Beaches In Phuket

Freedom Beach is a lesser-known gem in Phuket, that runs for almost 300 metres between lush forests and pristine waters. Its small size and obscurity lend it a picturesque charm that can be found at no other beach in Thailand. The white sands are devoid of crowds and noisy tourist traps and make for a truly undisturbed getaway. The beach is often decked with colourful long-tailed boats which transport people to and from it. There are provisions for umbrella shades, sun-lounging and beach soccer, however, these may cost you up to THB 100. A charming restaurant stands on the beachfront, serving steaming, local food and gorgeous panoramic views of the sunny beach.

Located on Phuket's west coast, Kata Beach is rightfully one of the best beaches in Phuket, with spectacular views of the sea and a lively culture that thrives all year round. Between May and October, the roaring waves invite surfers and paddlers, while November to April has pleasant weather which brings out crowds to relax and sunbathe. This is a family-favourite beach, with its nearby shopping streets, international and local restaurants, and many swanky resorts situated a stone's throw away. After dark, the beach comes alive with bars, shacks and dance parties, which give off good vibes and aren't as brash as parties usually are in Phuket. On the whole, Kata Beach is near-perfect, possessing all the qualities of the ultimate tropical hangout.

Known for its brilliant white sand and transparent marine waters along with its calm atmosphere, Kata Noi Beach is a magnificent bay along Phuket's west coast. This beach has been described by the visitors as a family-friendly beach, backed by fancy Katathani Phuket Beach Resort. It is home to some of the Phuket's most luxurious resorts and restaurants, Located on hillside road behind the beach; these resorts are where can relax and enjoy the sunset with stunning views of the horizon while enjoying tasty food and drinks. The sea off Kata Noi Beach is peacefully inviting for swimming during high season months from November to April. Months of May to October here are quite popular for sports and surfing. This beach is more than 10 miles southwest to Phuket Town. Therefore, the best way to reach here is by taxi, tuk-tuk or motorcycle. There is no entry fee and is accessible 24/7, though swimming is restricted after dark. It is hard to imagine this beach without white, sparkling sand. But countless restaurants, shopping sprees, and colourful bars will make you fall for this place over again.

Ao Sane in Phuket, is a small, quiet beach made up of three bays. People can often be found here enjoying the demure tropical life, sampling some delicious seafood in the local restaurants or even doing a bit of snorkelling. There are also some nice bamboo huts for rent along the coast. When you ask the locals around for some of the more offbeat and private among the Phuket beaches, then be assured that Ao Sane would be recommended the most.

The beach in Patong has become almost synonymous with Phuket due to its widespread popularity among foreign tourists. Patong Beach has now become a must-visit attraction on bucket lists around the world since it is notorious for hosting insane, larger-than-life beach parties. The beach itself is huge, stretching for approximately 4 kilometres, the focal point being the middle where activity buzzes. During the peak hours, it tends to become very congested and noisy, which may be a put-off for some. However, it is lined with top-class restaurants, luxury hotels, bar shacks, go-go bars and nightclubs which light up the beach and become party hubs at night.

Located on the west coast of Phuket, Karon Beach is the third longest beach in Phuket. Sandwiched between Patong to the north and Kata to the south it is a vast and uncrowded place for those looking for some quiet time. Karon Beach has some excellent snorkelling spots and clean crystal blue water that is a joy to swim in.

Paradise beach is one of the more visually attractive among the Phuket beaches. The beach shades two small sandy bays with soft water, blue water, palm trees, and tropical almonds. The beach is small, remote and not easy to find but is becoming increasingly popular because of Phuket Full Moon Parties for which tickets can be bought by the travel agencies or online for 1000 baht. If you find the main beach as being overcrowded, walk 100 meters to the left above a small hill to a quiet sandy core. The beach hosts two types of parties: Full Moon and Half Moon. Various activities are located on the 150 meters long beach including snorkelling, kayaking, bodyboarding, and scuba diving. Access to the beach starts at 9:30 am, and the entry fee is around 200 - 300 baht. The place can be crowded in high season and few hotels in Patong including Holiday Inn Phuket and Burasari Resort offer a direct way to the beach. This beautiful secret beach is located 8 minutes away from the world-famous Patong beach. Phuket is not just about famous beaches but also such quiet and calm beaches. One can spend some time introspecting here or just enjoying the view and relaxing.

The Bangtao Beach is a massive 6-kilometre beach, and one of Phuket's biggest at that. Most of its northern stretch lies isolated, with spectacular views and undisturbed scenery. If you want to escape the commotion of the city, this is the best bet for you. The southern end, however, bubbles with activity, perfect for those looking for a luxurious holiday within a tropical setting. This area of Bangtao Beach is lined with upscale boutiques, high-end apparel shops, five-star restaurants and hotels. In fact, Bangtao Beach serves as the backyard to a number of deluxe beach resorts and clubs, which is why a majority of the beach-goers are resort residents. At night, this becomes a happening place when the drinks start flowing and the party begins. It is a great place to have a fun dinner with your group of friends or family.

Nestled in a tropical hillside, Nai Harn Beach is one of the island's favourite locations. Nai Harn is a beautiful white sand beach tucked between green hills alongside sparkling marine waters. The surface of the beach under the shallow waters is the soft sand which feels succulent to walk on. The bay is busy, but usually not crowded except during the peak months of December and January. Entry to the beach is free and starts around 9 am. The flags are put up around the beach for the safety of the swimmers. Red flags are where the undercurrents are far too strong and therefore, are not safe for swimming. Surrounding the bay, are numerous restaurants, hotels, and shops to eat which can leave you confused as all of them serve a more or less the same variety of Thai food. The south part of the beach ends with a small stream coming from a lake across the road and is beautiful in its sense. Between the beach and the lake, Wat Nai Harn was once a small temple which has now expanded into a landmark. The inlet behind the beach is now a giant concrete pond where you can rent some paddle boats. There are a lot of things to do here including the excellent bird view of the beach from Windmill Viewpoint and Karon Viewpoint. Enjoy the lookout of this most beautiful open front beach of Southern Phuket facing the Andaman sea. Nai Harn Beach is a lovely, non-commercial and relatively peaceful place to live and enjoy few relaxing days.

Banana Beach is a true jewel that lies unknown amidst Phuket's boisterous parties and tourist traps. With crystal-clear waters and a 180 metre stretch of fine sand, this hidden paradise is obscured by thick vegetation and finding its correct location may be a task. But believe us when we say, that it will truly be worth the trouble as it is a hidden gem among the best beaches in Phuket. It is situated between Bang Tao and Nai Thon beaches, close to Trisara Villas. Only a handful of visitors frequent the beach, which makes it a great spot for a quiet getaway. There is just one restaurant on the beach which opens during relatively higher seasons and serves fresh seafood that is simply out of this world. A trip to Banana Beach can be your own secret adventure while in Phuket, one that you will always cherish.

Ya Nui is a small beach cove tucked away in Southern Phuket and is today one of the smallest beaches on the island. With a total length of just 200 metres, it is located in the vicinity of two famous spots in the city - Windmill Viewpoint and Promthep Cape and therefore attracts many visitors. The L-shaped white sands feature intermittent rocky formations, which you can climb to look out far into the sea or get a picture of yourself for Instagram. The nearby island of Koh Keyao Noi can also be seen floating at some distance. There are many beachside activities available here, ranging from snorkelling, kayaking, fishing to sunbathing. A few eateries with limited menus are available around the beach, while better ones are located down the road into Rawai.

Surin Beach is a millionaire's haven due to top-end celebrity haunts amongst the luxury resorts here including Amanpuri, Twinpalms, and The Surin. Thus, it is known as 'celebrity hotspot'. A perfect blend of fine white sand and turquoise water makes it very popular among tourists. Most of the restaurants and hotels here are set on the hillside, overlooking the Andaman Sea which makes this finest for enjoying the stay. This beach, on the west coast of Phuket, with beautiful golden white sand and crystal-clear water, is quite peaceful and rigidly holds its place among the best beaches in Phuket. The activities here are relaxing, and the significant things to enjoy here are dining, shopping, and beach activities. One can also build up the knowledge of local Thai food by joining Surin Beach Cooking Classes. The beach is most famous for surfing which is divided into three sections: north, south and the mid-section. Surfboards can be taken on rent from Lifeguard posts and usually cost around 300 baht per hour. Top accommodations here, include The Surin Phuket, Twin Palms Phuket, The Chava Resort and Surin Beach Resort. For dining, every place is top notch and high in quality, but Cudos Surin Beach Restaurant and Oriental Spoon Grill and Bar are the preferred ones. Markets here are a great place to explore and grab some attractive deals if you can haggle. There are two main markets: the first one is near Bang Tao Mosque and the second one is located next to Lotus Tesco. This beach is for everyone alike with a warm welcome. But plan a trip keeping in mind that high season is the best time to visit this beach.

Kamala Beach is a sleepy little piece of heaven situated on the west coast of Phuket, not far from its noisier cousin, Patong Beach. It is one of the few remaining places on the island, whose natural beauty remains uncorrupted, due to its surrounding fishing villages and thick jungles. The beach is a favourite among frequent travellers, who come here to relax with a book or sun lounger. Many foreigners can be found sunbathing by the sea here. It sometimes gets busy (but never crowded) owing to the popularity of Cafe Del Mar and Phuket Fantasea which are located in and around the beach. There are many good beachfront restaurants, along with hotels and villas of all price ranges. Kamala Beach is peaceful at night, perfect for a long walk alone or with a loved one, with the waves gently lapping at your feet.

The Mai Kao beach in northwest Phuket, is still pristine and lesser developed as a part of the Sirinath National Park. With its name literally translating to white wood, this 11 km long stretch along the coast is perfect for a long and uninterrupted walk. Once a year, the beach hosts the Songkran festival, where you might be lucky enough to witness a baby turtle release

Loved for its great seafood restaurants, Rawai Beach in the south of Phuket Island offers a lively local ambience with its fishing community, seafood markets and quiet beach life. It is also a great place for some island hopping, as the popular Coral Islands and Koh Bon are located nearby.

Cape Panwa, or Khao Kat beach in south-west Phuket is known for its quiet solitude and luxury villas. Although not a swimming beach, it is ideal for taking long walks as it offers a beautiful view over the Chalong Bay and Lone Islands, as well as the adjoining mangrove swamps. The beach also has a few restaurants serving local cuisine where you can dine and enjoy the view.

Situated in the middle of Surin and Kamala beaches on the west coast, Laem Sing Beach is a popular tourist attraction among families. Lined with beach chairs, jet skis, restaurants, and palm trees with huge boulders, the northern part of Laem Sing Beach is best suited for body-boarding.

Nestling along Phuket's west coast at the Surin Beach's northern tip, Pansea Beach is a hidden paradise. Tourists vacationing in Phuket often spend a day at the beach to get away from the busy town. A relaxing Thai massage, hanging out by the beach shacks, and water sports such as windsurfing, kayaking, and snorkelling are some of the activities here.

The off-beaten and shady Nai Yang beach, with its casuarina trees, little beach bars and shacks remains a favourite of those tourists who discover it. It is ideal for lounging around, getting traditional massages and sampling some delicious local cuisine. The famous Sirinath Park is also located nearby

The secluded and sparsely crowded Naithon beach is located in western Phuket. The drive to the beach takes you through lush green pastures, and tourists often spend time here in exploring rocky coves and scuba diving activities. The famous Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is also located at Naithon, where you even give the elephants a little mud bath!

Nestling on the northern end of Bangtao Beach along the western coast of Phuket, Layan Beach houses luxurious resorts and hotels located at the crossing between the sea and the river. Since a small island called Koh Kala protects Layan Beach, the region still looks the same for over 20 years now.

With shallow and calm waters, Laem Ka beach is regarded as one of the safest beaches of Phuket and is the only east-facing beach in the south of Phuket. Surrounded by a coconut plantation, this beach gives stunning views of nearby Koh Bon, Koh Lone, Coral Island and other surrounding islands. Relatively hard to spot, this beach's pristine and untouched setting makes it the perfect destination for a retrospective getaway.

Kalim beach is a small, quiet beach located next to Patong beach, where people generally stop by to have a nice walk or a meal at one of the popular restaurants overlooking the beautiful bay. Some famous ones include Joe's Downstairs, SeaSalt Lounge and Grill and the local Kalim Rim Lay, a little bamboo shack by the sea.

One of the loveliest beaches of south Patong, Tri Trang beach is the best place for sun-lovers. This 500-metre long north-facing beach has a very open feel as there are no trees along the shore, making it the perfect spot for sunbathing. Located very near to the famous Marriott Merlin Beach Resort, it is a short ride from the Phuket town as well.

Accessible just by boat, this peninsula of limestone crags is a beautiful destination for a laid-back rest in the middle of your Thailand holiday. An absolute best for rock climbers, Railay is a one-of-a-kind spot for active diving, kayaking and rock climbing; as well as just relaxing at your resort.

Time Required : 1 - 2 days