Longtail boats on the beach at Koh Pak Bia, Krabi

Andaman Coast, Thailand - where to go and how to plan your route

Railay, Krabi, Phi Phi, Phuket, Khao Lak and Khao Sok - six different destinations, very different holidays and one perfect route for those who choose well. Here we help you work out what suits whom, how much time to give each place and how to combine them, based on our own trip in the region.

We were here: January-February 2025
Length of stay: About two and a half weeks
Best for: Beaches · Nature · Couples · First trip to Thailand
Best season: November-April

Choose a destination ↓

Andaman Coast - beaches, islands, nature and jungle

The Andaman coast is the western side of southern Thailand. This is where you will find some of the most famous scenery in the country: huge limestone cliffs rising out of the sea, white beaches, water in stunning shades of turquoise and small islands you reach by boat.

On our trip we moved between Railay, Krabi, Phi Phi, Phuket, Khao Lak and Khao Sok over about two and a half weeks.

The destinations look close together on the map, but in practice each one offers a completely different experience.

Railay is small and special, with dramatic cliffs and an island feel. Ao Nang in Krabi is a convenient base for day trips. Phi Phi has spectacular views, but also some very crowded areas. Phuket is big and varied, Khao Lak is calm and spacious, and Khao Sok, which lies inland, is a whole different experience of jungle, mountains and a lake.

The most important thing we learned is not to choose a destination by the photos alone. It is worth understanding how you get there, how easy it is to get around, where to stay and how much time it really needs.

Map of the Andaman coast destinations

The six destinations in this guide are all in southern Thailand, but they are not all on the same stretch of coast.

Railay and Ao Nang are in the Krabi area, Koh Phi Phi sits between Krabi and Phuket, and Khao Lak is north of Phuket. Khao Sok is an inland nature reserve that fits neatly into a route between the regions.

Where each destination sits affects the order of your trip, the transfer times and the number of nights worth giving it.

The six destinations - where should you go?

Railay Beach

One of the most beautiful places on our trip

Railay is a peninsula you can only reach by boat, but once you arrive, most getting around in the central area is on foot.

The huge limestone cliffs, beautiful beaches and special atmosphere make it one of the most impressive places on the Andaman coast.

We stayed here at Railay Phutawan Resort, one of the hotels we loved most on the trip. The combination of the view, the beaches and the relaxed atmosphere made Railay one of our favourite destinations.

That said, not everywhere in Railay is equally easy to reach. Some hotels are up a slope, and arriving with luggage can be less convenient than it looks on the map.

Good for: Couples · Honeymoon · Beaches · 2-4 nights
Less suited to: Anyone who wants easy access by car · Anyone who struggles with slopes or walking with luggage

Railay Beach guide

Krabi

A convenient base for island trips

Krabi is a large province that also includes Railay and Koh Phi Phi. When travellers talk about staying in Krabi, they often mean Ao Nang, a beach town that serves as a convenient base for trips in the area.

Ao Nang's big advantage is convenience. There is a wide choice of hotels, restaurants, shops, transport and tour agencies.

From here you can take day trips to the Hong Islands, the Four Islands, Railay and other sights.

It is a good choice for anyone who wants to see a lot but prefers to come back to the same hotel every evening rather than move from place to place.

The atmosphere here is different from Railay. Ao Nang is more developed and touristy, and less suited to anyone looking for the feel of a small, secluded island.

Good for: First trip · Island trips · Families · Convenient base
Less suited to: Anyone looking for a secluded beach and an intimate atmosphere

Krabi guide

Koh Phi Phi

Breathtaking scenery, but choosing where to stay matters

Koh Phi Phi is one of Thailand's best-known symbols, with bays surrounded by limestone cliffs, turquoise water and spectacular viewpoints.

But the experience here depends heavily on the area you choose to stay in.

Around Tonsai and Loh Dalum there are restaurants, shops and nightlife, and the atmosphere can be very crowded and touristy. In more remote areas you can find quiet beaches and hotels, but reaching them sometimes requires a boat.

Even a distance that looks short on the map can turn into an awkward walk with luggage, especially when there are steps or slopes on the way.

Phi Phi is also a base for day trips in the area, including trips towards Maya Bay, which is on Koh Phi Phi Leh.

Good for: Scenery · Beaches · Day trips · Nightlife in the central areas
Less suited to: Anyone looking for complete quiet in the centre of the island · Anyone who needs simple transport at any hour

Koh Phi Phi guide

Phuket

The biggest and most varied island on the route

Phuket offers a very different holiday from Railay or Phi Phi.

It is a large island with many beaches, upmarket resort areas, restaurants, shopping, nightlife and an international airport.

But there is no single holiday called "a holiday in Phuket". The atmosphere in Patong is very different from Kata, Karon or the quieter areas in the north of the island.

Your choice of area affects the whole holiday, because the distances in Phuket are significant and driving between areas can take time.

Phuket's big advantage is choice. You can find almost any style of holiday here, but it is important to pick the area that suits you.

Good for: Families · Shopping · Nightlife · Luxury hotels · Convenient flights
Less suited to: Anyone looking for a small island you can explore on foot

Phuket guide

Khao Lak

Long beaches, quiet and a base for nature trips

Khao Lak is north of Phuket, and the atmosphere is far more relaxed and spacious.

Instead of one crowded tourist centre, there are long beaches, resorts, restaurants and small areas with shops and markets.

We especially loved the calm feel of the place. Khao Lak suited us as a pleasant stop between busier destinations.

We stayed at Grandfather KhaoLak Resort, and also visited the Bang Niang night market area.

Khao Lak is an excellent base for trips to the Similan Islands during their operating season, and it also fits well with continuing on to Khao Sok.

Good for: Couples · Families · Beaches · Rest · Similan Islands trips
Less suited to: Anyone looking for intense nightlife

Khao Lak guide

Khao Sok

Jungle, a lake and a completely different experience

Khao Sok is not on the Andaman coast but inland, in Surat Thani province. Even so, it fits perfectly into a route via Phuket and Khao Lak.

It is one of those places where the scenery changes completely. Instead of beaches and longtail boats, you find rainforest, mountains covered in greenery and a vast lake surrounded by limestone cliffs.

On our trip we spent one night in the village area and another night on Cheow Lan Lake.

It was one of the most different experiences on the route, mainly because of the shift from the beaches to nature. Khao Sok suits anyone who wants to vary their holiday and not stay only by the sea.

Good for: Nature · Jungle · Lake · 1-3 nights · Combined route
Less suited to: Anyone looking for a beach holiday or nightlife

Khao Sok guide

Quick comparison - which destination suits you?

Destination	Beaches	Nature and scenery	Nightlife	Getting around	Especially good for
Railay	Excellent	Excellent	Limited	Easy on foot, arrival by boat	Couples
Krabi and Ao Nang	Good	Very good	Good	Fairly easy	Island trips and families
Phi Phi	Excellent	Spectacular views	Lively in the centre	Depends on your hotel's location	Beaches and day trips
Phuket	Very varied	Good	Lively in some areas	Long distances	Families and nightlife
Khao Lak	Excellent	Good	Quiet	Needs drives	Rest and couples
Khao Sok	No beaches	Excellent	Limited	Depends on transfers and tours	Nature and jungle

Each destination has different strengths. The comparison is based on the character of the destinations and on our own experience. Each destination also has different areas within it, so choosing the hotel matters as much as choosing the destination.

Hotels we stayed at and loved

One of the things we are careful about on this site is separating hotels we know from personal experience from places we present based on outside information.

These are three hotels we stayed at during our trip in the region.

Railay Phutawan Resort - the pool and garden in the evening

Railay Phutawan Resort✓ We stayed here One of the hotels we loved most on the trip. The hotel is in a raised area of Railay, surrounded by greenery and impressive views of the limestone cliffs. We loved the atmosphere and the location, but bear in mind that getting there involves a climb. Would we book again? Yes

Pool at Grandfather Khaolak Resort among coconut palms and the tropical garden, Khao Lak

Grandfather KhaoLak Resort✓ We stayed here A hotel we stayed at during our time in Khao Lak, suited to anyone looking for somewhere to stay in the calmer part of southern Thailand. Would we book again? No

Accommodation domes at Cosy Garden Khao Sok between the garden and the green mountains

Cosy Garden Khao Sok✓ We stayed here Where we stayed in the village area of Khao Sok, before continuing to Cheow Lan Lake.

What did we learn after two and a half weeks on the Andaman coast?

Some things are hard to grasp just from reading a hotel description or checking distances on a map. These are a few of the things we would recommend checking before booking a holiday in the region.

1. "Close" does not always mean easy to reach

In Railay and Phi Phi, a short distance on the map does not always mean getting there is simple. Sometimes you need to climb a path, walk with your luggage or take a boat to reach the hotel. Before booking, check how you actually get there, not just the distance from the beach.

2. Transfers take longer than they look

The time shown on transport websites usually covers only the drive or the crossing itself. In practice you also need to add getting to the pier, waiting, moving luggage and reaching the next hotel. That is why we would not plan too many back-to-back transfers.

3. The weather affects transport too

Where transport depends on boats, sea conditions matter as much as the rain forecast. Wind and waves can affect crossings, drop-off points and whether you can reach remote hotels at all. If your hotel needs a boat transfer, check the operating hours in advance and what the options are if the weather turns.

4. Not every destination needs the same number of nights

Some places suit a few days of rest, and others work as a short stop on the route. Khao Sok, for example, can suit a trip of a night or two, while Khao Lak can also work for a relaxed holiday of several days. In Railay we were happy to give time to the beaches and the atmosphere, rather than just a quick visit.

5. Your choice of hotel can change the whole holiday

In Phuket and Phi Phi especially, the area you stay in has a big effect on the experience. A beautiful hotel at a good price will not necessarily be a good choice if every outing from it means a long drive or a boat. We recommend choosing the area that suits you first, and only then comparing the hotels within it.

If this is your first time on the Andaman coast

We would start with three simple questions:

What kind of holiday do you want? Beaches, nature, island trips, rest or nightlife?

How much time do you have? A week, ten days or more?

How many transfers are you willing to make? Do you enjoy changing hotels, or prefer to stay several nights in each place?

If you only have a week, we would choose two or three destinations that fit well together.

If you have two weeks or more, you can combine beaches and nature and get to know several different sides of southern Thailand.

For us, the beauty of the Andaman coast is precisely its variety. You can wake up facing the limestone cliffs of Railay, spend a whole day on a trip between islands, move on to the calm beaches of Khao Lak and end with a night on a lake surrounded by jungle in Khao Sok.

But to enjoy all of this, you do not have to do everything.

It is better to choose the places that really suit you, and leave enough time to enjoy them.

When to go to Andaman Coast?

November to April - the recommended period These are usually the more comfortable months for beach holidays, boat trips and island tours. December to March are especially popular, so expect higher room rates and more tourists too.
May and October - the shoulder months You can still enjoy good days in these months, but the weather is less stable. There may be rain, waves and changes to boat trip schedules.
June to September - monsoon season This is usually the wetter period on the Andaman side. The sea can be rough, some trips may be cancelled, and at times there are restrictions on reaching certain beaches and islands. That does not mean it rains all day, but come with the right expectations and keep your plans flexible.

The most comfortable season for a trip to the Andaman region is usually between November and April, when the weather tends to be drier and the sea relatively calm. We travelled in the region in January and February 2025, which is considered peak season.

Good to know: Khao Sok is a particularly rainy area, and its weather is not necessarily the same as on the Andaman beaches.

How do you combine the destinations into a route?

One of the most common mistakes when planning a holiday on the Andaman coast is trying to fit in too many places in a short time. The distances between destinations are not always large, but a transfer can involve a taxi, a pier, waiting for a boat, the crossing and then another trip to the hotel.

If you have a week, we would not try to fit in all six destinations.

One week

Krabi and Ao Nang + Railay

Beaches and island trips. A combination for anyone who wants beautiful beaches, day trips and relative convenience. You can start in Ao Nang, take island trips from there and then move on for a few nights in Railay.

One week

Khao Lak + Khao Sok

Beaches and nature. A route for anyone looking for a calmer holiday that combines beaches, resorts, jungle and a lake. From Khao Lak you can add a trip to the Similan Islands, depending on the operating season and sea conditions.

One week to 10 days

Phuket, Phi Phi and Krabi

A popular combination for anyone who wants to enjoy several kinds of holiday. You can start in Phuket, continue to Phi Phi and finish in the Krabi area, or do the route in reverse. Leave enough time in each place and do not turn the holiday into a series of transfers.

Two and a half weeks

All six destinations, as on our trip

But even with this much time, it is important to decide which places interest you most and where you want to stay more than one night. We prefer to give enough time to the destinations we love, rather than feel we are constantly packing a suitcase and moving on to the next place.

Getting between destinations

Transport in the Andaman region combines road journeys and boat crossings, depending on the destination.

Ao Nang ↔ RailayBy longtail boat. The crossing itself usually takes about 10-20 minutes, depending on where you leave from and sea conditions. Allow for waiting for the boat and for getting on and off, which sometimes happens straight from the beach.

Krabi ↔ Phi PhiBy ferry or speedboat. The crossing time depends on the departure pier and the type of boat. On some routes it takes about an hour, on others about two hours or more.

Phuket ↔ Phi PhiFerries and speedboats. The journey time varies with the type of boat and the departure pier.

Phuket ↔ Khao LakBy car. The journey time depends on where you are in Phuket. From the airport area the drive is usually shorter than from the south of the island.

Khao Lak ↔ Khao SokBy car, usually about an hour and a half to two hours, depending on where your hotels are and road conditions.

An important tip for planning transfers

When you check how long it takes to move between destinations, do not look only at the crossing or driving time. Count the time from leaving the first hotel to arriving at the next one, including pick-up, waiting, luggage and getting to your room.

Sometimes a transfer that looks short on the map actually takes up a good part of the day.

Thailand up close - travelling from personal experience

The personal recommendations on this site are based on the places we visited and our own experiences during our trip in Thailand.

Practical information about transport, seasons, prices and services may change, so check it close to your trip.

Where we mention prices from our trip, they refer to when we visited and do not guarantee the same price today.

Commercial booking links, if they appear on the site, do not determine our recommendations.