Phuket Beaches

Patong has come a long way from the early 80s of swaying coconuts and backpackers yet despite it becoming the heart of the Phuket dragon its beach charm continues and is these days a hotspot of beach soccer, families building sandcastles and joggers. The shopping, dining and general Patong experience has become more polished and is now a family destination. It has a gentle slope to the beach making it also quite safe.

Stretching endlessly North is Phuket’s’ longest and most private beach. Starting at the airport and running through to Phuket’s’ very tip and the Sarasin bridge it is renowned for its Turtles, strong conservation program and low density with only 5 hotels. It’s a back to nature experience with few boats, vendors or people and is a great place to explore. At the Northern end, on the highway but just before the bridge are a myriad of local seafood restaurants on the sand that also offer icy cold coconuts and worth a pit stop.

A beautiful small beach, just 10 minutes from the airport yet a sleepy hollow with fine white sand…the perfect place to go to straight off the plane, have a swim, a coconut, then follow Phuket’s’ equivalent of the “Great Ocean Road” down South.

Sun Surf Shop Schmooze!
In 1928 King Prajadhipok Rama VII created one of Thailand’s first golf courses, a pitch and putt just off the idyllic beach. Today this beautiful parkland with huge trees frames a majestic beach that is enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.

It is a favorite residential area and has a well developed beach front with comfortable chairs, good restaurants and regular DJs playing into the night.

Is one of Thailand’s most recognized and well known beaches. It is fringed by coconuts, has some excellent family accommodation and is a hive of activity along its wide beach. Its southern end is protected and a favorite for families and also good for intermediate surfers during May – November.

A tiny beach hidden from most people, with some of the Islands best surfing waves. It’s a very quiet place and an escape from the action packed bigger brother Kata Beach.

Karon Beach is a large, wide and somewhat unusual beach in that it has almost no buildings or hotels along its stretch. Its size ensures that it usually very quiet and surprisingly private.

Nestled amidst local restaurants Rawai beach is a pretty local beach and has always a happy feel, with families picnicking and kids playing in the shallows. This a quiet part of the Island and feels like a lick back to a largely lost era, when Phuket was a small town destination.

Naiyang Beach, arched by tall casuarinas’ trees that form the Sirinath National Park, is relatively quiet except on Thai Public Holidays, where many locals come for their Somtum picnic on the shady park. Coral reefs are found on the northern end of this beach, making it an ideal snorkeling area in Phuket. There are a few local seafood restaurants and  beach bars just outside the National Park boundary lines, offering the best of both worlds for people looking for peace and a piece of the local scene. When the wind blows this is the best place for kite surfing and wind surfing, both dramatically growing in popularity. A kite surfing school has now setup shop.

Bangtao is always a hive of activity, from the buzz of Laguna and her luxury resorts, to the bustle of fishing boats and water activities. The Reggae bar, a quant shack opposite the Banyan Tree is a local favorite whilst nearby Lotus serves fresh seafood that is always popular. The southern tip of Bangtao is a local fishing village where nets are tended to and fish stalls offer the catch of the day, from chunky snappers to gleaming barracuda.

Kamala beach is one of the most peaceful coves but bustles during the high tourist season with visitors from around the globe enjoying the seafront guesthouses, seafood restaurants and low key main street. It’s a favorite surf beach in the North when a swell is running.

Renowned as a surf beach, this rocky fringed small bay just North of Patong has generally the best waves on the Island during May – November. It has some good restaurants with sensational night views and plays host to the Ripcurl Surf Comp in June.

Located at the southern end of Phuket, Nai Harn Beach is one of Phuket’s quieter places. It is very popular amongst locals and as it borders a National Park and is kept free of most commercial operations: jet skis, longtail boats and most vendors. The water quality is exceptional with good snorkeling at the North end of the beach. From the beach you can enjoy beautiful views towards the Promthep Sunset Viewpoint, one of the “must see” destinations in South of Phuket Island. There is a large fresh water reservoir behind the beach with a river flowing into the south end. Under the shade of the large casuarina trees is a popular place to savor delicious local Thai dishes.