Makam Beach (Makham Beach)

16/01/2019 Sepp Hatzl 1,288 views No Comments

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).

Makam Beach Clubs

There are no beach clubs at Makam Beach

Makam Beach Restaurants / Bars

Fin House Restaurant – set back from the beach, Fin House has open-air seating under a tin roof. The food looks delicious in photos on social media, and the restaurant receives very high ratings for food taste and service. Fin House focuses on Thai and seafood and prices are about average for Phuket (double what they’d be in Krabi Town, for instance).
Sam’s Kitchen Restaurant – a simple café, set back from the beach, offering good food at reasonable prices. Outdoor seating. Seafood and Thai food on the menu.

Makam Beach Accommodations

Crown Plaza Phuket Panwa – very high ratings for this 5-star review make it a place you may want to visit if you’re set on staying on Phuket’s east coast. Italian restaurant on the property is frequently mentioned as being fantastic. There is some problem for some guests about a sewage smell, but the hotel accommodates those with complaints to other rooms. Some complain this hotel doesn’t have a 5-star rating but should be less. Rooms start at 3,000 THB per night.

Makam Beach Facts

Location in Phuket: Makam Beach is on the east side of Cape Panwa on Phuket’s east coast.
GPS Data: 7° 50’ 00” N, 98° 24’ 07” E
Distance to Patong / Phuket Town / Airport in km: 21 / 8 / 4
Taxis available: Yes
Surrounding Beaches: Heeowhat Beach is south, and there doesn’t seem to be a viable beach north of here on the east coast.
Direction Facing: East
Beach Length: 700 meters (766 yd.)
Beach Width: 15 meters (16 yd.)
Estimated Beach Area: 10’500 square meter (12,558 square yd.)
Beach Quality: Hard sand with lots of sharp shells. Sand is mixed with dirt, not ideal.
Ocean Bottom: Mud and sand.
Restroom / showers facilities? Yes, at the resort here.
Beach features: Makam Bay Beach is just a wide beach with a lot of space to sit and picnic.
Lifeguard Available? No
Sunbeds Available? Yes, at the resort.
Umbrellas? Yes, at the resort.
Public or Private? Entrance fees? Public, no fees.
Water quality: Very Good
Boat anchorage possible? Way offshore, but the mud flats are considerably wide.
Boat dock and marina? N/A
Longtail boat rental possible? Yes
Speedboat/longtail boat tours possible? No/No
Sea inflow:: Yes
Slope into sea until 1m deep: Very flat
Convenience shop available? Yes
Attractions: Ton Ao Yon Waterfall; Phuket Town is about 30 minutes away (best shopping on Phuket); Tarzan Adventure Phuket.
Activities: A good beach for walking around and trying to find crabs or shells. The resort here rents paddle boards and kayaks for when the tide is high.
FKK possible? Not permitted, but if empty…
Massage available? Yes
Picnic possible? Yes
Surfing? None
Smoking? In November Thailand is cracking down on smoking at beaches around the country. In November 2017 in Phuket, Patong Beach is affected. Soon they expect to make it a country-wide smoking ban – so do stay up to date because fines are high and can include prison time.
Warnings: Stingrays can lie just under the water’s surface. These have venomous barbs on the tails and are present at many east coast beaches.
Waste runoff into the sea? No