Phuket Beaches: Guide, Map and Beach Directory
Phuket beaches range from long developed bays on the west coast to small rocky coves and quieter northern shores. This guide brings together an interactive map, practical comparisons and direct links to 31 individual WOP beach guides, with access, facilities and swimming conditions explained on each page.
Explore 31 Phuket beaches on the map. Click a number to zoom in, then click a marker to open the beach guide.
Choose a Phuket beach by purpose
- Nightlife and maximum convenience: Patong places hotels, restaurants, shopping and late-night venues directly behind the beach.
- Long sandy beaches: Bang Tao, Karon, Mai Khao and Kamala provide extended shorelines, although their facilities and surroundings differ considerably.
- Quieter northern settings: Mai Khao, Nai Yang, Naithon and Layan generally have less concentrated development than Phuket’s main resort centres.
- Smaller coves: Ao Sane, Yanui, Tri Trang, Banana Beach and Laem Singh require closer attention to access, tides, rocks and available facilities.
- Detailed comparison: The Best Beaches in Phuket guide compares the island’s principal choices without treating one beach as suitable for every visitor.
Phuket beaches by area
North Phuket has the island’s longest, least concentrated coastal stretches. Mai Khao, Nai Yang and Naithon are the main public beach areas, while several smaller coves sit between Nai Thon and Layan.
The central west coast contains most of Phuket’s established resort beaches, from Bang Tao and Surin through Kamala and Patong. The coastline also includes rocky shorelines and smaller coves with more complicated access.
Southwest Phuket includes Karon, Kata, Kata Noi, Nai Harn and several compact coves. It combines developed resort areas with smaller beaches where tides, rocks and limited parking affect practical use.
North Phuket
Haad Pak Phra Beach
Tidal northern shoreline beside the Pak Phra Strait, better suited to coastal observation than swimming.
Sai Kaew Beach Phuket
Northern west-coast shoreline between Mai Khao and Sarasin Bridge, with open sand and limited development.
Mai Khao Beach Phuket
Long northern shoreline beside Sirinat National Park, exposed to strong seasonal surf.
Nai Yang Beach Phuket
Tree-lined beach inside Sirinat National Park with village facilities and convenient airport access.
Naithon Beach Phuket
Northwest bay with roadside access, tree shade and stronger waves during the southwest monsoon.
Banana Beach Phuket
Compact northwest cove between Nai Thon and Layan with seasonal swimming and limited space.
White Beach Phuket
Small resort-fronted cove near Nai Thon with restricted land access.
Trisara Beach Phuket
Small resort-fronted cove with restricted land access and a rocky seabed.
Layan Beach Phuket
Northern end of the Bang Tao coastline with shallow water, shade and limited development.
Central West Coast
Bang Tao Beach Phuket
Long west-coast bay with resorts, beach clubs and quieter northern stretches.
Surin Beach Phuket
Broad sandy bay with easy road access and stronger waves during the southwest monsoon.
Pansea Beach Phuket
Compact resort-fronted cove between Surin and Bang Tao with restricted land access.
Laem Singh Beach Phuket
Small cove between Kamala and Surin, reached by coastal trail or boat depending on conditions.
Kamala Beach Phuket
Long bay with a village promenade, restaurants and generally calmer dry-season water.
Rayee Beach Phuket
Rocky beach south of Kamala, used mainly for walking and tide-dependent snorkelling.
Hua Beach Phuket
Small rocky cove south of Kamala with natural shade and no permanent lifeguard service.
Yae Beach Phuket
Small west-coast cove near Kamala with a rocky seabed and restricted land access.
Kalim Beach Phuket
Rocky shoreline north of Patong, known for evening food stalls and seasonal surf.
Patong Beach Phuket
Phuket’s busiest resort beach, with water sports, shopping, dining and nightlife nearby.
Paradise Beach Phuket
Sheltered cove south of Patong with managed facilities and paid land access.
Tri Trang Beach Phuket
Shallow sheltered bay south of Patong where swimming depends heavily on the tide.
Merlin Beach Phuket
Small cove near Patong with a rocky reef and tide-dependent snorkelling.
Freedom Beach Phuket
White-sand cove south of Patong reached by a steep trail or seasonal boat service.
Southwest Phuket
Karon Noi Beach Phuket
Sheltered sandy cove in front of Le Méridien Phuket Beach Resort with restricted land access.
Karon Beach Phuket
Broad open west-coast beach with a long sandy shoreline and strong seasonal waves.
Kata Beach Phuket
Developed bay with hotels, restaurants, lifeguards and seasonal surf.
Kata Noi Beach Phuket
Compact bay south of Kata with limited access points and generally calmer dry-season water.
Nui Beach Phuket
Small cove with steep access, paid transport arrangements and limited beach space.
Nai Harn Beach Phuket
Southern public bay with lifeguards, calmer dry-season water and seasonal surf.
Ao Sane Beach Phuket
Small rocky cove near Nai Harn with shore snorkelling, steep paths and limited facilities.
Yanui Beach Phuket
Compact southern cove between Nai Harn and Promthep Cape, used for kayaking and snorkelling.
Sea conditions and season
Calmer dry-season conditions are common from November to April, but daily weather, tides and local seabed conditions still matter. From May to October, west-coast swell can produce stronger waves, rip currents and red-flag closures.
Beach access, facilities and commercial arrangements can change. Individual guides should be checked for the latest WOP information, and local lifeguard instructions and warning flags always take priority.