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This small bay of stunning white sand, separated from Kata by a
headland, is a quiet and peaceful retreat.
The Kata Thani Resort complex dominates the area, while a few shops, small hotels and
restaurants line the beach road. A nice place for a relaxing snorkel
or swim.
Bang Tao is a study in contrasts, with the luxurious resorts and
villas along its 6km (4 mile) stretch of beach just a few minutes'
away from the town of Cherng Talay, where many villagers still make
their living as their ancestors did - by fishing, farming and rubber
tapping. The northern tip of the beach, so far untouched by development,
is still an area where visitors might find that they have the beach
to themselves.
Naturally beautiful Surin is known as 'Millionaires Row' due the
the top-end celebrity haunts Amanpuri,
Twinpalms and Ayara Hilltops amongst the luxury resorts there, as well as the many
luxurious villas that sit proudly on top of the hills overlooking
the Andaman Sea. Although popular with tourists it's not a busy resort town, more
like a coastal village. Fine white sand and turquoise water has
ensured that the picturesque beach is very popular with tourists
and Thais alike.
Pansea is a tiny cove of glittering white sand - but only accessible
to the rich and famous guests of The
Chedi and Amanpuri
Resorts.
This well-enclosed bay and fishing village has developed rapidly
in recent years yet it still retains a small-town feel. Popular
with families, Kamala Beach is lined with casual restaurants and
food stalls, with good snorkelling at the rocky north end.
This small, hidden gem of a beach just south of Surin is accessible
only by walking down a fairly steep path from the road. Even so,
it can get busy in the high season so get there early for a beach
chair. A few rustic restaurants offer cold drinks and food. A pretty,
quiet place to wile away an afternoon.
One of Phuket's best-kept secrets. Approaching this quiet beach
of silky white sand is spectacular in itself - a drive on the coastal
road from the south takes you through forested hills while the northern
approach winds through a lovely valley and small village. Once you
arrive, swim, sunbathe and marvel at how few people have discovered
this little piece of paradise.
The casuarina-fringed Nai Yang, together with Mai Khao in the north,
forms the longest and most secluded stretch of beach in Phuket,
about 10-km altogether. Two hotels sit on the south end of Nai Yang, while the north enters
into Sirinath National Park, a protected
marine and coastal area. A good spot to rent a beach chair or gorge
on barbecued seafood while lounging on mats spread out in the shade.
An endless stretch of fine sand; the only real getaway on the west
coast of Phuket. Aside from the JW
Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa, the area is largely undeveloped
with only a few bungalow operations and a campground on the beach.
Take a stroll and watch the crabs scuttle, swing on a hammock under
the trees or enjoy a refreshing swim.
With most of its beachfront land occupied by a temple, Nai Harn
has been spared from over-development, with only Le
Royal Meridien Phuket Yacht Club and Baan
Krating, another resort nestled into the hill at its north end.
The soft sands and clear waters make Nai Harn an ideal swimming,
snorkeling and sunbathing spot, though conditions can be dangerous
in the monsoon season of May-October.
A little beach reached via a dirt road that runs through the car
park of Le
Royal Meridien Phuket Yacht Club in Nai
Harn. Sometimes called "Jungle Beach". Usually a quiet
and peaceful place, with decent coral outcroppings off its mostly
rocky shore. Just one very inobtrusive resort here, the Baan
Krating.
Snuggled into the headland south of Patong, Emerald Beach ('Hat
Tri Tra' in Thai) is the perfect place for sun lovers and those
who are dead serious about going for the maximum tan. There is a long line of northern-facing sunbeds along this 500-metre
beach and it is popular with guests from the nearby Merlin
Beach Resort, being the nearest large beach to it.
Paradise Beach will surprise you. For a start, it's stunningly
beautiful; one of the most attractive of the many wonderful beaches
Phuket has to offer. It also features safe swimming all year round. It's compact and has a great view right across Patong Bay. The
beach itself is barely 150 metres long and there is another small
beach next to it, reached by a path through the rocks.
Laem Ka is unique for various reasons. First of all it's the only
eastern-facing beach in the south of Phuket that offers good swimming
and secondly, it's a total full-on Thai experience. This sheltered, 150 metre long, boulder-framed beach is the ideal
picnic spot as from midday on it is shady and cool. For many locals
it offers the opportunity to chat away Sunday afternoon while their
children splash around in Laem Ka's safe and blue waters just metres
away.
Ya Nui lies in the shadow of two of Phuket's loveliest viewpoints;
Phrom Thep and the viewpoint featuring large white windmill. It's a charming little cove featuring good snorkeling, kayaking
and fishing. During high season there is a line of sun loungers
for hire (200 baht a set) as well as a stand that rents out masks,
fins, kayaks and body boards for very reasonable prices.
First "discovered" by King Rama VII in the 1920s, Rawai
is Phuket's longest-established beach resort, though the sea-gypsy
village at its north end probably hasn't changed much over the years. The beach is lined with open-air seafood stalls and restaurants
for casual dining under the shade of the casuarina trees. A popular
launching point for boat trips to Racha,
Coral and other islands.
This bustling bay, a major launch area for boat and dive trips,
is filled with bobbing vessels of all shapes and sizes throughout
the year. Plenty of casual restaurants, dive shops, fishing charter
and tour operators, watersports equipment suppliers, Internet shops
and even yoga and Reiki centres are packed into the short street
leading to the pier.
The lovely Cape Panwa, just south of the busy Phuket Town, remains
a peaceful, unspoiled gem of a place. Its lush hills, sandy coves,
mangroves and tidal flats offer a quiet place to explore away from
the crowds.
There are actually two Ao Yons lying south of Capa Panwa and they
are separated by a rocky headland. Ao Yon junior is home to a large
shrimp farm but is actually very attractive and virtually deserted
with a great view out to Chalong Bay and Lone Island. Locals sit under the tree line and small children like to play
at the far western end, where an ice cold stream coming down from
the hills (there is a waterfall behind the beach) meets the sea.
Cape Panwa Beach is divided into two parts by a 300-metre long
seaside esplanade. The western part is right next to the Thai Navy
Headquarters and is only 70 metres long and not that wide. Fishermen
use it to beach their long tails and small boys do spectacular jumps
and dives off the safety railings at high tide.
See also:
The bustling, administrative centre of Phuket is often overlooked
in favour of the beaches, but there's a lot to see and do (and spend
your money on!) in Phuket City. Having been recently upgraded to
city status, Phuket City features an exciting mix of old and new,
simple and sophisticated, peaceful and pulsating.
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Pansea Beach
Laem Singh Beach 
Mai Khao Beach
Ao Sane Beach
Emerald Beach
Laem Ka Beach
Ya Nui Beach
Rawai Beach
Chalong Bay
Panwa Beach
Ao Yon Beach
Cape Panwa
Phuket Town
