Phuket Beaches – 36 beaches of Phuket! (updated)
36 Beaches of Phuket (updated)
How often do we hear “I don’t like Phuket because I don’t like crowded beaches”. To us it sounds very stereotyped…. there are many beautiful beaches where you can walk alone for kilometers, even during high season! So here are 36 Beaches of Phuket by alphabetical order, some are easy to find and some are really hidden. Surprisingly the nicest, longest and deserted ones are just next to the main road! There are actually a couple more amazing secret beaches but we prefer to keep them…. secret 🙂
See all Phuket beaches on Phuket 101 Map.
1 Ao Sane Beach
Ao Sane is a tiny hidden beach, very visible from Nai Harn Beach, but unless you know that you need to drive through a tunnel under the kitchens of the Phuket Yacht Club, you will never find out. Ao Sane consists of three very small sandy bays and you can walk from one to another through the few beach bungalows. Read more…
2 Ao Yon Beach
Ao Yon is so out of the way and far from the road, you could drive nearby ten times without noticing its entrance. Located between Panwa beach (past the Novotel Panwa resort) and Cape Panwa, it is not even indicated but few ‘restaurants’ signs and an old yellow giraffe sculpture might give you a hint. Read more…
3 Banana Beach (Very Quiet)
Phuket is a world wide famous holiday destination. Every corner of this tropical island has been explored, invaded, sold, developed and exploited. Or so you thought! Still one tiny beach is hiding itself from the crowd, but it won’t last long. Read more…
4 Bangtao Beach (Quiet in some parts)
Bangtao is one of the longest beach in Phuket, half way between airport and Patong on the west coast of the island. With its beautiful stretch of sand, Bangtao is always associated with the gigantic resort complex known as ‘Laguna Phuket’. Read more
5) Freedom Beach
Freedom beach is a beautiful strip of soft white sand lined with coconut trees in the South of Patong. Since the land surrounding the beach is privately owned, the only way to reach it is by longtail boat from the south of Patong, near the big bridge. Freedom Beach is only accessible during high season, during low season no boats will go there because of rough sea. Read more
6) Friendship Beach (East coast)
Friendship Beach is not really a swimming beach since it is on the east coast but offers nice views on the islands. The name of Friendship probably originated from the small resort built there as it is a very popular hangout for expats.
7 Haad Sai Kaew Beach (Deserted)
Haad Sai Gaew, is a beautiful endless beach located at the very north of Phuket Island. Haad Sai Gaew means ‘Glass Sand Beach’ in Thai, but sand is not that shiny. During the high season, The sea over there has a nice blue tone and walking alone for miles, you would never guess you are still in Phuket. Read more
8) Haad Pak Phra Beach (Deserted)
Haad Pak Phra is the last beach when leaving Phuket from the north end and most people would drive past without ever stopping. But Haad Pak Phra has a little ‘Dirty Secret’. Read more
9 Kamala Beach (Moderately busy)
To most, Kamala Beach surprisingly shines by its lack of particular signs, if you don’t take Fantasea park into consideration of course. It is however a nice large beach with clear waters during high season and a decent amount of dining and shopping options, several hotels, some with a beach access. Read more
10 Karon Beach (Busy)
Karon Beach, the second longest beach in Phuket, enjoys a very long and wide stretch of white sand with an acceptable dining and nightlife. Yet it doesn’t seem to attract the crowds, and it’s not because municipality hasn’t tried. Read more
11 Kata Beach (Busy – very popular)
Kata Beach is the most popular beach in Phuket after Patong. But it is still a great choice as it enjoys a wide white sandy beach with an incredible blue sea. Less crowded than Patong, it offers a large choice of dining, shopping, hotels, and not to forget a good nightlife! Read more
12) Kata Noi Beach (Medium to quiet)
Kata Noi Beach is a great little bay if you want to be near Kata action but stay away from the usual herd. This nice wide strand of white sand has incredibly clear blue water during the high season. Fortunately, its ‘Out of the way’ location kept it relatively quiet and unless you know about it, you probably would miss it. Read More
13) Laem Ka Beach (Hidden Beach)
Laem Ka Beach, in the very south of Phuket near Rawai is a little gem hidden from view, only the ones in the know might find it. But you have to be a bit curious or adventurous to get something different and obviously some did their homework since I found about fifteen people lazying on sun loungers. Read more
14 Laem Singh Beach (Closed)
Weather is lousy but you really want to go to the beach today… Laem Singh happens to look better in that exact weather. Laem Singh has this tropical touch that goes well with a bit of rain. It’s like been in the Caribbean, a bit nostalgic, very green with its palm trees leaning over the sand and you have the beach almost for yourself. Read more
15 Layan Beach
Layan Beach, a remote and very little known beach on the west coast of Phuket, is located at the northern end of Bangtao Beach which itself is home to many luxurious resorts such as Banyan Tree Resort, Angsana Laguna Phuket and Dusit Thani Resort. Layan Beach ends on one side with a river harboring small fishing boats and the best known feature is the tall island standing at the mouth of the river. Read more
16) Mai Khao Beach (Quiet)
Mai Khao Beach, the longest in Phuket, still looks in some parts as deserted as it was when I first visited it in 1990. A lot has been built but the beach hasn’t yet been covered with beach chairs, umbrellas and food vendors. You can still walk eleven kilometers or more and only meet three fishermen and the beach remained mostly untouched. Read more
17 Nai Harn Beach (Medium – very popular)
Definitely a very nice beach, different from the typical west coast touristy spots, Nai Harn is a popular beach among the expats and tourists. It is definitively changing but thanks the lack of possible developments, it still holds on to its local feel. The beach is in a protected bay where sailing or fishing boats anchors in calm waters. Read more
18 Naithon Beach (Quiet to medium)
Naithon Beach is one of these little known beaches on the west coast of Phuket, mostly because it is far from the crowded areas. People coming here are usually in search of a peaceful spot with just enough facilities and hotels. Read more
19 Naithon Noi Beach
Naithon Noi Beach is not officially a private beach but since the land you need to cross belongs to Andaman White Beach, it ends up the same… lucky them, it’s one of the most beautiful in Phuket.
20 Nai Yang Beach (Medium to quiet)
Nai Yang Beach seems to be one of those beaches popular with returning tourists… It is a nice shaded beach full of tiny fun bars and restaurants, but like most of the northern beaches of Phuket which are not along the main road, it remains relatively unknown to the crowds. Read more
21 Pansea Beach (Private Beach)
Private beaches are not allowed in Thailand, but you can get around simply by owning all lands around that beach. Pansea Beach, shared by ‘The Surin Phuket’ and ‘Amanpuri Phuket’ is one of them, but there is a way to ear the beach. Read more
22 Panwa Beach (Quiet)
Panwa Beach, also known as Khao Kat Beach, is not a swimming beach, and yet has the charm of these remote bays not many would take the time to explore while visiting Phuket. Located on a east coast cape but facing west, the whole area is peppered with luxury villas and few resorts, a great alternative to relax away from west coast crowded spots. Read more
23 Paradise Beach (Crowded)
Paradise Beach’ sounds good, doesn’t it? With such name, people expect to discover another ‘beautiful-secret-hard-to-find-beach’ located near Patong. And yes, to its credit, the sea is very blue, sand is powdery and cute little boats are gently bobbing in the bay. Yes, it is small, remote and not easy to find. Read more
24 Patong Beach (Crowded)
If Bangkok is the Big Mango, then Patong is the Big Durian: you’ll love it or you’ll hate it… and it kinds of smells strong too. Patong Beach is the pulsating heart of Phuket Island and what makes it popular to some, is often what other people complains about. It’s big, it’s bold, crowded, bright and loud, yet people flock there like flies on honey. Read more
25 Rawai Beach (quiet – no swimming)
Located at the south end of Phuket island, Rawai is not a swimming beach but offer beautiful views on the many nearby islands in a peaceful local atmosphere. It’s a great place to enjoy great seafood and a good starting point to do some island hopping. Read more
26 Rayee Beach (quiet – no swimming)
Located in the southern part of Kamala, this tiny beach is not very attractive in itself but provides a nice view to the long established ‘White Orchid’ restaurant as well as some tiny bars.
27 Karon Noi Beach or Relax Beach (Great Beach but Private)
Part of the “Best Beaches of Phuket’ collection, Karon Noi Beach is one more inaccessible beach only for the use of a hotel’s guests. Not well known from most tourists, it happens to have the nicest sand and most amazing blue sea on the island, and it is not even far Patong beach. This is the nest of Le Meridien Phuket… Read more
28 Surin Beach (Busy)
Surin Beach is popular for a good reason, with plenty of dining venues along a large beach blessed with a beautiful sand and an amazing clear blue water. Maybe it is already a bit too popular, with four of even five rows of beach chairs in some parts. But the quality of the water and sand still makes it one of the nicest beaches on the island. Read more
29 Tri Trang Beach 2 (Quiet)
There is a lot of confusion and discussion about all the tiny beaches near Patong. So far, Tri Trang beach is the small hard to find beach hidden behind the Marriott Phuket Beach Club and accessible via a small dirt road on the side of the hotel. The beach is nice but the sea is a bit rocky. You’ll find nice massages on the beach and a popular restaurant on the hill. Read more
30 Tri Trang Beach (Quiet)
Tri Trang is without doubt the longest and the nicest of four beaches located south of Patong. Its only downside might be during low tide, when the sea reveals a rocky area that used to be coral. Fortunately at high tide there is more than enough sandy areas for a good swim. Read more
31 Trisara Beach
Trisara Beach is just a tiny strip of sand on the west coast, just between Bangtao Bay and Naithon beaches and only accessible from the exclusive Trisara Villas.
32 Ya Nui Beach (Busy)
Ya Nui is tiny but has the charms of a small beach, tucked in a cove between the Windmill Viewpoint and famous Promthep Cape in the very south of Phuket Island. Coming from Nai Harn Beach you would drive through, keeping your eyes on the curves, and miss it if it was not for the amount of cars parked alongside the road of this hollow. Read more
33 Thavorn Beach (private)
Thavorn Beach, like the 3 other ‘private’ beaches are not really private, but the entire land you would need to cross belong to the immense Thavorn Beach Village, one of the oldest hotel in Phuket.
34 Yae Beach (semi private)
Yae Beach is not really a great beach but since it is really hard to find, I really wanted to find it. It’s located on a cape between Patong and Kamala and you won’t find much there, just a small hut selling drinks… well, when it’s open.
35 Hua Beach (unknown)
Hua Beach was unknown to us for a long time. Also not a great beach for swimming it is a very peaceful place not far from Kamala Beach. Read more
36 Phuket Secret Beach
Don’t ask, I’m not telling ! 😀
View Phuket Beaches in a larger map
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