Like you’ve never seen before, we cover all Phuket Beaches below. Yes, no kidding, we really cover 54 or all Phuket Beaches !
Phuket Island has some of the most memorable beaches in Thailand and all of Southeast Asia. Phuket’s beaches are known for their stunning beauty, amazing sand quality, and the potential for perfect dinners on the beach at sunset.
You’ll see in all the beaches to follow that Phuket has a wide range of different beach types to match the interests of every kind of visitor. Whether you like to be in the center of the action, or on the outskirts enjoying a peaceful day under towering trees with a soft breeze blowing, you’ll find the perfect kind of Phuket beach for you by browsing through all the 54 Phuket Beaches pages.
This is a collection for you to choose from all Phuket Beaches on the island. Choose one of these and you cannot go wrong. Browse through these beaches below or choose from the entire list of all Phuket Beaches below.
Click on a tab below to get all the information on your preferred Phuket Beaches – including extensive photo gallery and on-site video footage. You find comprehensive beach information such as: available beach facilities (showers, restrooms, lifeguard, sunbeds, umbrellas etc.); exact beach location (including GPS Data and google map link); distance to major places in Phuket (Patong, Central Festival Mall, Phuket Airport); direction the beach is facing; beach length and width; estimated beach area; beach quality (water, sand and ocean bottom); available beach activities; and many interesting Phuket beach facts on top of all of this information!
We are your ONLY source for information about all Phuket Beaches – every single one of the 54 beaches of Phuket. No other website has gone to this extreme, and we insisted on collecting data on each one to help you make your choice – now you can finally be fully informed!
Just like mentioned above, we provide more data on all Phuket Beaches than you will ever find in one place. We are the comprehensive source for beaches in Phuket – please share with your friends.
Start browsing from among all Phuket Beaches below by clicking a tab to see what each Phuket beach has to offer.
There is no Beach Club at Alex 2 Beach
There are no Restaurants or Bars at Alex 2 Beach
There are no Accommodations at Alex 2 Beach
For more Alex 2 Beach or all other Phuket beaches information check out the Blog:
Ao Sane Beach Phuket is on a rugged part of Phuket’s southern coast, filled with rocks under the water and on the beach. The snorkeling here is excellent, and the beach is absolutely stunning to look at. Very few tourists or locals visit this beach, but if you’re looking for great snorkeling on-island, Ao Sane is one of the best and can save you a trip by boat to one of the islands.
None right in Ao Sane but see beach club listings in our Nai Harn Beach listing!
For more Ao Sane Beach information check out the Blog:
Ao Yon Beach Phuket, also known as Ao Yon Yai (big Ao Yon Beach) is just south of Phuket Town on the end of an irregular shaped cape on the southeast side of Phuket Island. Ao Yon Beach is not the most beautiful spot in Phuket, but it’s somewhere scenic to go if you’re in town and craving the beach and don’t want to go for a drive. Ao Yon Beach is not all that clean during the monsoon season. Ao Yon Beach faces southeast and offers great sea views and a direct line to Koh Mai Thon Island to the southeast. The large section of beach is great for taking a walk, or for a picnic at lunch time. The water at Ao Yon Beach isn’t so special, there is waste-water runoff pipes leading into the bay and the smell of sewage can be off-putting. During low-tide, the beach becomes a large mud bog, too soft to walk in and find shells. The water here is usually quite flat and kayaks are available to rent in at least one spot.
There are a multitude of boats in the bay, some of which are due to visitors at the Phuket Yacht Club. The atmosphere at Ao Yon is very laid back and you won’t find so many people wandering about. You will find some people in the restaurants and bars on the beach.
Restaurant prices are moderate to high – and that should be expected being so close to Phuket Town. This is where a lot of people working in town come for a lunch or dinner break and to enjoy the chill vibes and the ocean views.
Brasserie Yacht Club – consistently good reviews. They serve western and Thai food – including good bread. Only one vegetarian dish on the menu. A bit pricey, but generous portions. They have a nice wide-open spot with plenty of room for a group. Nice views!
For more Ao Yon Beach information check out the Blog:
Just east of Ao Yon Yai Beach is Ao Yon Noi Beach. This one is much smaller, and some people prefer it because there are even fewer people. This is a real locals beach, but of course you’re free to hang out!
Ao Yon Noi Beach is smaller, quieter, and cozier than Ao Yon Yai Beach just beside it. It’s a little harder to reach, but persevere, and you’ll find it and be glad you did.
Ao Yon Noi Beach is 350-meter-long with some shade trees and sand great for either catching some rays for a tan, or just walking around and enjoying the serenity of the place. You’re probably not going to come over this way to the Cape unless you’re staying in a resort here, or you’re in Phuket Town and need a break for a nice meal or a walk on the beach.
There are two excellent restaurants here at Ao Yon Noi Beach, and you should try both of them if you get a chance. Both restaurants on Ao Yon Noi Beach get great ratings from customers. More info see below in the beach facts section.
Sunsets can be very nice when the sky turns fire red like Phuket sunsets often do – the entire sky lighting up in a rich tapestry of reds and oranges.
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There are no other hotels or resorts in Ao Yon Noi but if you want to stay close-by, we list a couple in the Ao Yon Yai page.
For more Ao Yon Noi Beach information check out the Blog:
Banana Beach – laid-back beach with a somewhat remote location in northwest Phuket. Visitors must walk down a steep hill to reach the beach. The road behind the beach is about 70 meters (77 yd.) away. There is a beach bar that is sometimes closed during the day, and when it is open some people complain that the prices are high. A huge positive is that very few people are usually here at this beach – it’s never crowded. Some people call this the most beautiful beach on the island of Phuket.
No beach clubs here in this very small spot but see our listing for Bang Tao Beach and look for Xana Beach Club, it’s about seven minutes away from Banana Beach.
There is a beach bar-restaurant on the south end of the beach.
Try Trisara and Layan beaches for accommodations listings. For high-end resort, try the Anantara Layan Phuket Resort. Banana Beach is too small and doesn’t have any resorts.
For more Banana Beach information check out the Blog:
Bang Tao Beach is around 7 kilometers (4 mi.) long from top to bottom, and is a west facing beach – ideal for sunsets. In that stretch are a number of other privately named beaches like Momo beach, Ottoman beach, and Rattan Beach. Bang Tao Beach is covered with very tall pine trees known as ironwood trees, great for providing shade for picnic-goers at the beach below.
Bang Tao Beach is fronted by a series of large luxury resorts, and yet it isn’t overcrowded. There is so much space at this beach that you will never feel like there are too many people. Instead, you’ll be asking yourself where everybody is.
The bay of Bang Tao Beach is wide open to the waves generated by swells coming in, and surfing can be quite good. Waves can reach 3 meters (3 yd.) high here and there is a strong undertow to be aware of during such conditions. When there are very small waves, it’s generally safe for kids, but keep an eye on them (of course).
For more Bang Tao Beach information check out the Blog:
Cape Panwa Beach is a medium sized beach on Phuket’s east coast, at the tip of tip of Cape Panwa. The high hill above the beach serves to give Cape Panwa Beach a secluded feel. It is convenient from Phuket Town take a short 12 km. (7.5 mi.) drive down to the beaches of Cape Panwa.
Cape Panwa isn’t a great swimming beach, wading beach, snorkeling or windsurfing beach. It’s basically just a nice escape from Phuket Town and development on the island. People who need a break from town will come down to have a long lunch at Cape Panwa Beach or maybe take a boat to one of the islands just off shore.
There are no beach clubs at Cape Panwa Beach
Besides restaurants at the resorts mentioned below, here are two more to try.
For more Cape Panwa Beach or other Phuket beaches information check out the Blog:
Cape Panwa Hotel Beach ? Cape Panwa is a peninsula stretching out into the Andaman Sea just south of Phuket Town on the amazing tropical Island of Phuket. At the end of the peninsula where it gets noticeably thinner, is located the Cape Panwa Hotel Beach. This is a lovely little soft sand beach covering nearly 300 meters of sandy coast.
The beach has soft sand, but if it wasn’t your private beach while staying at the hotel, you’d probably not think much of it. The beach has rocks throughout much of it, and the shallow bay is filled with rocks that make wading and swimming somewhat dangerous. Snorkeling is possible, but you can find much better beaches for snorkeling on the west side of the island.
Though no beaches in Phuket are supposed to be private, Cape Panwa Hotel Beach is about as close as it gets to a private beach with access limited to shore access from a boat unless staying at the hotel. This beach faces almost due east, so it is perfect for Phuket sunrises.
The Beach Bar @ Cape Panwa Hotel – music every night, with live music on Sunday night.
For more Cape Panwa Hotel Beach or other Phuket beaches information check out the Blog:
Located on Phuket’s northeast side on a parallel with west coast beach, Bang Tao. Cape Yamu Beach is found to the northeast of Phuket City, just north from Coconut Island. The beach is found on the north side of the Cape Yamu peninsula. There are a number of luxury villas in this area, and it is generally quiet and less travelled. Beaches are not the best, with muddy water, muddy bottom, and dirt mixed with sand on the shore.
Cape Yamu is not a primary destination for vacationers, so in that respect, it’s nice and chill. This is a nice little spot to go on Phuket’s east side to see the water and some islands.
There is no Beach Club at Cape Yamu Beach sofar
While there are a couple of other restaurants on the cape, one has only two reviews and the other has none. We’d rather not send you to a place that could be a bad experience.
Rates per night start around 80,000 THB per night, but it appears that there is a 3-night minimum. At least our search query on Booking.com reverts to that when we search for one night.
For more Cape Yamu Beach information check out the Blog:
Located on Phuket’s east side below the Phuket Zoo, Chalong Bay is best known as a spot for sailors to anchor a boat in the protected zone around the Chalong Pier. Chalong Bay Beach is more a collection of beaches along the Chalong Bay sub district of Phuket. Along the bay there are spots with sand that form beaches, but there isn’t any one place that is called Chalong Bay Beach, so take your pick.
The beach at the south end of the Chalong Bay is around 260 meters (284 yd.) long and has a House Rentals Phuket office and Chalong Villa Resort & Spa if you’d like to stay on this beach. The beach on the north end has Chalong Boatyard, Coconuts Boatyard, and other boat storage facilities for longtail and other types of boats.
As said above, Chalong Beach is used as a take-off point for speedboats and longtail boats taking tourists to the other islands off Phuket’s east coast. The Chalong beach itself consists of sand and dirt, and at low tide, the muddy sand stretches for about 100 meters (109 yd.).
Chalong Beach isn’t going to be your first choice for a scenic beach in Phuket, unless you just don’t have the time to find something nicer. There is no swimming or snorkeling here, and the area doesn’t cater to tourists – as there is nothing here to do really except catch a boat to somewhere else or rent a place to stay.
There is no Beach club in Chalong Bay
Fatty’s Restaurant has now been located in Chalong, Phuket for more than 10 years, and was, prior to the tsunami, located for 10 years on Phi Phi island.
Please note that Fatty’s Restaurant is usually packed between 6pm and 8pm. Therefore either make a table reservation (Mobile Phone JP: +66 81 894 1804) prior to arrival, if not you may risk to wait until a table will be available.
For more Chalong Bay | Beach or other Phuket beaches information check out the Blog:
Facing south on Phang Nga Bay near the very top of the east side of Phuket Island is this little sandy beach with a small pier facing some of Phuket’s coolest islands, Ko Raet and Ko Naka Yai and Noi. The water of Chandara Beach is often filled with small yachts and other boats anchored in this somewhat protected space. There are a number of places to stay close to the beach for boat owners, we review Chandara Resort & Spa Phuket below.
There is no Beach Club at Chandara Beach sofar
Food and service at Pier88 are both rated highly, but there were a number of comments on social media regarding high prices. Tourists seem to be surprised by high prices for food on the island. This is becoming a frequent complaint, but one that isn’t likely to go away any time soon as the cost of living in Phuket and other tourist towns keeps rising.
For more Chandara Beach information or other beaches around check out the Phuket Beach Blog:
Freedom Beach in Phuket is a small beach in a private cove like those that are usually taken by luxury resorts as their own private beach when they build, but maybe building on the steep hills behind the beach is too much effort so it remains a little slice of paradise for now. Located on Phuket’s west coast, only a few minutes away from Patong, this 300 meter long stretch of beach is the height of luxury with it’s fine white sands and crystal clear waters. Set within the Patong Bay this magnificent piece of paradise is surrounded by thick, lush jungle and enclave by glistening granite boulders separated in the middle by the long tail boat landing area. Freedom Beach gets its “exclusivity” from the fact that there are only two ways to get there. One is by long tail boat that you catch at the southern end of Patong beach on the jetty, although they only operate mainly during high season and they do charge a rather high price of 1,100 – 1,500 baht per trip (low season THB 500 each way). The other way to reach Freedom Beach requires a sometimes-dangerous hike (450 meters; 492 yd.) through the forest and then a climb down a steep hill that is sometimes slippery. There is also a 200 THB entrance fee to Freedom Beach. For those who wish to do more than just sunbathe, there are a few activities on Freedom Beach such as volleyball, soccer and snorkeling. The calm shallow waters are home to a wonderful array of crustaceans and local fish as well as brightly colored corals and sea flora. There are no jet skis or other loud aquatic vessels so it’s safe to swim and quiet for those who are relaxing. So if you want to leave the heavy loud crowds behind and enjoy a peaceful and quiet day in the tranquil nature of Phuket, Freedom Beach is definitely the beach for you!.
No beach clubs here at this little beach, but if you’re looking for a place to go out at night on the beach, check out our listings for beach clubs under our Patong Beach location.
The beach is usually lined with lots of small huts to grab something to eat or drink, but at times, even that is missing. During high season, there should be a stand or hut with food.
For more Freedom Beach information check out the Blog:
Friendship beach is a very basic beach with some sand. I can’t be more energetic about it than that. You probably wouldn’t come here for the beach. The allure of the place is that it is conveniently located just north of Rawai, and you have easy access to Promthep Cape and the other awesome beaches around the cape. Phuket Town is not too far away, around 20 minutes through light traffic.
For more Friendship Beach information check out the Blog:
Haad Pak Phra Beach (aka Hat Pak Phra Beach) is a local beach that isn’t frequented by tourists, and if you stop, you’re going to be stared at because they can’t figure out why you came there, and they are sure you’re lost.
You can see Haad Pak Phra Beach if you’re going northbound on Highway 402, just turn off before you cross the bridge. If coming south on Highway 402, you’ll need to turn back around and go north on that highway when given the opportunity.
The channel running between the two provinces is deep, and large boats can pass through here. The fishing is said to be good at the pier beside the bridge, and even from shore. Anywhere you have cool deep water meeting warmer shallows, there can be good fishing.
Haad Pak Phra Beach isn’t a beach that even a small fraction of tourists to Phuket Island will ever visit, so you’ll be enjoying a rare experience if you do stop here. There is one restaurant on the beach, but no massage, no bar, no club, and no rentals of any kind. You can rent a longtail boat to take it here if you like. Make sure the boat stays until you’re finished, you are not likely to find another longtail boat to take you on the return journey.
If you’re hungry when you stop, you can head over to the bridge to find the Rimpan Seafood restaurant. The location is fabulous right next to the sea with beautiful views. Food was fantastic with the whole fish cooked perfectly the prawns succulent and tasty and the chicken with basil spicy and delicious. They have wooden tables and chairs on the sand under shady trees, and they get fantastic reviews for their food and service. Why not stop, especially if you’re about to do a long drive up north?
No Beach Clubs on Haad Pak Phra Beach.
There are no reviewed accommodations in the area, and really, this is not a tourist place you’ll enjoy.
For more Haad Pak Phra Beach or other Phuket beaches information check out the Blog:
Heeowhat Beach is another one of those beaches you probably shouldn’t go out of your way to visit unless you’re on a quest to see all the beaches of Phuket. This is a laid-back beach with little to do, and it’s basically just a very simple beach that can provide a jumping-off point by longtail boat if you want to see some other beaches or islands.
Heeowhat Beach is around a kilometer long from end to end. The sand at Heeowhat Beach is soft, and there are lots of rocks around – which, looks nice, but hints at what lurks under the surface. Under the water is mostly soft bottom consisting of sand and mud with some rocks strewn about. There is a coral reef out away from the beach, which could provide some mediocre snorkeling if you were desperate, or you could take a boat out to one of the islands offshore for some excellent snorkeling instead.
The beach is great for relaxing, there are shade trees – coconuts and other trees – to keep it cool if you don’t prefer to get too toasty in the full sun. Unfortunately, the Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach hotel has not supplied the beach with lounge chairs or umbrellas.
No Beach Clubs on Heeowhat Beach.
No Restaurants on Heeowhat Beach.
The only property on the beach at Heeowhat is Villa Charcoal, you can book it online at AirBnB. If you want to stay in this area, try Pullman Panwa Beach or Radisson Panwa Beach, both south of this location.
For more Heeowhat Beach or other Phuket beaches information check out the Blog:
Hua Beach facing due north, is found just before the better-known Kamala Beach as you’re headed north on Phuket Island away from Patong Beach. It is a small beach at just 331 meters (362 yards) long, and most of that is rocky, and without sand, but it’s still a very scenic spot that might be worth stopping by for a quick swim or picnic.
A mix of deep sand and large boulders, Hua Beach is ideal for a couple who wants to get away from the crowds for a bit and spend some romantic quiet time alone. You’ll rarely find other tourists or locals in this spot, and the large rocks give some privacy. This beach strikes me as ideal for a bikini modeling shoot, or just a phone full of selfies!
You won’t find any of the jet skis, parasailing, or vendors walking the beach bothering you to buy something here. That’s the beauty of Hua Beach!
From the road along the beach, you’ll see a small spirit house with a 1-meter-high rock wall around it. You may see a couple of cars or motorbikes parked there too – this is where you can access Hua Beach, or you can continue down the hill and look for the two concrete pillars on the left side of the dirt road which will take you there.
Please note, there are no restrooms or showers, and usually, there are no locals selling food or drinks here at Hua Beach. If you’d like to stay in accommodations close to this beach, Laem Son Village Hotel is at the west end of Hua Beach, and it gets decent reviews.
All in all, Hua Beach is Calm, quiet, and isolated a bit from the noise of Kamala and Patong beaches, Hua Beach is a tiny oasis of peace and quiet. Very few people stop here, but it’s a very nice beach with a great sunset if you are there around 6 pm.
No beach clubs right here at this beach. HQ Beach Lounge Phuket is right up the coast about 5 kilometers (3 mi.). No pool and no wet bar, but they’re right on the beach. Food, service, and ambiance combined with fantastic views.
There is a restaurant at this beach, but there have been some negative comments about the food taste, portions, and prices. Probably best to go to one of the following restaurants at the resorts listed below instead.
For more Hua Beach or other Phuket beaches information check out the Blog:
Iguana beach is a very small beach in the corner of a cove in front of a beach bar. The beach is so small and so without any redeeming qualities, that you are best to skip it if you’re really just looking for a beautiful beach to hang out at for a while. However, Iguana Beach has two good qualities.
Going north along Patong/Kalim Beach and following Highway 4233, in just five short minutes you’ll find Iguana Beach on the left side of the road marked by a meter-high concrete sign in white lettering on a dark grey background.
Iguana Beach Bar – the only reason to go to Iguana Beach, and literally the only way you’re going to reach the beach without a boat, is to go to the Iguana Beach Bar. They built up a couple of levels above the water where guests can lay out on chairs above the beach before or after eating. They even brought the sand up a layer and made an adult sandbox with inflatable chairs and umbrellas to block the harsh sun.
The restaurant has a huge kitchen and a lot of staff. Occasionally they have a DJ and music, and at night it becomes a beach club. The Iguana Beach Bar receives great ratings and is probably worth a trip for lunch, dinner, or after dinner drinks. When skies are clear, you’ll be able to enjoy a nice sunset.
For more Iguana Beach or other Phuket beaches information check out the Blog:
Jungle Beach or Krating Beach, located to the west of Ao Sane Beach near Naiharn Beach, is this tiny beach with just a small spot of sand, and a lot of rocks. The Jungle Beach Resort (Baan Krating Jungle Resort) is up on the hill behind the beach on Laem Mum Nok Road. You can find rooms there for around just 1,500 Thai Baht – you’ll have access to the beach from there. Or, if you don’t plan on staying at a resort nearby, you can just take a longtail boat there from one of the other beaches in close proximity.
You can see in the video, one guy seems to be fishing from the rocks before we arrive at Krating Beach. This small beach is surrounded by huge rocks in the sand, on the hills around, and in the water. As you might have guessed from the video, Krating Beach is ideal for snorkeling – it’s an absolute snorkeling paradise. There are many rocks below the surface, and the rocky shore where the man is fishing, is an ideal spot to find lots of marine life.
The sandy area on the beach is nothing special, and you’ll probably feel a bit strange pulling up to Krating Beach in a longtail boat and plopping your mat down. The beach is only really visited by people staying at the Baan Krating Jungle Resort. Still, you can take a longboat here and snorkel while the boat waits or have them drop you off here while you snorkel to your heart’s content.
There are no beach clubs at Jungle Beach | Krating Beach
This is a very small beach that has no restaurants or other food options except those at the two resorts which are close by.
For more Jungle Beach | Krating Beach or other Phuket beaches information check out the Blog:
Probably one of the most unique beach in Phuket is Kalim Beach. While it is not the most beautiful or the best for swimming, it does hold its own certain charm that no other beach on the island offers. As you drive up past Patong Beach, you’ll quickly come to Kalim Beach before you reach Thavorn Beach and Kamala Beach. Kalim Beach is next to the road, and not really ideal, but its proximity to Patong, less than 1 kilometer (.6 mi.) and the fact that there is just a fraction of people here in comparison – it’s a good alternative, and worth having a look. Split in half by a large concrete landing that is mostly empty during the day (save for a few food carts offering snacks and shakes) and surrounded by large boulders, this distinctive side of the beach has it’s own allure. Although by day it does just seem a boring concrete slab, by night it erupts with life, laughter and food. With local food vendors peddling their fare and the small cluster of people dotted along the walkway eating, singing and sharing moments together, it’s easy to see why Kalim Beach is such a popular tourist spot.
To the left is a small but rocky beach that isn’t great for swimming but does offer an ideal setting for snorkeling and tidal pool exploration, especially when the tide is in. The beach area is small but pleasing with it’s white sand and large shady palms; those who are sick of the overly crowded more popular beaches such as Karon or Kata Beach will appreciate the quiet and relaxing atmosphere.
Across the street is a series of moderately priced restaurants offering 3 star dining and a spectacular view out to the neighboring islands; there is also a rather large Family Mart that is open 24 hours and stocked full of all your touristy needs. Excellent sunsets, and cheap food from stands if you want to eat local-style.
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There are many food stands along the beach in this section, and at sundown you can watch sunset and eat very reasonably priced food like som tam, fried rice with chicken or prawns, or gwit diao soup.
For more Kalim Beach information check out the Blog:
Kamala Beach is found to the north of Patong Beach on Phuket’s west coast, just north above the center of the island (north to south). Highway 4233 from Patong goes right to Kamala. In the past, Kamala was nothing more than a local Muslim fishing village that hadn’t been built up, but after the tsunami the area changed. Today Kamala is filled with luxury villas. Most places to eat near the beach can be found around the southern end of Kamala Beach.
Café del Mar Phuket is a classy beach club from the world-famous brand originating out of Ibiza and is a perfect place to enjoy a few sundowner cocktails. Café del Mar Phuket offers a choice of Thai and international dishes as well as a great selection of cocktails. The higher price range attracts a sophisticated but fun-loving crowd, who enjoy smooth house music played by resident and guest DJs, partly accompanied by a live saxophonist.
For more Kamala Beach Phuket information check out the Phuket Beaches Blog:
Karon Beach is a less popular beach than most on Phuket’s west side, so it has less crowds, even when the surfing is good. At 3+ kilometers (1.9 mi.) long, this beach is one of the longest on Phuket. The sand is nice, soft, and mostly clean. The road running the length of the beach is good for running or walking for exercise. Most of the people you’ll see at this beach are staying at resorts in Karon, few people travel from other spots on the island just to see Karon Beach. Good swimming and decent snorkeling can be had in the clear water. Karon Beach is a good place for families, there is Nong Harn Lake Park at the north beach area – with playground activities for kids. Then, there’s Dino Golf for kids on the south side – you shouldn’t miss. There is shopping all over Karon as you get into the city. Lots of coffee shops and small bars too.
Choose your perfect spot at COAST Phuket Beach Club & Bistro between lounges, bars and dinning settings and settle in for the long sunny days. It’s the ultimate in laid-back cool – sipping chilled drinks, feasting on fresh food and sharing stories and laughter with friends.
In the center of Karon Village there are lots of things to do – shopping, bars, and restaurants to try. There are plenty of nightlife spots along with good restaurants, but the mood is calmer than Patong Beach. If you’re tired of Patong Beach’s craziness, come here to Karon for a couple nights to mellow you back out.
For more Karon Beach information check out the Blog:
Kata Beach is for many, along with Nai Harn Beach, the best location for a relaxing holiday with the entire family while still within easy access to plenty of evening entertainment venues. You could spend three weeks around and you would still not have enough time to go through all the possible dining experiences on offer, from seafood restaurants, pizzerias to steak houses and more. The “after beach” venues in Kata are somehow as popular as the beach itself. Kata Beach isn’t too far from Patong, and the surfing is good. This is a very natural looking beach, and there are not too many visitors, unless the surf is high, then there will be 20+ people in the water and maybe 100 people spectating. Kata (Kata Yai – big Kata Beach) is next to (south of) Karon Beach on Phuket’s southwest coast. The sandy beach is about 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) long, and around 33m (36 yd.) wide – it can hold hundreds of people comfortably. There is very little commercial development on or near the beach, so it retains its natural vibe.
Rekata Beach Club is currently the only beach club at Kata Beach and a go-to destination for surfers, seafood lovers, suntan addicts, spa junkies, sunset gazers, and brand name shoppers. Belongs to the Boathouse Phuket.
For more Kata Beach information check out the Blog:
At just over 700 meters (766 yd.) long, Kata Noi Beach is much smaller than Kata Beach (Kata Yai Beach), but it is even more chilled-out with less people. This is an ideal romantic spot, and for a honeymoon, many travelers choose it as their main vacation spot. Swimming is great here, and there are a number of great resorts on the Kata Noi Beach to choose from if you want to be close to great sunsets and quick dips in the Andaman Sea. The beach is about the same width as others on the west coast – 30 meters (33 yards), and the sand isn’t very soft. The beach is cleaned once a week or so, depending on the season. There is literally nothing else to do in this area except going to the beach, eating, resting and planning your next move for the evening. If this is your ideal description of a holiday? Welcome to Kata Noi Beach! While it is easy to miss if no one told you about this beach, it has the benefit of being only five minutes away from the buzzing Kata Beach strip with all its day and evening culinary offerings. Another option, if you wish to view the sun going down over Kata Noi, is to do so from a string of bars lined up on the road leading to Nai Harn which all have a reputation for serving good food and ice cold beer.
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We highly recommend that you go into one of the luxury resorts right on the beach and eat at a restaurant there. We looked at many standalone restaurants at Kata Noi and cannot find one with exceptional ratings.
For more Kata Noi Beach information check out the Blog:
Khao Kad Beach is the first beach on the west side of Cape Panwa, on Phuket’s east coast. Panwa Beaches, and the entire area is a quiet and secluded oasis away from the noise and traffic of Phuket Town and the highways. A quick drive up to Phuket Town for great shopping, or an easy trip to one of the many islands offshore make this a great location to stay for your vacation in Phuket.
If you’re over at the Phuket Aquarium, you might stop by to see Khao Kad Beach for sunset, or a cold drink. The beach is just a very short drive up Soi Ao Yon Khao khad to reach it.
As you can see in our Khao Kad Beach video, the beach is wide enough to throw down a blanket or beach mat, and the sunsets can be spectacular. There is a Thai massage service in an open-walled building facing the beach.
A small café (green building) serves many varieties of fruit smoothies, coffee, and tea if you’re thirsty or need a pick-me-up. There is a small Halal restaurant on Khao Kad Beach and they have a sign touting availability of mopeds, rooms, and taxi service. There are a few kayaks leaning on the fence to the left, and they can probably be rented if you’re interested. Keep in mind, the mud here is thick. Though not ideal for swimming since at low tide it’s a mudflat, most visitors come to enjoy the tranquility and the fresh seafood and cold drinks served up at the Beach Bar. If you turn up here in the morning, you’ll likely have the beach to yourself.
Not far away is the Tarzan Adventure Phuket zip-lines outfit where you can glide through the trees in harnesses. The tour is about an hour and costs around 3,000 Thai baht per person. Most reviewers thought it was worth it.
Smaller yachts and catamarans can be anchored off-shore in this spot, and you will usually have some company as this is a somewhat popular spot for tourist boats.
There are no beach clubs at Khao Kad Beach
For more Khao Kad Beach or other Phuket beaches information check out the Blog:
Located about 450 meters (492 yd.) from Laem Ka Yai Beach is the little sister, Laem Ka Noi Beach. This is a short beach facing northeast that is a nice getaway from people because nobody knows about it. Laem Ka Noi Beach faces east and gets nice sunrises if you happen to be here early.Very few websites have this beach on a map. Google has it, and you can find it too.
Laem Ka Noi Beach is quite small at about 66 meters in length, and not very wide – only 20 meters (22 yards) at its widest point. The water is usually calm, and it’s fine for swimming or wading, but there are some submerged rocks to be aware of. There are no annoying jet skis or parasailing here. Laem Ka Noi Beach is great for a short nap or stopping by for a meal. You can walk on the big rocks for something to do, but there’s not much to do.
There is a small restaurant at Laem Ka Noi called, what else? Laem Ka Noi Seafood. Traditional, tasty Thai seafood is what you’ll find at the restaurant, with picture-perfect views over the beach and of the nearby island, Koh Lon.
If you’re already at Laem Ka Yai Beach, you could just take a longtail boat 600 meters (656 yards) up the beach to reach Laem Ka Noi Beach.
Or, you can drive there by going south on Highway 4024 (Wiset Road) and making a left at Soi Lamkanoi. There’s a chance you’re going to run into a closed gate there, so it’s always best when trying to reach small Phuket beaches, to just go by longtail boat. A whole lot more fun than driving in Phuket’s traffic too!
There are no beach clubs at Laem Ka Noi Beach
There are no accommodations at Laem Ka Noi Beach
For more Laem Ka Noi Beach or other Phuket beaches information check out the Blog:
Laem Ka Yai Beach (bigger of the two Laem Ka beaches) is north of well-known Rawai Beach and is 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) from Koh Lon island off Phuket’s southeast coast. This beach faces southeast, and there is an island easily visible just off-shore. Unfortunately, this is a beautiful beach that has become a through-way for endless Chinese tourists getting gout of buses and onto longboats at one side of this beach. It’s sometimes loud and destroys the serenity of the place. On the other hand, you may get lucky and not have any tourists boarding boats. Depends on time of year.
There is some snorkeling at the south end of the beach, near the rocks. There are big and small rocks in the water all along Laem Ka Yai Beach, so be careful while walking around if you don’t have protective shoes on.
Or, just lay around the beach with the pigs. Yes, you heard that right – there are pigs running wild here.
There is no resort built right on Laem Ka Yai Beach, but you’ll nearly always find people here because it’s on the maps, and it’s such a lovely little beach on Phuket’s east side that people seem to find it easily. We’ve said it before, but it’s worth going to beaches in the early morning when you may get lucky and have it to yourself.
To reach Laem Ka Yai Beach, just come south on Highway 4024 as if you were going to Rawai Beach. Instead, make a left hand turn after the “Laguna Nightclub Rawai”. There is a 7-11 convenience store on the corner. Go 900 meters (984 yards) straight down that road until it ends. The beach is just 35 meters away.
There are no beach clubs at Laem Ka Yai Beach
There is a small place on the beach serving a few small things and blended fruit smoothies which some have commented were delicious.
There are no accommodations at Laem Ka Yai Beach
For more Laem Ka Yai Beach or other Phuket beaches information check out the Blog:
Laem Singh Beach? As you leave Patong Beach and start winding north on Highway 4025, you’ll go through Kamala and climb a hill. At the top of that hill is the parking area for Laem Singh Beach, down below. Laem Singh Beach is usually open during the high-season, but there are times when you’ll find it closed – mostly during the low-season. Don’t be put off if you can’t find the beach on Google Maps, it’s really there, sometimes it disappears because I think people are upset that it’s closed and tell Google it has closed permanently. That’s not the case. It opens and closes at various times. Sometimes you may not be able to reach Laem Singh Beach from the highway using the usual path. However, you can always reach Laem Singh Beach by boat.
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None, our recommendation is that you go to Kamala to stay and eat if you think you’ll be spending a day or two at Laem Singh Beach. We have listed restaurants and resorts on our Kamala Beach page. Here are two more resorts we recommend in Kamala.
For more Laem Singh Beach information check out the Blog:
Layan Beach is also known as Le Phang Beach by locals and on some maps. Though not clearly marked on maps, Layan Beach appears to connect to the northernmost section of Bangtao Beach on Phuket’s Northwest side. There is a break where a freshwater lake runoff flows, then another section of beach in front of the Anantara Layan Phuket Resort. It’s like a tiny bay formed on one side by the rocky hill, and the other by a small island and sandbar. The main break is next to the hill.This is a very picturesque area that is usually only occupied by guests at the resorts nearby. If you like to explore new grounds, Koh Kala, giving Layan beach shelter, is a small island just a few meters off the mainland and is in part responsible for the calm and tranquil environment. You can also rent kayaks and circumnavigate the island.
For more Layan Beach information check out the Blog:
Mai Khao Beach is on Phuket Island’s northwest side and is the longest beach in Phuket by far at over 13 kilometers (8 mi.). It stretches from the top of the island down to the Phuket International Airport (HKT). The beach faces west and has some truly awesome sunsets. The alluring thing about Mai Khao Beach is it is so large, and so few people visit, it can feel like you own the beach at times.
Mai Khao Beach is quiet and yet the resorts here are full of families with kids who see it as an ideal place to vacation – away from the craziness of Patong Beach. The water is nice – shallow and calm during high-season.
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There are few restaurants outside the resorts, so your best bet is to dine at one of the resorts below.
For more Mai Khao Beach information check out the Blog:
Makam Beach (or Makham Bay) is just north of Heeowhat Beach. Unlike most of the beaches here, you can rent kayaks and paddleboards – so there is more to do here than at most of the beaches on Phuket’s east side. The sand under the water is mostly mud, and the tide goes out quite far, exposing muddy flats with crabs and shells. A couple of islands are visible from the beach, adding to the serenity of the place.
One caution to look out for here are the stingrays. These are flat with a barbed tail, that when stepped on, will lash you with the barbs and inject venom. It hurts a lot. To take care of a sting, use vinegar and heating packs to 40°C (104°F).
There are no beach clubs at Makam Beach
For more Makam Beach or other Phuket beaches information check out the Blog:
Nai Harn Beach? The further you go south, away from Patong Beach, the quieter things get. That is where you’ll find Nai Harn Beach (Nat Nai Han), a beach with probably the nicest atmosphere of any beach on Phuket Island. Nai Harn Beach is located on the far southwest tip of Phuket, near Promthep Cape. Also one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, this one is worth the 30-minute drive to go have a look. The water off Nai Harn Beach is a popular yacht and catamaran anchorage because it is well protected.
For more Nai Harn Beach information check out the Blog:
Nai Thon Beach is ideally located on the northwestern coast of Phuket Island and is only a short five minutes drive from the Bismarcks Paradise. Sparsely developed and surrounded by 300 meters high hills covered with a luxuriant jungle, the Nai Thon beach is one of the most peaceful and relaxing beach in Phuket. It happens to be our house beach and is the first beach south of Nai Yang Beach, which is another beach easily accessible and located nearby the Bismarcks Paradise. All in all, Nai Thon Beach is a very pleasant beach for those who wish to spend a serene tropical holiday in Phuket!
No beach clubs here but check out Layan Beach and look for Dream Beach Club (former NIKI Beach Club), it’s about seven minutes away from Nai Thon Beach.
Nai Thon Beach isn’t too difficult to reach from anywhere on the island. Start as if you are going to leave Phuket Island and travel to Phang Nga. From Patong Beach, just head north on Beach Road (Hwy 4233) until it connects to Hwy 4030. In about 2.2 km (1.4 miles) you’ll make a left (west) to travel on Hwy 4018. This leads right into Nai Thon Beach.
From Phuket Town, you’ll start by going north on Hwy 402, then west on 4025, then north on Hwy 4030, and finally west on Hwy 4018.
For more Nai Thon Beach information check out the Phuket Beach Blog:
Nai Thon Noi Beach is a west-facing beach about 80 meters (87 yards) long and located just south of its larger sister beach, Nai Thon Beach. Noi means small in Thai language. This tiny beach is located on the west side of Phuket Island, just 9 km (5.6 miles) south of the Phuket International Airport (HKT). Nai Thon Noi is a very small beach with a hill on the south end covered with villas, and with rocks on either end. In addition to the many villas covering the hill behind the beach, back amongst the trees at the top of the hill overlooking Nai Thon Noi Beach are a number of private residences.
Because the beach is surrounded by rocky shores, this is an ideal spot for snorkeling! Make sure to bring your snorkel, mask and fins if you’re ready for some uncrowded snorkeling along the coast. Go north and there is about 600 meters (656 yards) of rocky coast – probably without anyone else snorkeling. Head south, away from Nai Thon’s larger beach, and you’ll have about 150 meters (164 yards) of rocks to explore. Going to the north or south, you’ll surely be alone in exploring the underwater world of the Andaman Sea in this prime spot.
There are no real activities at this beach, it is more for visitors wishing to enjoy a peaceful and relaxing day away from the noise and closeness of crowds found elsewhere. There are never too many people at Nai Thon Noi Beach, it’s an ideal hideaway to seek out when you’re not in the mood to deal with the stresses of life.
There are no beach clubs at Nai Thon Noi.
There are no beach restaurants or bars here at Nai Thon Noi, but Nai Thon Beach in our listing above has some you can visit.
For more Nai Thon Noi Beach or other Phuket beaches information check out the Blog:
Nai Thorn Beach – this lovely little beach is located just south of Nai Thon Noi Beach, and north of Banana Beach on Phuket Island’s west coast.
Nai Thorn beach is about 300 meters (328 yards) long, and very wide – around 60 meters (66 yards). There is a lot of space here, and usually few people, you’ll probably only see guests staying at the resort. The sand and water are relatively free of rocks at Nai Thorn Beach and wading and swimming are comfortable here when the waves are small. In the tourist off-season, the waves pick up – especially during April and November. Do be careful of strong currents here during bigger waves.
Snorkeling is good around the south end of the point, with lots of rocks to attract fish and other marine life.
No beach clubs per se, but the restaurant and bar areas of the White Andaman Resort are really quite nice and if you’re looking for a nice place to stay on the beach, it’s going to be hard to beat this location since it’s virtually a private beach without public access.
For more Nai Thorn Beach or other Phuket beaches information check out the Blog:
Nai Yang Beach – this wide and picturesque beach begins at the southwestern part of the beach in front of the Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa and going all the way up to the Phuket International Airport (HKT), and stretches over 3 kilometers (~ 2 miles). Once overrun by food stands and people selling stuff, the Nai Yang Beach has returned to its almost pristine state, with limits as to where vendors are allowed – and even where umbrellas are. Two beach chairs and an umbrella for rent will set you back just 200 THB. This is a long and wide beach which makes it easy to get away from any crowd, though it is not typically crowded. Excellent beach for families, and if you want a private villa that is kept to highest standards – try our property, “Bismarck’s Paradise” located between Nai Yang and Nai Thon Beaches. We know you’ll love it and come back for more!
No real clubs listed here in Nai Yang, but there are two decent restaurant bars listed below.
For more Nai Yang Beach information check out the Blog:
Nakalay Beach Phuket is a south-southwest facing beach about half-a-kilometer long located about 4 kilometers north of crowded Patong Beach, and around 30 km from the Phuket International Airport (HKT) in the north. There is a long boat pier jutting into the shallow water to allow boats to drop passengers on a dry place. This is another one of those Phuket beaches which is supposed to be freely accessed, but isn’t. The Thavorn Beach Village Hotel and Nakalay Palm Phuket hotels own all the land around the beach and there is no public thoroughfare to allow people to access the beach directly without going through their hotel grounds.
As you can see in our video, Nakalay Beach Phuket is long, but it is filled with rocks and sharp shells, dangerous for feet. It is interesting to walk through the partially submerged rocks at low tide to see what sorts of sea life you can find there and in the tide pools on the west side of the beach. Some people snorkel when the tide comes in, but really, there are many other fantastic snorkeling spots on Phuket – go see some of them instead and give this a pass.
Crocodile Bar looks like a bar – restaurant – beach club. Some info below.
For more Nakalay Beach information check out the Blog:
Nui beach is a picture-perfect little beach nestled between large forest-covered hills in the southwest corner of Phuket, near Cape Promthep. The beach is accessible by a dirt road leading off Highway 4233, but it does become difficult to drive and you’re advised to walk or take the taxi down to the beach. As the rainy season wears on in September to November, the roads are destroyed here. There are two beach clubs on this small beach if you believe Google Maps. We think it’s the same one. The number of people varies, but it seems to be increasing with time as Phuket welcomes millions of visitors each year.
In 2015, Thailand’s military destroyed the beach club buildings here because they were charging a 350 THB fee for entering the beach and had no public beach access. The staff of the old club were allegedly reported numerous times for threatening visitors for not paying the fee. Currently the beach is open, and no fee is being charged. That might change as the military relinquishes their hold on the country with elections coming in the near future.
There is no Beach club in Nui Beach.
There are no accommodations right at Nui Beach, but you can stay close by in one of the following resorts.
For more Nui Beach or other Phuket beaches information check out the Blog:
Pak Pahng Beach is located around 500 meters (547 yards) from the southernmost tip of Phuket Island. This lovely little beach is located next to the southern point of Rawai Beach, a well-known Phuket beach on the southeastern tip of the island.
With just 210 meters (230 yards) of sand, Pak Pahng Beach is one of Phuket’s smallest beaches, and one you won’t find on most Phuket Island maps. At its widest, the beach is 25 meters (27 yards), and is lined with ironwood trees. This can be a great spot for a private picnic, or photography session.
There is one private dwelling at the south end of the beach with steps leading up to a hillside retreat. There are no restrooms, showers, or food stands to eat at this small location, because it just doesn’t get enough visitors to make it worthwhile for the vendors.
Not all beaches in Phuket are filled with extra things to do. Some beaches, like Pak Pahng are just there for people who want to spend the day totally relaxing to the sounds of the beach and birds.
Though on a map, it looks like you can reach Pak Pahng Beach by vehicle by following Highway 3047 south and making a left turn toward the beach, there is a gate there that is often locked. The best way to reach Pak Pahng Beach is to take a longtail boat from Rawai Beach.
There are no beach clubs at Pak Pahng Beach
Baan Khunying Restaurant is the only one.
Baan Khunying – this is a secluded villa located on the hill on Pak Bahng Beach. This small villa gets great reviews at Google, and the photos of the grounds and rooms are really quite beautiful. They of course have a restaurant, and it also receives good ratings.
For more Pak Pahng Beach or other Phuket beaches information check out the Blog:
Palai Beach Phuket is a small tree-lined beach south of Phuket Town on Phuket Island’s southeast coast. The Palai Beach faces south and doesn’t pick up either sunrise or sunset directly, but the skies can still be beautiful at these times. Technically, Palai Beach is a beach, and deserves a spot on this list, but when you go, you’re going to see a long concrete boardwalk over the sand. While you can go walk along the sand, most people just stay up on the boardwalk because it’s a unique sort of experience in Phuket, and the water here, as it is at most beaches on the eastern coast of the island, rather muddy and not good for swimming or even wading. Palai Beach does have something for tourists besides swimming, snorkeling and other water activities though, a couple of good restaurants! Locals know about these, and the boat drivers all know how good they are, so if you’re in the area around meal-time, you should stop and treat yourself to a fine meal at Palai Seafood, it’s the best of the restaurants along the beach.
There are no beach clubs at Palai Beach. It’s a quiet sort of place that is really more of a stop to explore if you have literally nothing else to do!
For more Palai Beach information check out the Blog:
Pansea Beach, like most of Phuket’s beaches, has rocks at either end and a big sandy spot in the middle. Pansea Beach is located just to the north of (next to) the lovely Surin Beach. These beaches are very similar, with Pansea Beach being the smaller of the two.
The Surin and the Amanpuri resorts are on the beach here at Pansea, and access is either through the wooded area (find your own path), swimming or snorkeling around the point from Surin Beach, or by taking a longtail boat from another nearby beach. One website said the staff from the Amanpuri will chase you off the beach if you arrive by boat. We cannot verify that, but just be aware that they’re not going to be happy about your boat pulling up. All Thailand beaches are by law public access, so, if you wanted to cause a scene about it and file a complaint, you could. There are plenty of other beaches in Phuket to visit, like Surin beach next to it – so, maybe your best solution is to say mai pen rai (no matter), and let it rest like Thais usually do.
Pansea beach, like Surin Beach, has nice deep, soft sand, and plenty of trees to relax under. Chairs with umbrellas and restroom and shower facilities are of course available for guests of The Surin or Amanpuri Resorts.
No actual clubs to be found at Pansea Beach, but there is a great restaurant reviewed below, and if you stay at the Amanpuri, they have a fantastic Italian restaurant which also serves the usual seafood and Thai cuisine.
For more Pansea Beach information check out the Blog:
A short drive from Patong Beach is this hidden gem, Paradise Beach. In the past, people were put-off from visiting here because it required a somewhat treacherous motorbike ride up and down steep dirt hills and winding turns. Today it’s completely paved, and you can reach it in your car or on your motorbike, as well as a tuk-tuk or songthaew (truck with seats in back). This out-of-the-way location is getting more crowded with each passing year, but it is still tolerable if you like the music and don’t mind the fees for parking, chair rental, etc.
If you haven’t visited Paradise Beach in a couple of years, you’re going to be shocked by the renovations that have taken place here. In years past there was a small patch of sand in front of the small parking lot. Today there is a lot more sand, and there is an entire complex of buildings up at the top of the hill where you can eat and shop. There’s also a “Dive & Water Sports” shop where you can rent all sorts of gear. Paradise Beach offers a restaurant, rest rooms, and freshwater showers. There are beach chairs and lounge chairs to relax in. There is a wide assortment of drinks available, including alcohol and the restaurant serves Thai and western favorites.
Take a walk over the hill behind Paradise Beach. When you do, you’re going to see one of the coolest places to snorkel – ever. This is a little oasis that will blow your mind. Great for photos! I won’t say more, because you have to see it to take it all in and truly appreciate it. Just GO SEE IT! The second surprise is that there are a couple of small sandy beaches on the right side of Paradise Beach Phuket. You have to swim around to the right (or walk in low tide) to reach them. This area is called “Lucky Beach.” Pretty cool huh?
The whole place is like a private beach club with music and restaurant serving food and drinks. There is a full-moon and half moon party each month, and it has quite a party atmosphere.
There is no place to stay right at Paradise Beach, but if you stay anywhere on the south end of Patong Beach, you’ll be close enough to visit Paradise Beach with a ten-minute drive.
For more Paradise Beach information check out the Blog:
Patong Beach is the one place you just CANNOT MISS when you travel to Phuket Southern Thailand?
This is the main tourist area of Phuket Island, and is located in the southern region of the west side of the island between Kalim and Tri Trang beaches, and almost due west of Phuket Town. This small 4 km2 (1.5 mi2) town is the main area for beach, nightlife, shopping, and just about everything you could want to do on the island of Phuket.
If you’re coming to Phuket, don’t skip visiting Patong Beach!
Patong Beach is a wide and sandy northwest facing beach about 2.8 kilometers long (just under 2 miles) with over 110,000 m2 (1.2 million ft2). Patong isn’t just for people watching, window shopping, and getting dizzy on alcohol – it is also scenic! There is a lovely view from the beach – especially from either end. No, this isn’t the most scenic part of Phuket, but you won’t be disappointed when you arrive. The beach faces northwest and is large enough that sunsets can be experienced all along the soft sandy stretch of beach.
Patong Beach became popular in the late 1980’s when travelers, mostly from Europe, came to spend weeks at a time in a state of total relaxation. Things were much slower then!
In 2017, Phuket International Airport received over 8,000,000 visitors. Many of them made it down to Patong Beach. The Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) is expecting to beat that number in 2018 and beyond. Most visitors to Phuket are from China, then Russia, Australia, Korea, and then the United Kingdom comes in fifth place.
The beach itself is highly commercialized, as you might expect. There are restaurants along some sections of the beach where you can eat or drink to your heart’s content. There are women offering massage (legit), hair braiding, and other personal services. You can rent just about anything on the beach to stay afloat, or to help you relax. Beach chairs and umbrellas, floats, or blow up chairs are common.
Set in a deep cove with hills at each end, the north and south ends of Patong Beach are protected from some wind. The sand is deep, fine, and soft at Patong Beach, and very light – almost white in some areas.
The beach is very wide and long, and there is a lot of space for the thousands of visitors that spend some time here daily. Patong Beach is definitely the most popular beach on the Island of Phuket because it’s so convenient to reach from all the hotels where most people choose to stay to be close to nightlife, shopping, and good restaurants.
The ocean is calm and good for swimming and wading. When waves are bigger, it’s OK for surfing or bodyboarding. The main feature is that it’s convenient and everything you need to enjoy an easy day is right here within easy reach.
Yes, Patong Beach is mostly clear of underwater rocks and coral reef. It’s a great place for wading, swimming, and even snorkeling at either end near the rocks is fine. During high season the waves are smaller, sometimes no more than a couple inch high waves! Really, the water is smooth like glass during many days from November through March.
Because there are so many people visiting the beach, rubbish is something of a problem. The sand isn’t so clean, with beer bottle caps and broken glass occasionally found. It’s just what you might expect at a beach where millions visit each year. The government has added many more garbage bins in recent years, so it is getting better. Still not perfect! You’ll find this is the case with all beaches in Thailand, there are probably none without trash of some sort laying around. Don’t let it detract from your enjoyment of the place. They’re working on it, slowly.
You can eat at your mat or lounge chair on the beach if you want. Bring your own food for a picnic or buy something you’ve never before eaten while you’re there. Vendors selling fresh cut fruit, fruit smoothies, beverages, grilled chicken or pork, and seafood are always close-by and only a short walk away. The variety of food available is a bit overwhelming. There are restaurants on Beach Road and within one-block walking distance inland are dozens of places to eat – Thai food, or just about anything you crave is available.
Vegetarian dishes are available at the beach, but you may have to search around a bit. The only time you won’t have to look hard for vegetarian food is during the Jeh Festival in October – also known as the Vegetarian Festival. Many locals pledge to eat only vegetarian during this time, and restaurants cater to them.
Yes, there are a couple of restrooms along the beach, but not nearly enough. Most people try to use restaurants or hotel restrooms along the beach instead of walking a great distance to the public restroom. Most of the time you’ll be able to do the same.
The beach is nice enough that most people who just want to spend some time in the water or gawking will enjoy Patong Beach. Nightlife is the main reason people are staying in Patong Beach instead of elsewhere on the island where the geography, the scenery, is so much more stunning.
Patong Beach at night around Soi Bangla – the nightlife hotspot – is going strong from 9 pm. and later, every night unless there is a Buddhist holiday or other national holiday. Bars and clubs close between 1 am. and 4 am. each night, and it’s generally a lot quieter after 2-3 am. Still, there are always some clubs who pay officials extra to remain open later (at least there have been in the past.)
There is a lot to do at the beach, it’s not just all about falling asleep on your beach chair or mat. There is also jogging; swimming; wading; snorkeling; massage; lunch or dinner on the beach; a small children’s area; photography; people watching; bars on the beach (all hours); banana boats; jet skis; kayaks; snorkeling (not so good here); parasailing; longtail boat rides to other beaches or to islands.
Yes! During the months of April to October, there can be ridable waves for surfers and bodyboarders. Sometimes the waves can even reach two meters high (almost 7 feet). Waves are very small during most of the high-season months (November to May), though big storms can increase wave size at any time.
For those of you interested in surfing in Patong Beach there are some small waves, some ridable on longboards, at various times throughout the year, usually associated with a storm front. Kids with bodyboards can enjoy the smaller waves too – there are rentals on the beach when the waves are around 1 meter. Even if the waves are small, kids still have a blast with bodyboards – so consider renting them.
Longboards are usually your best bet at Patong Beach when waves are a meter or so in height. If the swell gets bigger than a meter, short board riding is possible when the waves are coming in fast. You may be surprised that, even with all the people who are are at the beach, you’ll find very few surfers on the water. This is great news for surfers who are here on a day when the waves happen to grow to 1+ meters.
Almost always, the best Patong Beach waves are found at the north end of the beach, close to the piles of rocks. For decades, this has been the best spot to be when the waves start cranking in Patong. Go early morning to get the good waves to yourself while everyone else is sleeping off their hangovers. This spot does get somewhat crowded on epic surf days.
For more information where to surf in Phuket check out the following blog post: 17 Best Phuket Surfing Beaches
A local guy named Day who operates out of the Baan Andaman Sea & Surf Guesthouse can often hook you up with a surfboard rental. He’ll actually deliver it to you at the beach or your hotel in Patong Beach.
Contact info: surftrips@baanandamanseasurf.com; Phone: +66 89.97.32.161 (local 089.973.2161) or +66 83.52.28.523 (local 083.522.8523). If at all possible, call him because email is hit or miss.
You can feel free to come to Patong Beach anytime, from anywhere, it is publicly accessible from many directions. Beach Road runs the length of the beach, and visitors can enter anywhere along the beach, even walking through hotel lobbies in most cases without a problem. No fees to use the beach.
Yes, offshore is possible. Patong Beach is a deep cove that provides some protection from the wind and waves from certain directions.
There is a small boat pier at the southern end of Patong Beach, but there are longtail boats all along the beach.
There is only one club actually on the sand of the beach at Patong. That’s OK because there are dozens of other clubs close to the beach in Patong. Try the clubs we list below, but don’t stop there! There are so many good clubs in Patong – try as many as you can during your stay.
With our thorough list of awesome beaches within a short 30-40 minutes drive (depending traffic) of your accommodations in Patong, you won’t waste time driving around and looking for your preferred beach! You will have 10 great beaches to choose from, with directions from Patong Beach for each one. Don’t waste any time – grab a towel and swimsuit and get going, the beach is waiting! Click the following link to read the full blog: 10 Amazing Phuket Beaches near Patong Beach.
For more Patong Beach information check out the Blog:
Pineapple Beach, also known as Laem Son, is located on Phuket’s northwest coast on the north side of a small cape just west of Bang Tao Beach jutting out into the Andaman Sea. Pineapple Beach is around 700 meters (766 yards) long, though the sandy area is only about one third sand with the rest of it being fairly rocky. This beach faces north and gives great views of Layan, Trisara, and Banana Beaches up the coast.
As you can see in our video, the beach is quiet, and though not totally secluded, it does offer a bit of privacy in certain parts. The water is filled with rocks and coral, and is good for snorkeling, but you should have diving flags on floats to alert longtail boaters in the area that you’re in the water. They may not be expecting you. Swimming to the west or east from Pineapple Beach will give you plenty of space to snorkel for a couple hours.
Pineapple Beach appears to have no public access through private land, so your best bet is to take a longtail boat here from a nearby beach.
Pineapple Beach doesn’t have Thai food vendors along the beach, nor does it have umbrellas and lounge chairs for you. We recommend that you bring everything you need with you – including snacks and drinks – in your longtail boat and arrange for a pickup in a set number of hours, so you can enjoy yourself to the fullest!
There is no beach club at Pineapple Beach
There are no restaurants or bars on the Pineapple beaches, outside of those found at the resorts on the hills around the beach.
The major property lining the Pineapple beache isn’t listed on Google maps, and we cannot figure it out from the boat as we drove by. The property may be in transition to new owners.
For more Pineapple Beach or other Phuket beaches information check out the Blog:
Pon Beach, or Yae Beach as locals know it, is a 500 meters (547 yards) long beach facing almost due south. Because of the hill to the west, sunset won’t be the best, as you won’t likely see its last moments above the horizon.
Pon beach is not typically available unless you’re staying at the resort (The NAKA) which occupies the entire beach, but if you’re on a motorbike or bicycle and want to give it a try, here’s how you can try. Drive north past Patong Beach on Kamala-Patong Road (Hwy 4233). In about 4 km. (2.5 miles) you’ll come up to the Thavorn Beach Village Resort & Spa. Make a left and travel down a paved road for 150 meters (164 yards). Then you will make another left and follow until it reaches a dirt trail. From there, it’s a 100-meter (109 yard) walk to the beach. There is no parking, and the resort might tell you that motorbike and vehicle parking is not available. You’re out of luck then because Yae beach is not accessible by boat due to the shallow coral reef during high or low tides.
Pon beach is certainly not one of Phuket’s nicest beaches, so unless you’re staying at this resort, there’s no real reason to go to see it. The water is shallow and usually clean, and the sand is deep. There are some shade trees in the middle of the beach. If you’re staying nearby, there are other amazing beaches like Surin Beach, Banana Beach, or one of the other dozens of beautiful beaches on the island that are easier to access.
Note, during western swells, the Pon beach here will have very strong rip currents which can pull people out to sea. Do be cautious as the waves pick up in size.
There is no beach club at Pon Beach
Because Pon Beach is quite small, there is only one resort here which takes up all the land behind the beach.
For more Pon Beach | Yae Beach or other Phuket beaches information check out the Blog:
This beach is named after the Phuket Pullman Panwa Beach Resort found behind the beach. Pullman Panwa Beach is typical of other Phuket east coast beaches with a muddy bottom under the water, not great for swimming or walking through the water. There are few people on this beach, and you can reach it by a small path at kitesurf (200m south of Pullman) or by longtail boat if not staying at the resort.
There is no beach club at Pullman Panwa Beach
For more Pullman Panwa Beach or other Phuket beaches information check out the Blog:
Rawai Beach is a beach located in the south of the island of Phuket and is a locals’ favorite for years. Rawai Beach has a laid-back vibe and is lined with bars to help you take the edge off life. Many people prefer to stay in Rawai for their entire Phuket vacation, preferring the atmosphere here over elsewhere.
Rawai claims the title of being officially the first tourist beach. While Rawai Beach itself is not very good for swimming it is very inviting to stroll along the beach, rest underneath the evergreen Casuarina trees, which can easily grow up to 35 meters providing plenty of shade, and/or contemplate what you are going to eat next. While the real estate development happened more inland over the years, more and more restaurants popped up along the main beach road taking over the ever present night bars. So now you can choose between burger joints, Thai seafood, pizza, spaghetti or whatever you would like to have for breakfast, lunch or dinner. For locals as well as international tourists and expats, one of the favourite restaurant is Nikitas Beach Restaurant with its mixture of Asian and Western culinary delights, located right at the beginning of the Rawai Beach stretch.
From Rawai beach you can plan a trip to Koh Lon, Koh Bon, Coral Island or Racha islands. Easy to reach with your motorbike, you can change the scenery by enjoying a day on Nai Harn Beach and finish it at Cape Promthep.
BTW: The name Rawai derives from the Thai word “Rao Wai” which translates into “I Pray”. This has a lot to do with the legend which says that Buddha, leaving a “footprint” on the island in front of the famous Cape Promthep, set foot on Phuket where today is the village of Rawai.
Rawai Beach is not a beach for sport or bathing as most of the beach access area is used for longtail boat anchoring. But we recommend to visit Rawai Beach for lunch or dinner as it has great local restaurants with tables under trees along the beach, which serving fresh seafood for very reasonable prices.
We couldn’t find any venue with “club” in the name, but you can rest assured that besides dancing, the restaurants and bars we mention below are like beach clubs – right on the beach and serving alcohol and good food. Around 1 km from the beach you will find the No. 1 nightclub in the south of the island The Laguna Rawai Night Club – a complex of 25 bars and 1 discotheque.
For more Rawai Beach information check out the Blog:
Rayee Beach Phuket is nestled between Hua Beach and Kamala Beach. You won’t find this beach listed on maps as Rayee Beach, in most cases. Some just call it part of Kamala Beach. This is a scenic beach, that is basically nothing more than that. This 500 meters (547 yards) long beach faces northwest and visitors can see a partial sunset from the beach, but there are much better places for watching the sunset on the island at any of the west-facing beaches like Surin, Banana, Patong, Freedom, and Karon, to name just a few. Rayee Beach is not the best beach to choose for swimming, surfing, bodyboarding, kayaking, paddle boarding, or wading. It might be possible to snorkel during high tide, but the rocks and coral are just under the surface and present a danger of scratches and cuts. It’s a great beach to lay out on and enjoy peace and quiet though! This is a serene retreat from Kamala Beach just down the road.
None
With the exception of the White Orchid restaurant described below, there are no private restaurants, just restaurants within the grounds of the resorts mentioned in our Accommodations section below. Rayee Beach is taken up by these large resorts and there isn’t any private land for other restaurants to open. If you’d like to find more private restaurants in the area, there are others mentioned at our entry for Kamala Beach.
For more Rayee Beach or other Phuket beaches information check out the Blog:
Relax Beach is more widely known as Karon Noi Beach (little Karon Beach) on the Phuket Island maps and is about 350 meters (383 yards) long, and extra wide at 50+ meters (55 yards) in some places. The sand is deep and very light, and it’s one of the most scenic spots in Phuket.
The land behind the Relax Beach is owned by the Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort, and they are not known to be accommodating to people wanting to pass through to the beach. They haven’t provided any beach access from the road, so you’ll need to either stay there as a guest or arrive by boat. There is a way to sneak in down the hill on the west side of the Le Meridien Resort, but it’s a 300-meter (328 yards) trek down a steep hill and most locals don’t bother because there are plenty of other beaches to surf at around the area if the waves are nice.
This is one of the best surfing beaches on the island, so if you’re a surfer – maybe the best idea is to book a room here and have the entire bay mostly to yourself?
None, however there are pool bars and other F&B outlets at Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort.
The Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort described below has some excellent restaurants but there are no other private restaurants in the area.
For more Relax Beach information check out the Blog:
Sai Kaew Beach is the beach furthest north on Phuket Island’s west coast and the translation from Thai is “glass sand.” From Hat Pak Phra Beach at the Sarasin Bridge connecting Phang Nga and Phuket provinces, Sai Kaew goes to the south, stopping at Mai Khao Beach. Looking west, the view is endless sea. Looking north, you can see a large unnamed sandy beach on Phang Nga’s southern coast just 400 meters (437 yd.) away.
The beach borders a deep-water channel where large boats with really low draft can cross. The water is typically clear and calm during low-season months.
There is no beach club at Sai Kaew Beach
Sai Kaew has just one place to eat on the map, Sai Kaew Beach Restaurant which at the moment only has two reviews, one positive and one negative, so we won’t recommend it at this time. There are portable food stands along Thepkrasattri Road which you can sample and see what is tasty.
Sai Kaew has no places to stay on or off the beach. If you’re interested in staying a short-distance away, you can have a look at our entry for Mai Khao Beach, the next beach south. They have plenty of places to stay and eat.
For more Sai Kaew Beach or other Phuket beaches information check out the Blog:
Certainly, one of the nicest beaches in Thailand and definitely one of our top 5 beaches on Phuket Island is Surin Beach ! Surin beach is located just up the road, so to speak, from Patong Beach, going north. In the early 2000’s Surin Beach was a top locals and long-time repeat visitor favorite. The beach is long, and the sand is deep. The water is usually clean and clear, with a ripple of waves. The atmosphere is always relaxed and there is plenty of room for visitors, it’s never crowded, and the food is always delicious.
In the past, there were food shacks just up under the trees – many of them. The military recently decided to reclaim all beach land – and knocked down all illegal structures, not only here but at all Thailand’s beaches. In a way, it was disappointing to see them go. Overall, it opens up the space here at Surin and there are still good places to eat from street food vendors who come and go each day. There is still a focus on the natural beauty of the beach, shady trees, and islands offshore. Perfect!
There are currently no beach clubs here, but the place could sure use one! With close proximity to Patong Beach’s population, a club at this beach would be a hit. The land here is public property (government owned), so building any permanent structures is prohibited at this time.
For more Surin Beach information check out the Blog:
Tri Trang Beach, also known as Emerald Beach or Tri Trang Beach 1, is a small little beach 5 km from the centre of the famous buzzing Patong Beach. Tri Trang 1 Beach because there is a Tri Trang 2 Beach on the opposite side of the peninsula it exists on. There can be some confusion because the Marriott – which has a complex on Tri Trang 2 Beach, just calls it “Tri Trang”.
You can find Tri Trang Beach by going to the south end of Phuket and following that road for five minutes until you come down a hill and see the beach on your right side. To clear it up – Tri Trang Beach faces north.
Tri Trang Beach 1 is a very lovely quiet beach to spend a day on. To go into the water we recommend swimming shoes because of the coral debris. Occasionally you will find bride and groom having their pictures taken with the bride in white gown riding an elephant in the sea.
None here, but in close proximity to Patong Beach, nightlife capital of Phuket Island.
There are a couple of restaurants and other food and beverage shops close to the beach, but none of them have substantial ratings from guests, so we’ll pass on listing them here until they are better established.
For more Tri Trang Beach or other Phuket beaches information check out the Blog:
Tri Trang Beach 2, which is also known by tree other names: Merlin Beach, Tri Tra Beach or Little Tiger Beach, is a small beach 5 km from the centre of the famous buzzing Patong Beach. If you come straight back off Tri Trang Beach near Patong, across Muen Ngern Road, you’ll see the large Marriott Hotel complex. This is the location of what appears to be a private oasis. Tri Trang Beach 2 is small compared to most beaches on Phuket, it is only about 160 meters long and not so wide, around 10 meters on average.
The beach itself is nothing so special, the sand is full of large shells and rocks and the ocean has some submerged rocks and coral. There is a large coral reef at the entrance to the bay which could entice snorkelers to go have a look. There are rocks at both ends of Tri Trang Beach 2 as well.
The Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa at Tri Trang Beach 2 is an exclusive 5-star resort with hundreds of positive reviews from their guests over the years. They have three massive swimming pools and a kids pool, wet bars, and restaurants which get good reviews. The location isn’t bad, but you won’t be walking to anything close by, it’s a bit secluded and Patong Beach shopping is 5-10 minutes away by tuk-tuk or your rental vehicle. Or you could opt for taking a longtail boat from the beach to Freedom Beach for 1,000 THB.
Complimentary morning buses into Patong Beach and return, were mentioned by a number of guests in their reviews. Many weddings are held here, and nearly everyone seems very satisfied with the friendliness and professionalism of staff at this hotel…
No beach clubs at this beach, just the Marriott complex and the restaurant at the east end of the beach.
There are a number of restaurants at the Marriott, and one activity that was highly recommended is having BBQ at the beach bistro. Reviews of food, staff, and rooms were overwhelmingly positive, you will likely enjoy your stay whether single, couple, or family with children.
Rates vary a bit, starting from around 4,000 THB per night.
For more Tri Trang Beach 2 or other Phuket beaches information check out the Blog:
Trisara Beach is a small, private looking beach, that anyone can use, but the Trisara villas cover the property between the beach and the road. If you’re not staying at Trisara, you can come by longtail boat. The beach is beautiful and there are places to put your mat down. The water is not great for swimming or wading – there are many rocks and some coral as the water gets deeper. You can snorkel on the north end. Few people use the beach, because their large villas have everything they need.
There is no beach clubs at Trisara Beach
Restaurants at Trisara – there are three restaurants at Trisara, all of which get great reviews. The breakfast was mentioned by a number of guests. Trisara restaurants use organic food as much as possible. Meal costs are on the high-end, as you might expect at a 5-star resort.
There are some other resorts close by, but nothing on Trisara Beach. On Google Maps, it appears that nobody besides Trisara has their marker over their hotel – so we’ll not cover any other accommodations at Trisara.
For more Trisara Beach or other Phuket beaches information check out the Blog:
Yanui Beach is just another one of the beautiful and often overlooked beaches on Phuket Island. Between Nai Harn Beach and Promthep Cape is this tiny and so lovely little beach about 175 meters (191 yards) in length and around 15 meters (16 yards) wide on average. It goes virtually unnoticed because tourists are so focused on finding Promthep Cape, that they skip right by. Yanui Beach is a local’s favorite, and you’ll find as many Thais here as you will foreigners.
Yanui Beach is set in a little cove with a hill on each end, and has emerald green water and jagged rocks you can explore while snorkeling (snorkel gear rental available). There is a rocky bottom and some coral under the water, so bring protective rubber shoes for this spot. There are kayaks for rent here which you can use to paddle out to the small island, Koh Man, about 325 meters (almost a quarter-mile) away. Umbrellas and beach chairs are usually also available for a small fee.
To keep your hunger away and satisfy your appetite on a hot sunny day, the Yanui Restaurant, opposite the beach, has a very good selection of Thai and western food (pasta, pizza, and sandwiches etc.) as well as a good variety of drinks from water to fresh coconuts and cocktails to ice-cold Tiger or Chang beer. Don’t forget, while crossing the street, to look “RIGHT & LEFT”… you are in Thailand :).
There is also another restaurant close by; and you can always cater for yourself from the vendors passing through with fruits and snacks. There are also quite a few shops and restaurants 500 meters down the road towards Rawai. You should stop and have a look, this is one of the most scenic beaches and bays in Phuket – highly recommended.
There aren’t any beach clubs at this small beach.
For more Yanui Beach information check out the Blog:
This Phuket Beaches Blog and most of the published articles have been researched, written and compiled by Sepp Hatzl.
Sepp started visiting Phuket in 1975, felt in love with the island, and in 1997 decided to spend most of his time in Nai Thon Beach Phuket.
Sepp is happy to provide you with more specific information about all kind of Phuket topics, just drop him an email (email see in the footer).
