Phuket Beach Guide

Phuket has many attractions but undoubtedly top of the list are the wonderful beaches. Phuket has long beaches and tiny coves, crowded beaches and quiet beaches, beaches ringed with hotels, shops and bars, and beaches with nothing more than a single restaurant.

Below we have provided an easy-click map so you can locate all the beaches. Here we describe every significant beach along Phuket's western and southern coasts - 41 beaches in total.

All of Phuket's Beaches

Click on the section of the map you want to see.

General Information about Phuket's Beaches

Phuket's best beaches are along the west coast where the yearly pounding from the rainy season waves has created beautiful bays with golden powdery sand. Along the south and east coasts are stony beaches more suited to shell collecting or relaxing in a restaurant and enjoying the view.

All beaches in Thailand are public. Unfortunately, in some cases developers buy all the land around the beach and do not allow access across their land to the beach - effectively making the beach exclusive to their own hotel. If you want to visit these beaches then you can try entering through the hotel. Often they will not challenge you and the worst that can happen is they refuse you entry. Otherwise you will have to access the beach by boat.

We must re-iterate the warning about swimming during the rainy season. The large waves at this time of year can cause dangerous undercurrents. If the red flags are flying then you should not go swimming in the sea. During the dry season, the sea gently laps upon the sand and could not be more tranquil.

Sun Loungers

Most of Phuket's beaches have sun loungers for rent. At the busy beaches such as Patong, Karon and Kata they line the entire length of the beach, sometimes in rows three or four deep. At the quieter beaches they are more spread out. There are a handful of beaches that do not have sun loungers.

The sun lounger rent varies from beach to beach. In October 2006 most beaches increased the rent to 100 baht per lounger from the previous charge of 50 baht. There are a few beaches that charge more.

At the busy beaches the sun loungers are grouped into blocks and a group of Thais manages each block. The good sun lounger managers will be friendly, provide refreshments at reasonable prices and will keep an eye on your possessions when you are swimming. If you are a regular beach visitor, you will probably find a group you like and make it your beach spot.

Water Sports

There are a variety of water sports available. The busy beaches are a hive of activity with banana boats, parasails and jet skis fizzing across the water. These beaches have cordonned off sections where bathers can swim safely. You will pay from 500 to 1000 baht for these activities. The prices tend to be un-negotiable.

Some of the quieter beaches have kayaks for rent so you can go and explore around the headlands.

There is some good snorkeling as long as you find an area where a jet ski will not inadvertantly take your head off. See our section on the best snorkeling beaches.

Trees

Most of Phuket's beaches are ringed with trees. There are several species but the two most common are palms and casuarinas

Palms - There are several varieties of palm tree. The most common is the iconic image of tropical beaches - the coconut palm. You will see them everywhere with tempting bunches of coconuts clumped under the wide, feathered leaves. The coconuts are not easy to get at and they do not taste that great until they have been chilled. There will usually be a local food vendor selling them for 10 to 20 baht each.

Do not sit under coconut trees - a surprising number of people are injured or killed by falling coconuts. Here is a slightly silly statistic - every year worldwide, the number of people killed by falling coconuts is much higher than the number killed by shark attacks.

Casuarinas - This is a species similar to fir trees that thrive in sandy soil near beaches. They have clusters of needle shaped leaves and drop small burs onto the ground. They grow to great heights and provide good shelter from the sun's rays.