Best surf spots in Thailand for beginners
The beaches in Thailand where a beginner can surf on the most days of the year: small enough, clean enough, on sand. Ranked from 2 years of hourly wave and wind model data at each spot, rated the way the app rates them for beginners. Updated 3 November 2026.
Today's forecast for beginners in Thailand →
The beaches with the most beginner days
| # | Spot | Beginner days a year | Best months | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karon Beach Karon, Phuket · Phuket | ~30 (2 good) | October | 29–31 °C |
| 2 | Kata Beach Kata · Phuket | ~29 (2 good) | October | 29–31 °C |
| 3 | Kata Noi Kata · Phuket | ~28 (1 good) | October | 29–31 °C |
| 4 | Nang Thong (Khao Lak) Khao Lak · Phang Nga | ~5 | April, August to September | 29–31 °C |
| 5 | Mae Ramphung Beach Rayong · Rayong | ~0 | no clear season | 27–32 °C |
"Beginner days": days with a surfable hour for a beginner (small waves, light or offshore wind, no dangerous size) at that spot; "good" days rate Good or better for a beginner. From 2 years of model data, not observations: a sandbank, a rip or a crowd can change a beach. How the rating works.
When beginners should go
Across Thailand's beginner spots, the best months are October. October has the most surfable days for a beginner (about 8 a month at the best spots), February the fewest (about 0). Water: 29–31 °C over the year, see the wetsuit by month.
Questions
Where is the best place to learn to surf in Thailand?
On our numbers, Karon Beach (Karon, Phuket, about 30 beginner days a year), Kata Beach (Kata, about 29 beginner days a year), Kata Noi (Kata, about 28 beginner days a year). These are sandy, forgiving spots where the waves are small and clean enough for a beginner on the most days.
When is the best time for beginners to surf in Thailand?
October: the months with the most days of small, clean waves at the beginner spots. The fewest are in February.
Is Thailand good for beginner surfers?
5 of the 9 spots we follow suit beginners. At the best of them a beginner finds about 8 surfable days in October and 0 in February. Take a lesson first and surf near lifeguards.
Before your first session: your first surf lesson and rips and safety. More: all surf spots in Thailand.