When the monsoon swells finally settle, the Andaman Sea turns the colour of sea glass and Thailand’s west coast wakes up. That is happening right now. The Similan Islands in Phang Nga reopened on 15 October after five months of closure due to the rains, and more than 1,300 people showed up on day one to see the granite boulders and white-sand beaches. Maya Bay on Ko Phi Phi Le reopened to visitors on 1 October. By December, the dry season should be fully in place.
Before you book: Six marine national parks, including Similan, Surin, Phi Phi, Phang Nga Bay and Ko Lanta, have required e-tickets since October 2025. Buy yours ahead of time and keep your passport handy.
What You Can Only Do on the Andaman Coast
Lots of Thai beaches are gorgeous. These five experiences, though, belong to this side of the country.
Paddle into the hongs of Phang Nga Bay. Limestone towers rise out of the bay, and inside some of them are “hongs”: collapsed cave chambers open to the sky. At the right tide, sea canoes slip through low tunnels and you float out into lagoons ringed by cliffs and mangroves. This drowned-karst scenery is pure Andaman. You won’t find it on the Gulf side.
Meet the Moken at Mu Ko Surin. Up near the Myanmar border, the Surin Islands are home to the Moken, a seafaring people often called sea nomads. Visits are small and community-led, and they’re a chance to learn how the Moken live with the sea. Choose a respectful operator, and remember you’re a guest in someone’s home, not watching a show.
Dive the Similan and Richelieu Rock circuit. This is some of the best diving in Thailand, with boulder-strewn reefs and deep pinnacles. Visibility is at its best in the dry months, and live-aboard trips out of Khao Lak reach sites that day boats simply can’t.
Look for dugongs off Trang. The seagrass beds around Ko Libong shelter some of Thailand’s last dugongs, gentle and endangered mammals that feed in wide, shallow, sheltered waters. Sightings are never guaranteed, but a quiet boat trip with a local guide gives you a real shot at seeing one surface.
Explore a UNESCO geopark in Satun. Thailand’s southernmost Andaman province is home to Satun Geopark, with ancient fossil-bearing rock, sea caves and the wild Tarutao archipelago. It’s the country’s only UNESCO Global Geopark, and it’s far quieter than Phuket.
A 10–12 Day Andaman Route: Phuket to Ko Lipe
This itinerary covers several provinces without feeling rushed.
Days 1–2: Phuket. Ease in around Phuket Old Town, where Sino-Portuguese shophouses now hold cafés and galleries. Then start island hopping with a boat trip to the Phi Phi area.
Days 3–5: Khao Lak and Phang Nga. Cross the bridge north and base yourself in Khao Lak for a Similan day trip or a dive. Set aside another day for sea canoeing in Phang Nga Bay. If you have time, add Surin as a side trip, though the boat ride is long.
Days 6–7: Krabi. Head south to Railay’s cliffs and long-tail boat rides. Climbers come for the limestone; everyone else comes for the beaches and quiet coves. Stay in Ao Nang or on Railay itself.
Days 8–9: Trang. Go by road or ferry. Trang’s islands are much less crowded than Krabi’s. Base yourself on Ko Muk or Ko Kradan, take a boat toward the dugong feeding grounds around Ko Libong, and swim into the Emerald Cave.
Days 10–12: Satun and Ko Lipe. Finish at the far end of the coast. Ko Lipe has some of the clearest water in Thailand, a soft landing after a busy trip. Hop over to Tarutao for the geopark’s caves and rugged beaches.
Practical Tips for Visiting the Andaman Coast
October and early November can still be wet, and boat operators sometimes cancel when the waves run high, so build in a spare day. For December and January, book ferries and island stays early. If you want the quietest trip, aim for the shoulder weeks at either end of the season.
The Andaman rewards travellers who slow down. Pack reef-safe sunscreen, don’t touch the coral, and let the coast set the pace.
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