Phuket West Coast Beaches

When the name ‘Phuket’ is mentioned, it conjures up images of miles upon miles of scenic and sandy coastline lined with palm trees. Phuket is one of Asia’s premier beachside destinations with a wide selection of beaches from the more commercialized ones at Patong and Kata, right down to the un-crowded and idyllic type at Nai Yang and Mai Khao.

Patong Beach

Easily the most popular stretch of sand in Phuket, Patong Beach is roughly 3km long, scaling the entirety of Patong from north to south. This is a great place to hire a jet-ski, partake in watersports or just relax and take in the beautiful views looking out towards the crystal waters of the Andaman Ocean. A road runs parralell to the beach.

This is where you will find lots of restaurants and fast-food joints, which means you are always within a one-minute walk of lots of eating and drinking options.

Karon Beach

Karon Beach is situated a ten minute drive south of Patong. This 4km long stretch of beautiful powdery sand is one of Phuket’s longest and most scenic beaches. With a reputation for feeling un-crowded, even in the high season months, Karon Beach is the place you can go to get away from the crowds of Patong Beach. Watersports aren’t as prevalent here as they are on other beaches, but the atmosphere is tranquil and will give you that subtropical Phuket beach experience you have been longing.

The beach stretches from the south side of Karon, all the way to Kata. In the low season months from May to October, be wary of the red flag situation because the undertones and riptides can be fatal.

Kata Yai Beach

This palm tree-lined beach is one of the island’s quaintest. There are not so many beaches in Phuket as beautiful as Kata Beach. This is one of the best places for surfing, and you can hire the equipment you need from a selection of shops situated directly opposite of the south side of the beach. This picturesque bay looks out towards Koh Pu (Pu Island), which is a sight for sore eyes. This is the ideal family beach that also enjoys copious amounts of shade under the palm trees.

You will find that many Thais enjoy visiting Kata Yai Beach because eof the shade factor. Because the beach is quite small, it can seem quite crowded during the high season months, but nonetheless, this is a must visit beach. There are also a handful of shops and restaurants at the south end of the beach.

Kamala Beach

This beautiful stretch of sand is situated a ten minute drive north of Patong. Kamala is essentially a very peaceful area and the beach mirrors this fact. Besides being a great place for watersports, there is also a reef at the southern end of the beach that is ideal for snorkeling. Being so peaceful, this is a great beach to relax away from the hustle and bustle of the major tourist areas.

With a nice selection of bars and restaurants nearby, you can have a drink or a spot of lunch directly on the beach. Overlooking Kamala Beach, you will see the excellent Rockfish Restaurant that serves a great selection of international cuisine. Kamala is also famous for the Phuket Fantasy theme park.

Surin Beach

Surin Beach is the true jewel of Phuket's tourist island. A full kilometer of powdery, white sand that is shaped by the sensationally colored sea, makes this beach stand out from all others, with chic restaurants and wine bars, shaded by enormous trees which keep the sun's rays off for a brief period. It simply doesn't get any better than this. While Surin Beach is popular with tourists, it never gets over-crowded thankfully.

There are just enough deck chairs and places to eat for everyone that knows of Surin. Looking out into the seemingly never-ending Andaman Sea is traditional Thai long-tail fishing boats gathering in their catch. Closer to shore are fantastic rock formations jutting out of the water. It's these boulders which keep the buzz-buzz jet-skis to a minimum and means your days sunbathing remain unimpeded.

Kata Noi Beach

Phuket is the quintessential subtropical beachside destination in South East Asia. Kata Noi Beach personifies that Phuket paradise holiday experience. This secluded bay is perched between Kata and Nai Harn, surrounded by dense jungle laden mountains. Known as one of the most peaceful and cozy resort areas and beaches in Phuket, this is a great place to spend an afternoon. Kata Noi Beach is the ideal place for a swim or a spot of snorkeling. During the monsson season months from May to November, you could catch a bit of surf.