Photo: Jacek Lesniowski via Google
The shape of the trip
- The planStart in Phuket for choice and easy logistics, cross to Krabi and Ao Nang for the limestone scenery, add the boat only beaches of Railay and a day among the Phi Phi islands, then finish on the long, calm west coast of Koh Lanta, all on short transfers and boats
- Best basesPhuket for variety and the gateway airport, Krabi or Ao Nang for the cliffs and the boats, and Koh Lanta for the quietest, slowest sand of the trip
- The honest noteThis is an Andaman coast loop, best from roughly November to April; the Gulf islands like Koh Samui sit on a different coast with a different rainy season, so they are better saved for a separate trip
- Getting aroundShort taxi and minivan transfers between Phuket and Krabi, longtail and speed boats to Railay and Phi Phi, and a ferry and road link to Koh Lanta
Published 25 January 2026. Last reviewed 24 March 2026
Thailand's Andaman coast is one of those rare stretches where the postcard and the reality match, all limestone cliffs rising out of clear green water and long beaches softening into warm shallows. The trick to doing it slowly rather than rushing is to keep the trip on one coast and let short boats and transfers do the work, so the days fill with swims and longtail rides rather than airports. This ten day route reads as a loop, gathering the best of Phuket, Krabi, Railay, Phi Phi and Koh Lanta without a single long travel day.
It opens in Phuket, the easy gateway with the widest choice of sand, then crosses to Krabi and Ao Nang where the cliffs take over and the boats begin. From there you reach Railay, a beach so hemmed in by rock that it can only be arrived at by water, and give a day to the famous Phi Phi islands offshore. The finish is Koh Lanta, the calmest, most laid back island of the route, where the long west coast sand and the slow sunsets bring the trip down to island time. Lead with the early hours when the light is soft and the boats are quiet, and remember this is a dry season loop, best from roughly November to April.
Ten slow days
The west coast beaches
Begin in Phuket, the Andaman gateway and the island with the most choice. Base yourself on the calmer west coast around Kata and Karon, or the quieter Surin and Bang Tao to the north, and take the first two days gently while the trip finds its rhythm. Mornings are for an easy swim before the heat, late afternoons for the long, slow Phuket sunset over the sea. It is the busiest, most developed stop of the route, a deliberate easy landing before the scenery sharpens.
Into the limestone
Cross by road to Krabi and settle in around Ao Nang, where the coastline turns to the towering limestone karst that defines this corner of Thailand. Ao Nang itself is the lively base, a strip of beach, boats and restaurants, with longtails waiting to ferry you to the quieter coves nearby. Spend the days drifting between beaches by boat and the evenings on the seafront, with the cliffs glowing at sunset. This is the scenic heart of the trip, and the launch point for the boats to come.
The beach you can only reach by boat
Give a day to Railay, a small peninsula so walled in by cliffs that no road reaches it and every arrival is by longtail from Ao Nang. The reward is some of the most beautiful sand in Thailand, the soft white crescent of Railay West for swimming and sunsets and the tucked away Phra Nang beach beneath the cliffs. Go early to beat the day trippers, swim in the calm shallows and watch the climbers work the limestone overhead. It is a short hop that feels a world away.
The islands offshore
Take a day out to the Phi Phi islands, the cluster of limestone outcrops famous for their clear water and dramatic cliffs, including the much photographed Maya Bay. A boat trip among them is the highlight, with snorkelling stops and quiet coves between the busier landings, so choose an early departure or a smaller boat for the calmest experience. Time your return for the late light over the water. Operators and access can change with the season and are best confirmed on the day.
The long, calm west coast
Make your way to Koh Lanta, reached by a mix of ferry and road, and feel the pace drop the moment you arrive. The island's long west coast is a string of wide, easy beaches, from the busier Long Beach to quieter sand further south, all facing the sunset and rarely crowded. Settle into a base, hire a scooter if you like, and let two days pass in slow swims, beach bars and the unhurried mood that makes Lanta the favourite of so many returning travellers.
Kantiang Bay and the quiet south
Give a day to the island's south, where the beaches grow quieter and the headlands greener. Kantiang Bay is the standout, a curve of soft sand cradled by forested hills, with calm water for swimming and one of the best sunset spots on the island. Pack a picnic, rent a scooter to reach it, and let the day drift between the sand and the viewpoints. It is the slowest, most secluded sand of the whole route, and the perfect note to end on.
The gentle finish
Save the final morning for one more unhurried swim on the Lanta sand before the transfer out, whether you loop back to Phuket or Krabi for a flight home. It is the gentlest possible close, all warm water and soft light, ten days after the easy landing in Phuket. Keep the morning loose, take a last walk along the shore, and let the Andaman send you off slowly.
The practical notes
| What | The short answer |
|---|---|
| The route | Phuket, then Krabi and Ao Nang, Railay and Phi Phi, then Koh Lanta |
| Headline beaches | Kata and Karon, Railay West and Phra Nang, Phi Phi, Long Beach and Kantiang Bay |
| Getting around | Taxis and minivans, longtail and speed boats, a ferry and road to Koh Lanta |
| Best hours | Early morning for the calmest sea and the quietest boats |
| When to go | Roughly November to April on the Andaman coast, December to March the easiest |
| Good to know | This is an Andaman loop; the Gulf islands have a different season |
Plan your day on the sand
Independent and honest · 1,340 beaches ranked across 103 destinations · We answer to no resort
The Thailand trip, answered
Is 10 days enough for a Thailand beach trip?
Ten days is a comfortable amount of time to enjoy the Andaman coast at a slow pace. It is enough to settle into the beaches of Phuket, cross to the limestone bays of Krabi and Railay, take a day among the Phi Phi islands and finish on the long, calm sand of Koh Lanta, all linked by short transfers and boats rather than long travel days.
What is the best order for a Thailand beach itinerary?
A natural flow on the Andaman side is to start in Phuket, the main gateway, then move to Krabi and Ao Nang for the limestone scenery, add the boat only beaches of Railay and a day out to Phi Phi, then finish on Koh Lanta for the calmest, slowest sand. You can run it in reverse just as easily, since the route is a loop of short hops rather than a long line.
Which has the best beaches on this route?
It depends on the mood you want. Phuket offers the widest choice and the easiest logistics, Railay and Phi Phi bring the postcard limestone cliffs and clear water, and Koh Lanta has the long, quiet west coast sand that many travellers rate the most relaxing of all. For scenery pick Railay and Phi Phi, for calm and space pick Koh Lanta.
How do you get around Thailand's Andaman beaches?
The route runs on short transfers and boats rather than flights. Taxis and minivans link Phuket and Krabi, longtail and speed boats reach Railay and the Phi Phi islands, and a mix of ferry and road brings you to Koh Lanta. Distances are short, so travel days stay light. Boat schedules are seasonal and best confirmed locally on the day.
When is the best time for a Thailand Andaman beach holiday?
The Andaman coast around Phuket, Krabi and Koh Lanta is usually at its best from roughly November to April, with the calmest sea and the clearest island hopping conditions, and the stretch from December to March often the easiest of all. The wetter monsoon months from around May to October can make some boat trips unreliable. Conditions are typical and never guaranteed.
Can you add the Gulf islands like Koh Samui to this trip?
You can, but it is worth knowing that the Gulf islands such as Koh Samui sit on a different coast with a different rainy season, so the weather does not always line up with the Andaman side. On a focused ten day trip it is usually smoother to stay on the Andaman coast and save the Gulf for a separate journey. Conditions vary by season and are best checked before you commit.