Best Beaches in Phuket for Exoticca

Phuket is 850 kilometers south of Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. It is the countries largest island and Phuket offers about 35 beaches to choose from. All are wonderful without exception but due to the large size of the island, you’ll want to ensure you are headed to the beaches that suit you most. If you know where to look, you can find the most serene beaches as well as the most thrilling!

Index

These are Exoticca’s five best beaches in Phuket

Patong Beach

Located in the tourist center of Phuket, this beach is calm in the early hours of the morning and bustling towards the evening, here you’ll find cocktails, nightclubs and restaurants within walking distance. Whilst it is Phuket’s busiest spot on the island, what you lose in serenity can be justified by the abundance of activities to choose from, including rides on Jet-skis and paragliders.

Banana Beach

One of Phuket’s best-kept secrets, this is an island that the locals don’t want you to know about. This little beach isn’t widely known and whilst it can be difficult to get to, its white powdery sand and shimmering azure water is worth the long-tail boat ride (it’s difficult to get to without doing so, otherwise you’d have to walk through a barbed wire fence). The absence of tourism has helped preserve the natural beauty of this often-overlooked Phuket gem. It is 180 meters long and is located on the west coast of Phuket between the beaches of Bang Tao and Nai Thon.

Panwa Beach

One of Phuket’s most beautiful and tranquil beaches. Located in the eastern part of Phuket, it is located close to Cape Panwa. In comparison to Patong Beach, it is a lot calmer here. It has the advantage of being closed off from strong winds and therefore it has hardly any currents all year, this makes it an ideal place to practice snorkeling. You’ll find fishermen’s huts and luxurious accommodation. In the far west end of the beach, you’ll find an eerie but beautiful mangrove swamp.

Kata Noi Beach

Perfect for those on a honeymoon. The Kata Noi Beach can be found in the southwest of the island and is the Winner of Tripadvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Award 2016. Located just south of Kata Beach, it is one of the most spectacular beaches in Phuket. It is ideal if you’re looking for a romantic panorama for you and your partner to admire at sunset. You’ll be in awe by the wonderful scenery; the stunning panorama of the three bays of Karon, Kata and Kata Noi is not to be missed. There is a local market which is on Thursdays just off the main Kata road. Here you will find the locals buying their fish and spices.

Layan Beach

Perfect for those who want to unwind. Layan beach is one of the much quieter beaches, often it isn’t even seen on maps. It is north of Bangtao Beach. There is a restaurant and a few loungers to relax, but little else. We advise renting a kayak and exploring the lagoon. The most incredible thing about this beach is that it still looks the same as it did 20 years ago. The sea is pretty calm here due to the fact that the current is blocked by Koh Kala, a small island, directly north of the beach.