Thailand beaches and island hopping guide
Thai beaches are known for three coasts with different dry months. Use this if you are picking one sea: Andaman November to April, Lower Gulf January to August, or the east November to April.
The Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe) is known for calmer seas from November to April. The Lower Gulf (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao) stays drier January to August and takes its heaviest rain from October to early December. The eastern seaboard (Koh Samet, Koh Chang, Koh Kood) follows the Andaman clock: November to April. Pick one coast. See [Phuket](/phuket), [Koh Samui](/koh-samui), and [Koh Chang and Koh Kood](/koh-chang-and-koh-kood).
Longtails are cheap, wet, and local: Railay crossings run about 100 THB a person. Speedboats cut time and add spray; they cancel in swell. Marine national park fees for a foreign adult sit at 200 to 400 THB at the pier or the beach desk. Confirm whether a Klook boat includes the fee. For a 10-day Andaman hop, use [2 weeks Andaman](/itineraries/2-weeks-andaman-island-hopping) or cut it to one base.
Three coasts, two boat types, one park fee
A longtail is a shallow inshore taxi. A speedboat is a longer crossing that hates weather. Do not book both for the same bay. Pay the park fee once per park per day unless the sign says otherwise.
| Coast | Islands | Dry months and fee |
|---|---|---|
| Andaman | Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi, Lanta, Lipe | Nov to Apr; park fees 200 to 400 THB |
| Lower Gulf | Samui, Phangan, Tao | Drier Jan to Aug; rain Oct to early Dec |
| Eastern seaboard | Samet, Chang, Kood | Nov to Apr; Trat car ferry for Chang and Kood |
| Longtail | Short hops: Railay, nearshore snorkel | About 100 THB a person on short Krabi runs |
| Speedboat | Phi Phi, Lipe, Ang Thong days | Faster; cancels in swell; fee often extra |
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Common questions
- Andaman or Gulf for a first beach week?
- Andaman from November to April. Lower Gulf from January to August. Do not stack Phuket and Samui on a first week.
- Longtail or speedboat?
- Longtail for a short hop such as Railay. Speedboat for Phi Phi or a distant snorkel day. The park fee is still 200 to 400 THB.
- When is Koh Phangan a bad swim?
- October to early December is the heavy Gulf rain. Full Moon is a crowd plan, not a calm-beach plan.