Found the BEST PHUKET BEACHES (Part 2)
As promised in Phuket Beach Review Part 1, I will continue to review the next 8 beaches but only after seeing them with my own eyes.
Eventually, I had a chance to return to Phuket again in April 2022 and was able to visit the rest of the beaches.
So in total, I visited 16 beaches (8 in Part 1 + 8 in Part 2).
On this trip, I found the best beach in Phuket, which I visited twice because I want to spend more time on that beach.
Table of Contents
Recapping from Part 1- Phuket Beach Reviews, I reviewed the top half beaches of Phuket map, which are 8 beaches:
- Sai Kaew Beach
- Mai Khao Beach – plane spotting
- Nai Yang Beach
- Nai Thon Beach – my most favorite in Part 1
- Bang Tao Beach
- Surin Beach
- Kamala Beach
- Freedom Beach – hidden beach
In Part 1, my most favorite one is Nai Thon Beach but after visiting all of them, I change my mind. So, let’s see how beautiful the beaches on the map’s bottom half are.
To be Fair and True
One thing I gotta mention is that when I photograph my intention is to share photos that look like what I see. I try not to process photos by editing or retouching them.
Because I want people to see the actual Phuket beaches’ scenes and surroundings. However, I still need to apply for exposure compensation in some conditions.
In the pictures below, I visited beaches on different days, some days were a cloudy sky which could make the beaches not beautiful as they should be.
Phuket Beaches Review - Part 2
Table of Contents
9. Patong Beach
Patong Beach is probably the most famous beach in Phuket, which means you can expect a lot of people there. The beach is pretty long, about 4 km, so even there are many people, it still has enough space for everyone.
As you can see, there are a lot of beach beds and umbrellas but if you don’t like it and want a little more personal space, you can walk further for vacant space and settle yours.
The beach is very clean, the water is clear and the sand is white and soft. So, it is a beautiful but busy beach.
Patong has a Thai massage service right on the beach, which I haven’t seen on other beaches. Such a relaxing thing to do.
10. Karon Beach
Super hotttttt – No tree, No shade. If your target is getting tan fast, come to Karon Beach. Because you won’t get tree shade to hide from the sun, not even for a short break!
Other beaches have some tree lines just behind, but Karon has only a few trees that can’t cool down the heat. I personally prefer a beach with a green area.
Still a lot of sun-loungers on the beach, but I think the vendors organize those better than Patong Beach because the beds and umbrellas don’t look messy to me.
The beach is long and wide. The water is clear and the sand color is slightly darker than in Patong. The beach is not overcrowded but not that quiet either.
In my opinion, this beach has no prominent point. So, if I were you, I would rather go to other beaches.
11. Kata Beach
The beach is not much different from Karon Beach. It is beautiful but the trees behind are closer to the sunbeds so the beach is not as hot as Karon.
Kata Beach doesn’t impress me much. Let’s move to the next beach, Kata Noi, it’s more appealing but not the best yet.
12. Kata Noi Beach
Kata Noi Beach is only 2 km away from Kata Beach. “Noi” in Thai means small, so this beach is quite small. It is only 600 meters long but lovely.
Two interesting places on the beach, one is a little and cozy bar located right at the beach with a relaxing atmosphere. Nice place to grab some drinks for refreshing.
Another is the hotel “Katathani Phuket Beach Resort”. It’s located right in front of the beach that you can easily walk to the sea.
However, I didn’t stay at Katathani Phuket Beach Resort because I didn’t notice it. You know, hundreds of hotels in Phuket but this one look pretty impressive. In Agoda, the hotel got an excellent score, 8.7, so I think it’s should be a great choice. I will try Katathani next time.
The negative aspect is the Jet Ski rental is too close to the area where many people playing in the water. I think it is unsafe that could cause an accident, and it’s also noisy.
13. Nai Harn Beach
Finally, come to Phuket’s best beach! If you read Part 1, you’ll remember that I love Nai Thon beach the most since it’s absolutely natural and peaceful. I thought that is my type until I went to Nai Harn Beach.
This beach has many restaurants, bars, shops, and food carts. Also, a lot of people, both locals and foreigners, as well as sunbeds.
However, it still has a large green area with big trees, providing shade where people can picnic, find something to eat and take a break from the heat.
Of course, the sea and the beach are definitely gorgeous – clean, soft and fine-grained sand with clear water.
Those surroundings create a good mix between nature and commercialization making Nai Harn Beach EXCEPTIONAL.
Therefore, my most favorite Phuket beach is Nai Harn. I visited it twice because, on the first day, I arrived late and needed to leave early to catch the sunset at Promthep Cape.
So, the next day, my girlfriend and I decided to come back to the beach again to spend more time there. However, it was not only Nai Harn but also Ya Nui Beach that we visited twice.
14. Ya Nui Beach
Ya Nui Beach, approximately a hundred meters long, is possibly Phuket’s tiniest beach, yet it’s really charming. You can and will feel it the moment you arrive on the beach. The parking, the trees and the beach itself are different from others.
The beach is in L shape, one side is covered in rock, so people just sunbathe. The other side also has rocks but still has some space for taking a dip.
Because it is so short, it is crowded, so don’t anticipate quiet or privacy. Water sports such as kayaking and snorkeling are available (100 baht/person/hour).
Opposite the parking area, there is a local restaurant (or perhaps two restaurants, I’m not sure, they’re kind of mixed together) that is eye-catching because it looks comfortable to sit and grab some drinks for refreshment under the shade of large trees.
Ya Nui Beach is highly recommended because of its warm and beautiful little beach. As mentioned, I came here twice.
15. Rawai Beach
Unlike other beaches, Rawai Beach is for seafood lovers! Especially at night. If you follow Google Maps, make sure you search for Rawai Seafood Market.
The business model here is different. These are what you gotta do:
- Park Your Vehicle. If you drive, there is a large parking area at the back of the market. It costs me 40 baht/car. For a motorbike, I think you can easily park on the sideroad for free before entering the market.
- Find a table first! There are many restaurants, choose one and inform the staff that you want to reserve a table. Ask them how long you need to wait. If you can wait, then continue to step 3.
I went there at night during Thailand’s long holiday, Songkran Festival. There were extremely long queues in every restaurant. I asked the staff how long it would take, and they said 2-3 hours!!! >>> OMG
I asked my girlfriend, should we wait?
The answer is “Definitely NOT” haha. Too longgg, so we quit but continue to observe and walk around to enjoy the moment.
- Pick Your Seafood. In front of those restaurants, you will see vendors selling fresh and alive seafood, lobsters, shrimps, crabs, fish, and whatever else you can think of. Pick what you like, pay and tell the name of your restaurant where you reserved a table.
By the way, if there is no price tag on the fresh, you should compare the price with the nearby vendors first.
- Choose Your Menus. Finally, return to the restaurant. They will weigh your fresh seafood and estimate the cooking price based on the menu (cooking ingredients) you select. For example, the cook-to-order pricing rate:
0.5 kg. 1 menu = 75 THB
1 kg. 1 menu = 100 THB
1 kg. 2 menu = 150 THB
Don’t worry they have an English menu for you to choose what you want.
You must come to Rawai Beach Seafood Market if you love authentic Thai cuisine with really fresh seafood. The price is cheap, but not that cheap because you still need to pay additional for cooking. The highlight is the fresh and the local ambiance.
16. Chalong Beach
Not for eating, and not for sunbathing. It serves as a pier for trips to surrounding islands such as Coral Island (Ko He) and Racha Island.
It’s really tough to find a parking space. I meant to pull over and walk around, but there was not a single parking spot available. So I merely took some photos from inside the car while traffic was stuck and then drove away.
So, unless you’ve planned a trip to the nearby islands, you don’t need to come here.
Sum up from Phuket Beaches Part 1 & 2
Part 1: I visited Phuket in December 2021 and was able to explore 8 beaches. Nai Thon Beach is my favorite due to its natural beauty and lack of commercialization.
Part 2: I returned to Phuket for the second time in April 2022, I toured the other 8 beaches and discovered that Nai Harn Beach has a tremendous ambiance so it becomes my most favorite instead. Despite being a commercialized beach, it features a superb combination of the beach, sand, green space, restaurants, and bars.
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Last but not least, another highlighted:
- Mai Khao Beach – watching the plane landing
- Ya Nui Beach – chilling on a cozy little beach
- Rawai Beach – eating fresh seafood in a local market (crowded)
These three beaches are one-of-a-kind experiences that I would also advise everyone to give a try.
You are the best! Currently in Phuket following all of your recommendations. As I type this, I’m on a Bolt drive headed to your new favorite beach (Nai Han) and really looking forward to it. Thanks for all the amazingly detailed information. Sharing this with my friends.
Thanks for sharing this extensive review!
Bravo!