Beaches on the southeast coast of Thailand (from Hua Hin to Surat Thani)

Hi there, I’ve been visiting Thailand for about twenty years now. We’ve been there around 5-6 times, always spending 2-3 days in BKK and then heading to Koh Samui. This year, we wanted to explore the southeast coast of Thailand for a change—from Hua Hin down to Surat Thani. We were strongly advised against going any further south.

However, we noticed that the beaches in Hua Hin aren’t exactly stunning, and the further south you go, the more beautiful they get—white, fine sand like in Samui. Do you have any recommendations for gorgeous beaches along this coast? Thanks!

You’ve been given bad advice. Sure, it’s best to avoid 4 or 5 provinces in the far south—though it’s really, *really* not Syria, Afghanistan, or even some neighborhoods in France.

Expats have visited and still visit these provinces without any issues. A former prime minister just made a trip there, and the situation might improve as a result. Anyway, police stations have far more to worry about than tourists.

To be on the safe side, let’s say you’ll skip the areas from Hat Yai southward.

So don’t miss out on exploring Phang Nga, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Phatthalung, or even Songkhla.

Many travelers favor—and have mentioned here—the beaches at Khanom and Sichon, as well as Khao Lak. As for the rest, plenty of them won’t reveal their secret spots. But don’t worry, there are so many that 10 trips wouldn’t be enough to see them all.

I won’t hide it: it’s better to be motorized and independent.

A small part of the interesting spots can be found in my 2013 and 2015 travel journals—just click on my username.

And remember: while it’s great to get tips here, it’s also really nice to share your own...

Hi

From Hua Hin down to Surat Thani. Anything further south was strongly discouraged.

I agree with Jojoone—you were given really bad advice. The areas/provinces with a bad reputation are those south of Hat Yai (Songkhla Province). Province map: https://ontheworldmap.com/thailand/thailand-provinces-map.jpg Between Surat Thani and Hat Yai, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, and Trang are towns where I enjoyed spending a few days. The road between Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat serves some beautiful, less crowded beaches (or so I’ve heard, since I’m not a beach person and didn’t go) around the Sichon area.

Hey, if you're traveling along the coast from Hua Hin to Surat Thani, you won’t find those white-sand beaches lined with coconut trees like on the islands—that’s for sure. But it’s still great, less touristy (except for Hua Hin), and you’ll definitely need a vehicle.

Alternatively, you could detour to Ranong—the road is beautiful.

I did this route 2 months ago,

Hi, as mentioned earlier, check out Khanom Beach..

Heading up above HUA HIN, there’s a really beautiful beach at CHA-AM and an excellent French restaurant: DIDINNE Best,

Thanks to all of you for these valuable tips. We’ll spend 2-3 days in Ayutthaya, and on the way back to Suvarnabhumi, we’ll rent a car. Heading to Kaeng Krachan National Park for 2-3 days, then a week at Baan Krood Beach, followed by a week in Hua Hin—just to explore the area without too many long trips, since in Asia, 200 km can feel endless.

The former prime minister's visit didn't go down well with the Islamists. There were several attacks resulting in 4 deaths and many injuries.

Just to clarify, the three provinces to avoid are Narathiwat, Yala, and Pattani, right on the Malaysian border. Really in the deep south.