Surfing in Thailand – Best Islands / Spots / Surf Stays [2026]

We’re not going to beat around the bush…Thailand is hardly up there with the surf meccas of Asia. It’s no Bali. The spot is no Indo. This ain’t Sri Lanka.

But there are waves in the loveable Land of Smiles and we don’t think they can legitimately be ignored much longer by the global surf community. That’s not for the quality – there’s nothing epic or barreling in these parts. It’s mainly for what you get on the side.

To put it another way, you don’t go surfing in Thailand for the ride of your life. You go surfing in Thailand because it’s an enthralling corner of the world where mystical Buddhist temples loom up against shimmering beaches, where you can eat pad Thai till you look like a balloon and stop by wondrous sites like the Grand Palace of Bangkok.

The surf scene here is really focused on two destinations: Koh Phayam in the north Andaman Sea, and Phuket in the middle of the Andaman Sea.

They are among the most-exposed spots to the Indian Ocean, meaning they are much more likely to hoover up the SW swells that can pulse through during the monsoon time than just about anywhere else in the country.

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>>This guide is a part of our larger ultimate guide to surfing in Asia

Surfing in Thailand at a glance

The top surf spots in Thailand

There aren’t many places where you can surf in Thailand – or at least surf like properly surf, not just luck out on some chest-high sets when a typhoon passes over.

That should hardly come as a surprise, since this country is best known for its white-sand beaches lapped by light waves.

ALL of the surf destinations of note in the Land of Smiles are over on the western shoreline, known as the Andaman coast. They, occasionally, can get a hit of good SW swell coming up from the Indian Ocean and come to life.

When to surf in Thailand?

The wet season in southwest Thailand (known as the Southwest Monsoon) is the best time to surf here. It lasts from April to the autumn and sees the Andaman get much rougher with wind swells that can help bulk up the waves into something rideable.

The real joy is the chance of distant groundswells coming up past the Malacca Strait from the Indian Ocean, which give the cleaner waves of the season in Phuket and Phayam. Things tail off towards October, but we won’t go as far as to say there are NO waves in Thailand during the dry season (November-March) because it does happen. It’s just rare.

Top places to stay if you’re going surfing in Thailand

Good hotels for surfers in Thailand

Given that Thailand isn’t really set up for surfing, it should hardly be a surprise that you don’t find too much in the way of dedicated surf hotels in the Land of Smiles.

However, there’s no shortage of stays close to the beaches where surf is on offer.

That’s the key for us – choose a great hotel within walking distance of a good wave.

Phuket has the best options, closely followed by Koh Phayam.

• InterContinental Phuket Resort by IHG – A real taste of what western Phuket is all about, this big resort gives luxury by the bucket load, but also has a fine location for surfing Kamala Beach, one of the most consistent on the island. If you like to be pampered and are not on a budget, then this is a great pick.
• Twinpalms Phuket – A couple of steps off Surin Beach, where the Phuket breaks can have a bit more power and offer rides for intermediates and beginners. It’s also a lovely hotel, with villa suites that have private pools, an on-site gym, and gardens lined with coconut palms
• Tropical Hostel – A very cool pad just on the side of the main surf beach in Koh Phayam. It’s nothing like the big resorts you get in Phuket. It’s low-key, hammock-swinging stuff and that’s why we love it.

Surf camps in Thailand

• Talay Surf School: 6 Day “Learn to Surf” Surf Camp in Phuket – The best surf camp in Thailand in our mind, this one really harnesses the beginner-friendly nature of Phuket’s beach breaks and helps novices get thier feet. It’s five days of lessons coupled with use of the in-house equipment. Choose between private rooms in a beach hotel or cheap stays in a hostel.
• 3 Day Learn to Surf Surf Camp in Thalang, Phuket – Also run by Talay Surf School, this package is more of a taster option for people thinking about starting surfing but unsure about comitting to a whole week. It includes three hours’ tuition and a Thai massage to help you recover.

Surf lessons in Thailand

Becuase Thailand is largely about chilling and enjoying the culture and vibes, it makes a lot of sense to us that people might want to simply chuck in a morning or a couple of hours’ surfing during thier hols. That’s possible, so long as you base yourself in Phuket, which is home to the most accomplished surf schools in the country.

You can now reserve your place online before you even arrive, which is something we’d reccomend doing around key dates (the dry season in the Andaman from Nov-March, Christmas, and NY).

• Whale Surf School – One of the top-rated providers in Phuket, these guys score 4.9/5 on GetYourGuide. The offering is a standard 1.5-hour lesson with gear included. Photos are like $10 more.
• Bangtao Surf School – A good intro to surfing on Bangtao Beach in Phuket from Bangtao Surf School. Includes soft-top boards and casual instruction from a local surfer. It’s cheap too!

Thailand travel essentials

How to get to Thailand?

Thailand is one of the most-visited countries in the whole of Asia – nay, the world. There’s a downside there – AKA busy beaches. But there’s an upside – it’s super-easy to get to.

Most people will head to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). By some stats, it’s the busiest airport in the world. That means all sorts of ailines, from low-cost Asian fliers to big flag carriers from Europe and the US jet over.

You can – and we have done this in the past – come straight off a long-haul there and change to domestic flights to take you to the beaches (and therefore the surf). Just be sure to leave enough time to go through Thai immigration and re-check your bags. It can be quick but it can also take like 2 hours if it suddenly gets busy. All a matter of luck!

Getting around Thailand

Most travelers rely on internal flights and transfers or buses to get around the Land of Smiles. That’s always been enough for us.

There’s usually at least one major domestic airport close to beaches in specific areas. For example, you can fly to Koh Samui on Bangkok Airways from the capital to get to the gulf isles. Even better for surfers is Phuket Airport, which offers a gateway to Phuket island. Krabi Airport is also there, offering easy access to the Andaman Islands of Koh Lanta.

To be honest, there’s almost never a time when you can’t get from A to B in Thailand in a single day. We use Omio to search for taxi or bus links and it’s almost always doable. Alternatively, just rock up to one of the local tour offices and book your tickets. You’ll be given a little slip and hardly believe that someone will turn up the next morning. But, lo and behold, they ALWAYS turn up!

Renting a car has become more popular here in recent years. We still wouldn’t go that far, but you can if you really want extra freedom to explore. Just be warned: It can still be HECTIC on the roads of Thailand.

What to do when you aren’t surfing in Thailand?

For us, one of the best things about planning a surf trip to Thailand is that you get to explore Thailand itself.

Okay, so the waves themselves aren’t going to be on the covers of Stab mag anytime soon, but this is the fabled Land of Smiles, where you can back up dawn patrols with trips to the Big Buddha or island hop through some of the most fantastic tropical sands on the planet.