Phuket, Thailand Beaches
Training on the beach is one of the favorite parts for our guests at Tiger Muay Thai and Mixed Martial Arts. Occasionally we have training sessions on the beach. Below is a short list of some of our favorite beaches on Phuket.
NaiHarn Beach
(6km from camp)
Nai Harn is a small community located on the southern tip of Phuket between Rawai and Kata. Nai Harn bay has two mountains that rise on the eastern and western sides, and is protected by palm covered island 400 meters offshore. Nai Harn beach is nestled on a large lagoon with a flat and clear surface in the high season.
There is a scenic lookout on the western side mountain that sits beneath three large windmills. It is a popular photography spot of the Andaman sea, the offshore island, Nai Harn bay, and the many yachts and sailboats anchored in the calm water.Nai Harn beach is about 1km long and has large rocks that lead up the cliffs at the far ends. There is only one hotel on the beach, the Nai Harn Meridian Yacht Club sits at the eastern end of the beach set back against the cliffs. The sand is very fine and white, and gently slopes 30-40 meters to the water. Small shells, and sand dollars can be found on the tide change. In the high season,(Nov-May), the water is flat and perfect for long swims along the length of the beach. In the low-season, the waves are nice as they roll in from off-shore when the direction of the winds change.
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Surfers are a common sight on the south-western end of Nai Harn in the low-season. Nai Harn and Kata Beach offer nice spots for surfers and body boarders with 2-3 meter waves, good rolling break, and long ride. A nice sand bar sits just off the beach and the waves there are easy to catch.
There are some small restaurants offering Thai foods and seafood, beer, and drinks. There are vendors with nice big umbrellas and lounge chairs on sections of the beach. A pair of chairs, umbrella, and small table is 100-120 baht a day. There are also small grass huts and Thai women that offer Thai beach massage for as little as 100 baht an hour.
Directly behind Nai Harn Beach is the protected lagoon. The main road from the center of Nai Harn runs along side the lagoon. The lagoon is under a "beautification project" for 2005. A walkway is being added around the lagoon with flowering trees. Jet-ski races are held in the lagoon every year. A favorite spot of students after an evening on the beach is Yoonique's Bar and Grill just behind the lagoon and The Rasta Bar. With a live band, great atmosphere, Yooniques is the after-beach bar of choice in NaiHarn. (The Nai Harn lagoon modification is complete as of Jan 1, 2006. The lagoon looks great with a wonderful walkway and running path that circles the lagoon.)
A popular local restaurant is Don's Cafe. Don has been a fixture in Nai Harn and Phuket for nearly 20 years. If you have a taste for home, like cheeseburgers, steaks, and BBQ, Don's cafe is the place to go in Nai Harn. Great food and terrific prices. There are several nice restaurants and a few bars along the main road in Nai Harn. Fresh seafood can be found over the mountain on the Rawai beach front road. Vendors sell a variety of fresh fish, crabs, and shrimp caught that day.
Kata Noi Beach
(6 km from camp)
Kata Noi Beach is located a few hundred meters southwest of Kata Beach and sits directly behind the Kata Thani Hotel (5 star). Kata Noi is approximate. 1km long and has white sand and a gentle slope to the beach leading to the road front and the tall pine trees that line the road and provide some cooling shade. The water off Kata Noi is fabulous with clear views of the Andaman Sea.
The waves roll in gently in the high-season, making Kata Noi a great place for swimming and relaxing in the water. The bay is protected on both ends of the beach by small peninsulas that stretch out about 200 meters creating a calm flat surface. In the low-season, the waves at Kata Noi can reach over 2 meters, and body boarders enjoy the easy rides.
Kata Noi is near the heart of the community of Kata and many nice restaurants are within walking distance. The main road on the mountain above Kata Noi leads to the Kata lookout station. There is a lovely paved observation area with a sala and area for fresh drinks at the top of the mountain. The view is spectacular with Kata Noi, Kata, and Karon Beaches stretched out before you and the blue water of the Andaman. Small coconut palm covered islands dot the offshore horizon. This is one of the best photographic viewpoints on the island.
Kata Beach
(6km from camp)
Kata Beach is located in the heart of the Kata community. Kata is a beautiful beach that stretches more than a 1km along a large pine tree lined road in front of the Club Med Resort. Similar to Nai harn beach, Kata has large rocks leading to cliff faces on the southern and northern ends of the beach. Kata is a popular beach for tourists and Thai. Vendors rent lounge chairs and umbrellas, and small restaurants offer Thai dishes, fruits, and snacks from small grass and bamboo huts sitting beneath the boughs of the pines.
The water at Kata Beach is fantastic. Flat as glass in the high-season, it is one of the best beaches for swimming, running, or water sports. Jet ski, banana boats, para-sailing, and boogie boards are all available for rent along the beach at great prices, and several small bars with beer and drinks sit just off the road in the shade of the tall pines.
Kata Beach holds surfing competitions each year when the waves begin to break. Kata has rolling waves with good break and a long ride. The sandbar shifts regularly offshore and creates a nice 60-80 meter ride inshore. In the boating season, sailboat races and the King's Regatta both race along the length of Kata headed for Nai Harn around the tip of the peninsula. Sailboats and yachts from all over the world come to anchor in the calm waters of Kata Beach and enjoy the sights and sounds of Phuket.
Kata Beach offers a small reef just offshore that is popular with local dive companies. The reef is populated with lots of species of colorful fish and coral. Snorkeling is easy in the clear waters around Kata and Karon.
Kata Beach is one of the nicest beaches that Phuket has to offer. With clean, clear blue water, white sands, tall pines guarding the beach, and easy access, Kata Beach is one of our true favorites. Wonderful spot for photos.
Karon Beach
(7km from camp)
Karon Beach is a 5 km stretch of pure white sand and crystal clear water. Karon Beach is one of the most popular beaches on the island. Conveniently located right off the main beachfront road and the Karon circle (round-a-bout), Karon is a popular spot for exercise like running, walking, and swimming. Unlike Kata and Kata Noi, Karon is a wide open beach that faces the Andaman Sea. In the high-season, the beach is very wide and the sand stretches 30-40 meters down to the water. The water is calm and great for swimming, snorkeling, or just floating on a raft.
There are many little restaurants and vendors selling drinks, snacks, BBQ, and spicy thai salads along the beach.
Directly behind the beach is the Karon lagoon and walkway. A popular spot for evening runners and walkers along the paved walkway to watch the incredible sunsets. During the "Loy Kratong" festival, Thai and foreigners release small floats called "kratongs" into the water decorated with flowers, incense, and candles. A small recreation and event plaza sits next to the lagoon and hosts live bands, Muay Thai fights, and dance shows throughout the high-season.
Because Karon beach is so long and wide-open, it is a popular spot for water sports like Jet ski, banana boats, boogie boarding, and para-sailing. Vendors work along the entire beach, and prices are very reasonable. Karon is one of the most popular beach's for sunbathers. With little protection from trees, Karon gets direct sunshine all day long and has many European tourists. Long walks along Karon beach are quite pleasant at sunrise and sunset. Karon beach is very clean and offers lounge chairs with cushions and umbrellas for rent (100-120) baht a day.
The main road to Patong and Kata runs behind Karon Beach. Several 4-5 star hotels face Karon Beach including the Arcadia Hilton, Felix Karon, and the Waterfront Tower. Karon Beach is a popular spot for families and couples on their honeymoon.
Nai Thon Beach
(20 km from camp)
Located on the central-western coast of the island, not too far from Laguna Beach, Nai Thon is a tropical paradise lined with tall pines and coconut palms. A large reef sits just offshore and protects the beach which is several kilometers long. Nai Thon, away from the crowded tourist beaches is a pleasant spot for an afternoon picnic and swim. Several nice hotels are located at each end of the beach leaving vast's areas that are unspoiled. Thai vendors sell drinks and food from small wooded huts and buildings underneath the pines.
Nai Thon is a quiet and peaceful location that is a 20 minute drive from Patong past Kamala and Surin Beaches. The sunsets are quite spectacular from Nai Thon, and the natural bay creates an almost oval shape to the beach.
Because there are not that many tourists on this part of the island, you'll need to bring a blanket and items for personal use. During the high-season, lounge chairs and umbrellas are limited on the stretches that are open and without hotels.
Patong Beach
(12 km from camp)
Patong Beach lies directly in front of the heart of Patong. The main beachfront road and all the business', bars, hotels, and shops face the beach.
Patong Beach is more than 3 kilometers long. There are many different sections that have small recreation and sitting areas behind the beach facing the water. Patong is very crowded during the high-season and there is some traffic congestion and noise along the road front with Tuk-tuks and motorcycle taxi hawking after customers.
Because it is so crowded with tourists and Thai vendors, Patong Beach is not very relaxing at times. The government has introduced new rules after the tsunami trying to improve conditions along the beach, but constant problems with vendors and renters cause headaches for sunbathers and swimmers. There are still lounge chairs and umbrellas to rent for the day, but the government has taken strict control on how many will be available in an attempt to beautify and renovate the beach area. A beach-long beautification project has a scheduled completion of late 2005. While Patong Beach is surely convenient, and has a nice view of the Andaman Sea, most people using the beach are staying in Patong and like the fast-paced life-style and action that is part of the attraction of Patong.
Everything is centrally located near the beach.
Fast food outlets like McDonalds, KFC, Subway, etc are all along the beach road, as are grocery stores, dive shops, and just about everything else you can think of needing. Major hotels like the Holiday Inn, Bura Sara, and the Coral Reef, and others have prime spots facing the ocean. Smaller guesthouses and bungalows can be found on the north end of the beach.
