With international borders finally reopening and summer on the horizon, it’s time to start planning your next holiday. With a huge amount of natural beauty, rich culture and delicious food, Thailand is a great option for a relaxing, tropical trip. If you’re thinking about visiting this breathtaking country, these are five of the best Thailand beaches to enjoy some hard-earned rest and relaxation.

Maya Bay

Maya Bay might be the most famous beach in Thailand. It’s best-known for its appearance in the movie The Beach — starring Leonardo DiCaprio. But even without the Hollywood fame, it would well and truly be worthy of a spot on thislist. This sheltered bay sits on Koh Phi Phi ticks all the boxes — crystal clear water, white sand and incredible backdrops of cliffs. What’s more, the beach was closed forseveral years but has now been reopened — allowing restricted access to tourists. So, you are more likely to find a secluded part of the beach for yourself. You can almost hear the waves crashing in the distance.

Railay Beach 

Asfar asrelaxing Thai beaches go, Railay Beach is certainly worth the visit. A huge, fin-shaped cliff overlooks the white sand and clear blue water. Sitting at the end of a small peninsula in Krabi, getting to Railay Beach is a soft adventure — seeing as you can only get there on foot, by boat or ferry. If you’re after a bit of excitement and a breathtaking setting, this beach is the one for you.

Nai Harn Beach

Given that it’s located on Phuket Island, which is home to the bustling city of Phuket, it should come as no surprise that Nai Harn Beach is a popular tourist destination. However, if you’re looking for somewhere to relax on Thailand’s busiest island, this could be your best bet. The beach has the same beautiful white sand and clear water shared by the best Thailand beaches, and with nearby food and drink options, you can spend the entire day there. If you find yourself at Nai Harn Beach, you may want to walk the peaceful grounds of the nearby Buddhist monastery or visit the Nai Harn Lake for a paddle-boating session (in between dips in the ocean and drying in the sun).

Freedom Beach

Freedom Beach is another on Phuket, which is among the best Thailand beaches. Crystal clear blue water and big, beautiful granite rocks are the features of this beach, which is easiest to reach by boat from Patong. For those seeking the softest sand and exceptionalsnorkelling, Freedom Beach will be right up your alley.

Chaweng Noi Beach

Make sure you don’t mistake this beach for Chaweng Beach, the substantially busier neighbour of Chaweng Noi Beach. Situated on Koh Samui, this is a beach with clear, calm and shallow waters and beautifully soft sand. All of these combine to make this a deeply relaxing beach in Thailand and an ideal place to spend an hour or two soaking in the sand, sun and water.