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Andaman Coast
Region · Thailand

Andaman Coast

Beaches on Phuket’s west coast, limestone towers in Krabi and the Phi Phi Islands, all on the same sea and the same monsoon calendar.

Best timeDec–Mar
Ideal stay6–8 nights
Main basesPhuket, Ao Nang
GatewaysPhuket, Krabi
Overview

The Andaman Coast

The Andaman coast is Thailand’s west-facing sea coast, and three places give it its reputation. Phuket is the island Thailand’s tourism authority describes as the country’s biggest, with sandy beaches on its west side — Patong, Karon, Kata, Kamala and others — and an Old Town of Sino-European buildings shaped by the tin trade. Krabi, across Phang Nga Bay to the east, is the province of limestone: karst towers, longtail boats to Railay and the islands, Tiger Cave Temple and the Emerald Pool. The Phi Phi Islands are administered as part of Krabi, not Phuket, though they are often grouped with it. All three share one monsoon calendar, which decides what the sea allows.

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Where to go

Where to go in Andaman Coast

Phuket
IslandPhuket
Krabi
Province guideKrabi
Highlights

What the Andaman Coast Is Known For

Beaches, limestone and islands, with a historic town in the middle.

The sandy beaches face the Andaman Sea on the west: Rawai, Patong, Karon, Kamala, Kata Yai, Kata Noi and Mai Khao are the ones the tourism authority names. The east coast is mostly muddy, so almost every beach stay is planned on the west.Phuket’s west-coast beaches
Terraced Sino-European buildings around Thalang, Dibuk, Phang Nga and Yaowarat roads, and a Sunday walking street on Thalang Road, according to TAT.Phuket Old Town
Railay, a peninsula that can only be reached by boat; the four-island longtail trip from Ao Nang; Tiger Cave Temple; and the mangroves and Emerald Pool.Krabi’s limestone
Six islands in the Andaman Sea, with Phi Phi Don the populated one and Phi Phi Leh uninhabited; Maya Bay is on Phi Phi Leh. Check Maya Bay’s current status before planning a trip around it.The Phi Phi Islands
When to Go

The Best Time to Visit the Andaman Coast

Figures are Thai Meteorological Department 1991–2020 averages. Phi Phi has no weather station of its own, so its figures are borrowed from the nearest Andaman-coast stations.

The dry season and the reason most people come. February is the driest month at all four nearby stations; at Phuket it averages 24.0 mm over 3.4 rainy days. Seas are generally calm and boat trips run most reliably, though this is also the busiest window.December – March
Hot, and still usually fine for boats. March has the highest mean maximum at Phuket (34.4 °C).March – April
The southwest monsoon. September and October are the wettest months at Phuket (350.4 mm and 336.0 mm), and the sea gets rough, so island trips and some ferry routes can be cut short. Quieter and greener, and a better time for towns, temples and Phuket Old Town than for boats.May – October
The shoulder. Showers ease and the sea settles as the month goes on, but conditions vary from year to year, so keep island days flexible.November
Getting Around

Reaching & Crossing the Andaman Coast

Two airports, one coast road and a lot of boats.

Getting there

  • Phuket and Krabi (KBV) both have international airports; most journeys from India connect through Bangkok, so check current direct routes before booking.
  • Indian passport holders should confirm the current entry requirements for Thailand before booking, as the arrangements have changed more than once in recent years.

Getting around

  • By road, Phuket to Krabi takes around two and a half to three hours along the coast road.
  • Ferries link Krabi with Ko Phi Phi, Ko Lanta and Phuket; routes and frequency change with the season and are reduced in the monsoon.
  • Tour listings that say ‘Phuket’ for Phang Nga Bay or Phi Phi are naming the departure point; the places themselves are in Phang Nga and Krabi provinces.
Suggested Itinerary

Seven Days on the Andaman Coast

Day 1

Phuket Old Town

Spend the day among the terraced buildings of Mueang Phuket and the roads around Thalang.

Day 2

South Phuket

Wat Chalong, the Big Buddha on Nakkerd Hill for the views, and sunset at Laem Phromthep at Rawai.

Day 3

A west-coast beach day

Karon or Kata, or Sirinat National Park in Thalang for its long beach and the sea-turtle nesting area at Nai Yang.

Day 4

To Krabi

The coast road east, and Tiger Cave Temple late in the day when the heat has eased.

Day 5

The four islands

An early longtail from Ao Nang around the islands of the bay, with swimming stops and the low-tide sandbar.

Day 6

Railay

A longtail across to Railay for Phra Nang beach and the walk between the bays.

Day 7

Phi Phi

A boat to Phi Phi Don and Ton Sai village, if the sea allows, for a night or a day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Andaman Coast Travel FAQ

Six to eight nights covers Phuket, Krabi and one island stay, though Phi Phi and Ko Lanta are better treated as separate stays than as day trips.
No. The Phi Phi Islands are administered as part of Krabi province, although boats also run from Phuket and the two are often grouped in conversation.
Phuket suits beaches, resorts and a town to explore; Krabi suits limestone scenery, longtail boats and a quieter feel. Many trips combine both, about two and a half to three hours apart by road.
The southwest monsoon runs roughly from May to October, with September and October the wettest months at Phuket. The sea gets rough then and some island trips and ferries are cut short.
Check its current status before planning around it. It has been closed for long periods to let the reef and beach recover and now opens under restrictions.
Plan Your Trip

Design Your Andaman Coast Journey

Tell us who is travelling and when — the season decides which boats will run, and that shapes everything else on this coast.

Plan My Andaman Coast Trip →

Photo credits · Krzysztof Golik · File:Ton Sai beach (4).jpg · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence, source)