Travel to Phuket,Thailand: 2009

Ao Bang Tao Beach

Bang Tao is a study in contrasts, with the luxurious resorts and villas along its 6km (4 mile) stretch of beach just a few minutes' away from the town of Cherng Talay, where many villagers still make their living as their ancestors did - by fishing, farming and rubber tapping. The northern tip of the beach, so far untouched by development, is still an area where visitors might find that they have the beach to themselves. Apart from going to the beach and a few bars and restaurants there's not much that you need to leave your resort for.

Taking up a huge area in the middle of Bang Tao beach, Laguna Phuket, one of Asia's largest resort complexes, comprises Sheraton Grande, Dusit Laguna, Laguna Beach, Allamanda, Laguna Holiday Club and Banyan Tree Phuket resorts, and some are open to outside visitors as well.

Bang tao bay (Ao Bang Thao) on Phuket’s northwest coast is a popular tourist destination on an 8km stretch of white sandy beach. The greater Bangtao area still maintains a mixed local village atmosphere of Buddhist, Chinese, and Moslem residents milling about daily markets. The beach area also retains a local flavour with simple Thai food stalls and vendors set among cosy guesthouses of Bang Tao.

The stunning beach at Bang Tao has also attracted international resorts such as Banyan Tree and Sheraton Grande Laguna and the Laguna Resorts area is now a centre of many chic boutique resorts, villas, spas, restaurants and designer stores. A new commercial cluster village (beyond the gates of Laguna resorts complex) offering boutique shopping and entertainment -- with day spas, antiques, decor and designer fashions alongside English pubs, global cafes, wine cellars and funky bars -- adds a cosmopolitan edge to the area.

The Bang Tao area has something for everyone. Beach lovers are in their element with plenty of sun loungers and beach vendors selling everything from fresh coconut juice to sarongs. Quieter beaches can also be found with few facilities.

Laem Sing Beach

This was once one of those secret beaches only the locals knew about. Sadly, it has now been well and truly discovered. We don't know how that happens - maybe some idiot put it on a website.

During the high season, this small beach is crammed. It is easy to see the attraction. It is an absolutely beautiful beach. A 300-meter stretch of beautiful sand framed by two headlands and ringed by trees. A few rock formations on the beach add character to the setting.

During the high season, the sun loungers are lined in rows three to four deep. The rent is 50 baht each.

It is a good bathing beach with golden sand sloping smoothly into the sea. However with the crowds, have arrived jet skis and banana boats.

This beach has some of the best snorkeling in Phuket right off the beach. The headlands and rock formations are home to corals and many fish. Particularly the southern end of the beach where you will see lots of fish feeding around the rocks.

There are two restaurants at the bottom of the hill and two bars to the south end of the beach. One of these bars has a regular party on Sunday nights.

This is another beach that has dangerous currents during the rainy season.

How to get there: There are a couple of tracks down to the beach. You will see the parking area on the coast road between Kamala and Surin. The locals organise the parking and charge 20 baht for motorbikes and 40 baht for cars. It is an unofficial parking charge to keep an eye on your vehicle - it is a small price so don't worry about it. From there you have a slightly demanding climb down to the beach

View point

From this point can be seen the bays Kata Noi, Kata, Karon, and also Koh 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. Spectacular view of the three famous beaches, the Kata Noi, Kata and Karon (far distance) can
be best seen from the top of the view point.

Access to the view point location is through the well paved winding road which leads to Nai Han
beach or Rawai beach.

Hat Surin

Hat Surin (Surin Beach) is a quiet beach backed by hills on the west side of Phuket. It lies above Patong and Kamala, just to the south of Ao Bang Thao, and is backed by sharp hills dotted with upscale residences and resorts.
The best thing about Hat Surin is that it has that laid back village atmosphere and is a far cry from the madness of Patong, which incidentally is just a 20-minute drive away if you feel the need to party. Hotels are relatively cheap in Surin, bar the top-enders, and there are many cheap beachside restaurants to eat at, along with a line of cafés set back off the beach.

The beach itself is nice with clear water and dazzling sands, while the paradisiacal Pansea Bay lies just to the north and Laem Singh to the south at the foot of a cliff. Chilling out at the beach in Hat Surin seems to be the order of the day here. During the day, we weren't really able to see much of the island South of Hat Surin, though the drive to the Ao-Poh pier was quite scenic, with the views alternating between lush jungle and small rice paddys, crop field and tropical orchards. The scenery on Phangnga Bay is impressive and at times down right stunning; it was particularly interesting to be able to watch flying fish skip, and sometimes even bounce, across the calm waters of the bay in the wake of our boat. Of course, it's practically a requirement that you make your way to the coast as sunset approaches to really appreciate the beauty of Phuket.

Kalim Beach

Just north of Patong Bay, starting from about the Novotel Resort Hotel Patong to Thavorn Bay Resort, this area consists of rocky but quiet beaches, and an interesting road leading up into hills with high viewpoints and a few good quality restaurants perched on the edge and top. Some housing compounds are now being built on the hillsides and the whole area is steadily moving upmarket.

Kalim Beach is a continuation on the northern curve of the coastline of Patong beach just north of the artistic rocky outcroppings.

Kalim is a small charming beach with rocky points and coral. Kalim is a quiet alternative, yet conveniently near to tourist services and nightlife.

At low tide, the northern end of Kalim Beach reveals a mass of corals right off shore which can be a interesting place to comb around. The corals may appear a dull brown color but they contain an amazing number of living creatures. Seashells, crustaceans, tiny fishes, starfish, sea cucumbers are found in puddles of the water catchment. It is not wise to attempt to walk barefoot here because some of the rocks are razor sharp. Wear a strong pair of sandals or track shoes. The northern half of the beach is exposed to the monsoon winds, and from June to September on occasion waves big enough to surf break here.

Hat Kalim Beach is a quiet, attractive area that is far enough away to be away from it all, yet still close enough to the action to be fun. It is a small beach littered with rocks situated north of Patong Beach (Hat Kalim is actually a continuation of Patong and the beaches are separated by a rock formation going into the sea). The sea around the Hat Kalim offers excellent coral reefs making it attractive to people who like snorkeling and diving. When the tide is out a substantial amount of coral is revealed and it can be interesting to wander around to see the variety of living creatures the coral maintains (starfish, etc.). Don't try to walk amongst the coral with bare feet - you WILL get cut! Not as developed as other beaches in Phuket, Hat Kalim is substantially more laid back - you can actually get some space to yourself on this beach. At the back of the beach is a solid range of accommodation including reasonably priced hotels and guesthouses.

Phuket FantaSea Show

It's hot, it's wild, it's the ultimate in a family evening out – it's Phuket FantaSea. Set in 140 acres of seaside opulence, FantaSea has so many attractions going that it's impossible to list them here but let's start with one of Asia's biggest buffets. Able to seat 4,000 diners, FantaSea's buffet bursts with flavour and if that's not enough there are several other nook and crannies throughout the theme park where you can snack and dine. As for the show, think Las Vegas meets Thailand where fact, fiction and fantasy intertwine and frolic for 80 dazzling minutes. Never seen a flying elephant? You can at FantaSea. This is a real full-blooded extravaganza that will leave your head spinning. Unforgettable.

Khao Rang

A great view of Phuket Town, the southern part of the island, and some of the offshore islands, can be obtained by going to the top of Khao Rang Hill, on the town's northwest border. There are also several restaurants featuring spectacular views of the city, a health park for exercise enthusiasts, and a comfortable, expanse of grass at the top with a bronze statue of Phraya Ratsada Nupradit, the model Governor of Phuket during King Rama V's reign.

Lame Phromthep

To the south, the palm-fringed Rawai Beach about 17 kilometer from town hosts Phuket’s Chao Le people ( sea gypsies). Several offshore islands have gleaming white beaches and dazzling underwater scenery which attract fishing enthusiasts and scuba-divers.

The nearby Lame Phromthep or Phromthep Cape forms Phukert’s southern most point and is the perfectplace from which to enjoy spectacular sunsets and the sea.

Patong Beach Guide

Patong is the most famous beach resort on Phuket. With its wide variety of activities and nightlife, Patong is an ideal place to party and play. By night the town has a bustling nightlife which includes literally hundreds of restaurants, chic lounge bars, beer bars and of course discos. The nightlife is centred around Soi Bangla (Bangla Road) however there are quiet parts of town.

Visitors hoping for a glimpse into the exotic East might not find it here, though the steaming hot streets, neon lights and chaotic atmosphere of Patong can be overwhelming for the new arrival. The key to full enjoyment of the place is to pace yourself, drink lots of water and learn the meaning of 'mai pen rai' - which translates roughly to 'It doesn't matter' or 'Don't worry, be happy'.

Travel to Phuket Guide