Koh Kradan and Bileh Beach Earn Thailand's First Five-Star Beach Ratings

Two Thai beaches have made history by becoming the first in the country to receive a perfect five-star Beach Star rating from Thailand's Pollution Control Department. Koh Kradan in Trang province and Bileh Beach on Koh Hong in Krabi province both achieved the top score in the latest assessment. The result adds to a broader push for sustainable and certified tourism destinations across Thailand.

What Is the Beach Star Rating?

The Beach Star program is Thailand's official system for evaluating the environmental quality of tourist beaches. The Pollution Control Department assesses beaches across five criteria:

1. Physical characteristics — sand quality, water clarity, and natural beauty
2. Pollution levels — water quality, litter, and noise
3. Natural resources — biodiversity and ecosystem health
4. Environmental management — waste handling, conservation efforts
5. Tourism management — visitor capacity, safety, and facilities

For the latest round, 20 tourist beaches were assessed. Ten achieved ratings of 4.5 stars or above, but only Koh Kradan and Bileh Beach reached the full five stars.

Koh Kradan: A Familiar Winner

Koh Kradan is no stranger to international recognition. In 2023, it was named the world's best beach by the World Beach Guide. The island sits in the Andaman Sea within Hat Chao Mai National Park and is known for its long stretch of white sand backed by jungle, with a coral reef running along the eastern shore. It consistently features among the best beaches in Thailand.

Getting to Koh Kradan requires a boat from the mainland pier at Pak Meng or Kuantungku in Trang — the trip takes about 45 minutes. Accommodation is limited to a handful of small resorts, which keeps the island uncrowded. The national park entrance fee applies (400 baht for foreign visitors). If you are planning a broader southern Thailand trip, the Trang hotels page lists well-positioned bases on the mainland.

Bileh Beach: Krabi's Hidden Lagoon

Bileh Beach on Koh Hong is less well-known but equally stunning. Part of the Than Bok Khorani National Park in Krabi, the beach sits inside a dramatic limestone lagoon with emerald-green water. Most visitors reach it by longtail boat from Ao Nang or Krabi Town as part of an island-hopping day trip.

Because it is within a national park, visitor numbers are controlled, which has helped maintain the pristine conditions that earned the five-star rating. This approach mirrors the conservation model being used elsewhere — for example, Koh Tao's new coral restoration and eco-diving rules and the Similan Islands' updated snorkelling restrictions.

What This Means for Visitors

The five-star designation signals that these beaches meet the highest environmental standards in Thailand. For travelers who care about visiting well-managed, clean destinations, the Beach Star rating is a reliable indicator. It sits alongside Thailand's broader Green Star tourism accreditation scheme as part of the country's push toward responsible travel.

In 2026, the Pollution Control Department plans to expand the program by allowing local authorities to nominate additional beaches for assessment. Tourists will also be invited to participate in evaluations through a QR code system — a first for the program.

If you are planning a southern Thailand trip and want to experience beaches at their best, Koh Kradan and Bileh Beach now carry the official stamp of the country's top-rated coastal destinations. For a comprehensive overview of where to go, the best beaches Thailand guide and the Krabi travel guide are good starting points. And if you want to discover a similarly quiet, uncrowded island on the eastern side of the country, Koh Kood in Trat province is an excellent complement to a southern Andaman itinerary. For trip planning, the Thailand honeymoon guide also highlights both regions for couples seeking pristine, low-traffic coastlines.