South Thailand is accessible through Phuket, the region’s main entry point. Phuket International Airport is where you will land first and foremost ! Geographically speaking, the island of Phuket is exactly what you’re looking for: from there, you can easily visit the heavenly islands of Ko Yao Yai and Koh Phi Phi, though Phuket itself has very beautiful beaches.
Phuket island is huge; it is 50 km in length and 20 km in width. There are numerous beaches all over the coast of the island, which was absolutely crazy. The thing is, the best beaches are not necessarily the most popular and that made things a little bit difficult but don’t worry! I made a list of the best beaches in Phuket and how to get there so that the only thing you’re left to do is choosing the right hotel. You’re only a few steps away from spending a magical time in magical beaches.
Keep in mind that the best beaches are on the island’s west coast. To show you the ones I have selected, here’s a map where each number indicates a beach you can visit. All you’ll have to do is choose where you’d like to go and get wet as soon as possible !
Enjoy !! 🙂
- Freedom Beach
- Kata Beach
- Patong Beach
- Nai Thon Beach
- Surin Beach
- Bang Tao
- Kamala
- Paradise Beach
- Mai Khao Beach
- Banana Beach
The Best Beaches In Phuket On A Map
1. Freedom Beach
Freedom Beach is for me the most beautiful beach of all beaches on the island. You’ll probably notice it is rather difficult -if not impossible- to access by any means of land transportation. You’ll have to take a long-tail boat from Patong Beach to get there. It will cost you around 1000 to 1300 bahts (approximately $30 to $40) depending on your negotiation skills as well as on the number of passengers on board. If you’re staying in Kata, Karon or Kamala, you’ll find plenty of boats that will take you to Freedom Beach.
Once you get there, all you need is to relax and enjoy a beautiful sandy beach that is rarely crowded mostly because it’s difficult to access. You’ll also find deck chairs at your disposal and eat at a small Thai restaurant there.
If you’re in Phuket, have a swim in Freedom Beach! It’s definitely the beach you shouldn’t miss out on. If you’re still not sure, have a look for yourself !
2. Kata Beach
More towards the southwest, you’ll find Kata Beach, one of the most popular beaches of the Phuket island. There are so many great swimming spots that you’ll be spoilt for choice. You can take a walk along the coast until you reach a spot that you like.
You should know that some spots are really crowded during the high season so if you’d like to get away from the hubbub of crowded beaches, I’d recommend the less busy northern and southern ends of Kata Beach.
3. Patong Beach
Patong is certainly the island’s largest and most popular beach. It’s also one of the best in Phuket and since it’s rather vast, beach games (namely volleyball games) are often held there.
The northern end of Patong is less crowded than the main beach area so if you’re somewhat unsociable like me, just walk along the shore for a few minutes and you’ll find a quiet spot t sunbathe, undisturbed.
As previously indicated on the map, Patong Beach has a central location which is very convenient if you’re interested in exploring Phuket’s other beaches. I can only urge you to choose your hotel accommodation in the near vicinity.
Have a look at this hotel and see if you’d like to stay there; it’s rather cheap, clean and is situated near the beach. It’s got a nice small swimming pool and a jacuzzi on the roof too!
If you’d like to take part in Phuket’s vibrant nightlife, Patong is where you should go. There’s a reason why Bangla Road is considered to be the heart of Phuket’s nightlife!
Many people gather in Patong Beach to release sky lanterns at night. It’s definitely a sight to behold.
4. Nai Thon Beach
Much quieter than Patong and Kata, Nai Thon Beach is a heavenly little peaceful spot to enjoy. It’s in the north of the island and you can easily take a scooter or a taxi to go there. Wonderful flora on the sides of the road will make your trip to Nai Thon Beach memorable.
If you’re considering a trip to Thailand because you’re looking for an idyllic setting with a unique sense of tranquillity to dive into a book, meditate ou simply enjoy the beach, free of the surrounding hustle and bustle, Nai Thon will definitely do the trick.
By the way, if you are looking for more beach recommendations all over the country, make sure you check out this blog post: Best beaches in Thailand.
5. Surin Beach
Surin Beach’s seaside restaurants are quite popular. The area gained even more popularity after Paris Hilton spent the 2013 New Year’s eve there. It is nonetheless a beautiful beach that is worth a visit.
Let’s say Surin is Phuket’s “trendy” beach. I went there once actually and I can only say I liked it there but that’s pretty much it. Everyone has their preferences when it comes to trendy places like these but I thought Surin Beach should be on this list anyway.
By the way, feel free to also check out this article about Phuket Itinerary in order to discover more things to do here!
6. Bang Tao Beach
We’re still in northern Phuket, not very far from Surin. Bang Tao Bay has dreamy sandy beaches to offer. You’ll find nice restaurants and bars on the beach where you can eat, drink, and enjoy the lively atmosphere.
7. Kamala Beach
If you go northwards, Kamala will be easily accessible from Patong. It is yet another beautiful beach to visit that has blue clear water where you can swim and seafood restaurants where you can eat delicious food for affordable prices.
As of today, Kamala is not very popular and rarely gets crowded; that’s why it’s one of my favorite beaches in Phuket.
8. Paradise Beach
Paradise Beach couldn’t get a better name. White sand, coconut trees and turquoise water will await you there. Only 5 Km away from Patong, Paradise Beach is an amazing cove you should absolutely visit. It is accessible by boat or by land transportation, although I recommend you go there on foot if you feel like taking the challenge because the way to Paradise Beach is unforgettably gorgeous. Don’t forget to bring water bottles with you though!
Far from Patong’s hecticness, Paradise Beach is the quiet place to be. No jet skis, no beach soccer games, nothing! Just nature and tranquillity to be blissfully enjoyed.
9. Mai Khao Beach
Mai Khao Beach is yet another not so popular beach at the northern end of the island that you won’t regret visiting. Like Nai Yang National, Mai Khao is a protected beach where sea turtles can still come and lay their eggs in the sand. The forest is also near the beach so you can expect a breathtaking landscape pretty much everywhere you go.
Mai Khao is also very close to the Phuket airport. You’ll probably have the impression that an airplane is going to land all over you more than once but don’t worry, it’s just an impression!
10. Banana Beach
Banana Beach is not very far from Nai Thon Beach; it’s a quiet place to swim and sunbathe and it’s one of my favorites. When I’m looking for an isolated place to write for example, that’s where I go. The setting is very inspiring and its crystal-clear water is very soothing.
There you go, I think it’s all there is to know about Phuket’s beaches. You just need to grab a swimsuit and embrace the sun there! If you’re more of an adventurer and you’d like to explore as many beaches as possible, I recommend you find a place to stay in Patong and rent a scooter to be able to move around more easily. Don’t forget to check out my favorite hotel there.
If you know other nice beaches in Phuket, don’t forget to leave a comment and let me know more about it! Please share this article with your friends, especially those who are planning a trip to Phuket soon!
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Talk to you all very soon!
MF
Thank you so much for this informative post. Here you explained everything about Phuket beaches with the attractive images. really once again thanks a lot for the post.