Phuket Information - Beaches and Islands Around Phuket Island

Beaches & Local Islands

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

Patong Beach
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.


	*Rawai Beach* 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

	*Nai Harn Beach* A popular swimming beach and 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 Prom Thep

	*Kata Beach* 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.

	*Kata Noi Beach* 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

	Karon Beach 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 Beach* 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.

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

	*Surin Beach* Evergreen trees rim this small, curving bay beneath the foothills north of Kamala. Surin is home to Phuket’s first golf course, a nine-hole course lay out more than sixth years ago during the reign of King Rama VII. It is now largely in disuse except as a park. The steep incline of the beach, turbulent water, and big waves make Surin a dangerous place to swim during the rainy season. Located at the end of Sri Suntorn Road, The Road running west from the Two Heroines Monument, 24 kms. from Phuket Town. Accommodation and restaurants are nearby.

	*Singh Cape Beach* 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 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

	*Nai Ton Beach* 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.

	*Nai Yang Beach* 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 the Nai Yang Road. And look for signs indicating the park entrance.

	*Mai Khao Beach* 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* 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.

Phuket Island is surrounded by 32 smaller islands, many of which are without people, many which are cultivated with palm plantations, and many of which have their own sandy beaches and tropical coral reefs. Some of these islands have bungalows and resorts, others can be only visted by small speedboats or local long-tail boats.
	Mai Ton Island This tiny island off Phuket’s southeast coast is highly prized for its still perfect natural environment, including fine white beaches and crystal waters ideal for swimming, diving, or fishing. The only business of any kind is the plush Maiton Island Resort. Those not wishing to stay overnight may take a daytime excursion leaving from Ao Makam deep sea Port.

	Khai Island Lying off Phuket’s East Coast this small island has lovely beaches and tropical reefs so close that you can wade out to observe colorful fishes and sea urchins.

	Tapao Yai Island 10 minutes from Phuket by ferry from Ao Makam on Phuket’s southeast coast. The island is home to the Burettes hornbill. To get there from Phuket Town take Jao Fah Road. To the Sakdidet Road. Intersection, turn left on Sakdidet and follow it 8 kms. To Ao Makam. The road splits in the vicinity of oil storage facilities take the left fork about 200 meters to the Koh Tapao ferry pier. Dining and Accommodations available on the island.

	Kaew Island A fine beach, natural surroundings and coral are on this little island 3 kms. From Rawai, south of Prom Thep. There is also a giant statue of the Buddha. The island is 15 minutes by chartered boat from Rawai

	Lohn Island This large, mountainous island is only 20 minutes by regular passenger boat from Chalong Bay, in the south of Phuket. The mainly Muslim inhabitants engage in fishing, rubber and coconut planting. There is a long stretch of beach on the northeast coast. Boats to Koh Lohn leave daily in the early morning from Chalong Pier

	Coral Island or Hey Island 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 Heh is part of a marine preserve, but accommodations, restaurants, various watersports, and diving are all available. Boats leave from Rawai and Chlong. There are also package tours available.

	Raya Islands or Racha islands Two islands running roughly northeast southwest off Phuket’s southern coast. Raya Yai Island 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 water crystal clear like those of the Similan Islands. From the top of a hill on the bay’s south is a viewpoint from which the whole island can be seen. On the east, at Ao Kon Kae Bay is a coral reefed where diving is excellent. Raya Noi Island This islands 10 kms. From Koh Raya Yai, 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 Koh Raya Noi are emerald green. And fishing is famous, but swimming is not advised. To get there contact a charter boat at Ao Chalong or Rawai, or go to a travel agent for details on package tours to the islands. By long-tailed boat the travel time is about two hours. Larger boats operated by tour companies will make the trip in about one hour. Travel to the Racha Islands is restricted to the dry season and periods when the monsoon is not blowing.
	Rang Yai Island 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 Rahng Yai, boat 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
	Coconut Island Lying off Phuket’s East Coast this small island has been used for coconut plantations and is now under development for resorts and private housing.