There's no doubt that Phuket is considered to be one of the top travel beach vacation destinations in Thailand, if not the world. It is the largest island in the country located in the Andaman Sea that offers a ton of things to do, from the rich culture of the Old Town, to the abundance of pristine beaches around the island.
In this article, we are going to focus on the latter. There are more than 30 beaches in Phuket alone, and it can get extremely overwhelming for new travelers to find the right beach to visit. So, I decided to compile a list of the best beaches in Phuket based on prettiness, crowdedness, and my own judgment.
Without further ado, here are the eight best beaches you should definitely consider visiting when you travel to Phuket. Let's take a look at where all these beaches are on the map below:
Best Beaches In Phuket Itinerary Map
8 Best Beaches in Phuket
1. Nai Harn Beach
Out of all the beaches I visited in Phuket, Nai Harn Beach is my favorite on the island. It has one of the finest strips of sandy beach in Phuket. It isn't very crowded, and the area offers a ton of things you can do while there.
From its proximity to other tourist attractions like Promthep Cape and hiking trails that will take you to some of the most stunning viewpoints, Nai Harn Beach offers the best balance between sheer beauty, calmness, and action-packed activities.
There are several awesome resorts you can stay in Nai Harn as well, like The Nai Harn Resort, where you will have direct access to Nai Harn Beach whenever you want. If you are looking for the best place to stay in Nai Harn, this is the place to be.
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2. Karon Beach
Photos by yepwatzup
Next up is Karon Beach, a 4-km long golden sand beach, the third-largest on the island with stunningly clear water, sands that are soft to the touch, and plenty of space for you to enjoy a nice, quiet, peaceful vacation.
Karon Beach may not be as calm and peaceful as Nai Harn Beach, but it is much larger, which makes it feel almost as calm. At Karon Beach, you will also have easy access to other tourist attractions as well, like the Big Buddha and the beautiful Karon Viewpoint, where you will be able to see Karon, Kata, and Kamala beaches perfectly lined up from above.
Photos by Shankar S.
Karon also has more facilities and hotels to choose from than Nai Harn, with famous resorts like Paradox Resort being some of the best places to stay on the island.
If you are looking for a large, spacious golden sand beach that has a bit more facilities while still remaining quite calm and peaceful, Karon Beach is the way to go.
3. Kata Beach
Being the second most popular beach in Phuket, second only to Patong Beach, you'd think that Kata Beach would be a loud and noisy place with terrible traffic jams like in Patong. However, that couldn't be further from the truth.
Due to Kata Beach being divided into two sections, Kata and Kata Noi, you won't feel as crowded as other beaches, despite it being the second most popular beach in Phuket. This beach is also extremely popular among family vacationers, which makes the place a little bit more calm than other beaches.
You will also have access to awesome resorts with some of the best facilities on the island as well, such as Katathani Phuket Beach Resort. So, if you are looking for a lively yet peaceful white sand beach that is great for swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing, you can't go wrong with Kata Beach.
4. Kamala Beach
Kamala Beach is another quiet and peaceful beach in Phuket that is well-known as the best place for travelers to do absolutely nothing but relax and enjoy Thailand's finest beach vibe in solitude.
The town there is also not particularly special. It has great resorts like Cape Sienna Resort, but it doesn't have much to offer in terms of nightlife or activities like Jet Ski and paragliding. However, that is what makes Kamala Beach a great beach to visit.
If you are looking for a nice and calm beach to spend your beach vacation away from all the noise and bustle of typical beach towns, Kamala Beach is a great option for you.
5. Laem Had, Koh Yao Yai
Photos by Ole.Pophal
To mix things up a little, I decided to include one of the most remote beaches on this list, which technically is not on the Phuket main island, but it is by far the most beautiful beach on this list.
Laem Had Beach is a white sand beach at the northern cape of Koh Yao Yai Island, where the strip of sand is barely visible from the ocean, allowing you to walk on shallow water. They call this place the Maldives of Phuket, and I really do have to agree.
Due to how remote Laem Had is, it is going to be quite a mission to get there. From Phuket, you can catch a speedboat from Bang Rong Pier, which runs every hour from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM every day. You should arrive at Klong Hia Pier, located on the northern coast of the island, which is only a few minutes' ride away from Laem Had.
If you really want to get the best out of the island, you are going to need to stay overnight and spend a few days exploring Koh Yao Yai. For the best place to stay at Koh Yao Yai, there is nothing better than Koh Yao Yai Village.
6. Ya Nui Beach
Now, if you would rather stick to Phuket's main island and prefer an even quieter beach than Nai Harn and Kamala, where you can go snorkeling and kayaking in solitude while watching the sunset, Ya Nui Beach on the west coast of Phuket, just south of Nai Harn, is the best place to be.
Even though Ya Nui Beach is a very small beach, the smallest on this list, in fact, and it doesn't look particularly attractive, the beach is actually one of the most beautiful places to go kayaking at sunset.
There are also a few resorts you can stay at, like Ya Nui Resort. Due to how close it is to Nai Harn Beach, you will also have the opportunity to explore other tourist attractions around Nai Harn Beach. If you are looking for a small beach to go kayaking and snorkeling, Ya Nui Beach is definitely worth your consideration.
7. Patong Beach
Now, if you are looking for a place that is closer to all the actions happening in Phuket, such as nightlife and extreme activities, there is no better place to be than Patong Beach, the longest and most popular beach in Phuket.
Patong is as lively as it gets, with plenty of bars, clubs, and restaurants for you to indulge yourself in. It is also extremely crowded at times, but due to COVID-19, the place has become much more bearable than it used to be.
I didn't like Patong Beach very much when I was there at its peak before COVID because of how dirty and crowded it was, but now that the beach has emptied out and there are fewer trash and illegal sunbeds, I can actually appreciate the true beauty of Patong Beach and see why it became so popular in the first place.
If you are looking for a beach in Phuket that has a ton of things to do, from exciting beach activities to amazing parties to occupy you for days and nights, Patong Beach is the best choice. There are a ton of awesome resorts you can stay at in Patong, but for the best experience, I highly recommend staying at Burasari Phuket Resort & Spa.
8. Freedom Beach
Last but not least, if you want to be in the midst of all the actions Phuket has to offer but despise being at a crowded beach like Patong Beach, I highly recommend renting a motorbike and driving to Freedom Beach.
Freedom Beach is a remote white sand beach located only a few minutes' drive away from Patong Beach. It gives you the opportunity to escape from the bustle and crowds of Patong, allowing you to enjoy the tranquil beach vibe in peace.
Due to its location, Freedom Beach strikes the perfect balance between liveliness and remoteness, making it one of the best beaches in Phuket for those who are looking to explore both sides of the island in one go. For the best place to stay near Freedom Beach, Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort is the best option, and you will also have direct access to Karon Noi Beach.
More Phuket Activities
If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips:
Where to Stay in Phuket?
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Southern Thailand
Looking for more information for your trip to Southern Thailand? Here are a collection of articles about Southern Thailand that you might find useful:
- Looking for a complete travel guide to Southeast Asia? You should check out our 3 Months Backpacking Itinerary for Southeast Asia.
- Looking for an itinerary for Thailand? Check out 10 Days Itinerary for Thailand.
- One of the best places to go snorkeling in Thailand is Koh Lipe, an island in the far south of Thailand. Here is The Ultimate Snorkeling Guide to Koh Lipe.
- Looking to change things up a little? How about we head down to the south of Thailand and explore one of my favorite places in Thailand? Here is How to Travel to Khao Sok National Park, Backpacking-style.
- The pearl of the Andaman Sea, Phuket, is an island full of history, cultures, and stunning beaches waiting for you to explore. Here are the 11 Best Things to Do in Phuket.
- Visiting Phuket Old Town is the highlight of your Phuket trip. You can easily spend a day exploring the Old Town. Here are the 9 Best Things to Do in Phuket Old Town.
- Phang Nga is probably what Phuket was like before mass tourism ruined it. From quiet, empty beaches to wild, untouched waterfalls, here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Phang Nga.
- If you are in Phang Nga, you should also drop by Takua Pa and its charming little old town. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Takua Pa.
- Khao Lak is the main tourist hub in Phang Nga, and it is a great place to be if you like adventure, island-hopping, and snorkeling. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Khao Lak.
- For a complete Krabi backpacking itinerary, check out: 3 to 5 Days Backpacking Krabi Itinerary.
- Whether you are an adventurer or a beach-goer, Krabi has it all. From island-hopping to rock climbing, here are the 13 Best Things to do in Krabi.
- Krabi is not just about beaches and islands. Krabi town offers a great alternative place to stay away from the tourist crowds. Here are the 8 Best Things to do in Krabi Town.
- Ko Lanta is a quiet, remote, and less trodden part of Krabi, and it is a great place to visit for those who want to go off the beaten path. If you are planning to go there, here are the 8 Best Things to do in Ko Lanta.
- Nakhon Si Thammarat is the land of countless waterfalls that no one knows about. It is an off-the-beaten path place to visit in Southern Thailand that may surprise you. Here are the 11 Best Things to Do in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
- You've heard about Hua Hin, but have you heard about Lemon Bay? There's so much more to the Prachuap Khiri Khan province than Hua Hin. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Prachuap Khiri Khan.
- There is more to Chumphon than just Koh Tao. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Chumphon.
- Surat Thani is not just Ko Samui and Ko Phangan. There is so much more to do in this province than you might think. Here are the 11 Best Things to Do in Surat Thani.
- Have to spend a night in Surat Thani's Old Town and not sure what to do there? Check out: 8 Best Things to Do in Surat Thani's Old Town
- For the best things to do in Koh Samui, check out: 13 Best Things to Do in Koh Samui.
- If you are traveling to Thailand, it is important for you to know what you should and shouldn't do. Here are 10 Tips for Traveling in Thailand.
- Thai Street Foods are among the best in the world, and to help guide you through the street food cuisine of Thailand, be sure to check out the 15 Best Street Foods in Thailand to Try.
- Learning a bit of Thai phrases will go a long way for you when you visit Thailand. Here are 15 Thai Phrases You Should Know.
- Photos are worth a thousand words, but what is worth more than photos? A video. Here are travel videos I made for Thailand: Timeless Thailand, a journey into the North of Thailand, Long Tail Thailand, exploring the beautiful south of Thailand, and taking it slow with Slowed Down Bangkok travel video.
- Wondering where to go after Thailand? How about continuing on to Malaysia, Myanmar, or Indonesia?
- Want to explore other parts of Thailand? How about exploring Northern Thailand or Central Thailand?
- For all articles about Thailand, visit the Thailand Travel Guide page.
- Looking to travel to Southeast Asia? Check out all of my articles about Southeast Asia here: Southeast Asia Travel Guide page.
- You can see all my Asia-related articles here: Asia Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
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