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Mai Khao Beach
9 kilometers of
deserted beach characterize
Mai Khao where
there is little tourist business. The beach is part of the
Sirinat National Park
and protected. 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 area 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
just the north 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.
Nai Yang Beach
This is where the
National Park
office is located. The beach itself is on a long curving bay
lined with evergreens that provide shade to picnicker. 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.
To get there take the Nai Yang Rd., and look for signs
indicating the park entrance.
Rawai Beach
Site of the Chao Ley
or Sea Gypsy
village, many restaurants and
bungalows, shell
handicraft shops, and both fishing and charter boats to the
nearby islands. The beach itself is just ok for swimming and
protected by the Coral
island in front. Rawai is 7 km west of Chalong Circle.
Nai Thon Beach
This quiet bay nestled at
the foot of high hills has a 900meter long fine strip of the
sand. There are some
accommodations and numerous small business in the area.
The beach is good for swimming outside the monsoon season and
a coral reef at the southern end provides good snorkeling.
Located between Bang Thao Bay and Nai Yang Beach, Nai Thon
Beach can be reached by taking Thep Krasatri Rd. Turn at the
first traffic light north of Thalang Town to Nai Yang Rd. Look
for signs indicating the turn-off to Nai Ton.
Bang
Tao Beach
Bangthao
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
Beach Resort, 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 available either
at Laguna or in the nearby town of Choeng Thale. The beach is
located off Sri Sunthon Rd., in Choeng Thale. As 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 Sunthon Rd., take the road leading to Laguna, but do
not enter, continue on to the town of Bandon where there is an
intersection of asphalted roads, and take the one leading west
toward the sea. This road leads also to Nai Thon Bay and makes
a very pleasant drive. Along the way are some small bays with
good swimming and no development.
Layan
Beach
This beach is at the northern end of Bang Tao beach where the
beach meets a river and a lagoon. The area is home to many
birds and other wildlife who enjoy the peacefulness of the
lagoon. The many small tracks which cover the hillside of the
beach are well known by climbers and bird watchers. You can
reach the beach by walking pass the Laguna Phuket Resort or by
following the highway and turning in to Nai Thon beach at the
road sign. The Layan Beach
Resort & Spa is the only resort on this beach.
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 Han is just north of
Phrom Thep Cape.
Cafes and bars on the beach serve excellent food for
reasonable prices.
Ao Sehn Beach
This remote bay is
Northwest of Nai Harn
Beach and a little secret of Phuket because it is not easy to
reach. The beach is small, clean and features many rocks. it
is a perfect place for a picnic. To get there you must pass
the gates of the Le Royal
Meridien Yacht Club, drive through the parking deck on
the left side and follow the way through the Hotel Complex
until you reach a small road which goes for app. 1 km
Northwest.
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 laid out more than sixty 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. The beach is mostly frequented by Thais and the
locals on weekends and on the southern end you can find some
small snack and souvenir shops. Beach chairs and umbrellas can
be rented there. Surin is most famous for its breathtaking
sunsets. Located at the end of Sri Sunthon Rd., the road
running west from the Two Heroines Monument, 24 km. from
Phuket Town.
Accommodations and restaurants are nearby.
Kamala
Beach
Kamala
is named after the 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 km. 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.
There are no palm trees so shadow is only provided by some
beach umbrellas you can rent. The
FantaSea Phuket
Themepark is located here which offers daily evening shows.
Regular bus service to and from
Phuket Town during
daytime; tuk-tuk service available to Patong, 5 km. away on
the new road.
Sing
Cape
The name
means Lion's Point in English. The beach is in a small, 100
meter long curving bay with rocky headlands at the foot of
forest-fringed cliffs and is among Phuket's most beautiful
spots. The beach is good for swimming and quiet. In the high
season you might find some small food stalls and bars for
refreshment. Located about 1 km. south of the entrance to
Surin Beach. Look for signs indicating the path down to the
beach.
Patong
Beach
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 is
know as a center of
entertainment
with
restaurants
catering to every nationality. Live music can be found in most
pubs and bars. Accommodations
range from budget to five-star.
Shopping
opportunities appear to be endless. All kind of watersports
are on offer here and the beach is good for swimming so you
should be careful in monsoon season. In addition, there are
many tour companies waiting to help visitors plan their
vacations.
Kalim Beach
This
beach is really a continuation north of Patong beach, from
which it is separated by some rocks. It is not yet developed
and thus affords some privacy. The beach itself is a mixture
of sand and small rocks. At the back of the beach are
accommodations.
The waters contain extensive coral reefs which you can reach
by foot at low tide (you must wear shoes as some of the rocks
are very sharp) The northern part is battled by monsoon winds
and from June to September you might have some big waves
suitable for surfing.
Freedom Beach
This
beach can only be reached by a 10 minute trip with a
longtail boat
around the southern corner of Patong. It is one of the most
beautiful beaches with fine white sand. It is a private beach,
but as long as you not arrive in a jet ski access is granted
by the owner. There is a coral reef which invites for
snorkeling and a restaurant with some beach chairs. To get
there rent a
longtail boat
at Patong.
Karon Beach
The second largest of Phuket's principal tourist beaches.
Large resort
complexes line the road back of the beach, but the beach
itself, 3 km 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 up-scale of Phuket's beaches.
Regular daytime bus service to and from
Phuket Town. In the
monsoon season it can be dangerous for swimming because of the
currents so watch out for the red flags which are put up when
it is to dangerous.
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 Poo Island., about 1/2 km off
shore. Facilities for every price range include
hotels,
bungalows, tour
companies,
restaurants,
bars and clubs. There is 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 beachless shoreline stretching
south. To get there take the narrow beach road up over the
hill from Kata.
Pansea Beach
This is a small
exclusive bay encircled by rocks which houses only two
resorts: The luxurious
Amanpuri and The
Chedi. The resorts are blocking the entrance to the
beach but you can reach it by walking through
The Chedi as all
beaches in Thailand are public.
Nakalay Beach
Nakalay is app. 5
minutes from
Patong
and occupied by only one resort which covers the whole bay -
The Thavorn Beach Bungalow.
It is suitable for people
who like it quiet but still want to be near the
entertainment
area of Patong.
Relax Bay
This wonderful little
bay is part of the Le
Meridien Phuket Beach Resort and not freely accessible.
It is located between
Patong and Karon
beach.
Nui Beach
This little remote
beach can be reached by a small path. Follow the sign on the
left side on the beach road from
Nai Harn to
Kata. You can drive
only the first hundred meters through a coconut plantation
then you have to walk for another 2 km through dense forest
and a hilly area. It is a small adventure to reach the beach
but well worth it as there are few people due to its remote
location. Its a nice place for swimming. There is no
accommodation or else at this beach.
Chalong Bay
This quiet bay is used
as anchorage by many
yachts and tour boats because it is protected from
strong winds. Many trips to the nearby
islands starting
here so it is crowded between sunrise and 9am, when the boats
leave, and between 4pm - 5pm when they return. In the evening
the beach restaurants are a favorite place for tourists coming
back from watching the sunset at
Promthep Cape.
Yanoi Beach
This little beach is
one of the best kept secrets on Phuket which offers beautiful
rock formations and good snorkeling at the reef in front of
the beach. To get there follow the road from
Promthep Cape to
the west. Between Promthep and the wind energy plant watch out
for a small restaurant with a small parking lot. A few meters
behind the restaurant you can see the beach.
Remark
For your safety please
always check for the flags on the beaches which indicate if it
is safe for swimming.
Green Flag = No Danger
Yellow Flag = Swimming
is on your own risk
Red Flag = DANGER -
swimming prohibited
Beach
overview provided by Sawadee.com
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