All You Need to Know About Beautiful Beaches in Phuket

Phuket is among the most popular beach destinations around the world and one of Thailand’s most popular tourist destinations. Our article contains everything you need to know about the most famous and beautiful beaches in Phuket and how to make the most out of your dream beach vacation!

Best Five Beaches in Phuket

Phuket is an island surrounded by numerous beautiful sandy beaches. You really can’t go wrong with any beaches in Phuket. We’ll list the most popular beaches by ranking to visit during your next Phuket holiday.

1. Patong Beach

Patong Beach is on Phuket’s west coast. It’s the prime destination in Phuket as there are many attractions, such as the famous nightlife at Bangla Street, shopping and water sport activities. The most pleasant time to spend your holiday on Patong Beach is from December to April (June – November is the rainy season).

Cons: It can be a crowded beach, and the water quality is not the best because it’s sometimes very polluted when crowds of people are there.

2. Karon Beach

Karon Beach is Phuket’s longest and cleanest beach and one of its most beautiful. It’s located on the west coast of the island between Patong Beach and Kata Beach. Karon Beach is a very popular destination among tourists who want to spend a relaxing family vacation or find a good restaurant along the beachfront. There are also numerous parking spaces along the street.

Cons: There are no large shopping areas around.

3. Kata Beach

Kata Beach is a nice bay with white sand and clear blue waters, just a few minutes south of Karon Beach. It is located in the southwest of Phuket. Clean beaches, split into Kata Yai and Kata Noi Beaches, make up the entirety of Kata Beach. In the low season, or Phuket’s surf season, Kata Beach is known to be ideal and popular for surfing. You can find numerous surfing schools along the beach.

4. Kamala Beach

Kamala Beach is a beautiful beach located in the village of Kamala on the west coast of Phuket. The beach is easily accessible by car or motor scooter. Kamala Beach is a relaxing, comfortable, and spacious sandy beach surrounded by forested hills in one of the most beautiful places on the island. There are many luxury resorts with great views in Kamala Bay, and there is a great private beach hidden in Kamala Beach that we call “Nakalay”.

5. Surin Beach

Surin Beach is located on the west coast of Phuket and is about 20 minutes away from Phuket Airport. You will find a beautiful beach of white sand, clear water, lined with palm trees and with a background of greenery. You can indulge in surfing, bathing and snorkeling on Surin Beach.

So, Which is the Best Beach in Phuket?

While the choice of the best beach in Phuket will naturally vary from person to person, depending on your needs and desires from the coastline, there is one beach which provides excellent all-around features: Karon Beach. The third longest on the island, Karon Beach has plenty of space to enjoy some peace and quiet, but the town itself has a modest nightlife and a good choice of restaurants, with the attractions of smaller and busier Kata to the south or Patong to the north, both easily reached. Being a southern beach, the sand is also fine and soft – perfection.

Booking Affordable Luxury Beach Resorts in Phuket

You do not see the words “luxury” and “affordable” together very often. You might ask, “Is there such a thing as an affordable Phuket luxury resort?” I am here to tell you that there are! However, take caution when searching for affordable luxury hotels in Phuket. Certain hotels advertise themselves as “affordable luxury resorts” but really are 3-star properties with unaffordable 5-star prices. Always check a hotel’s TripAdvisor review before booking! Having worked in the Phuket hotel industry for over twenty years, I have stayed in many competitor hotels all over the island and became impressed with many of the hotels and resorts that are out there. I will give you my pick of the top greatest affordable Phuket luxury resorts!

1. Thavorn Beach Village Resort & Spa

I have to admit that I am a little biased when it comes to Thavorn but it’s true. Our brand is perhaps one of the most high-value-for-money luxury resorts in Phuket and even Thailand. Where on earth are you going to get luxury rooms that are only 20 steps from the beach for below $100/night? Furthermore, we are located on a private beach, but at the same time we’re only a 10-minute drive from Patong Beach. This is the best of both worlds! So I invite you to check out our offerings here. Check out the different room types we have, and be prepared to be blown away!

2. The Vijit Resort

I had the pleasure of staying at this resort a couple of months ago and was blown away. The resort has 50 rooms, a mixture of villas and deluxe rooms. All rooms feature beautiful Thai-style architecture and are placed well apart for extra privacy. The best part of this resort is the private beach.  This has got to be one of the most beautiful private beaches I’ve seen in Phuket. Being in a secluded location, you would also expect the food prices to be on the high side. Not at all! Be prepared to pay around $10-$20 for a meal there. Very reasonable.  The rooms in this resort start at around $100/night during the low season, while the resort next door sells for over $300/night with a worse location. If you are travelling as a couple, I highly recommend this place!

3. Thavorn Palm Beach Resort

Again, I am biased towards Thavorn, and I openly admit that. But seriously, we are one of the most affordable luxury hotel brands in Phuket. This resort is located right in the heart of Karon Beach, one of Phuket’s most beautiful beaches. It has beautiful colonial-style rooms, which are quite rare in Phuket these days, considering the modern style craze that is going on. The hotel has 5 swimming pools! Even when full, you will still feel secluded and private.  Like other affordable luxury resorts, this hotel sells for approximately $100/night. I suggest you see our offerings here.

From my experience in the hotel industry, the price determinant of many hotels is the brand. It's perfectly ok if you prefer the peace of mind that international hotel chains offer. But if you want the best bang for your buck, you often have to search a little harder. Many local independent hotels offer equivalent or even better facilities/amenities for much cheaper. This is what you should look for! But remember, always read the hotel’s TripAdvisor ratings before you book any hotel!