Phuket Beaches & Local Islands

Phuket Island is surrounded by many beautiful beaches, some long, some short, some with pounded by big surf and some with wonderful corals that are teeming with brillant tropical fishes only meters from the shore.

This is Phuket's central tourist and nighttime 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 wherewith 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.

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 okay for swimming snorkeling on the reefs off shore. Rawai is 7 kms. West of Chalong Circle. Evening dining along Rawai Beach is very popular for the local people that "know where to go."

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. Is 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.

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 beach less shoreline stretching south. To get there take the narrow beach road up over the hill from Kata, but stay along the water and don't turn left or you'll go up and over the mountain to the viewpoint lookout.

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. Karon is the most up-scale of Phuket,s beaches. Regular daytime bus service to and from Phuket Town.

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.

This beach is really a continuation north of Patong's beaches and separated with some beautiful rocks where the surf bursts into the air. This is a great place to photograph the surf, diamond sparkel spray, and fantastic sunsets. Further past the rocks is a stretch of sand and always some great local food. Low tide here is for beach combing. From here is a wonderful view back to Patong. There are some great accommodation choices in this area and the waters contain extensive coral reefs.

The name means Lion's Point in English in this case, the mythical, stylized lion of Chinese literature, not the African variety there have never been any lions found in Thailand. The beach is in a small, curving bay with rocky headlands at the foot of forest-fringed cliffs and is among Phuket's most beautiful. Located about 1 kms. South of the entrance to Surin Beach. Look for signs indicating the path down to the beach.

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. The Laguna complex, a massive five-hotel development with golf course, occupies most of it. There are however, accommodations available outside Laguna at he 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 available either at Laguna or in the nearby town of Cherng Talay

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 Krasatri Road. Turn at the first traffic light north of Thalang Town heading west, which is the Nai Yang Road (so called because it passes through rubber plantations, or yahng in Thai) Look for signs indicating the turn-off to Nai Ton.

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

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. Although one of the most distant of beaches on Phuket it is absolutely unique in open space and long surf lines. Along the top of the sand dunes are several great local restaurants serving their local flavors of fresh, fresh seafood. This is a great place to totally relax in a fresh sea breeze.