Where to go without mass tourism and near the sea in Thailand?

I’d like to do a kind of personal retreat this winter and I’m looking for a destination near the sea (preferably an island) that’s quiet. Is that possible in Thailand, or should I consider another destination? Thanks for your thoughts. Dayi

Hi there,

There must be some hidden gems along the coast in Thailand—small villages far from the big resort areas. Peak season in Thailand runs from late November to mid-March.

Check out Koh Yao Noi—I saw bungalows on Agoda for 33 €/night. But I can’t give recommendations yet since I’ll be on that island in March 2026...

Hi! If you love tranquility even in high season, on the Andaman side, Phayam Island and its neighbor Chang are great options, as is Kood in the Gulf. We really enjoyed Chao Lao near Chanthaburi by the sea.

Thanks for the info; I’d spotted that island and I’ll look into it more closely, hoping to find something closer to 20 € for 45 days. Have a great trip in March! !

Koh Sukorn, very peaceful (too quiet for some). Beautiful 800m beach, a small well-maintained resort (Sukorn Andaman Beach Resort), great food, and well-organized transfers from Trang. European retirees spend their winters there. It’s an agricultural island with few tourists.

Hi there,

I stopped by Koh Phayam and stayed a few days before hopping on a sailboat that picked me up. I really liked this island—it’s pretty quiet with a laid-back crowd. You can rent a scooter to get around, which is pretty much essential on the island. There are plenty of simple guesthouses in good locations. I took a slow boat from Ranong, one that also transports goods—it was a cool experience, but not easy to find near the fishing port.

My guesthouse was in a great spot but not super comfortable. Just a heads-up: prices are higher than on the mainland.

Happy travels!

Thanks for the info; I’ll take a closer look, but I’m starting to wonder if Thailand is really the right place for me. I went there 20 years ago, and I realize just how much it’s changed! Maybe Indonesia, Malaysia, or Myanmar are more preserved? Do you have any advice on another destination. Also, just a heads-up—the links to your blog are showing an error! Dayi

Hi and thanks for the tip! Watching videos of the island, I’m wondering if 45 days there isn’t a bit much? No shops, no hills for hikes, and the beaches don’t look particularly appealing... Is that a wrong impression? Dayi

We should clarify what we mean by "retirement." I’ve seen Europeans—both men and women—who spent long stays on Koh Sukorn, including solo travelers... doing yoga on the beach, lots of swimming, and spending hours on their laptops. I wondered if there were any writers among the regulars.

Personally, my stays were limited to a week ;), but I loved the gently sloping, wave-free beach and the local way of life: fishing, farming, and livestock. I don’t like islands that rely solely on tourism. I didn’t notice any shops catering to Westerners, but it’s possible they exist.

I don’t think there are any quiet beaches left in Thailand with white sand *and* shops. Even the marine national parks have been overdeveloped instead of protected. What we read about Vietnam or Cambodia isn’t any more reassuring.

You might want to look into remote islands in Indonesia. Happy searching!

Hi there, we also really loved Koh Phayam. The feedback about this island in 2023 is still great, and it's such a peaceful place. To get to Koh Phayam from Bangkok, I put together this little guide (latest info from 2019 at the end of the discussion).

https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9661055#9661055

Thanks for the tip about Chao Lao, near the Cambodian border (it's not the same area at all... 😉 ). We also really like Ban Krut beach in the south, right on the coast—about 6 hours by train from Bangkok but only 1 hour from Prachuap Khiri Khan (which can be a really nice stop).

The message was for @Dayi... Koh Tarutao: If you want peace and quiet, this is the place! The island is more than 10 times the size of its neighbors and almost deserted. Huge (over 1 km long) and pristine beaches. Two comfortable bungalow complexes right on the beach, nestled in the vegetation with minimal occupancy and 5 km apart. Monkeys, monitor lizards, wild boars, and turtles are the main inhabitants. Bike and kayak rentals available at the rangers' house, near the landing spot (check out the crocodile cave). Jeep rides (paid) on request (from the park rangers) to get to the other side of the island, where the snorkeling is amazing... Visit the old prison, hike, etc. Only two restaurants (run by the state) on the whole island, 4 or 5 km apart. True, after 2 or 3 days, if you like to stay active or see a bit of people, you might start getting bored. How to get there: By ferry from Koh Lipe, its neighbor (a beautiful but fairly busy island that’s also worth a visit), or directly from Pak Bara on the mainland.

Hi there, See my message above that was addressed to you. For a retreat, Tarutao is the best! 😉 From Tarutao, several other islands are easily accessible: Koh Lipe, Koh Libong, Koh Muk, Koh Kradan, Koh Bulon...

thanks for the info; it sounds really great; I’ll take a closer look!

Just so you know, there are no villages on Koh Tarutao, no local population except for the national park rangers. It's the "Robinson" island. For local life with very few tourists, Koh Libong is a good option. You can observe dugongs there. It's Muslim, so alcohol is hard to find. Koh Muk is a bit more frequented and smaller, but it remains reasonable. It's mostly very rocky (gorgeous coves). On this island, tourists who don’t stay overnight arrive just to see the island’s main attraction for an hour: the Emerald Cave, a partially submerged cave. You can go there by kayak before the tourists arrive...