Phuket’s seashores have undergone a considerable upgrade for the rationale that 2014 military government swept business businesses from the sands of west coast Phuket. Little shanty eating places, the ever present plastic solar lounges and tatty outdated umbrellas have been removed. After the dust settled we’ve now got restricted solar lounges and umbrellas for hire along a lot of the seashores, not all.
You’ll still find beach vendors on Phuket’s finest beaches, jet skis and parasail rides plying their commerce on a variety of the busier seashores today however it’s a much much less invasive experience in comparability with pre-2014 when it was, for most, getting out of hand. So a lot of Phuket’s seashores now really seem like the journey brochure photos, finally.
Here’s The Thaiger’s Top 10 finest beaches, in no explicit order…
Nai Harn
A picture-postcard seashore in the south of Phuket with a landmark lodge overlooking the seaside at one finish and a protected tidal lagoon inlet, popular with younger and Thai swimmers, at the other. The beach is uncommon for having nearly no growth alongside the world behind the seashore. Trade secret is partly due to a temple situated adjoining to the beach. But there’s still a small row of little eateries behind the seashore. There’s also a large man-made lagoon behind Nai Harn Beach which is in style with households including somewhat island within the middle which is at all times busy with picnickers on the weekends. There was a minor scandal in 2016 when the native Mayor proposed a Hollywood Museum (of all things!) on the foreshore reserve. The idea was promptly dismissed and forgotten.
Kata Beach
One of the most well-liked beaches in Phuket, a crescent-shaped seashore which has the best browsing on the island. Even though Phuket’s west coast is not recognized for good surf at least you’ll catch a number of waves during the monsoon months – May to November. The seaside has a clump of cool beach bars at the southern finish and a few massive motels which offer access on to the seashore. There’s a very cool flow-riding place referred to as SurfHouse Phuket simply behind the beach. A very cool method to spend a few hours, day and evening, particularly if the waves are a bit challenging on the true seaside.
Nai Yang
Famous for one factor – getting great photographs of planes as they take off and land at Phuket International Airport, Nai Yang Beach is bordered by parts of Sirinat National Park at one end and a collection of bars, retailers and small motels at the different end. There’s plenty of wonderful little restaurants alongside the beach, in any respect price points. At the northern end of the seaside (there’s a carpark on the northern aspect of the Airport perimeter) you possibly can take superb pictures of jest as they take off every couple of minutes. Find out extra about taking the perfect aircraft pic HERE.
Kamala
Kamala’s foreshore is present process considerably of an improve with the northern end of the seashore now being developed with up-scale beach golf equipment and condos. Many locals aren’t joyful in regards to the changes to their quiet little seaside village. Still, the developments will provide new services and employment and drag some new money into the town. Kamala’s Beach is a very fashionable and offers some principally protected swimming with the shallow water stretching out further than other beaches. Very good for families with young youngsters.
Naithon
Naithon Beach was one of many seashores most affected within the Great Beach Clearout of 2014. Gone are the many, many little restaurants dotted along again of the seashore. They’ve been changed by newer restaurants on the other aspect of the street as the area starts to boost its profile. At one finish of Naithon Beach is the five-star Trisara, on the different end the Pullman Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach, both upscale and providing the local restaurant and repair providers with a never-ending supply of vacationers. Can get quite rough when the monsoon surf rolls in.
Ao Yon
Ao Yon is the only east coast beach to make the record but its well-deserved. The seashore is simply small and lacks the expanses of sand of the west-cast seashores. But as a quiet spot for the family to relax the seaside has lots to supply. There are a lot of little bars and eating places lining Ao Yon. There’s a really cute little resort referred to as The Cove the place you can catch a lightweight chunk, some sundown drinks or stay a few days. There also a fantastic little bar and Thai restaurant there known as The Ship Inn which has been an established favourite for 12 years.
Mai Khao
Kilometre after kilometre of long seashores – typically you’ll never see another beachgoer all day in some components of the seashore. There’s now a superb number of five star motels along the Mai Khao stretch although the realm is a bit faraway from the the rest of Phuket’s busier places – Patong is an effective hour’s drive from Mai Khao (for some people that might be a good thing). During the monsoon the beaches may be very harmful with a shoreline ‘dump’. The water gets fairly deep very quickly off the seashore and this brings in the huge waves right to the shoreline. But the beaches are clear and uncluttered.
Bang Tao
Bang Tao is a vibrant little community and the seashore is extremely popular with locals, tourists and expats. It’s taken over because the area’s hottest beach after Surin misplaced its crown when the bulldozers eliminated the road of popular resaurants and seaside golf equipment. There’s loads of natty little bars, restaurants and even motels in behind the bushes at Bang Tao – three,four and 5 star.
Kata Noi
’Noi’ is the Thai phrase for ‘small’ and Kata Noi is the small cousin of nearby Kata Beach, just to the north. The seashore, whilst small, is certainly one of the cleanest beaches on the island as a result of presence of the Katathani Resort which keeps the seaside areas pristine. If you need one thing a little quieter and stress-free Kata Noi is well value the journey. It’s also, as its name implies, one of the smaller beaches on the island. Two of the island’s icons, the Villa Royale and the Mom Tri’s Kitchen, overlook Kata Noi beach. A worthy inclusion in Phuket Top 10 seaside listing.
Ya Nui
Just south of Nai Harn and, arguably, the smallest seashore in Phuket. There’s rocky areas with finish of the tiny stretch of sand. There’s all the time a vendor offering drinks and food comes from the small resort on the other facet of the highway. A little piece of paradise is yours. There’s not lots of parking there so a motorcycle shall be your finest guess to get there. It’s the final beach on the southern finish of the west coast before you get to Cape Promthep, the very southern end of Phuket.
Bonus Beach – Laem Singh
Yes, this is Number eleven however deserves its personal itemizing. This was as soon as a bouncing, vibrant seaside with restricted entry via a non-public property. But a long-running dispute closed off the access to the seaside. These days you possibly can only reach Laem Singh by boat. It’s pristine and fairly, and much from the madding crowds of the seashores north and south, Kamala and Surin. To get there you’re going to need to do a bit of local research however search for a long-tail boat at Kamala or Surin beaches and they’ll fortunately take you around to the beach, for a worth.
• There isn’t any such thing as a ‘private beach’ in Thailand. Whilst some resorts might take up a whole seashore you are nonetheless entitled to go swimming there though it might be polite to ask first.
• Swimming can be extremely harmful during certain times of the 12 months – May to November. Whilst lifeguards patrol many of the well-liked seashores there are time when lifeguards is in all probability not on duty. If there are purple flags alongside the seashore DO NOT go swimming.
• If you go to a seashore in Phuket please take any disposable rubbish with you and deposit in the bins.
• The monsoon also brings in the jellyfish, mostly the portuguese man-o-war (it’s not really a jellyfish). Whilst not often deadly they might provide you with a painful sting. The more harmful box jellyfish is not an issue in this space of the Andaman Sea..