Nudist beaches in Thailand: overview, photos, reviews

Beach recreation in the nude was at the peak of popularity in the late twentieth century. At that time the ideas of unity with nature, "return to the roots" possessed the minds of many quite civilized people, who gathered in a naked crowd in certain places for this purpose. To date, this conceptual approach has lost some of its former novelty and brightness. Mass nudism is gradually becoming a thing of the past.

Today people don't mind getting naked, but they want more privacy. There is a demand for secluded places for nude rest, where you, if not alone on the beach, at least it is so within a radius of a few meters. Are there similar nude beaches in Thailand?

What Thai tradition and law say

The cultural code of Thais, like all Asians, does not presuppose nakedness of the body. Especially not in public. Thais are indifferent to the sea, but if they bathe, they do it with their clothes on. It is known that in Asian countries they even bathe without taking off their underwear.

Such conservative traditions are adequately reflected in Thai laws. No, no one is forcing you to wash in your underpants. But being naked in public is considered not only indecent, but also offensive to public morality. Therefore, for example, to appear outside the beaches without outerwear is considered improper in terms of Thai etiquette.

In all likelihood, the Thais are cool about people in bathing suits and swim trunks on the beaches just because tourists - the income of the whole country, and only traditions, as you know, not enough to eat.

Nevertheless, to be on the beach naked is not allowed, and nudist beaches in their classic sense - as a self-organized gathering of people without beach clothes - is illegal in Thailand and therefore absent.

"Nudist Beaches in Thailand

The sea coast of mainland Thailand is about 3,000 km long. Plus an almost endless number of islands. Clearly, it is unrealistic to control such a long beach line.

Therefore, despite the fact that nudist beaches in Thailand are banned, nothing prevents vacationers to turn some lonely beach into a temporary nudist beach. This opportunity is used, most often by sailing to some small island near the place of rest.

Here are a few low-key spots where you can retreat to for nude lounging:

• Rai Leh beach, also known as Railay, in Krabi province;
• The small but huge Mai Khao beach in Phuket;
• Samae Beach on Larne Island, located near Pattaya;
• The beaches of Chang Island and neighboring small islands near Trat;
• The beaches of Ao Hin Lor and Wok Thum on Phangan Island;
• The beaches of Koh Samui are Maenam (in the north) and Thong Son Bay (in the northeast).

Many beaches are fenced off rocks so that you can get to them only by water by boat. In fact, this makes them most comfortable and safe for recreation without swimsuits and swimming trunks

Other options for nudist holidays in Thailand

The beaches discussed above are, of course, not at all what is meant by nudist pastime in the classical sense. To the uninitiated, it seems that nudists simply sunbathe on the beach in the nude. However, nudism is much more than sunbathing and swimming. First of all, it is a certain outlook. Secondly, and more importantly, it is a social practice. That is, nudism implies interaction with other people who have a similar approach to life: communication, acquaintances, sports or board games, eating together, walking, relaxing over a cup of tea or a glass of wine, etc. All this is an integral part of a nudist holiday, which is absent on nobody's unknown empty secluded beaches.

In order to return nudism to its social essence, Thailand Naturist Association was created in Thailand. Under the legal ban on public nudist beaches, the initiative nudists came up with a workaround to make the nudist pastime more lively and vibrant without breaking the law. The Thai Nudist Association is a kind of "club of interest". Periodically, club members get together, rent a hotel or rent a boat to get to the place of the next party. People spend time in a large group, but privately.

Since the event is private, the rule about the inadmissibility of public recreation without bathing suits does not apply. Membership in such a hobby club is paid - 800 baht per year per person.

In conjunction with the Thai Naturist Association is a whole system of hotels that operate as specialized hotels for naturists.

Here is a list of some of them:

• Chan Resort (Pattaya) is the first nudist hotel in Thailand;
• Barefeet Naturist Resort (Bangkok) is a small gesthouse with a mini golf course, small pool and restaurant;
• Oriental Village (Chiang Mai) - a dozen and a half bungalows overlooking the rice fields and mountains, modern interior, swimming pool;
• Awe Resort: Villas on the Beach (Phangan Island) - 4 first-class two-story cottages with private beach, located on the southern tip of the island;
• Lemon Tree Naturist Resort (Phuket) - in one of the most popular tourist areas - Nai Harn beach, south of the island.

In addition, it is obvious that a separate bungalow with a private area can be rented at any place of accommodation and spend time in it as one wishes.