The Phuket Beach Almanac
Phuket is paradise on earth, and I am so blessed to have a month to explore it. Prior to arriving, I imagined that this whole island would be one enormous, homogenous beach. In reality, Phuket is made up of several different beaches, each with different characteristics, ranging from picturesque long white sandbanks to craggy rocky outposts to super-local micro-beaches.
Allen and I have been mixing up “beach days” where we explore different beaches after a morning of Muay Thai. This is an almanac of the beaches we’ve hung out at, as well as our impressions and photos of each. Enjoy!
The “Tourism” Category
Patong
Patong is the biggest, baddest beach in Phuket. It’s the first hit in the search results. Everyone goes there, and it shows -can barely see sand! A sprawling beach economy sprung up around Patong, with tourist groups pushing their deals and a busy market thriving off the constant influx. Daytime Patong feels too much like Disneyland for my taste. But the vibe after sunset is special, after the crazy crowds move elsewhere.
We took a nighttime stroll between the oceanside crashing waves and the landside neon-lit music, and it was enchanting.
If you’re here at night, might as well go gawk at the Bangla Road red-light district. It’s full of nightclubs and bars hawking ridiculously cheap Chang beer, dancing girls, and tickets to “sexy” shows (or the more overtly labeled “fucking” shows). Not my cup of tea, but a unique setting that can’t be found back at home.
Sidenote: Security here is on point. I’ve seen more police in Patong than I’ve seen across the rest of Phuket combined. For good reason! There’s a perpetual tourist horde, many drunks. So, watch your valuables (bring only cash, leave ID at home) and wear a helmet on the bike.
Karon
Karon is the epitome of beach. It’s absolutely perfect. Angels would vacation here when bored of heaven.
Karon is an endless powdery sandbank that stretches as far as the eye can see. The sand is brilliantly white, the water is a rich turquoise, and the sky radiates blue.
This beach is slightly crowded, but overall manageable because tourists are spread across such a long expanse of beachfront.
A serious contender for our favorite beach!
Kata
Kata is a large beach with a wide expanse of sand forming a cove between two small peninsulas. I enjoyed that the area surrounding Kata felt low-retail, clutter-free, and resort-y.
The waves at Kata were exceptionally strong -- stronger than other beaches I visited. I felt one with the ocean (and with my fellow beach-swimmers) as wave after giant wave crested and pulled me into the undertow. These waves are strong enough to knock you down if you’re not careful, and it made swimming out into the ocean challenging.
Kata Noi
Kata Noi is right next door to Kata, similar in shape, and the smaller of the two. It’s a cute beach, with white sands and clear waters. Seems to be more of a family-friendly beach; we saw many families splashing about with floaties in the water.
I really enjoyed how clear the water was in Kata Noi. Neck-deep in ocean water, I had a clear view to the sand ridges under my toes. I even found a 20 Baht bill on the bottom of the ocean, dove to grab it, and had chump change to buy a coconut!
We came to enjoy sunset on this beach, and filled our eyes on unobstructed views to the golden-pink-violet-indigo finale. There were fewer people at Kata Noi compared to Kata, and so we got better shots of the sunset.
The “Local-ish” Category
Nai Han
If we had to pick a favorite beach, it would probably be Nai Han!
While many tourists do visit Nai Han, it is more of a local beach and further off the beaten path. Nai Han forms a wide cove sandwiched between the sea and a stillwater lagoon. While not as expansive and grand as Karon, the sand/sea/sky is every bit as picturesque. And there are fewer crowds to share it with.
Our Muay Thai trainers brought us here for a grueling Saturday morning training. We probably wouldn’t have found our way here were it not for the Muay Thai training on the beach.
Also unlike the more commercial beaches, this beach is pristine and teeming with life. In some parts, you can see tiny fish circling your ankles if you look down.
Yanui
Also a tiny local beach, introduced to us by our Muay Thai trainers. Yanui is even tinier than Nai Han. It features some large rocks in the water (that are great to sit on and observe the ocean). It has a view of a small tree-dense island, and beyond that the Pacific Ocean. The driftwood branches on this little cove lend it a “castaway” flavor.
We unfortunately didn’t stay too long because I was completely beat from the hills and sand running.
The “Not A Beach” Category
Promthep Cape
This is not a beach perse, but rather a craggy outpost with Phuket’s best sunset view. Promthep Cape is a little peninsula on the most Southwestern point of the island, with the most exquisite view of the sun setting into the Pacific Ocean.
This place has a magical aura when the sky blushes purple, the fishing boats silhouette against pink waters, and a gentle surf splashes against the rocky cliffs.
Make sure to arrive ~45min before sunset, since it’s a ~20min hike and you’ll want time to scout out a spot to sunset-watch. There are great views if you hike down onto the cape itself, but this requires good hiking shoes and some rock-scampering dexterity. Also, mind the mosquitos that come out at dusk!
Rawai
Rawai beach is technically a beach, but not for swimming. It’s a long rocky waterfront for docking boats along the southern coast. Similar to Promthep Cape, there are also sunset views to be had at Rawai, but none quite so magnificent.
Rawai beach boasts many casual eateries right along the waterfront. It’s a laid back atmosphere to enjoy a local meal while observing the water or sunset. After dusk, the area lights up with string lights.
Chalong Pier
Also not a beach :) But worth mentioning this little pier on the Eastern side of Patong since it’s well-known for its fishing scene.
Allen and I came here late on a Monday night. There’s a magic to late-night fishing. There’s a familiar feeling to all the fishermen silently casting their nets, chatting in hushed tones, and occasionally flicking to reel in a catch.
