Beach

Rawai Beach (หาดราไวย์)
Site of a Chao Ley or Sea Gypsy village, many restaurants and bungalows, shell handicraft shops, and both fishing and charter boats. The waters are good for swimming; snorkeling on the reefs off shore. Rawai is 7 kms. west of Chalong Circle.

Nai Harn Beach (หาดในหาน)
is a popular swimming beach an yacht anchorage during the dry season. The beach is fine, but big waves strike it during the wet season, making swimming dangerous. Regular bus service to and from Phuket Town during daytime. Nai Harn is just north of Promthep Cape.

Kata Beach (หาดกะตะ)
The smallest of Phuket’s three main tourist beaches, Kata is different in appearance and style from Karon or Patong. The beach itself is broad and curving, and structures bordering it are low-rise. The waters are perfect for swimming, and at the north end is a coral reef with many varied corals and fishes which stretches out toward Koh Poo, about 1/2 km off shore. Facilities, for every price range, include hotels, bungalows, tour companies, restaurants, bars and clubs. Regular bus service to and from Phuket Town during daytime.


Kata Noi Beach (หาดกะตะน้อย)
South of Kata is Kata Noi, a smaller beach with only a few hotels and little other development. The beach is superb. Many fish inhabit the rocks and corals along the beachless shoreline stretching south. To get there take the narrow beach road up over the hill from Kata.

Karon Beach (หาดกะรน) :
The second largest of Phuket’s principal tourist beaches. Large resort complexes line the road back of the beach, but the strand itself, long and broad, has no development. The sand is very white, and squeaks audibly when walked on. The southern point has a fine coral reef stretching toward Kata and Poo Island. Restaurants, bars, tour companies and other non-hotel businesses are at the north end, near the traffic circle, and at the south, on the little road connecting the back road with the beach road. The narrow road between Kata and Karon has a number of small businesses as well as the Dino Park Mini Golf facility. Karon is the most upscale of Phuket’s beaches. Regular daytime bus service to and from Phuket Town.

Coral Island or Hey Island (เกาะเฮ)
This island off Phuket’s south coast is so well known for its coral reef that it is often referred to simply as Coral Island. In addition to the splendid reefs there are two fine beaches on the north and west. Koh Hey is part of a marine preserve, but accommodations, restaurants, various watersports, and diving are all available. Boats leave from Rawai and Chalong. There are also package tours available.

Raya (or Racha) Island (หมู่เกาะรายา)
has two islands running roughly northeast to southwest off Phuket’s southern coast.

Raya Yai Island (เกาะรายาใหญ่)
On the west coast is a fine beach closed in by the hills that stretch away from it like two arms of a horseshoe called alternately Ao Tawan Tok or Ao Bungalow. The sands are sparkling clean and the waters crystal clear like those of the Similan Islands. From the top of a hill on the bay’s south is a view point from which the whole island can be seen. On the east, at Ao Kon Kae, is a coral reef where diving is excellent.

Raya Noi Island (เกาะรายาน้อย)
This island, 10 kms. from Raya Yai Island, is the result of coral reef build up, and there are more rocks than beaches. In a small bay on the west is a boat anchorage. The waters at Raya Noi Island are emerald green, and fishing is famous, but swimming is not advised.

Koh Rang Yai (เกาะรังใหญ่)
is lying off Phuket’s east coast, this small island has been developed for the out-of-doors minded tourist. Among the many activities are sea kayaking, mountain-biking, playing miniature golf, and visiting the island’s pearl farm. For travel to Koh Rang Yai, boats may be hired from Laem Hin Pier, just outside Phuket Town before the town of Sapam or from Phuket Boat Lagoon. Package tours are available from Richy Island Tour, tel. 66 (0) 7623 8163, and other tour agencies.

Patong Beach (หาดป่าตอง)
This is Phuket’s central tourist and night time entertainment district. Over the years, Patong has turned from a fishing village into one of the island’s two cities. The famous bay and 4 km. beach remain as they were, with development limited to the area back of the beach road. There, however, virtually every kind of entertainment imaginable awaits visitors, with bars catering to every nationality. Live music can be found in many places, and there are also discotheques. Accommodations range from budget to five-star. Shopping opportunities appear to be endless. Whatever one’s culinary disposition, a restaurant catering to it will be found. In addition, there are many tour companies waiting to help visitors plan their vacations. Some of the options available are listed below, but Patong is thick with everything. There’s saying locally, “If you can’t find it in Patong, it doesn’t exist in Phuket,” which, it not entirely true, about sum it up.

Kalim Beach (หาดกะหลิม)
This beach is really a continuation north of Phuket’s strand, from which it is separated by some rocks. It is not yet developed and thus affords some privacy. Back of the beach are accommodations. The waters contain extensive coral reefs.

Kamala Beach (หาดกมลา)
Kamala is a Muslim fishing village north of Patong. Tourist development on the beach much of which is covered by a Muslim graveyard and a police outpost has been slow in coming. Buffalo herds still come down to the beach to cool off in the afternoon. The beach is beautiful and about 2 kms. in length. There are accommodations ranging from guesthouse to international class, and a number of small Thai restaurants specializing in seafood for the tourist. Kamala is the perfect place to get away from it all and has little to offer in the way of entertainment for that go across the mountains to Patong. Regular bus sevice to and from Phuket Town during daytime; tuk-tuk service available to Patong, 5 kms. away on the new road.

Naka Noi Island  (เกาะนาคาน้อย)
this small, quiet island with fine sandy beaches lies just off Phuket’s northeast shore. Water are suitable for swimming. One item of interest at Koh Naka Noi that not found in many other places, is its pearl farm. Boats can be hired from Ao Por Pier, off Pa Khlok Rd., for travel to Koh Naka Noi, and package trips are available at tour agencies, generally including lunch and a visit to the pearl farm.

Bangtao Beach (หาดบางเทา)
Bang Tao is a large open bay with one of Phuket’s longest beaches. It was once used for tin mining, but has since been developed into a luxury resort. Most of it is occupied by the Laguna complex, a massive five-hotel development with golf course. There are, however, accommodations available outside Laguna at the bay’s south end. Dry season swimming is excellent, and at the bay’s north end is a smaller bay, almost completely enclosed, at the mouth of which is some fine coral. Plenty of places to eat, tour companies, and other tourist facilities are available either at Laguna or in the nearby town of Cherng Talay. Located off Sri Soontorn Rd. in Cherng Talay for access to Laguna; the south end of the bay may be approached by taking the road north from Surin Beach. To get to the far north end from Sri Soontorn Rd., take the road leading to Laguna, but do not enter, continue on to the town of Ban Don where there is an intersection of asphalted roads, and take the one leading west toward the sea. This road leads also to Nai Ton Bay and makes a very pleasant drive. Along the way are some small bays with good swimming and no development.

Nai Ton Beach (หาดในทอน)
This quiet bay nestled at the foot of high hills has a fine strip of sand. There are some accommodations but virtually no other business; it’s often nearly deserted. Located between Bang Tao Bay and Nai Yang. From Thep Krasattri Rd., turn at the first traffic light north of Thalang Town heading west, which is the Nai Yang Rd. (so called because it passes through rubber plantations, or yang in Thai). Look for signs indicating the turnoff to Nai Ton.

Nai Yang Beach (หาดในยาง)
This is where the National Park offices are located. The beach itself is on a long curving bay lined with evergreens that provide shade to picnickers for which activity this is a very popular spot. The large coral reef is home to many different species of fish, and Nai Yang is well-known as a site where sea turtles come to lay their eggs during the period from November to February; the population of these has, however, dropped off greatly. First class accommodations are available, and small food vendors cater to the many day trippers that visit. To get there take Nai Yang Rd. and look for signs indicating the park entrance.

Mai Khao Beach (หาดไม้ขาว)
Many kilometers of deserted beach characterize Mai Khao. There is little tourist business. The water is fine for swimming during the dry season; the rainy season brings big waves and strong currents that are dangerous. This lonely beach is another where sea turtles come to lay eggs. It is also home to what the Thais call a sea cicada, which is a form of marine life. To get there go to the northern tip of Phuket; the beach lies along the road’s length.

Sai Kaew Beach (หาดทรายแก้ว)
This strip of sand is really just the northern portion of Mai Khao Beach and has much the same character. Located west of the bridges spanning the channel between Phuket and Phang-Nga provinces.