Phuket’s beaches have gained quite a bit of reputation in recent years, and for good reason. Blessed with expansive stretches of white sands and turquoise blue ocean vistas, the beauty of Phuket beaches is unmatched, at least till the peak tourist season arrives in Thailand.
During the peak tourist months, the beauty of Phuket’s beaches is often compromised by the hordes of tourists that flock to experience their beauty.
If you don’t like crowds and are looking for a tranquil beach experience on your upcoming trip to Phuket, or simply want to explore the unexplored, here’s a list of the top offbeat beaches in the city:
Bang Tao Beach
Bangtao Beach, Pansea and Surin beaches are a part of Choeng Thale in a very beautiful part of Phuket’s west coast. It consists of a parade of 5-star hotels along the beachfronts where the villagers make their living by fishing, farming and rubber tapping. In the middle of Bang Tao Beach lies the Laguna Phuket, one of Asia’s largest resort complexes.
Distance from Patong Beach
Bang Tao is located at a distance of approximately 13 kilometres from Patong Beach. But the road distance is approximately 19 kilometres. It takes around 40 minutes to reach Bang Tao Beach from the Patong Beach via Route 4030.
How to Reach
You can travel between Patong and Bang Tao via Bang Tao Beach bus services, which is operated by Phuket Smart Bus. The bus fare will cost you around 85 to 170 baht and takes approximately an hour to travel the distance between Bang Tao and Patong. The buses connect Boat Avenue Cherng Talay station in Bang Tao to Patong Station in Patong. The road distance between Patong to Bang Tao Beach is 20 kilometres which takes approximately 20 minutes to drive from Patong to Bang Tao Beach. A hired taxi costs you about 470 and 600 baht.
Naiyang Beach
Nai Yang Beach or Naiyang Beach is a bustling beach front which is just a five-minute drive towards south of the airport. It is a popular picnic spot for the locals. This beach offers all kinds of beach fun. The Naiyang Beach is fringed with casuarina trees and is ideal for relaxing in the shady spot and catching some souvenirs and food vendors.
Distance from Patong Beach
Naiyang Beach is located at a distance of 38 kilometres from Patong Beach. It takes approximately 50 minutes to reach Naiyang Beach, Phuket, from the Patong Beach via Route 402.
How to Reach
The distance from Patong Beach to Naiyang Beach can be covered by bus by paying a bus fare of 130 – 185 baht and takes around 1 hour 40 minutes to reach the destination with breaks. If you catch a bus via Thalang Temple then the bus fare would be between 145 – 225 baht and would take around 2 hours 15 minutes. Buses run every hour and Phuket Smart Bus accepts cash, prompt pay or the Phuket rabbit card. On the contrary, taxi takes around 35 minutes to reach but is expensive and taxi fare would be in the range of around 890 – 1110 baht to cover the same distance. Renting a bike or car and roaming freely is always an option. Even covering the spot clubbed with other nearby sightseeing destinations is also an option.
Mai Khao Beach
Mai Khao Beach on the northwest coast of Phuket is pristine and unexplored. It is a blissful 11 kilometres long and straight beach and a part of the Sirinat National Park. The luxurious JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Phuket International Airport are located close by. The beach sand is coarse and the beach remains joyfully secluded.
Distance from Patong Beach
Mai Khao Beach is located at a distance of 41 kilometres from Patong Beach. It takes approximately 50 minutes to reach Mai Khao Beach, Phuket, from the Patong Beach via Route 402.
The distance from Patong Beach to Mai Khao Beach can be covered by bus in about 2 hours. Bus fare to cover the journey is around of 640 – 810 baht as it includes the taxi fare till Phuket Airport which is 470 – 600 baht. Buses run every hour from Phuket Airport and Phuket Smart Bus accepts cash, prompt pay or the Phuket rabbit card. The taxi will connect to Phuket airport and from there bus plies to Mai Khao Beach. Taxi however takes around 45 minutes to reach but charges will be more. Taxi fare would be in the range of around 940 – 1150 to cover the same distance. Renting a bike or car and roaming freely is always an option. Covering the spot clubbed with other nearby sightseeing destinations promises a lot of fun.
How to Reach
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Nai Thon Beach
Nai Thon Beach is quiet and serene, located in Phuket’s West Coast. It is a beautiful stretch of sand to get away from the maddening crowds and enjoy a lazy swim. The sea at Nai Thon Beach is flat, calm and crystal-clear. There are beach restaurants to enjoy blissful dinners with bare feet dipped in the soft sand.
Distance from Patong Beach
Nai Thon Beach is located at an approximate distance of 38 kilometres from Patong Beach. It takes approximately 45 minutes to reach Nai Thon Beach, Phuket, from the Patong Beach via Route 402. It takes almost the same time via Route 4030 with a distance of 29 kilometres approximately.
How to Reach
The distance from Patong Beach to Nai Thon Beach can be covered partially by car/taxi and rest by bus. The journey from Patong Beach till Baan Khian will be by bus which takes around 1 hour 10 minutes and charges would be 94 – 170 baht. Rest of the journey from Baan Khian to Nai Thon by taxi will take around 9 minutes and taxi charges would be of 300 – 360 baht. On the other hand, travelling solely by taxi takes around 35 minutes to reach but is expensive and taxi fare would be in the range of around 640 – 810 baht to cover the entire distance. Renting a bike or car and reaching the famous attraction is always an option. Even covering Nai Thon Beach with other nearby tourist attractions such as Phuket Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is a good choice.
Ao Sane Beach
Ao Sane Beach is one of Phuket’s hidden and secluded beaches away from the prying eyes of mortals. It is one beach where time has sat still for the past twenty years changing nothing. This tiny sandy cove can be reached with a little effort. Beach bumming and snorkelling are the favourite leisure activities in this beach.
Distance from Patong Beach
The Ao Sane Beach is located at a distance of approximately 20 kilometres from Patong Beach. It takes approximately 35 minutes to reach Ao Sane Beach, Phuket, from the Patong Beach via Route 4030. It takes 37 minutes to cover the distance through Route 4028 and cover 28 kilometres via Route 4024, which takes 41 minutes.
How to Reach
To get to the Ao Sane Beach and you will have to follow the directions for the more famous Nai Harn Beach and continue towards The Nai Harn, the 5-star hotel at the northern end of the beach. You need to drive through the hotel grounds, head up over the hill and thereby reach a small parking lot with a road leading down to the Ao Sane Beach. Driving down to the Ao Sane Beach from Patong by a rented vehicle such as a two-wheeler or a car is another option that can save a lot of time and is much more affordable than to rely on Phuket taxis that charge quite extravagantly. Rates for renting of bikes and cars depend on the type of bike or car rented and the duration for which it is being rented.
We hope you have enjoyed reading about offbeat beaches in Phuket. For complete information on any destination in Thailand like Phuket, Krabi, Bangkok, Pattaya and Koh Samui, please visit Thailand Tourism. If you have any suggestion then feel free to leave a comment in our comment box and we will be happy to reply on that.
