#1 Beach: Nai Harn Beach

Why We Liked Nai Harn Beach

It was a tough choice, but I ultimately decided that Nai Harn Beach was my favorite of all the ones we visited in Phuket.  There are many beautiful beaches in Thailand, and Nai Harn is no exception.  It lies within a sheltered cove at the southern tip of Phuket.  The arms of land on either side are picturesque, rocky hillsides.  The island of Ko Ban can be seen straight out from the beach.  The wide expanse of white sand leads gently down to the water.  Even at high tide there is plenty of sand for sunbathing, beach games, and sandcastle building.  Development on the beach has been banned, so there are no hotels or restaurants crowding the space.  While Nai Harn can be busy at times, the beachgoers generally have a more relaxed vibe and it is usually possible to find an area of space to enjoy your activity of choice.

The water at Nai Harn is clear and clean; there are fewer motorized water vehicles that give some of the other beaches a diesel smell.  While there can be large waves at times, they don’t seem to get quite as aggressive.  Entry into the water is a gradual incline without sudden unexpected dips. (At other beaches, we found that after several wavy days, the sand on the ocean floor would become undulated and have surprising depth changes.)

For me, what distinguished Nai Harn Beach as my favorite in all of Phuket is the park just opposite the beach.  We love to take walks, and have found it challenging to do this in Thailand due to the lack of sidewalks and the non-stop traffic.  The Nai Harn Lake park has a dedicated walking path, restrooms, and outdoor fitness equipment right across the street from the beach.

How To Get to Nai Harn Beach

Nai Harn Beach is located at the southern tip of Phuket Island.  It is not on the Smart Bus route, but there is a songthaew / Blue Bus that runs from Phuket Town to Nai Harn.  Nai Harn can be challenging to reach by public transportation, but is pretty easy to get to if you have your own vehicle.  It is near the end of Route 4030 and there is good signage to point the way.  There is ample parking the entire length of the beach.

#2 Beach: Karon Beach

Why We Like Karon Beach

Karon Beach definitely has different moods; it can be crowded or not, blazingly hot or with a cool breeze, with vigorous waves or gentle swells, bustling with activity or with people sitting still to watch the sun set.  But every time we visited, we had a great time.

After two months in Phuket, we found that Karon Beach had become our “go-to” beach.  It was an easy, fifteen minute motorcycle ride from our condo near the Chalong Circle.  The beach itself is two miles long, so there is always an open spot if you are willing to walk a bit.  There are watersports and massages to be had right on the beach, and a whole array of restaurants just across the street. And as Karon Beach faces almost directly west, you can see some absolutely stunning sunsets there.

A beachfront road runs the length of Karon Beach, and there are parking spots lining the east side.  While the street can be quite busy, there are several crosswalks and crossing guards to help you navigate the traffic.  (I believe the guards are employed by the oceanfront hotels but they will help anyone cross.)  On the west, beachfront, side of the street, there is a sidewalk that runs the full two-mile length of Karon.  If you want to take a nice stroll, this is much easier to walk on than the sand and also has the benefit of being mostly by the shade.  There are also two parks along this sidewalk:  Karon Park, to the north, has a small lake with a running track and outdoor exercise machines, and Khlong Bangla Park, near the center, has a canal system with a giant serpentine dragon statue on a pedestal in the middle.

Once you get to the actual beach, the first thing you will notice is the sand – it makes noises when you walk on it!  The sand at Karon Beach is the finest, whitest sand of any we experience in Phuket.  With each step, you can feel minute shifts in the ground and hear a faint squeaking sound.  

The water at Karon Beach was never too warm.  On busy days, we noticed a bit of a diesel smell from the speedboats, but because the bay isn’t as enclosed as Patong or Nai Yang, the odor and dirty feeling didn’t linger.  The waves could be a bit strong at Karon, but even into mid-May we never had a day that we didn’t feel comfortable swimming.  However, we noticed that when it was quite windy, in addition to larger waves, the sand on the ocean floor became undulated, resulting in sudden depth changes as you entered the water.

There are plenty of things to do in Karon, and the activities tend towards the family-oriented rather than the trendy pretentiousness of Kata or the phrenetic nightlife of Patong.  There is the ubiquitous parasailing on offer, as well as jet skies for rent.  There are beachfront massage huts that are operated by a local massage training and accreditation school, with women who have been giving massages for over thirty years.  Karon Beach was my favorite massage location on Phuket!  There are plenty of chairs and umbrellas for rent.

Off-beach, Karon has plenty of nice restaurants and cafes, serving a mix of Thai food, Western food, coffee, fruit juice, and ice cream.  If you are there on a Tuesday or Friday, check out the Karon Temple Night Market, a great place to grab a bite to eat and do a bit of shopping.  There are other retail shops and tailors along the beach road, especially at the north end.  On the south side, you can find the Dino Park Mini Golf, a fun activity for the whole family.

How to Get to Karon Beach

Karon Beach is located on the southwest coast of Phuket Island.  There are several Smart Bus stops along the beach.  There is also a songthaew / Blue Bus that runs from Phuket Town to Kata/Karon Beach.

#3 Beach: Banana Beach on Coral Island

Why We Liked Banana Beach

Some people would say it is unfair to include Banana Beach as one of our favorite Phuket spots, as it is technically not on Phuket Island but on nearby Coral Island.  However, it is a popular destination that is easily reached by longtail boat from almost anywhere on Phuket.  And we had such a great time there, I had to include it as one of our favorite beaches.

The main attraction for us at Banana Beach was the incredible snorkeling.  We spent six hours here and we snorkeled for nearly all of it.  You can read about the whole adventure here.  Suffice it to say, we saw an amazing assortment of fish and other sea life at Banana Beach! Iif you enjoy wildlife watching, you can also find oriental pied hornbills in the trees throughout the resort area.

The beach amenities are quite nice here, with fine sand, beach loungers, and plenty of space.  But if you are just looking for a bit of sunbathing, it is a bit of a journey for an experience similar to what you would get at a beach on Phuket Island.  

There is an excellent restaurant overlooking the beach.  They serve some delicious Thai dishes as well as some of the best Western food we had in Phuket. 

How to Get to Banana Beach on Coral Island

Banana Beach is only reachable by boat, as it is on a separate island from Phuket.  Most beaches in Phuket have a few longtail boats for hire and they will be happy to take you to Banana Beach.  However, it is closest to Rawai Beach, so departing from there will be the fastest and cheapest.  You can also book a speedboat ride, through the company that operates Banana Beach, which departs from Chalong Pier.

Phuket Beaches that Didn’t Make the Cut

Ao Sane Beach

How To Get There

Ao Sane Beach is located at the southern tip of Phuket Island.  You must pass through The Nai Harn Resort parking lot and drive past the rocky coastline to reach the beach.

Pros: less crowded, amazing snorkeling is just offshore

Cons: very rocky beach, waves can be quite choppy, at low tide it is only possible to enter the water on the far left side of the beach due to sharp rocks and corals.

Ao Yon Beach

How To Get There

Ao Yon Beach is one of the few beaches on the east side of the island of Phuket. To get here, you must pass through the southern section of Phuket Town and take Route 4023 down to the peninsula. It is a nice trip to combine with a visit to the Phuket Aquarium.

Pros: its location gives it protection from the monsoon winds that make the west side dangerous to swim during the rainy season. This is a great beach to visit if you’re here during the shoulder season or off-season.

Cons: The water here is part of Khelong Bay, rather than the Andaman Sea. We actually could tell the difference.

Kamala Beach

How To Get There

Kamala Beach is one of the main beaches on the west side of Phuket. It can easily be reached by Smart Bus, songthaew, or tuktuk. It is a nicely developed beach with a long boardwalk going down its length and a broad expanse of sand for sunbathing.

Pros: a very happening beach with lots of beach clubs, restaurants, music, and your typical party atmosphere.

Cons: not the place to go with if you are looking for a quite place or a family-friendly atmosphere.

Kata Beach

How to Get There

Kata Beach is on the southwest coast of Phuket Island.  There is a Smart Bus stop that will drop you off a short distance from the north end of the beach.  There is also a songthaew / Blue Bus route that runs between Phuket Town and Kata/Karon beaches.

Pros: Very well maintained beach with minimal trash or debris.

Cons: Extremely crowded and busy, more upscale area so prices are higher.

Kata Noi Beach

How to Get There

Kata Noi Beach is south of Kata Beach, on the other side of a rocky, forested headland.  There is no bus route going here so it is only reachable via taxi or private vehicle.  It is only one mile from Kata Beach by foot but there is a significant hill.

Pros: Most pristine beach of all we visited.

Cons: Hard to reach, very upscale with very high prices, beach is lined with exclusive beach clubs. The beach is accessible to the public up to the high water line, but the clubs (with chairs and umbrellas) just beyond this point are cordoned off.

Merlin Beach

How To Get There

Merlin Beach is one of a trio located to the west of Pataong. It is directly in front of the Phuket Marriott Resort, and the hotel would like you to think it is a private beach. However, it is not – there is a public road to the left of the Marriott that leads straight back to the beach.

Pros: supposedly this is a great snorkeling beach

Cons: when we went the waves were extremely aggressive and were washing in giant chunks of coral and other debris that hit our legs painfully underwater. We didn’t dare try any snorkeling, and all the fish seem to have fled the area!

Nai Yang Beach

How To Get There

Nai Yang Beach is located in the center of Sirinat National Park.  It is one mile from the airport.  You can reach it by foot from the airport or ask most airport transfers to drop you off near the park headquarters.

Pros: Less crowded, people were more respectful of personal space.

Cons: Lots of debris in the water, water had an oily feel, wasn’t very picturesque.

Patong Beach

How to Get There

Patong Beach is on the central west coast of Phuket Island.  It is easily reachable with several stops by the Smart Bus that travels along the coastline about once an hour.

Pros: The water was surprisingly less crowded than other beaches.

Cons: Water was uncomfortably warm, water was not very clear and felt dirty, there were lots of motorized water sports taking place.

Rawai Beach

How to Get There

Rawai Beach is on the southeast coast of Phuket Island.  It is the last stop on the Smart Bus Route.  There is also a songthaew / Blue Bus route that runs between Phuket Town and Nai Harn that goes through Rawei.

Pros: Lots of nice restaurants with good seating right on the beach.

Cons: No swimming in the beach here, the sand is muddy and the longtail boats take up most of the space. When the tide is out, it is a long muddy walk to reach water. At high tide there is practically no beach area to stroll along.

Tri Trang Beach

How To Get There

Tri Trang Beach is one of a trio located just west of Pataong. You could technically walk from the southwest end of Pataong beach, but it is a long, steep hike. Parking is on the side of the road, look for the large sign at the entrance to the beach walkway.

Pros: Quiet beach, and if you’re lucky you can see elephants swimming in the distance!

Cons: no sandy area except at lowest tide, there is a cement walkway boarding the ocean. It is possible to swim here but you must jump in from the walkway rather than wade in.