Beaches on Phuket Resort and Hotel, Thailand

The Beaches of Phuket are famous for not only the pristine beaches and clear-blue seas but also for the activities and life that make the atmosphere exciting yet relaxing.The following is a brief description of some of the best beaches of Phuket.

Patong Beach
This is Phuket's central tourist and night- time entertainment district. Over the years, Patong has turned from a fishing village into one of the island's two cities. The famous bay and 4 km. beach is know as a centre of entertainment with restaurants catering to every nationality. Live music can be found in most pubs and bars. Accommodations range from budget to five-star. Shopping opportunities appear to be endless. In addition, there are many tour companies waiting to help visitors plan their vacations. Some of the options available are
listed below. Among the larger attractions are :

Pirate's Cove
36 holes of miniature golf. 2 courses to choose from : The Jungle Course or Blackbeard's Challenge. Internationally rated; fast food restaurant and bar. Located on Song Roi Pi Rd., the next road back from the beach, next to Holiday Inn Hotel.
Tel. (076) 342951; open 10:00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m.

Phuket Water Ski Cableways
An inland water skiing course on a man-made lake. Skiers are pulled round the oval track at speeds of up to 30 kph by overhead cables. Instruction is free for beginners. Located over the hill northeast of Patong at 86/3 Moo 6 Soi Nam Tok Kathu, near Kathu Waterfall.
Tel. (076) 202- 525-7. Open daily 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Simon Cabaret
This transvestite show features dozens of gorgeously appareled boys dancing and lipsynching to popular songs. Costumes, choreography and pacing are very impressive; sound system and staging are state-of-the-art. Two shows nightly. Located on Patong-Karon road. Tel. (076) 342-011-5

Tarzan's Jungle Bungy Jump
Jump from the top of a 53 m. crane toward a pond while connected to a long elastic bungy cord; very exhilarating.
Note : This is not recommended for the aged, the infirm, or those with chronic heart problem.

Located over the hill northeast of Patong at 61/3 Moo 6 on the road to Phuket Town. Tel. (076) 321-351.

Tarzan's Catapult Bungy
It uses an elastic cord similar to the one mentioned above, but relies upon a catapult to shoot customer up in the air.Located on Soi Sunset at Patong Beach, near the Expat Hotel. Tel. 01-464-1581.

Patong Go-Kart Speedway
A well planned raceway and high-powered go-karts await go-karting enthusiasts.

Located over the hill northeast of Patong at 118/5 Vichit Songkram Rd., near Kathu District office. Tel. (076) 321-949; open 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m
.
Phuket Joyland
It is an amusement park with many different attractions, located in the same area of Phuket Water Ski Cableways.
Open daily from 11:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m. Tel. (086) 203-005-6.

Horror House
Located at Patong, features scene from 16 famous horror movies.
Open 5:00 p.m. - 12.00 p.m. Tel. (076) 293-123.

Kalim Beach
This beach is really a continuation north of Patong's strand, from which it is separated by some rocks. It is not yet developed and thus affords some privacy. At the back of the beach are accommodations. The waters contain extensive coral reefs.

Kamala Beach
Kamala is a Muslim fishing village north of Patong. Tourist development on the beach much of which is covered by a Muslim graveyard and a police outpost has been slow in coming. Buffalo herds still come down to the beach to cool off in the afternoon. The beach is beautiful and about 2 kms in length. There are accommodations ranging from guesthouse to international class, and a number of small Thai restaurants specializing in seafood for the tourist. Kamala is the perfect place to get away from it all and has little entertainment to offer which is easly available in nearby Patong. Regular bus service to and from Phuket Town during daytime; tuk-tuk service available to Patong, 5 kms away on the new road.

Rawai Beach
Site of the Chao Ley or Sea Gipsy village, many restaurants , bungalows, shell handicraft shops, and fishing boats and charter boats to the nearby islands. The beach itself is suitable for swimming. Rawai is 7 kms.west of Chalong Circle.

Kata Noi Beach
South of Kata is Kata Noi, a smaller beach with only a few hotels and little other development. The beach is superb. Many fish inhabit the rocks and corals along the beaches shoreline stretching south. To get there take the narrow beach road up over the hill from Kata.

Karon Beach
The second largest of Phuket's principal tourist beaches. Large resort complexes line the road back of the beach, but the strand itself, long and broad, has no development. The sand is very white, and squeaks audibly when walked on. The southern point has a fine coral reef stretching toward Kata and Poo Island. Restaurants, bars, tour companies and other non-hotel businesses are at the north end, near the traffic circle, and at the south, on the little road connecting the back road with the beach road. The narrow road between Kata and Karon has a number of small businesses as well as the Dino Park Mini Golf facility. Karon is the most upscale of Phuket's beaches. Regular daytime bus service to and from Phuket Town.

Nai Harn Beach
A popular swimming beach and yacht anchorage during the dry season. The beach is fine, but big waves strike Iit during the raing season, making swimming dangerous. Regular bus service to and from Phuket town during daytime. Nai Harn is just north of Phrom Thep Cape.

Viewpoint
From this point can be seen the bays of Kata Noi, Kata and Karon, and also Poo Island. It is one of the island's best views. A large public sala, or shelter is there for visitors, and several vendors sell food, drinks, and souvenirs in the area when the weather is nice. The viewpoint is between Kata and Nai Harn Beach.

Ton Sai
A small falls over which pours a great volume of water during the rainy season. The trees, watercourses, and pools nearby provide one of Phuket's loveliest scenes. The park headquarters and a small restaurant with an excellent view are also at Ton Sai. Located near Thalang Town, 22 kms from Phuket Town.

Bang Pae
Best known now as the site of the Gibbon Fund, a project to return domesticated gibbons to the forest, Bang Pae is a small waterfall with a shady forest and thick foliage surrounding. To get there go to the Two Heroines Monument and take the road running east, the Pakhlok Rd., 7 kms to Bang Pae. Look for the posted signs.

Surin Beach
Evergreen trees rim this small, curving bay beneath the foothills north of Kamala. Surin is home to Phuket's first golf course, a nine-hole course laid out more than sixty years ago during the reign of King Rama VII. It is now largely in disuse except as a park. The steep incline of the beach, turbulent water, and big waves make Surin a dangerous place to swim during the rainy season. Located at the end of Sri Sunthorn Rd., the road running west from the Two Heroines Monument, 24 kms from Phuket Town. Accommodations and restaurants are nearby.

Sing Cape
The name means Lion's Point in English. The beach is in a small, curving bay with rocky headlands at the foot of forest-fringed cliffs and is among Phuket's most beautiful spots. Located about 1 km. south of the entrance to Surin Beach. Look for signs indicating the path down to the beach.

Bang Tao Beach
Bang Tao is a large open bay with one of Phuket's longest beaches. It was once used for tin mining, but has since been developed into a luxury resort. Most of it is occupied by the Laguna Complex, a massive five-hotel development with golf course. There are, however, accommodations available outside Laguna at the bay's south end. Dry season swimming is excellent, and at the bay's north end is a smaller bay, almost completely enclosed, at the mouth of which is some fine coral. Plenty of places to eat, tour companies, and other tourist facilities available either at Laguna or in the nearby town of Cherng Thalay.

The beach is located off Sri Sunthorn Rd., in Cherng Thalay. As for access to Laguna; the south end of the bay may be approached by taking the road north from Surin Beach. To get to the far north end from Sri Sunthorn Rd., take the road leading to Laguna, but do not enter, continue on to the town of Bandorn where there is an intersection of asphalt roads, and take the one leading west toward the sea. This road leads also to Nai Thon Bay and makes a very pleasant drive. Along the way are some small bays with good swimming and no development.

Nai Yang Beach
This is where the National Park office is located. The beach itself is on a long curving bay lined with evergreens that provide shade to picnicker. The large coral reef is home to many different species of fish, and Nai Yang is well known as a site where sea turtles come to lay their eggs during the period from November to February; the population of these has however, dropped off greatly.
First class accommodations are available and small food vendors cater to the many day trippers. To get there take the Nai Yang Rd., and look for signs indicating the park entrance.

Nai Thon Beach
This quiet bay nestled at the foot of high hills has a fine strip of the sand. There are some accommodation but virtually no other business. Located between Bang Tao Bay and Nai Yang Beach, Nai Thon Beach can be reached by taking Thep Krasatri Rd. Turn at the first traffic light north of Thalang Town to Nai Yang Rd. Look for signs indicating the turnoff to Nai Thon.

Mai Khao Beach
Many kilometers of deserted beach characterize Mai Khao where there is little tourist business. The water is fine for swimming during the dry season; the rainy season brings big waves and strong currents that are dangerous. This lonely beach is another area where sea turtles come to lay eggs. It is also home to what the Thais call a sea cicada, which is a form of marine life. To get there go to the northern tip of Phuket; the beach lies along the road's length

Sai Kaew Beach
This strip of sand is just the north portion of Sai Khao Beach and has much the same character. Located west of the bridges spanning the channel between Phuket and Phang-Nga provinces.

Mangrove Forest
Situated in Sirinat National Park near Ta Chatchai on Phuket's northern tip, the mangroves--saltwater swamps with unique ecosystems much prized by scientists searching for clues about adaptation and evolution--cover about 800 rai. Anyone with an interest in horticulture will be interested in the many unusual perennial plants found here: mountain ebony (kong kang bai lek), red cycas (prong daeng), black myrsina (samae dam), the Lady's Nails quisqualis (leb mue nang), and various creepers and climbers are among the more significant. There are also many mongrove-dwelling animals with unique evolutionary characteristics. A nature trail has been cleared for the convenience of visitors with signs indicating and explaining the various species.

Amphur Muang

Chalong Bay
Phuket's principal boat anchorage and the island's largest bay. Ao Chalong has a long flat, shallow, muddy bottom; at ebbtide, waters recede as much as one kilometer. It is very picturesque but not for swimming. Most visitors to the islands south of Phuket depart from Chalong pier, and the bay's restaurants are well known for their seafood. Charters to various places can be arranged from there, and it is the center of the island's yachting businesses. To get there take Jao Fah Tawan Tok Rd., or Jao Fah Tawan Okk Rd., to Chalong Circle. The pier and a number of restaurants are located on the short road leading to the beach from the circle.

Sehn Bay
A small bay with many rocks and corals. Snorkeling and diving are possible. For sunbathers, this secluded, curving strand north of Nai Han offers some privacy. A small open air restaurant supplies food and drink. To get there go through the parking lot of the Phuket Yacht Club hotel and follow the road to Ao Sehn, about 1/2 km.

Capes
Ka cape is a popular stop for Thai visitors to the island. Located at the extreme southwest of Chalong Bay. South of the point is Leam Ka Beach, a sandy strip dotted with rocks and boulders. The extensive coral reefs offshore make for interesting snorkeling mornings. Bungalows, Thai food and boat charters to the islands are available. Ka Cape is 7 kms. West of Chalong Circle.

Phrom Thep Cape
"Phrom" is Thai for Hindu "Brahma"signifying purity, and "Thep" means 'God'. Phromthep is a headland stretching into the sea and forming the extreme south-end of Phuket. It has been prominent feature for mariners since of early seafarers from the subcontinent, remains of whose journey's have been found all along the Malay-peninsula's west coast.

From Rawai Beach turn right and go for 2 kms. The cape has tall cliffs on the south, and was formerly called by local villagers "Leam Jao" (The Gods' Cape). From the cliffs running down to the boulders at the sea is a line of palm trees. Emerald green currents swirl in the deep water and breakers hurl themselves in vain against the rocky point : it is one of Phuket 's most inspiring vistas. From Promthep Cape, which is the most beautiful place to catch Phuket's famous sunset, a road leads northwest to Nai Han Beach.