Thong Yee Bay

Thong Yee Bay is one of the quietest beaches on the whole Khanom coast — a curve of sand and rock at the southern end of town, reached by driving the scenic coastal road toward Sichon until it runs out. There’s no resort here, no bungalow row, and no beach vendors working the sand — just a single family-run restaurant serving whatever the owners caught that morning, and a stretch of shoreline that stays close to empty even on weekends.

Sand dominates the northern half of the bay, calm enough for an easy swim without much current. Toward the south the shore turns rocky, and a shallow coral reef just offshore holds enough fish to make snorkelling worth the trip — bring your own mask, since there’s nothing to rent on-site. Coconut palms lean out over the high-tide line, and the fishing boats anchored offshore belong to the same small community that runs the beach restaurant. A local operator, Thongyee Camping, pitches tents right on the sand for anyone who wants to stay the night — about as far from a hotel lobby as Khanom gets.

Watch out: There are no lifeguards and no signage marking the reef’s edge — snorkellers should keep clear of boat channels near the fishing moorings.

The bay sits a few kilometres past the Khanom-Sichon viewpoint that draws day-trippers on the coastal road, but Thong Yee itself barely registers on the tourist trail — most of what little traffic it gets is locals from Khanom town on a weekend picnic. December to April brings the driest weather and calmest water; the rest of the year still works for a swim, just expect afternoon showers to roll through. There’s no public transport this far south, so a rented motorbike or car from Khanom town, about 15-20 minutes away, is the only realistic way in.

Insider Tip: Don’t come to Thong Yee Bay expecting Khanom’s famous pink dolphins — sightings here are down to luck. For a real chance, book a dawn boat tour out of Hat Nai Phlao or Khanom town instead; trips run roughly 7:30-9am and land close to a 90% sighting rate between February and September.