| "Thailand Most Beautiful Beaches |
Nai Harn Beaches Beautiful Beaches
Located right at the
southern end of Phuket, Nai Harn is one of the island's most beautiful locations.
This quiet and tranquil place has only a few hotels including the Le Royal Meridien
Phuket Yacht Club and is a favourite anchorage for boats during the high season.
It's not a place to hire a jet ski or expect a lot of action. Just yachts bobbing
in the bay, vendors selling ice cream and drinks and a fine sandy beach. Great
for swimming from November to April, however care should be take in the low season
(May-October) when there are strong undertows. The local restaurants just above
the beach make a great place to relax with a sundowner.
Away from the
beach, Nai Harn village has lots of small restaurants and local bars. Notably
Mimmi's, located on the road from Nai Harn to Kata with a lovely ambiance, chaise
longues and good western food, Banana Corner - excellent value for money and Don's
Restaurant, famous for Texas style spare ribs.
Just north of Nai Harn, along the coast, is Nui Beach, small, secluded and
difficult to access. Further along is Ya Nui, a sandy cove that attracts snorkellers
and divers. Another out-of-the way spot nearby is the tiny beach of Ao Sane, a
great spot for snorkelling, reached by taking the dirt road that starts at Le
Royal Meridien's car park. Kata Beach, where you'll find a more lively nightlife,
is about 20 minutes away, while Patong Beach is about a 30-minute drive.
Nai Harn Beach is not yet as developed as the other tourist beaches on Phuket
Island, this is due to the Samnak Song Nai Harn, a monastic center in the middle
of the beach that claims most of the beachfront land.
During the wet
seasons the water have high waves and swimming is not recommended, there can be
strong currents under the water surface. Watch for the warning flags and use some
common sense.
Nai Harn Beach is also a popular anchorage during the dry
season for bigger sail and motorboats. If you like to look at boats then try to
come here during the yearly King's Regatta. During this time you can see the boats
competing against each other and also have a chance to take a closer look at them.
(Bring you binoculars)
Behind Nai Harn Beach you can also find a number
of smaller restaurants and have a good Thai dinner, they also serve cold drinks
that you like after sitting in the sun.
A picturesque and quiet beach
near the southern tip of the island. There aren't many places to stay here but
the beach is easy to get to from Kata and Karon.
One of the loveliest
beaches in Phuket, Nai Harn is relatively undeveloped thanks to the Samnak Song
Nai Harn monastery which occupies a large portion of the beachfront land. At its
northern is Le Meridien Phuket Yacht Club which has a few bars and restaurants
just before it, but generally the area is quiet.
Behind the beach is
a lagoon where there are some upmarket housing developments and a few good bars
and restaurants.
Ao Sane
This is a small rocky beach that can only
be reached by a small road that runs underneath the Phuket Yacht Club. There are
a couple of bungalow operations here as well as a couple of restaurants. |
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Top Beaches |
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 Kata
Beachs  |
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Just a few minutes south of Karon, Kata has a cosier
feel about it, with headlands at each end and calmer waters. A place for families
and couples to relax, snorkel, body surf and enjoy the fine sands. Good surfing
conditions during the monsoon season of May-October |
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| Kata
Noi Beach |
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This small bay of stunning white sand, separated from
Kata by a headland, is a quiet and peaceful retreat. The Kata Thani resort complex
dominates the area, while a few shops, small hotels and restaurants line the beach
road. A nice place for a relaxing snorkel or swim. |
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| Kamala Beach |
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This well-enclosed bay and fishing village has developed
rapidly in recent years yet it still retains a small-town feel. Popular with families,
Kamala Beach is lined with casual restaurants and food stalls, with good snorkelling
at the rocky north end |
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| Laem Singh Beach |
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This small,
hidden gem of a beach just south of Surin is accessible only by walking down a
fairly steep path from the road. Even so, it can get busy in the high season so
get there early for a beach chair. A few rustic restaurants offer cold drinks
and food. A pretty, quiet place to wile away an afternoon.. |
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| Surin Beach |
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This 900-meter
stretch of sand is packed with food stalls, beachfront bars and restaurants yet
life never feels too hurried here. A good place to meet friends for a relaxed
afternoon of snorkelling, swimming or touch football. Kayaks, surf and boogie
boards available for rent. |
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| Bang Tao Beach |
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Bang Tao is
beautiful wide beach of fine sand that up until the mid 1980s was a virtual moonscape
following extensive tin mining activity. Much of the area has now been converted
into the lush and lovely lagoon-dotted grounds of the 5-resort complex of Laguna
Phuket - a stunning ecological feat. |
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| Pansea Beach |
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Pansea is a tiny
cove of glittering white sand - but only accessible to the rich and famous guests
of The Chedi and Amanpuri Resorts |
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| Cape Panwa |
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The exquisite Cape Panwa, just south of the eventful Phuket Town, remains a calm, untouched gem of a place. Its blossoming hills, sandy coves, mangroves and tidal flats offer a settle down place to walk around away from the crowds. |
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| Nai Thon Beach |
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One of Phuket's
best-kept secrets. Approaching this quiet beach of silky white sand is spectacular
in itself - a drive on the coastal road from the south takes you through forested
hills while the northern approach winds through a lovely valley and small village.
Once you arrive, swim, sunbathe and marvel at how few people have discovered this
little piece of paradise. |
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| Nai Yang Beach |
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The casuarina-fringed
Nai Yang, together with Mai Khao in the north, forms the longest and most secluded
stretch of beach in Phuket, about 10-km altogether. Two hotels sit on the south
end of Nai Yang, while the north enters into Sirinath National Park, a protected
marine and coastal area. A good spot to rent a beach chair or gorge on barbecued
seafood. |
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| Mai Khao Beach |
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An endless
stretch of fine sand; the only real getaway on the west coast of Phuket. Aside
from the JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa, the area is largely undeveloped with
only a few bungalow operations and a campground on the beach. Take a stroll and
watch the crabs scuttle, swing on a hammock under the trees or enjoy a refreshing
swim. |
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| Nai Harn Beach |
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With most of
its beachfront land occupied by a temple, Nai Harn has been spared from over-development,
with only Le Royal Meridien Phuket Yacht Club and another resort nestled into
the hill at its north end. The soft sands and clear waters make Nai Harn an ideal
swimming and sunbathing spot, though conditions can be dangerous in the monsoon
season of May-October. |
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| Ao Sane Beach |
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A little beach
reached via a dirt road that runs through the car park of Le Meridien Phuket Yacht
Club in Nai Harn. Sometimes called "Jungle Beach". Usually a quiet and
peaceful place, with decent coral outcroppings off its mostly rocky shore. Just
one very inobtrusive resort here, the Baan Krating. |
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| Ya Nui Beach |
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A little sandy
beach found between Nai Harn and Laem Promthep, with some fairly good snorkelling.
Also a launch point for divers. Getting busier in recent years and now lined with
beach chairs for rent, but it's still quite relaxed here. There's one small, informal
restaurant with friendly staff. |
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| Rawai Beach |
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Rawai is Phuket's longest-established beach resort,
though the sea-gypsy village at its north end probably hasn't changed much over
the years. The beach is lined with open-air seafood stalls and restaurants for
casual dining under the shade of the casuarina trees. A popular launching point
for boat trips to Racha, Coral and other islands. |
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| Chalong Beach |
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This bustling
bay, a major launch area for boat and dive trips, is filled with bobbing vessels
of all shapes and sizes throughout the year. Plenty of casual restaurants, dive
shops, fishing charter and tour operators, watersports equipment suppliers, Internet
shops and even yoga and Reiki centres are packed into the short street leading
to the pier. |
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| Patong Beach |
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Patong is the most famous - some would say infamous
- beach resort on Phuket. With its wide variety of activities and nightlife, Patong
is an ideal place to party and play. Patong's 3,000 metres of soft sand is a great
place to people-watch as you soak up the sun on a beach chair |
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| Karon Beach |
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Karon, featuring an incredibly long stretch of squeaky
white sand, is less hectic than Patong but it still offers a full range of facilities,
dining and activities. While it's a fast-growing area, Karon is nicely spread
out and rarely feels crowded |
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