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46 Amazing Beaches to Discover in Phuket! ⛱️

All the beaches of Phuket on one page

There are no less than 45 Phuket Beaches now on our list! A few are crowded, many are quiet, some are hidden, and some are still secret. However, there are many beautiful beaches where you can walk alone for kilometres, even during the high season.

Here is our updated list of Phuket beaches in alphabetical order. Some are easy to find; some are hidden. Surprisingly the most beautiful beaches, long and deserted, are just next to the main road! There are two more amazing secret beaches, but we prefer to keep them secret 🙂 So get a scooter or a car and start exploring! Stay away from the crowd and discover Phuket!

Quick Jump to Each Beach Page

Location Map of All Phuket Beaches

All the Beaches to Discover in Phuket

Phuket Beaches by Alphabetical Order

Ao Sane

ao-sane-beach

A little remote – not too busy

Ao Sane is a small hidden beach, visible from Nai Harn Beach, but unless you know that you need to drive on a tiny road on the left of the Phuket Yacht Club’s arrival place, you will never find out. Ao Sane consists of three tiny sandy bays, and you can walk from one to another. The sand is a bit coarse but the setting with boulders and tropical vegetation in the back is beautiful. There is only one restaurant on the beach.

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Ao Yon

Ao Yon Beach

Remote and quiet 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 Kao Khad Beach and Panwa Beach, you could miss it easily, but it is growing in popularity with a few restaurants and hotels.

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Banana Beach

Relatively quiet

banana-beach

This beautiful cove hides from the crowd but won’t last long. Banana Beach hides behind a curtain of thick trees and down a slope by the side of a remote road near Phuket International Airport.

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Bang Tao Beach

bangtao

Quiet in the north part – Busy in the south

Bangtao is one of the longest beaches in Phuket, halfway between Phuket Airport and Patong on the island’s west coast. Bangtao is always associated with the vast resort complex, Laguna Phuket.

Where to Stay in Bang Tao?Go to Bang Tao Beach ►

Freedom Beach

Freedom Beach Phuket

Relatively quiet – by boat only

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 a longtail boat from the south of Patong, near the big bridge. Freedom Beach is only accessible during the high season; no boats will go there during the low season because of the rough sea.

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Friendship Beach

friendship-beach

 

East Coast – not a sandy beach

Friendship Beach is not a swimming beach since it is on the east coast, but it offers beautiful views of the islands. Friendship probably originated from the small resort built there, as it is a trendy hangout for expats.

Haad Sai Kaew

Sai Kaew Beach Phuket

Deserted beach

Haad Sai Gaew is a beautiful, endless beach located north of Phuket Island. In Thai, Haad Sai Gaew means ‘Glass Sand Beach’, but the sand is not as white as some southern beaches. The sea has a beautiful blue tone during the high season, and you can walk alone for miles. You would never guess you are still in Phuket.

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Haad Pak Phra

Haad Pak Phra Beach

Deserted beach

Haad Pak Phra is the last beach leaving Phuket from the north end, and most people would drive past without ever stopping. But Haad Pak Phra has a little ‘Dirty Secret’.

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Heeowhat Beach

Heeowhat Beach

Tranquil, not a swimming beach

Heeowhat Beach is quite large, with tall trees near Cape Panwa on the east coast of Phuket. It is home to the Pullman Panwa Phuket Resort, but because the beach is very wide and shallow, it is not a swimming beach; it is just great for walks in a peaceful atmosphere.

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Hua Beach

Hua Beach, north Phuket

Hidden beach

Hua Beach was unknown to us for a long time. It is also not a great beach for swimming; it is a peaceful place not far from Kamala Beach.

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Kalim Beach

Kalim Beach

Not a swimming beach

Kalim Beach is a modest bay next to the famous Patong Beach on the way to Kamala Beach. As the seafloor is mostly rocks and dead coral, Kalim is not a swimming beach but a popular spot for local surfers in the low season. However, waves are not very high, so don’t imagine any significant action. It seems to be a good practice place. It’s not a popular place to hang, as the sand is rough and coarse. People just come here to walk their dogs or eat at one of the many food stalls at the end of the afternoon.

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Kamala Beach

Kamala Beach

Moderately busy

To most, Kamala Beach surprisingly shines by its lack of particular signs. It is, however, a beautiful large beach with clear waters during high season, a decent amount of dining and shopping options, and several hotels, some with beach access. In recent years, beach clubs and luxury resorts appeared at the north end of the beach.

Where to Stay in Kamala? Go to Kamala Beach ►

Karon Beach

Karon Beach, Phuket

Busy

Karon Beach, the second longest beach in Phuket, enjoys a long and wide stretch of white sand with good dining and nightlife. Yet, it doesn’t seem to attract the crowds, and it’s not because the municipality hasn’t tried.
Where to Stay in Karon?Go to Karon Beach ►

Karon Noi

Karon Beach Photos

Private beach

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 by most tourists, it has the most beautiful sand and most amazing blue sea on the island and is not even far from Patong beach. Karon Noi is also the nest of Le Meridien Phuket.

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Kata Beach

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 wide choice of dining, shopping, hotels, and not to forget good nightlife!

Where to Stay in Kata? Go to Kata Beach ►

Kata Noi Beach

Kata Noi Beach

Medium

Kata Noi Beach is a superb bay if you want to be near Kata action, but stay away from the herd. This nice strand of white sand has incredibly clear blue water during the high season. Fortunately, its remote location kept it relatively quiet, and unless you know about it, you probably will miss it.

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Khao Kad Beach

panwa-beach

Quiet

Khao Kat Beach is not a swimming beach, yet it has the charm of these remote bays, and not many would take the time to explore while visiting Phuket. Located on the east coast cape but facing west, the whole area is peppered with luxury villas and a few resorts, a great alternative to relax away from crowded West Coast spots.

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Laem Ka Beach

laem-ka-beach

Hidden beach closed to public access.

In the very south of Phuket near Rawai, Laem Ka Beach is a little gem hidden from view; only the ones in the know might find it. However, Laem Ka beach has been closed to the public for more than a year as someone is building a new hotel.

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Laem Singh Beach

Laem Singh Beach

Very quiet – accessible by boat

Laem Singh has a unique tropical touch, green with palm trees leaning over the sand. The beach access was closed several years ago, but there are still 2 ways to reach Laem Sighn Beach, and since very few people know about it, you can have the beach almost for yourself. Read how to get to Laem Singh Beach.

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Layan Beach

Quiet to medium

Layan Beach

Layan Beach is a remote and little-known beach on the west coast of Phuket. It is located at the northern end of the better-known Bangtao Beach. It is home to many luxurious resorts, such as Banyan Tree Resort, Angsana Laguna Phuket Resort and Dusit Thani Resort. Layan Beach ends on one side with a river harbouring small fishing boats, and the best-known feature is the big island standing at the mouth of the river.

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Mai Khao Beach

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. Many hotels were built, but the beach isn’t yet covered with beach chairs, umbrellas and food vendors. You can still walk eleven kilometres and only meet three anglers, and the beach remains mostly untouched.

Where to Stay in Mai Khao?Go to Maikhao Beach ►

Makham Beach

Makham Beach in Phuket

Hidden beach

Makham is one of the island’s least-known beaches, hidden near Cape Panwa when driving from Phuket Town. The beach is lovely to walk on, but the sea is not as blue as other tourist beaches on the East Coast. Crowne Plaza Hotel made the place quite attractive, with a beach pool for the guests and a beach bar for anyone to sit and enjoy. Unless you are a hotel guest, you can access the beach via a complicated maze of streets.

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Merlin Beach

Little Tiger restaurant

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 sandy, but the seafloor is a bit rocky. You’ll find massages on the beach and a popular restaurant on the hill.

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Mee Sook Beach

Mee Sook Beach Phuket

Hidden near Patong

Mee Sook Beach is a tiny cove hidden down a hill between Patong Beach and Paradise Beach. It is not very well known, even by locals, because there is an entry fee to pay at the gate. The place consists of 2 tiny beaches, with Splash Beach Club on the second one. It’s not great for swimming, but it has a certain charm.

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Nai Harn Beach

Nai Harn Beach

Medium to busy

Nai Harn is a fantastic beach; unlike the typical West Coast touristy spots, Nai Harn is a favourite beach among expatriates and tourists. It is definitively changing, but it still holds on to its local feel thanks to the lack of possible developments. The beach is in a protected bay where sailing or fishing boats anchor in calm waters.

Click here to see this beach on the map 📍

Where to Stay in Nai Harn?Go to Nai Harn Beach ►

Naithon Beach

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 here usually search for a peaceful spot with just enough facilities and hotels.

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Naithon Noi Beach

Naithon Noi Beach

Quiet beach

Naithon Noi Beach is not officially a private beach, but it ends the same since the land you must cross belongs to Andaman White Beach. Lucky them, it’s one of the most beautiful in Phuket.

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Nai Yang Beach

Nai Yang Beach

Medium to quiet

Nai Yang Beach seems to be one of those beaches that is popular with returning tourists. It is a lovely shaded beach full of tiny fun bars and restaurants, but like most of the northern shores of Phuket, which are not along the main road, it remains relatively unknown to the crowds.

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Nakalay Beach

thavorn beach 1

 

Private beach

Nakalay Beach is another beach surrounded by private land, making it difficult for outsiders to access it. In this case, only the guests from Thavorn Beach Resort can enjoy it. It might not be the most fantastic beach in Phuket, but it’s large and perfect for snorkelling. Read More!

Nui Beach

Nui Beach

Hidden and private beach

Nui Beach is hard to find and hard to reach. Like a few other beaches, it is surrounded by private land, so there is an entry fee. The entry fee for Nui Beach used to be expensive, but recently, the price has been reduced. It’s located past the well-known Karon Viewpoint on the dirt road that leads to Black Rock Viewpoint. The road that leads down to the beach is tricky, so drive carefully.

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Pansea Beach

Pansea Beach

Private beach

Private beaches are not allowed in Thailand, but you can get around simply by owning all the land around that beach. Pansea Beach, shared by ‘The Surin Phuket‘ and ‘Amanpuri Phuket‘, is one of them, but there are no ways to reach the beach.

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Cape Panwa Beach

Cape Panwa Beach

Private beach

Cape Panwa Beach is one of the least known beaches in Phuket, probably because it’s one of the few on the east coast and part of the remote and very protective Cape Panwa Hotel. The hotel owns the entire land around this beautiful beach, so the only way to access it is to be a hotel guest or book dinner at their beautiful Cape House restaurant (only open for dinner.

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Paradise Beach

Paradise Beach

Private but crowded

Paradise Beach sounds good, but people expect to discover another ‘beautiful-secret-hard-to-find-beach’ located near Patong with such a name. And yes, to its credit, the sea is very blue, the sand is powdery and cute little boats are gently bobbing in the bay. But in recent years, the place became a nest of shops and restaurants and a massive party place on some nights.

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Patong Beach

Patong Beach

Crowded

If Bangkok is the Big Mango, then Patong is the Big Durian: you’ll love or hate it, and it smells strong, too. Patong Beach is the pulsating heart of Phuket Island, and what makes it popular to some is what other people complain about the most. It’s big, bold, crowded, bright and loud, yet people flock there like flies on honey.

Where to Stay in Patong?Go to Patong Beach ►

Promthep Beach in Phuket

Hidden – Hard to reach

Promthep Beach is tiny, almost impossible to access and therefore not well known; we don’t even know if it has a name, so we call it Promthep Beach because it hides on one side of the famous Promthep Cape in the very south of Phuket. For a long time, it was not accessible, but lately, a path has appeared, starting opposite a new cafe across the street called CY Cafe.

Rawai Beach

Rawai Beach

Quiet – Not a swimming beach

At the south end of Phuket island, Rawai is not a swimming beach but offers beautiful views of the many nearby islands in a peaceful local atmosphere. It’s a great place to enjoy great seafood and a good starting point for some island hopping.

Where to Stay in Rawai?Go to Rawai Beach ►

Rayee Beach

Rayee Beach in Kamala

Quiet – Not a swimming beach

Located in the southern part of Kamala, this tiny beach is not very attractive but provides a beautiful view of the long-established ‘White Orchid’ restaurant and some small bars.

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Siam Beach

Siam Beach

 

Hidden tiny rocky beach

Siam Beach on the west coast of Phuket is so small and hard to reach via stairs that it is not worth going there; we list it here because it is considered a beach that is good for snorkelling.Read More!

Surin Beach

Surin Beach

Moderately busy

Surin Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. It used to be full of restaurants, but the beach has retrieved its original beauty after removing all beach clubs and most restaurants. It’s a great place to spend the day, and you can still buy street food and fruits at the many local stalls along the beach.

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Tri Trang Beach

Tri Trang Beach in Phuket

Quiet

Tri Trang is, without a doubt, the longest and the nicest of four beaches south of Patong. Its only downside might be during low tide when the sea reveals a rocky area that used to be coral. Fortunately, there is more than enough sandy space for a good swim at high tide.

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Trisara Beach

Trisara Beach

Small and private

Trisara Beach is just a tiny sandy strip on the west coast between Bangtao Bay and Naithon beaches and is only accessible from the exclusive Trisara Villas.

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Ya Nui Beach

Ya Nui Beach

Busy

You Nui is tiny but has the charms of a small beach tucked in a cove between the Windmill Viewpoint and the 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 number of cars parked alongside the road of this hollow.

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Yae Beach

Yae Beach

Private beach

Yae Beach is not a fantastic beach, but we wanted to see it since it is hard to find. It’s on a cape between Patong and Kamala, and you won’t see much there, just a small hut selling drinks when it’s open.

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45 and 46. Phuket Secret Beaches

Phuket Secret Beach

Those two secret beaches might be the last ones, so we will not reveal them openly here. They are hard to find and hard to reach, too! So let’s make a deal 🙂 Follow us on instagram.com/phuket.101/ and send us a message, and we will tell you where they are. 😀

Map of Phuket Beaches

⛱️ Most popular:Patong Beach
👨‍👩‍👦 Best for families:Kata Beach
🍽️ Best for beach dining:Kamala Beach
🏝️ Best water:Surin Beach
🏖️ Best quiet beach:Laem Singh Beach
💎 Hidden gem:Banana Beach
🤿 Best for snorkeling:Ya Nui Beach
🏝️ Best remote beachNaithon Beach

 

FAQs about Phuket beaches

a. Here are the beaches where travellers like to book their hotels most:

Patong Beach
Kata Beach
Karon Beach
Kamala Beach
Bangtao Beach

a. While some of these beaches have a few hotels, visitors often visit them for the day:

Nai Harn Beach
Ya Nui Beach
Ao Sane
Freedom Beach
Layan Beach
Paradise Beach

a. Here are peaceful beaches where you can book a hotel:

Naithon Beach
Nai Yang Beach
Maikhao Beach
Panwa Beach

a. There are a few beautiful beaches with fewer people, often because it requires an effort to reach them:

Banana Beach
Tri Trang Beach
Sai Kaew Beach
Nui Beach
Ao Yon Beach

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Phuket 101

Phuket 101

Phuket 101 Blog shares 30 years of Phuket exploration and thousands of photos, tips and secrets. This travel guide is written from our real experiences: we tried and visited every place, and we paid for almost everything, which allows us to keep our honest opinions. Phuket 101 was born in January 2011.View Author posts