud trail where you bang the crap outta your head on the roof of the truck but when you get there its magic.

    A perfect bay surrounded by mountains where the urge to chill out is infectious.

    My longest visit there lasted 3 months and backpackers that I became friends with were amazed that they could leave me there, go traveling round Asia and come back a month later and still find me in the same hammock that they left me in.

    Funny story: Near the start of that long stay I came round one morning on a sofa sitting next to a Thai guy who is married to an aussie chick who lives on the beach. She came out of her bedroom screaming bloody murder at me and chased me down the beach. No Idea what she was on about. After that I only ever turned left outta my hut and never went right again.

  3. #3

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    dirtydog's Avatar
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    I used to go to Koh Samet a lot, now that really did used to be nice, 200baht per night for a bungalow on the beach, ok those ones were set behind the nicer beach huts that had the sea views, they even had some dog kennel type rooms on stilts for 50baht per night, about 2 meters by just over a meter wide so you probably wouldn't want to live there, last time I went was about 12 years ago, rubbish on the beaches, prices gone sky high, bottles floating in the sea, pretty disappointing really.

    Koh Chang I have only been the once, it is a bit over priced for what you get, the beaches are nice but nothing on white sands beach for less than 1,000baht per night, if you go across the road the prices drop dramatically.

  4. #4
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    What do you call a good beach ? I went to Kho Pha Ngan 25 years ago because there was nobody there, I loved it. Now people go there because of the full moon party.

    I know some small islands, nobody, beautiful corals at swimming distance from your bungalow. But after 3 days of eating chicken, fish and shrimps for breakfast, lunch and dinner, I start dreaming of a bloody steak (sorry I'm French) and I don't really enjoy the nice fishes anymore

    Then if you go to Evason in Pukhet, you can take a small boat that takes you to a very nice private beach. By 6 pm, after taking a shower in your nice air conditioned room, you're ready for a fine dinner experience ... I hate Pukhet but some people may like it.

    So far I haven't found the perfect beach in Thailand. Nice, a lot of them are very nice, but not as perfect as some beaches around the Mediterranean sea.
    The things we regret most is the things we didn't do

  5. #5
    Thailand Expat Airportwo's Avatar
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    Samui used to have great beaches? not been there for a while so probably gone?
    What makes a great beach? when you get there you just want to sit and chill - something I have never done in Pattaya the 20 or so years I have been here.

  6. #6
    Thailand Expat
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    Raillay west does it for me.

  7. #7
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by dirtydog
    Koh Chang
    Assume you're talking about Koh Chang in the gulf? Koh Chang, Ranong has some great beaches. If you don't mind backpacker accommodations then a good place to try.

  8. #8
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    Some hidden spots on Trang's coastline, pristine and not all turned out yet.

    May be heading down that way in a few weeks time and will do a photo report if so.

  9. #9
    Member Minty4Thai's Avatar
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    For me it would be Railay Beach, Theres a beach where you have to walk a fair distance to get there. Its well worth the trek.

  10. #10
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    Some lovely beaches down in Krabi, white sands, littered with seashells, crystal clear water and exotic island views.

  11. #11
    FarangRed
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    Nai Harn beach in the south of Phuket

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Minty4Thai
    For me it would be Railay Beach, Theres a beach where you have to walk a fair distance to get there. Its well worth the trek.
    What walk. You get off the boat from Ao Nang right on the beach. Even if you come in on the east side its a 10 minute walk max.

  13. #13
    Thailand Expat Jesus Jones's Avatar
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    Koh Chang in the Trat area has been the best for me so far.

    regarding prices as mentioned above, i visted the exhibition at Queen Sirikhit whatever it's called and i was amazed how expensive it has become. Bunglaows there were around 700bht 2 years and now 2k plus, some 3700 per night that don't offer a children go free scheme. Only one stand that we visited offered half price for children in the Koh Chang resorts.
    You bullied, you laughed, you lied, you lost!

  14. #14
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    I put a vote in for Phuket for the sheer diversity of beaches which can be found.

    Nai Harn beach is probably the nicest and most accessible. No jetskis or high rises, the beach front is dominated by a Buddhist temple. The Meridian yacht club gets the rest. Lovely sand and a nice rocky area for snorkeling or scuba.
    Phuket also has a few little issolated beaches with difficult access for those who want that remote feeling.
    Patong Beach is a really fine beach after all is said and done. The water is much cleaner than it ever used to be with the fancy new sewer treatment plant.
    There are lovely walkways along the beach along with many shade trees.
    It's also quite lively in the people watching department. Patong is one beach resort which wont get boring that fast.
    There's a good reason so many people keep coming back here despite all the tuktuk a-holes and their slimy brethren. (I might be wrong but all the recent negative ink about tuktuks in Phuket has possibly caused them to behave slightly better)
    Phuket get's it just because there is so much to offer.
    Just 200-300 kms to the north along the Andaman coast are a couple of virtually deserted beaches for those who really want to get away from it all.
    Last edited by Mr Earl; 17-03-2010 at 11:58 AM.

  15. #15
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mr Earl
    Just 200-300 kms to the north along the Andaman coast are a couple of virtually deserted beaches for those who really want to get away from it all.
    One of my favs. Doesn't have the night life of Phuket but some damn nice beaches and resorts.

    Khao Lak Resorts and Hotels, Tours and Travel Guide

  16. #16
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    Been going to Koh Samet for some 10 years now. We always stay at Sai Kaew beach, almost always the same hotel. Though I have seen cost go from some 1,000 to well over 2,500 and over 3,000 in high season, it is still the best beach for the money. You can drive there in 3 hours, park the car, take speed boat right to hotel. The beach is quiet without being too quiet. Some nightlife as well.
    TH

  17. #17
    Member Minty4Thai's Avatar
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    Its the walk which brings you out to the beach where they have the cave full of penises. Your probably correct its about a 10 minute walk, Not much of a Trek at all. Theres an island just off the beach where you can swim around and enter the caves.

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ghandi View Post
    Some hidden spots on Trang's coastline, pristine and not all turned out yet.

    May be heading down that way in a few weeks time and will do a photo report if so.
    Yep, this is on the Trang coastline. Just got on my motorcy and hit random spots down the road. It was a good day, good beaches.
    Last edited by Bexar County Stud; 17-03-2010 at 03:01 PM.

  19. #19
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    Smile The most beautiful beaches

    Two of my favourites are Ao Bor Tor , or Bungalow Bay on Koh Racha, ( used to be No.1 before they built the 5 star hotel!) and Koh Rok Nok which is about 12 miles west of Koh Muk, south of Koh Lanta.
    Rok Nok has a Ranger station and camping area which the Thai's patronise on Uni holidays and is a National Park, so expect to pay fees (Singha and Heineken used to be the most acceptable) when you drop anchor on your boat in 15 metres of clear green water on white sandy bottom. The only disturbance is the day trippers from Lanta and Koh Muk, but they leave by 4 pm and you are left to listen to the hiss of water over the rocks and coral headlands and the occasional fish leaping out of the water to escape the murder and mayhem of life below the waves.

  20. #20
    Thailand Expat
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    Quote Originally Posted by Minty4Thai
    Its the walk which brings you out to the beach where they have the cave full of penises. Your probably correct its about a 10 minute walk, Not much of a Trek at all. Theres an island just off the beach where you can swim around and enter the caves.
    Thats a private beach that belongs to the Reywadee Hotel. The really fancy joint. Is beautiful though.

  21. #21
    Thailand Expat
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    Quote Originally Posted by aging one View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Minty4Thai
    Its the walk which brings you out to the beach where they have the cave full of penises. Your probably correct its about a 10 minute walk, Not much of a Trek at all. Theres an island just off the beach where you can swim around and enter the caves.
    Thats a private beach that belongs to the Reywadee Hotel. The really fancy joint. Is beautiful though.


    No, that beach (Phranang beach) is not private. The Rayavdee grounds adjacent to the beach are private of course, but the beach is not.
    Here's a holiday scene of Phranang beach with the cave in the background.


    Starting from Railay east, the walk he's talking about goes around the side of the Rayavadee Resort, hugging the mountain and takes you to Phranang Cave and Phranang Beach.

    On top of that limestone mountain/outcropping where Phranang cave is, there's a lagoon. You can either rockclimb up there or take a rather steep hike, but it's worth it for the views.
    Last edited by Bexar County Stud; 17-03-2010 at 05:33 PM.

  22. #22
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    Sorry bex should not have said private. By that I simply mean a lot of people never even find it. Few enough enjoy Raillay, its too quiet thank god. Great map of the area.

    For me its almost like some sort of flashback, so beautiful, you can only get there by boat, no cars, and at sunset its surreal. Hard to believe you are on the mainland.

    There is an old BBC documentary called Thailand or Phuket for Sale. 14 years ago a Thai activist and producer made this show a woman named Ing K, its too much. But the relevance is telling of how there were plans to bore through the mountain and make this place more accessible. Thank god it was the only placed saved in this show.

    Download it if you can find it. Its off of BBC 2 and could be even older than 14 years. Scathing commentary on the sale of the Phuket by Thai's to mostly Thai's via very corrupt practices. Its banned here.

    Again, but RAILLAY SURVIVED. If you have gone there is no way to vote for a Koh Chang. Koh Chang is beautiful in totality. But the beaches are nothing compared to the south. Raillay really has to be the winner.

  23. #23
    FarangRed
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    Nai Harn Beach

  24. #24
    FarangRed
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  25. #25
    Member Lobster's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bexar County Stud View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Ghandi View Post
    Some hidden spots on Trang's coastline, pristine and not all turned out yet.

    May be heading down that way in a few weeks time and will do a photo report if so.
    Yep, this is on the Trang coastline. Just got on my motorcy and hit random spots down the road. It was a good day, good beaches.
    what is to the left of where you took this picture?

    Houses?
    Grass?
    Rocks?
    A cheap place for me to build my retirement castle?

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