Relax bay
Relax bay is a lovely small sandy bay just a few minutes drive, south of Patong Beach. However access by road is actually blocked by Le Meridian hotel.
Unless you are a hotel guest, you need to take a longtail boat from Patong to reach this beach.
Karon beach
This is one of Phuket's largest beach. It is quieter than Patong but still has a comprehensive range of accomodation, facilities, activities and restaurants, mainly at its northern point.
Karon has an extremely long wide white sandy beach (which eventually leads into a fine coral reef close to Kata), and there is relatively little in the way of commercial development along the way.
Kata beach
Kata has a quite scenic village atmosphere at its northern and southern ends, as the central beach area is flanked by two small headlands. The waters are very clear and calm, and there are fine sands. It is ideal for families and couples to relax, swim and snorkel.
The narrow beach road is well shaded, and Club Med. are ideally situated nearby. Just offshore lies the lovely Bu island.
Kata Noi beach
Noi means small in Thai. Accordingly this lovely small bay, about 1km south of Kata itself, is named Kata Noi, in typical Thai style. This is a superb quiet beach with little development and only a few
shops and restaurants nearby. The Kata Thani resort complex is the main highlight for accomodation.
Nui Beach
Very small sandy stretch with difficult steep dirt road access (use 4WD or moto-cross bike or walk only). It lies between the Kata Viewpoint and Naiharn. Isolated and basic.
Nai Harn beach
Continueing south from Kata, over some hilly terrain and past the famous (sunset) View Point, lies the soft sands and clear waters of Naiharn beach, which is bordered in part by a gorgeous lagoon.
This is a nice peaceful relaxing spot and typically not very crowded. There is very little development, in part due to the nearby Samnak Song Nai Harn monastery. It is also the location of
Le Royal Meridien Phuket Yacht Club.
Ao Sane Beach (Jungle Beach)
This is a very small cove with rocky shoreline and coral outcrops, adjacent to Naiharn. Approach via the underground carpark of Le Meridian Yacht Club, and continue 1km thereafter along a rough track. It is usually quiet.
Ya Noi Beach
Small slice of sand with steep headlands twixt Promthep and Rawai. This is a sleepy little hideaway, and is quiet isolated and very basic. There is good snorkeling and interesting rock formations. Bathing not recommended from April to November.
Rawai Beach
Rawai is situated at the southern tip of Phuket. It is Phuket's longest-established beach resort, but not a good swimming or bathing spot.
However it has great scenic views to nearby small islands and the beach is lined with open-air seafood stalls and restaurants under the shade of the casuarina trees.
It is very popular with the locals for casual afternoon or evening dining, and is also a launching point for boat trips to Racha, Coral and other islands.
The N.E. corner has a very small sea gypsy village and fresh fish market.
Just past the fresh fish market is the lovely small sheltered 150 metre long beach of
Laem Ka which is ideal for swimming.
Cape Panwa
The cape lies south of Phuket Town, and, despite its proximity, it remains a peaceful and charming locale, with jungle hills, mangroves, tidal flats and a few sandy coves.
However swimming is quite limited. At the southern tip lies the Marine Biological Research Centre and also Phuket Aquarium with a wide range of local exotic marine life on display for visitors.
