PHUKET: MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACHES (updated 12 March 2019)

UPDATE: 12 March 2019: Smoking on beaches are now illegal in Phuket. You will get fined a hefty amount by the Tourist Police. There are however, designated smoking areas just off the beaches. 

There are about 30 beaches you can go to in Phuket - from touristy top rated beaches to the unknown small little hidden patches of sand. The winding coastal roads along the west coast of this 540-square-km island offer stunning views and easy access to some of the  finest beaches.  Whether you want to sample the frantic pace of Patong Beach or find solitude on a remote stretch of sand in the north, Phuket's beaches have it all for the sun seeker. Many also have nearby restaurants or wandering food sellers.

Since 2015, beach recliners are no longer allowed on Phuket (or any of Thailand's) beaches. You however can still hire umbrellas and mats at around 100 to 150 Baht. 

UPDATE 12 March 2019: BEACH RECLINERS & UMBRELLAS

Patong Beach: Beach chairs have finally returned to Patong Beach! It was announced, at the end of February 2017, that chairs and loungers would be permitted within the 10% zones. Due to this limitation, prices are slightly higher than they used to be, averaging around 100-200 baht per chair (no time limit).

Kata Beach: Sun loungers and umbrellas are now available on Kata Beach within the 10% zones. They are not set up ready for you, but they can be rented for about 100 baht each and then positioned as you please. 

MAIN BEACHES OF PHUKET

NORTH-WEST BEACHES OF PHUKET

The majority of beaches located in the north-west are quieter and less developed then the busy south-west coast. However, the area around these beaches are typically pricier. With expensive resorts occupying much of the beachfront real estate, these beaches are less welcoming to the average beach goer that is not a resident at one of the resorts.

The major beaches are Kamala Beach, Bang Tao Beach and Mai Khao Beach, but there are a large number of smaller beaches both easily accessible and not easily accessed. The Northwest Beaches of Phuket are generally considered the best beaches on the island. For the most part, they are white sand beaches that slope gently into the sea creating perfect environments for sunbathing and water activities

SOUTH-WEST PHUKET BEACHES

Along the southwest coast you will find the infamous Patong Beach as well as the beautiful Kata Beach and Karon Beach.

The Southwest Beaches of Phuket Island are also the most famous. Not necessarily famous for their natural beauty so much as the tourist districts that occupy the surrounding areas. These are the most busy beaches.


On most of these Phuket beaches, you will find all of the accommodations that you would expect at a tourist beach locale. There are beach mats / umbrellas for rent, rentals for water activities available, as well as drink and food services delivered right to your side. The beaches are more crowded then anywhere else on the island, but they are also the most accessible to the majority of tourists.



SOUTH-EAST PHUKET BEACHES

The beaches in the Southeast of Phuket as a whole are the worst beaches for sunbathing and water-sports, with the exception of Ao Yon Beach. The majority of the beaches to the southeast are located along the Chalong Bay and Cape Panwa. Most of the beaches along these coasts are rocky and narrow. When the low tide comes in, the water recedes very far from the shore, exposing a muddy and rocky seabed.


The majority of the beaches along south Phuket Island are relatively sheltered compared to those along the western coast. During the monsoon season, these beaches do not suffer as badly to foul weather as do the western beaches.



There are fewer tourists along the eastern and southern coasts of Phuket Island, so the beaches located here also offer more privacy then you would experience on the other Phuket beaches. In addition to the privacy, the south-east beaches offer beautiful views of the Chalong Bay and Cape Panwa as well as many of the outlying islands. So for a relaxing vacation away from the crowds, south Phuket may be the perfect area to check out.


PRIVATE PHUKET BEACHES

In Phuket, there is no such thing as a private beach. A lot of times, a developer will purchase all of the land adjacent to a beach, making it virtually inaccessible to anyone else. It is illegal to cross over the private land to gain access to the beach, but it is perfectly legal to arrive at the beach by sea. If there is a beach that is accessible only by sea, the land owner cannot force you off of the beach, but they won’t be nice to you.

 There are two beaches where hotel developments have blocked land access to the beach and they do not make visitors feel welcome. They are Nakalay Beach and Relax Beach. This is totally against the Thai Law that states that all beaches in Thailand are public. Guess money does talk even in this government (like here by us)

PHUKET'S SOUTH WEST BEACHES

The South West section of Phuket covers 16 beaches from Pon Beach south to Yanui Beach. Among these are some of the most popular tourist beaches in Phuket. Patong Beach is the major tourist resort in Phuket and is always busy. Karon Beach, Kata Beach, Kata Noi and Nai Harn are also very popular.


Around the headlands there are plenty of quieter locations with beautiful settings such as Tri Tra Beach, Paradise Beach, Freedom Beach, Ao Sane and Yanui. For a real getaway from the crowds try Pon Beach or Nui Beach where there are very few people.

PHUKET'S NORTH WEST BEACHES

The North West section of Phuket has 15 beaches from Sai Kaew Beach at the northern tip of Phuket down to Hua Beach. The North West beaches are generally quieter and less developed than the South West beaches. There are some beautiful bathing beaches and lovely scenery.


There are three national park beaches. They are Mai Khao, Nai Yang and Nai Thon. The most developed beaches are Bang Tao, Surin and Kamala but the development is not at the level of Patong, Karon or Kata. There are some lovely hidden little beaches such as Banana Beach, Laem Sing and Hua Beach.

There are three beaches where hotel developments have blocked land access to the beach and they do not make visitors feel welcome. They are Nai Thorn, Trisara and Pansea.

PHUKET'S SOUTH BEACHES

The South coast section of Phuket has 10 significant beaches. It is more sheltered than the west coast and does not receive the same pounding from the rainy season seas. Therefore the beaches here tend to be sand and shingle with rocky seabeds.


Much of the seabed in this area still has a lot of sludge and mud stirred up from the old tin-mining days when the seabed was dredged extensively. There are only two beaches at all suited to bathing. They are Laemka and Ao Yon. The main appeal of the southern beaches are the views, walks and eating places.


There is one beach where a hotel development has blocked land access to the beach and they do not make visitors feel welcome. It is the Cape Panwa Hotel Beach.

SUMMARY OF BEACHES

FREEDOM BEACH

The beach itself is a stretch of beautiful powdery white sand that you will just love to walk on. The entire beach is secluded in a private bay. Surrounding the beach are hills covered in thick jungle, giving the entire place the feeling of an exotic beach hide-away. Unlike a lot of the popular beaches, Freedom Beach is cared for by the locals, ensuring that it retains as closet to its natural beauty as possible. There are a number of small restaurants along the south end of the beach if you fancy a bite to eat. Loungers are also available for rent on the top of the beach under the shade of the coconut palms.

There are no jet-ski’s or banana boats here, so nothing to spoil the peaceful atmosphere. The water is sectioned off into the north and south which are reserved for swimming, long-tails come and go from the center of the beach.

If you are staying in Patong Beach and want to get away from the crowds, or if you simply want to experience the natural beauty of Phuket Island, Freedom Beach is a perfect way to spend a day. This is one of the least accessible beaches and can only be reached by longtail boat. Freedom Beach is just around the corner from Patong Beach.

Longtail Boat

As the beach is surrounded by private land, the only option is to enter by boat. The easiest way is to catch a long-tail boat from the pier area at the south end of Patong Beach, but that is also the most expensive way as it can cost about 1500 baht round-trip (per boat not person). The boat ride is about 15 minutes and you will pass by some beautiful scenery along the way.

BANANA BEACH

Also known as Banana Rock Beach, it is in a beautiful location. The beach is fine, white sand although it is a little gravelly higher up towards the tree line. It is in a small bay and ringed by coconut trees. There are rocks at both ends of the beach and a small rock formation in the middle.

There is some decent snorkeling around the rocks at both ends of the beach. The south end is better as there are some nice corals and more fish at this end. As everywhere, there is also a lot of flattened coral from the tsunami.

The seabed is sandy. There are a few rocks dotted around but it is still a nice beach for a swim. There is a small restaurant at the south end of the beach serving decent Thai food..

Travel along the road north from Layan Beach. As you pass Trisara Resort, Banana Beach is on your left hand side. You will need to head on down through the jungle in order to reach this beautiful Phuket beach, but it is definitely worth the effort. Park your car/bike along the road and just head down the path.

KATA NOI BEACH

Located just south of Kata Beach, Kata Noi Beach is one of the most beautiful Phuket beaches. Unlike it’s big brother, Kata Noi Beach is still a reasonably undeveloped beach, which gives it a much more private atmosphere. The beach is made up of a soft golden sand that gently slopes down to the sea. The seabed is mostly sand with the occasional rock, making it a nice place to go swimming. There are two separate entrances that both lead to the same beach. 

The north entrance is closer to Kata beach and is mostly occupied by the beautiful Katathani Phuket Beach Resort. The south entrance is more private and is closer to an area well suited for snorkeling. This entrance can be found at the very end of the beach road.

Easy to get to by scooter. Just take the Karon Beach Road from Patong Beach, pass Kata Beach and you will find it. About 30 minute drive by scooter.

LAEM SINGH BEACH (one of my favourites)

Laem Singh Beach is one of the more beautiful beaches in Phuket Island and was relatively unknown until recently. Nowadays, the beach is packed full of tourists, but you really can’t blame them. Despite the increase in tourism, the beach is still absolutely stunning and well worth a look. Close to Patong Beach and easily accessible by scooter or close enough to take a tuk tuk (300 Baht for the drive - not per person).

This is another beach that has dangerous under currents during the rainy season May to October 

Big trees line  the beach and there is some brilliant local restaurants where you can have the best meals at a fraction of the price you would pay in a normal restaurant. Laem Singh Beach is located directly between Surin and Kamala Beach. There are two parking lots at the top of the hill, each charging a parking fee. 

There are signs along the road and pointing down to the beach, so it shouldn’t be all too difficult to find. From the parking lot just walk down the path to the beach. The south parking lot offers a short but steep trail, the north parking lot has a longer but less demanding decline, so take your pick. Since 2015 you have to pay an entrance fee of 100Baht to get to the beach. You have to go  over private property to reach the beach. Still well worth it.

NAI THON BEACH

Nai Thon Beach is a one kilometer long stretch of the squeakiest sand that you will ever experience in your whole life. It is considered part of the Sirinath National Park and has thus far escaped the over-development that many of the other Phuket beaches have suffered.

The beach is made up of a golden sand that literally squeaks as you walk across it. It is quite possibly the nicest sand of any of the other beaches in Phuket Island. 

Nai Thon Beach is a great place to visit if you want to get away from the crowds. The beach is rarely busy because of a lack of water activities and surrounding development. This makes for a more quiet and relaxing destination where it is possible to truly enjoy the natural beauty of the place.

There are no beach activities at Nai Thon Beach because of the National Park status, which helps to preserve some of it’s natural beauty. There is very good snorkeling on both ends of the beach with a lot of coral and colorful fish to explore.

Nai Thon Beach is on the windy road that connects Bang Tao Beach and Nai Yan Beach. There is really only one road that runs directly along the coast, so it shouldn’t be all too difficult to find.


There are dangerous undertows during the rainy season (May to October).

BANG TAO BEACH

This is a magnificent eight-kilometer stretch of glorious sand. It is the site of the Laguna complex, so named because there are several lagoons close to the beach. This complex dominates the central area of the beach.

At the south end of the beach are a number of hotels and bungalow operations. This is a good location to find a beach bungalow. There are also plenty of shops and restaurants around this area.

The northern end of the beach is very quiet. It is a great spot for a quiet getaway on the beach.

It is generally a good bathing beach although when the tide is in, the central and northern end of the beach slope quite steeply into the water making it a little treacherous for children or non-swimmers.

There are a few jet skis available for hire. There is also windsurfing. There is a horse-riding club at the entrance to Laguna. You will see an occasional group riding along the shoreline.

Casuarina trees and coconut palms fringe the beach giving the entire stretch a lovely unspoiled feel.

The area around Bang Tao has a good range of eating establishments ranging from basic Thai food stalls to up-market restaurants. 

KAMALA BEACH

Two kilometers of wide, sandy beach. It is located in a beautiful bay and fringed with casuarina trees and palms.

Kamala was originally a sleepy Muslim fishing village where buffalos wandered down to the beach in the evenings to cool down. The local population is still mostly Muslim but it is now a small town with a good range of accommodation options and a fair spattering of bars and restaurants. The town is a nice medium for visitors who want a good beach with a little nightlife but who do not want the excesses of Patong.

Generally, there is not much water sport activity but the jet-ski renters occasionally come round to work the beach.

The centre and north end of the beach are good for bathing. The fine sandy beach slopes smoothly into the sea.

A waterway empties into the south end of the beach. This is the area where the fishermen moor their boats. The beach at this end has a rocky seabed. Some say it is a good snorkeling area but in our experience, the water is a little shallow, even when the tide is in. During the rainy season, this beach has treacherous undertows.

During the rainy season, Kamala can suffer from extreme strong undertows that are dangerous to even the most experienced swimmer. Waves get big and the sea turns from utmost calm to extremely rough. Always be aware of the warnings of the local lifeguards and be extra careful during these times.

PATONG BEACH

Patong Beach is the most famous, or should I say infamous, of all of the Phuket beaches. This three kilometer stretch of golden sand is the busiest beach on the island. Most travel sites rank Patong Beach as one of the top beaches in Phuket, but although it is a nice beach, there are a few other beaches within close proximity that are far nicer.

It still retains a bit of it’s former beauty, but it is nothing like it use to be. It is a great beach for swimming, but like I said, the water is not that crystal clear. There are demarcated areas for swimming. Patong Beach is the most commercialised beach and you will find a lot of jet skis, parasailing and other water activities. The water is seldom crystal clear due to the many jet-skis and speedboats. Beach vendors can become irritating trying to sell the normal touristy crap. For me it is a nice beach if you just feel like being at a beach close to the hotel. Dont get me wrong - Patong Beach is still a very nice beach to relax at.

There is a road (Beach Road) that runs the entire length of the beach, and the opposite side of the road is littered with bars, restaurants, shops, everything a visiting tourist would desire. All of these amenities are within easy access of the beach.

Patong Beach is the busiest beach on Phuket Island. You can rent and do practically any water-sport imaginable at Patong Beach. Whether you want to rent jet-ski’s or surfboards, take a ride on the banana boat, or go snorkeling, everything you need is available for rent. Just be aware of the notorious jet-ski scams if you choose to rent a jet-ski.

PON BEACH

Located on the western coast of Phuket Island and just a short drive north of Patong Beach, Pon Beach is a private beach destination that is as private as it is beautiful. It is known locally as Nai Yae Beach or Nai Yair Beach and at present is still completely undeveloped. Considering the area that this beach is located, it is very likely that someday very soon, the surrounding land will be purchased for some sort of development.

 The beach is above average, with a mix of sand and rocks that can be a bit difficult to walk on at times. Swimming at Pon Beach is pretty difficult as the seabed is so shallow and it is littered with rocks. At high tide you may be able to give it a go, but don’t even try it during low tide. The major reason to visit Pon Beach is because of the natural beauty.

Near the Thavorn Beach Village Hotel is a road to the left. The road is not very well maintained, but it is drive-able. Go for about a kilometer and you will see a sign post for the beach. It is probably best to park your car/bike and walk the next 200 meters or so down the hill. The path is drive-able, but it is much safer to walk.


The land you must cross to access the beach is all private. At the present, there is nobody there, so you shouldn’t have any problems. However, at any time someone may show up and start collecting an entrance fee.

KARON BEACH

This is a four kilometer long, straight, wide beach. Karon is the second biggest resort town after Patong. A road runs along the full length of the beach. Hotels line the other side of the road while the main shopping and nightlife areas are at the north and south ends of the beach.

in peak and high season (Nov to mid May) calm sea

Sand dunes and a small waterway separate the beach from the road which gives it a nice isolated feel despite the close proximity of so many hotels. Karon was one of the beaches least affected by the tsunami and this is generally credited to the protective effect of the sand dunes.

The beach is formed from beautiful, powdery sand and slopes smoothly into the sea making a great bathing location.

There are a few water-sport activities such as jet-skis and parasailing. There is some reasonable snorkeling along the rocks at the southern end of the beach.

Low monsoon season - stormy seas and deadly rip tides

The beach is not really in a bay so it does not have the beautiful views of some of the other beaches. It is also renowned for having some of the most dangerous currents during the rainy season.

SURIN BEACH

Located about 15 km north of Patong Beach, Surin is sometimes called ‘millionaire’s row’ due the nearby fabulous luxury hotels, upscaled restaurants, shops, wine bars and beach clubs. The beach itself has clear water and beautiful white sand, and is lined with tall trees. Just north of Surin is Pansea Bay, a scenic enclave occupied by luxury resorts.

 During peak season from November to April the crystal clear water is calm and suitable for swimming and snorkeling. The bay here is deeper than other west-coast beaches though, making it less ideal for swimming families than nearby Kamala or Patong beaches. The rocks at the far ends of the beach are good for spotting colourful fish like the parrot fish, although the coral reefs aren’t as plentiful as they once were.

During the southwest monsoon (May-October) the waves can be a metre or more high. They're perfect for a little bit of surfing, but can make swimming conditions treacherous. Surin Beach gets reasonable waves at both its northern and southern end, but watch out for the rocky section at the centre -- it's nasty. There are sudden drop-offs in the water's depth as well as rip tides, and Surin Beach claims a few lives each year. If there are red flags flying on the beach do not go in the water. Though there’s now a lifeguard stand year round, children should be watched very closely.

KATA BEACH

This is a great bathing beach in a beautiful bay. Kata Beach is sometimes referred to as Kata Yai (Big) to differentiate it from Kata Noi (small). It is just south of Karon and in fact the two resort towns of Karon and Kata merge together.

It is a wide strip of powdery sand lined with Casuarina trees. The beach slopes gently into the sea making it a good place for children to play.

The small island at the north end of the beach is Boo Island (Crab Island). There is good snorkeling from the north end of the beach out towards the end of the headland. Under the water is a spectacular coral reef populated with lots of colourful fish. For strong swimmers, you can keep going all the way out to Boo island, which is a good 400-meter swim. There is another lovely reef on the south side of this island.

It is a popular beach but more laid back than Patong. The usual water-sport activities are available - jet-skis, banana boats and parasailing. During the rainy season, this is one of the more dangerous beaches. That does not deter the surfers who favour this beach and Kata Noi as Phuket's favourite surfing locations.

TRI TRA BEACH

About 6 minutes tuk tuk ride from Patong Beach to the south. This beach is almost deserted and a real gem. Take a walk right to the southern part of the beach. Here you will find the most amasing views and trees. The water is crystal clear. Not a lot of people so you can really get away from it al. The beach is fine white sand. The seabed is rocky so it is not well suited to bathing during low tide. The water is too shallow for it to be a good snorkeling beach.

It is a nice spot for a relaxing walk or a getaway from the hustle-and-bustle of Patong which you can see across the bay.

This is the beach where you can swim with two baby elephants. Its only downside might be at low tide when the water recedes and reveal dead coral leftovers (tsunami destruction). During high tide there is ample sandy places to swim.

MAI KHAO BEACH

This is one of four beaches in Sirinath National Park. It is a 9-km spectacular stretch of sand that joins Nai Yang Beach to the south and Sai Kaew Beach to the north. Mai Khao is the longest beach on Phuket.


The northern end of Phuket is still very quiet and the beach is often deserted. The area behind the beach has very little development but recently a number of up-market hotels have popped up dotted along in the woodland behind the beach.

Although the beach is national park, the land behind the beach is not and it is all free to access. At the southern tip of the beach where it meets Nai Yang Beach there is a protected woodland area where they do collect an entrance fee. They use a two-tier pricing system so it will be 100 baht for foreigners and 20 baht for Thais.

The easiest place to access Mai Khao Beach is at the far northern end. Here Thepkrasattri Road meets the west coast just before reaching Sarasin Bridge. There is a line of rustic restaurants on the beach serving good Thai food. The pace of life here is slow. It is a nice place to relax and take in the beautiful scenery. This is the point where Mai Khao Beach is considered to meet Sai Kaew Beach although there is no physical boundary between the two.

The central area of the beach is a little difficult to find. There are a few small roads that wind their way to the beach. This is also the location of the new up-market resorts. They are all very luxurious 5-star hotels.

Golden sand covers the 9-kilometer beach. The beach slopes quite steeply into the sea so it is not a great beach for swimming. During the rainy season, it is notoriously dangerous. Even during the dry season it can be a little treacherous.

The national park has done a good job of limiting development. The airport is at the south end of the beach and all flights come in for landing over this part of the beach.

This is one of the beaches where sea turtles lay their eggs from November to February.

NUI BEACH

This is a beautiful little spot but if you want to go overland, it is a tough one to reach. It is a small, sandy beach in a bay. The beach is ringed with rocks and split by a rock formation.

There is a charming, rustic restaurant overlooking the beach but it is a little expensive. During the low season, the restaurant is usually closed and there are no refreshments available.

The sand is fine with a little shingle. There are a few rocks in the sea so it is not an ideal bathing beach but it is okay for a swim. There is some nice snorkeling around both rocky headlands.


The beach is surrounded by hills. A small stream cascades down the hills and across the southern end of the beach.

Easy way - take a longtail boat from Kata Noi.

Hard way - overland. Get onto the coast road between Kata and Nai Harn. There is some great scenery along this road including Kata Viewpoint just two kilometers from Kata. Going from Kata, about half a kilometer beyond Kata Viewpoint is the track to Nui Beach.

The signpost says it is two kilometers to the beach but it seemed like more to us. The track starts well above sea level and initially climbs up even higher before starting a long, steep descent to the beach.

Do not even think of driving a car along this track. It is rutted, rocky and has some very steep slopes. You will likely find yourself stuck or in the jungle if you try to navigate this track in a car. The locals and a few brave tourists do take their motorbikes but we do not recommend this either. It is a steep descent and it will seem even steeper when you try to drive back up.

We recommend you park your vehicles at the start of the track and walk. It is a demanding walk and a sensible pair of shoes is a good idea. The scenery will make up for the exertions.

There is also a guy with an ATV who will give you a lift for a small fee. As if getting there was not hard enough, during the high season you will probably be charged 250 baht to enter the beach by this route. Although the beach is public, the track is over private land. The entrance fee does include a sun lounger and a drink (you will need more than one drink after that walk). During the low season there will probably be no charge but also no sun loungers or refreshments available.

AO SANE BEACH

A beautiful spot located in the headland north of Nai Harn Beach. Ao Sane is actually a series of three small beaches split by small, rocky headlands. There is a restaurant at the first beach which also rents budget priced bungalows on the beach. At the end of each beach is a pathway to the next.

In the jungle above the third beach is Baan Krating Jungle Beach Resort. It is usually quiet here with just a handful of visitors. There are no sun loungers. You can rent a kayak to go paddling around the headland. Ao Sane is not well suited to bathing as there are rocks and coral close to the shoreline. The beach is sandy with light shingle.

When the tide is in, it is an excellent snorkeling beach. There are plenty of colourful fish and you might even see a lobster. It also seems to be home to lots of black spiny sea urchins. Nice to look at but do not touch. When the tide is in you can also go scuba diving straight from the beach but if the tide is out the rocks and corals are too close to the surface for comfort. 

The only way to drive to this beach is through Le Meridian Phuket Yacht Club's car park. To their great credit, The Royal Phuket Yacht Club make no effort to block access to Ao Sane Beach. Drive straight through their car park on to the small road at the other side. Continue on for a kilometer. There are some car parking spaces above the beach. You can drive motorbikes down the track to the beach.

LAYAN BEACH

This is a beautiful and secluded beach with only a couple of resorts. Layan Beach is at the north end of Bang Tao Beach. The mouth of a small river separates it from Bang Tao Beach. Just offshore is turtle-shell shaped Kata Island. This island gives the beach shelter from the worst of the rainy season waves.

Layan Beach is a shallow bay. When the tide is out it becomes a plain of rippled sand and shallow pools. You can walk to the island without getting your feet wet. Even when the tide is in you can wade across to the island. This beach and the islet form a small tranquil bay ringed with casuarina trees and coconut palms.

The shallow, calm water is ideal for children, especially when the tide is out when they have the whole bay to explore. Beware the area around the river mouth where there will be a current could catch a small child.

It is a paddling beach rather than a bathing beach. Even when the tide is in, it is too shallow for bathing. There is some nice snorkeling around the open sea side of Kata Island.There are no umbrella vendors or refreshments at this beach so you need to bring your own supplies. 



TAKE YOUR TIME EXPLORING ALL THESE BEACHES.   Some of the beaches might not be to your liking but it is worth the effort. Hardly any beach has the same feeling and look - this is what makes Phuket so unusual. The best way to explore is to hire a scooter and go and visit each one.