Have you seen those pictures of bioluminescent beaches over Instagram and Pinterest and thought they were edited pictures?
Well, I have good news for you, some of those are real beaches, and they are in one of the world's most accessible and friendly countries, Thailand.
Thailand shares its two sides of land to Myanmar and Vietnam, while the rest of the borders end at the Indian Ocean. Tourists and holidaymakers swarm the land for its beautiful beaches.
Khao Phing Kan became the famous "Bond Beach" after the Bond movie was picturized in an action sequence on the island.
Northern lights and bioluminescent beaches are easily on every traveler's bucket list. These beaches come alive at night and are quoted as "an experience of a lifetime."
How wonderful would it be if you get to experience this rare phenomenon on various beaches in Thailand? Here are some easy-to-travel beaches of Thailand.
Bioluminescent Beach
With a five-minute boat ride to famous Ao Nang Beach, Ton Sai is a tranquil piece of land tucked from the noise and hustle-bustle.
Not only the beach has a beautiful experience of glowing waves to offer after dark, but being surrounded by mountains makes an excellent daytime activity for backpackers and climbers.
The beach gives you a very raw and ultimate Thailand beach experience; however, there are some luxurious resorts to stay in.
Ideally, the best time to visit the beach is between November and May. Witnessing the glowing waves around the new moon phase is an experience one cannot explain.
Make sure you take your best camera along to capture those beautiful bioluminescent planktons.
Beautiful Bioluminescent in Ton Sai
A quick boat rides away from Phuket and Krabi, Koh Phi Phi is a beautiful place for family, travelers, and photographers. Because of its location, it gives an excellent island hopping experience to backpackers and travelers.
Easily one the most loved beach in Thailand, Koh Phi Phi's sunset is to die for. One of the reasons it was used as the location for the movie The Beach.
Koh Phi Phi has a very laid-back vibe with a population of over 2000 people and some transient laborers.
As the sunset on those blue waves, the magic begins. The water starts to glow with luminous blue hues that look like a dream. Indeed, those who have witnessed it say it was magic they still couldn't believe in having witnessed.
Bioluminescent Plankton in Koh Phi Phi
By the south of Krabi province is calm and serene Ao Nang resort town, famous for its beach, limestone Stalactites, and water adventures.
Indeed this place is a complete package for the family and travelers. Due to its location and availability of long-tail boats, one can wander off to nearby islands.
It makes an excellent choice to travel with family as it offers many retail stores and markets on Commercial Street that lead to the beach.
Ideally, snorkeling at night amid glowing waves is an experience one could always wonder about. The town has extremely friendly people who go above and beyond to make the visitors comfortable and offer them an experience they would never forget.
Swimming with Bioluminescent Plankton
Locally known as Rai Leh, this peninsula is between Krabi City and Ao Nang. Part of Mainland Thailand facing the Andaman Sea is the beautiful Rai Leh Beach with white sand for day attractions and a glowing beach for the night.
The beach also offers beautiful viewpoints, jungles, limestone cliffs, and a lagoon slightly hidden within walking distance. Coming with family or friends, snorkeling in the clear water with silverfish and other exotic marine life is an experience of a lifetime.
When you witness bioluminescent planktons, it makes your trip completely worth it.
The food and juices of the island are the talks of all other beaches. The island has exceptionally hospitable people who work at the beach, restaurants, and seaside juice bars, making your island experience flavorful and fun.
Either you are planning to laze on the beach and get reflexology or swim with fish and dive from cliffs, the ¬¬island offers an array of activities for visitors. The markets and stores are extremely diverse, making your stay in foreign land easier and breeze.
Bioluminescent Trip on Railay Beach
Surrounded by beautiful mountain three sides, Maya Bay is a beautiful reef that has various beaches. Ever since it was featured in a Hollywood movie, the beach is swarmed with tourists in visiting months.
The beach is only accessible between November to April; otherwise, it is deemed unsafe for traveling due to high tide. Famous for not only being a movie location, but the beach is also indeed very dreamy and picturesque.
The corals of this beach are a must-have experience. Diving and snorkeling are also the recommended activities besides kayaking around the beautiful limestone mountains and clear waters.
Another feature that makes the adventure perfect is the abundance of bioluminescent planktons. Swimming in glowing waves is definitely an out-of-the-world experience.
Bioluminescent Beach at Maya Bay
Noctiluca Scintillans are algae, also known as sea sparkles. Since they are living beings, they move and glow brighter when disturbed by predators.
As these beautiful algae glow and move, they create a beautiful reflection on the clear waters of one of these beaches. When swimming or kayaking, they get bothered; hence move and glow brighter.
They are incredibly tiny for the naked eye to see; hence what you see is several of these algae in a single drop of water. These amazing glowing creatures inhabit the tropical and subtropical seas, probably the reason why they are never seen in colder climates.