Phuket Beach Guide
Make everything as simple as possible
but not simpler
Albert Einstein 1879 - 1955
Follow me as I take you on a journey through my Phuket Beach Guide to some of the best beaches on the island including Patong Beach, Karon Beach, Bang Tao Beach and many more. Imagine Beautiful Blue Skies, Crystal Clear Waters, Swaying Shady Palms and Silky Soft Sand. Yes! this is the real beauty of Phuket. It is one of the most stunning resort islands in southern Thailand and certainly the most popular together with Pattaya. The major difference is that Phuket is a true tropical island paradise and much more relaxing than it's mainland counter-part. International flights from around the world fly directly to this fascinating and best loved destination and with just cause. Come and relax amidst picturesque villages, coconut groves, rubber plantations and exquisite beaches. Swim in the warm waters, dive around the colourful coral reefs, take a longboat ride to neighbouring islands, shop at the many beach front stores. Whatever takes your fantasy, you owe it to yourself to get to Phuket.
Patong Beach
Phuket Beach Guide
Patong Beach
Patong Beach can only be described as a majestic curve of pure white soft sandy shore that stretches for some three kilometers and situated right in the heart of Phuket. By far the most popular as it is the most busiest. Stuck between mountain and sea, it's hard to imagine that this stunning beach resort was little more than a big banana plantation less than 40 years ago. With the plantation now long gone and replaced with hire-rise hotels, resorts and condominiums, this beautiful Phuket beach has become one of Thailand's most sort after tropical paradise hot spots.
It is with little wonder that Patong Beach, dotted with hundreds of colourful parasols for your rest and relaxation, has developed into a haven for hungry tourists including ourselves, hankering for some fun in the sun. Apart from doing absolutely nothing other than catching the odd cool breeze and a tan, if you really feel like doing something more energetic, then there are plenty of water sports to indulge your every whim. Para-gliding, para-sailing, windsurfing and jet skiing are just a few that come to mind. When all energy is spent, you can simply hop across the beach road for a nice ice cold beer or two or whatever else takes your fancy. Now I didn't say that you should take that literally but okay, only if you insist.
A beautiful beach on Phuket Island
Phuket Beach Guide
Karon Beach is set on a 2.5 kilometer long and often quiet strip of soft squeaky golden shore and situated a little further south from Patong. Although this beach is free of big commercialized development, there are many budget hotels and resorts that lie in between empty former rice paddy plots. A good alternative should you prefer a quieter spot away from the crowds. Only be aware that the beach has little natural shade and is also not a good place to swim during the rainy season between June and October due to the seas strong under currents.Kata Yai Beach and Kato Noi Beach are two small and very picturesque coves that offer a more intimate feel. Here you can catch up with some leisurely snorkeling and sun bathing without to much disturbance. Not much else happens.
Nai Harn Beach is set on a sweeping shore and is a delightful beach with little development at the island's southernmost point. A short distance from here you can stop over at the Laem Prom Thep Headland and take advantage of some spectacular sunsets from the viewpoint set high above the bays. Take in a leisurely stroll or just relax as you admire the beautiful scenery. Rawai Beach is a little distance away and just around the corner from the viewpoint at Laem Prom Thep. Not the best beach for swimming but mostly noted for it's village of sea gypsies who offer long-tail boat rides to neighbouring islands. Kamala Beach is located 3 kilometers or 2 miles north of Patong and is a very tranquil beach set against a background of forested hills rising to over half a kilometer. This quaint bay still possessors one of the few remaining Islamic fishing hamlets with their immaculately kept gardens. At the northern end of this beach is
Phuket Fantasea
a Disney-like theme park that is a major entertainment center for the whole family. Go check it out!
Luxury Accommodation on Phuket Island
Phuket Beach Guide
Surin Beach and Pansea Beach are two sandy coves a little further up from Kamala Beach. Surin is not the best of beaches and is dominated by some ugly condominiums and a long stretch of riff-raff seafood shacks while Pansea is a far more idyllic secluded beach offering a more picturesque setting. This particular beach, I believe is a firm favourite for royalty as well as some hollywood stars. Watch out for dangerous undercurrents especially during the monsoon season.Bang Tao Beach is an eight kilometer or 5 mile stretch of white sandy beach that seems to go on forever. Excellent for pure relaxation and endless strolls. Also a good beach for windsurfing but again you must be aware of the undertow off the coast. This favourite beach of mine is dominated by the immense
Laguna Resort
comprising of five luxurious hotels set on exquisite landscaped gardens and surrounded by a series of lagoons. Apart from the resorts excellent restaurants there are some other
fine dining establishments
along the beach front. Nai Thon Beach is the next beach further north and the least commercialized, stretching along golden shores for little more than half a kilometer. This perfectly formed beach, shaded by casuarina trees and surrounded by plantations of coconut, banana, rubber and pineapples is set against a backdrop of lush green hills. There are a few restaurants and bars as well as a dive center that can take you on a long-tail boat ride for some exceptionally good snorkeling and diving. You will have to use your own transport as there is no public transport to this beach.
Patong Beach
Phuket Beach Guide
Nai Yand Beach is a very clean and lovely little Phuket Beach, good for swimming at it's southerly end and offering plenty of shade from it's many casuarina trees that run the entire length of the bay. The beach is protected by the Sirinath National Park, so you will find little in the way of development here except for it's famous open air shack type restaurants selling mostly barbecued seafood and wood-fired pizzas at tables set right on the sandy beach. A hugely popular pastime place for families. The Beach Club on the southern end of the bay is a stylish beach front bar that plays some excellent music as well as hosting weekly parties. An excellent choice.Mai Khao Beach is the longest and least visited Phuket beach which stretches for some sixteen kilometers or 10 miles towards the far north of the island. This is the last Phuket beach on my list of reviews. The beach itself starts only a few kilometers from Phuket International Airport. Here you will find a haven for giant leather-back sea turtles who struggle ashore each year to lay their eggs between the months from late November through to early February. See my review on my
April Festival Guide
for this. The luxury
JW Marriott Resort
is on this beach. From here you can take an organized tour through the ever-green forest of the Khao Phra Taew National Park. On the outer west side of the park is the beautiful Ton Sai waterfall. The equally beautiful Bang Bae waterfall can be found on the outer east side of the park. Apparently there are some wild bears and cats roaming around the park but you might not always get the chance to see them as they try to avoid human contact.
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