Nakhon Si Thammarat Beaches
Sichon, Khanom, Tha Sala

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Nakhon's sea is on the Gulf of Thailand side, a different mood from the white sand and emerald-green water of Krabi or Phuket. Here the beaches are long and quiet — in some stretches reddish-brown boulders poke up through the sand, in others a curved bay is ringed by hills. The draw is the small crowds, the easy prices, and being able to drive along the coast for ten-plus kilometres barely passing anyone. It suits people who want to actually relax rather than party.

The geography is simple if you run south to north. Tha Sala is closest to the city (a 25–30 min drive). Above it is Sichon (about 37 km from the city), and furthest north is Khanom, right on the Surat Thani border, where you can see Koh Samui on a clear day. All three districts are linked by Highway 401, so you can drive them in one trip.

Sichon Beach and Hin Ngam Beach — the heart of Nakhon's coast

If you had to pick one beach that sums up Nakhon's sea, most people would think of Sichon first. Sichon Beach is a long curved beach with fairly white sand that slopes gently into the water, so it's easy to swim, with restaurants and places to stay lined up along the shore. The real star is just a little further on — Hin Ngam Beach, where big reddish-brown boulders are scattered across the sand. It's the photo spot locals love most.

• Sichon Beach — the district's main beach, with restaurants, places to stay, and umbrellas and beach loungers; good for families who want an easy swim.
• Hin Ngam Beach — about 1.5 km from Sichon Beach down a dirt road. The reddish-brown rock formations are the signature here; quieter, and good for sitting back, listening to the waves, and kayaking.
• Photo spots — morning light hits the rocks nicely, and at low tide you'll see plenty of boulders, so you can walk and shoot along a long stretch.

The Khanom–Sichon coastal road, the one locals call the prettiest on the Gulf

If you only do one thing between Sichon and Khanom, drive the Khao Phlai Dam–Ao Thong Yi coastal road. It runs about 8 kilometres, linking Sichon and Khanom, hugging the hillside along the sea — blue water on one side, hills and coconut groves on the other. Locals and travel media rate it as one of the prettiest roads on the Gulf side, and on a clear day you can see Koh Samui and Koh Phangan out to sea.

• Viewpoints along the road — there are pull-offs where you can stop for photos, with the winding road climbing over hills through coconut groves as the backdrop.
• Wild deer — herds of barking deer live along the route, so drive slowly and you've a good chance of spotting them by the roadside.
• Khao Phlai Dam Beach — a small quiet beach off this road; pull over and you can wade in.
• Best time — morning or late afternoon, when the sun is softer and the light is good for photos.

Khanom Beach, Nai Phlao Beach, and the pink dolphins

Khanom is Nakhon's real beach-tourism district — long curved crescents of sand running into one bay after another. Nai Phlao Beach is the famous one on the south side of Khanom Bay, curving like a half-circle with hills flanking both ends, fairly clear water, and a decent number of beachfront places to stay and eat. There are also plenty of quieter, less-visited bays to choose from.

• Nai Phlao Beach — Khanom's main beach, a pretty curve with places to stay and eat; good to base yourself for the night.
• Ao Thong Ching — a quiet bay ringed by hills on three sides, with a private feel.
• Thong Nian, Nang Kam, and Thong Nod beaches — small beaches along the Khanom coast that few people get to; good for hunting out a quiet spot.

Khanom's highlight is the pink dolphin boat trip. Khanom is one of the few places in Thailand where you can see pink dolphins in the wild. The main launch points are Laem Prathap and Ban Khao Ok pier. The trip takes around 2 hours, and going in the morning gives you a better chance of spotting them. Along the way you also stop to see the layered rock formations and a freshwater spring in the middle of the sea at Koh Nui.

Tha Sala Beach, the sea closest to the city

If you're staying in Nakhon city and want to see the sea without a long drive, Tha Sala is the answer. It's about 25–30 min from the city — a long stretch of coast that's still a traditional fishing community. The sand isn't as white as Sichon or Khanom, but the mood is calm, you'll see fishing boats, and cafés and seaside stays keep popping up. It's better for sitting out with the evening breeze than for a full day of swimming.

• Tha Sung Beach / Ban Rao Beach — Tha Sala's quiet beaches; the water is clearer than you'd expect, and locals come here in the evening.
• Pak Duat Beach — a popular evening spot in Tha Sala, where you can watch the fishing boats come back to shore.
• Seaside cafés — there are cafés right on the water around Klai sub-district where you can sip a coffee and take in the view, like SunSips Café.

Beachfront seafood — what to eat

Come to Nakhon's coast and you have to eat seafood. It's fresh here because you're right by the fishing grounds, and prices are friendlier than in the big tourist towns. We've gathered the places locals and reviews mention often, sorted by zone, in case you want to stop along the way.

Nakhon beach plan — 2 days, 1 night (Sichon–Khanom)

This plan suits people who fly or drive into Nakhon and want to cover the northern beaches in a short window. The focus is running from Sichon up to Khanom, with one night around Khanom or Sichon.

Beach + city plan — 3 days, 2 nights

With more time, this plan mixes the beaches with the food and culture in the city, so you get both sides of Nakhon. It suits people who want to travel without rushing.

How to get there and when to go

• Getting around — every beach is along Highway 401 from Nakhon city. A private car or rental is by far the easiest, since the beaches are spread out and public transport to the beaches themselves is limited.
• Rough distances — Tha Sala 25–30 min, Sichon about 37 km (45 min–1 hr), Khanom about 80 km (1.5–2 hrs) from the city.
• Best time — the Gulf side is at its best from roughly January to May, with clear skies and small waves. The rainy season (October–December) brings strong waves and heavy rain, so check the forecast first.
• Where to stay — options range from beachfront homestays to seaside resorts, clustered more around Sichon and Khanom than Tha Sala.