By Noemi Gamel

The southern coast of Thailand is famous for its beautiful, white-stand, sapphire blue water beaches. The Andalman Sea has a feature that I find most enticing: it is warm!
Unfortunately, many other tourists have discovered that Thai beaches are the place to be, and you will often find yourself sharing the white sands with your neighbors just inches away from you. There are a few things you can do to avoid the crowds while visiting during the good weather months.

First, don’t limit yourself to the beaches on the mainland. Venture out to the peninsulas and islands off the coast. While we were in Krabi, we took a long boat to Railay Beach, which is buttressed by some beautiful rock cliffs. The views were gorgeous! There are no cars in Railay Beach, and while it can be expensive to stay on the peninsula, it makes for a memorable day trip.

Second, arrive early. This has the added benefit that you can avoid the intense Thai sun during the hottest part of the day. Get to the beach around 9:30 am, and you will find a lot of space without the oppressive heat.