Thailand’s largest island is always happy to welcome guests: delicious tom yam, colorful sunsets, the most cheerful street with bars, chic massage, spicy rum, the atmosphere of eternal sabai sabai and beaches of fantastic beauty. Well, in order not to puzzle over where to stop, we have prepared this article. Make yourself comfortable — the material was collected by a large group of friends living in Phuket.
Contents
- Karon
- Kata
- Patong
- Paradise
- Freedom
- Rawai
- Mai Kao
- Knighton
- Surin
- Laguna Beach
How to get there
There are direct Aeroflot flights from Moscow to Phuket (from 93,000 rubles in both directions in February–March 2024), as well as Red Wings and Pegas Fly charters, you will spend almost 10 hours on the way. If you are flying to the island with a transfer in Bangkok, do not miss the chance to get to know the capital of the Kingdom better.
Karon Beach
- For whom: lovers of a good beach holiday and clean water.
Phuket has three of the most popular beaches (Karon, Kata and Patong), and this one is the main one. Karon is located on the west coast of the island. It is the most spacious: there is a long (almost 4 km) and wide coastline, clear sea, creaky sand, good entry into the water and various water activities in the form of boats and parachutes. But there are a few nuances that need to be taken into account. The beach has big waves and the entire infrastructure is not on the coast, but across the street: hotels, restaurants, taxis, shops, karaoke and massage spots.
Where to go and what to do: on Karon, the sky shows colorful sunsets, and they also serve delicious food here. Local expats are advised to go for ricotta cheesecakes for breakfast at Homemade Desserts Phuket by Anastasia Mayer, and for excellent Turkish cuisine for a hearty dinner — at Cappadocia Turkish Restaurant Karon Beach Phuket.
Karon is located on the west coast of the island. Photo: Zephyr_p/Shutterstock.com
Where to stay:
- OZO Phuket from 15,225 rubles for two per night;
- Wekata Luxury — from 7015 rubles;
- The Front Village — from 4892 rubles;
- Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket — from 31,427 rubles;
- Chanalai Hillside Resort, Karon Beach — from 12,554 rubles
Where, if not to Phuket
The choice of beautiful islands for holidays in Thailand is impressive: choose the most attractive one from this list.
Kata Beach
- For whom: Come for a stylish party and surfing.
The small beach of Kata is located next to Karon and boasts snow-white sand and clear water. First of all, the beach is famous among water sports enthusiasts: you will find spots for surfing, sapsurfing and snorkeling, as well as shops and rental points with clothes and equipment. The atmosphere on Katya is pleasantly party-like: a lot of cute bars with trendy guys and the spirit of freedom and adventure in the air.
A little further along the coastline is Kata Noi beach, where it is calm and measured, you can come with the whole family and enjoy a quiet holiday.
A little further along the coastline is Kata Noi Beach. Photo: Joey Santini/Shutterstock.com
Where to go and what to do: go to breakfast with a cool view at Cannelle Kata Bakery & Co, try your hand at conquering an ordinary sea or artificial wave at Super Surf Kata (or just have a delicious drink and eat with a view of surfers) and look at Jurassic dinosaurs at Dino park Mini Golf & Restaurant.
Where to stay:
- Chanalai Romantica Resort Kata Beach Adults Only — from 21,272 rubles for two/night;
- Chanalai Garden Resort, Kata Beach — from 19,442 rubles;
- The Blue Pearl Kata Hotel — from 6596 rubles;
- Sugar Marina Resort Surf Kata Beach — from 5263 rub.;
- The SIS Kata Resort — from 10,869 rubles.
Chanalai Romantica Resort Kata Beach Adults Only.
Patong Beach
- For whom:Stop here for noisy parties until morning.
We advise those who love nightlife to settle here. Patong is home to bars, cafes, restaurants and the most popular street Bangla Road, where lights shine, music thunders and alcohol flows like a river. The vibe of a “Bachelor Party in Vegas”, which is worth experiencing at least once during a vacation.
The beach is always very crowded, so introverts and lovers of tranquility should definitely not go here. The beach is far from the cleanest, but it offers a lot of entertainment and you will not be bored here.
The beach is always very crowded, so introverts and lovers of tranquility should definitely not go here. Photo: Joey Santini/Shutterstock.com
Where to go and what to do: sip cocktails at establishments on Bangla Road. A vacation after all.
Where to stay:
- Hotel Indigo Phuket Patong, an IHG Hotel — from RUB 16,137 for two/night;
- Patong Resort — from 5738 rubles per night;
- The Frutta Boutique Patong Beach — from 3186 rubles per night;
- Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket — from 31,427 rubles per night;
- Bauman Residence — from 6714 rubles per night.
Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket.
Paradise Beach
- For whom:come if you dream of sunbathing on a comfortable sun lounger, having a shower and other benefits of an equipped beach at your side and are ready to pay for it.
Keep in mind: all available food and drinks are taken away at the entrance, and if you live far away and do not drive a bike, then get ready that it will not be easy to catch a taxi. You should swim carefully during low tide — there are a lot of rocks and corals here. And the rest is a complete paradise!
Paradise Beach is just a 10-minute drive from Patong and, as the name suggests, offers scenery in the style of a Bounty bar advertisement. Photo: Huzaifa Bin Yaseen/Shutterstock.com
Where to go and what to do: exceptional chillout, no unnecessary gestures.
Where to stay:
- Palmyra Patong Resort Hotel — from 10,560 rubles for two/night;
- MAI HOUSE Patong Hill — from 8,728 rubles;
- Lotus Hotel Patong — from 2412 rub.;
- Deevana Patong Resort & Spa — from 8301 RUB.
Palmyra Patong Resort Hotel.
Top 7 things to do in Phuket
- Write a wish on a special heart and tie a string on your hand from a Buddhist monk in the temple of the Great Buddhas;
- view the city from a height in the company of monkeys on the observation deck;
- wander around the Old Town of Phuket;
- meet the dawn at the Samet Nangshe observation deck;
- spend one of the best sunsets in your life are here and here;
- have a party like the last time in one of the clubs on Bangla Road.
Freedom Beach
- For whom: brave beachgoers who are ready to overcome small obstacles for the sake of contemplating beauty.
A small Freedom beach will delight you with pristine landscapes and snow-white sand. But to get to this paradise, you will have to overcome a 15-minute steep descent over the rocks and pay 100 baht/260 rubles for admission. But you will admire granites of various shapes, azure water and lush greenery around. There are no showers and changing rooms, there are paid deck chairs, there are few people, because not everyone is ready to overcome such obstacles.
Where to stay:
A small Freedom beach will delight you with pristine landscapes and snow-white sand. Photo: Aykut.Ekinci/Shutterstock.com
Rawai Beach
- For whom: ideal if you plan to stay on the island longer.
Mostly expats who settle here for a long time settle in the area of Rawai beach. Local foreigners say that it is here that you can feel the authenticity of the real Phuket. The area is quiet, however, it is inconvenient to swim on the beach because of the shallow water and many coral rocks. But it perfectly performs the function of a port — colorful Thai boats will take you from here to the nearby islands. A separate point of the program is always fresh seafood, which is prepared in numerous kiosks and cafes.
Where to go and what to do: come for seafood at the most famous Rawai Seafood Market in the area, choose sea reptiles and the cooking method, and then take rum or something non-alcoholic and go watch the boats going off into the sunset. For an excellent tom-yam, go to THE CORNER HUT Local Thai Food and MOM restaurant, for Balinese bowls — to Woodstock Rawai, and for delicious coffee, welcome to KenKen Coffee and BOOST | Cafe & Restaurant Phuket.
The best massage is done in LeSpa by Stay and in Rungaron Massage, and in PakponRelax Sauna Massage Bar MassagePool there is also a sauna.
Come for seafood at the most famous Rawai Seafood Market in the area Photo: Chere/Shutterstock.com
From Rawai Beach, it is worth going on a sea cruise to the islands of the Phi Phi archipelago, Promthep Cape or Coral Island.
If you need to swim near Rawai beach, choose Nai Harn beach: there are top-end paradisiacal landscapes, mostly locals relax, gorgeous sand and clean water. The place is suitable for both swimming and all kinds of water sports — there are even rowing races and regattas. There is a small Yanui Beach near Nai Harn, where you can rent a board and go to conquer the water expanses.
Where to stay:
- Baan Krating Phuket Resort — from 7534 rubles for two/night;
- Rawai Grand House — from 9628 rubles per night;
- Rawai Palm Beach Resort — from 9930 rubles per night;
- Roost Glamping — from 5892 rubles per night;
- Hotel Rawai VIP Villas, Kids Park & Spa — from 17,194 rubles per night.
Hotel Rawai VIP Villas, Kids Park & Spa.
Mai Khao Beach
- For whom: if you want to take an epic photo with a low-flying plane.
Where to go and what to do: in addition to a photo shoot with a flying iron bird, from November to March on Mai Khao you can observe turtles that lay eggs here. Surfers love to ride the local waves, but if you are not a fan of extreme sports, then from the mandatory program it is worth catching some beautiful sunsets and having a picnic on Nai Yang Beach.
Where to stay:
- Splash Beach Resort — from 8626 rub. for two/night;
- Maikhao Hotel managed by Centara — from 4186 rubles;
- Bliss Boutique Yachting Phuket — from 5433 rubles;
- Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa — from RUB 27,078;
- JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa — from 31,859 rubles.
Mai Khao Beach is famous primarily for its proximity to the airport and the opportunity to watch planes take off very close. Photo: Southtownboy Studio/Shutterstock.com
What to bring from Thailand
Wooden products, silk, a cookbook — you will find a complete list of souvenirs in the selection.
Knighton Beach
- For whom: come here for privacy.
The road to the green and cozy Knighton Beach goes through a photogenic wooden bridge. There are few people here, fantastic nature, you can swim with a mask and watch the fish, and also views of the fiery sunset. In general, this is one of the most beautiful and sparsely populated beaches on the island.
Where to stay:
- Pullman Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach — from RUB 26,181 per night.
The road to the green and cozy Knighton Beach goes through a photogenic wooden bridge. Photo: Thomas Collett/Shutterstock.com
Surin Beach
- For whom: choose Surin to relax on one of the most beautiful beaches on the island.
Another small, sparsely populated and charming beach is Surin. A clean, cozy beach with a good entrance to the water.
Where to go and what to do: swim and sunbathe in the afternoon, and watch the sunset in the evening and go for dinner with delicious seafood in one of the lovely restaurants, and then arrange a tour of the bars.
Where to stay:
- Studio With Pool and gym — from 11,114 rubles for two/night;
- 6th Avenue Surin Beach — from 6740 rubles;
- Am Surin Place — from 4800 rubles;
- Arinara Beach Resort Phuket — from 9441 rubles;
- Benyada Lodge — from 8719 rubles
Another small, sparsely populated and charming beach is Surin. Photo: Simon Dannhauer/Shutterstock.com
Laguna Beach
- For whom: the place is suitable for connoisseurs of tranquility and landscapes from the picture.
We conclude our selection with one of the most beautiful and quiet beaches on the island. Laguna Beach has clear water, snow—white sand and no waves – such Thai peace and grace here.
Where to go and what to do: in addition to a beach holiday, take a look at the cafe Ma Doo Bua, where you will find huge water lilies that make impressive pictures.
Where to stay:
- Laguna Holiday Club Phuket Resort — from 8302 rubles per night.
Laguna Beach has clear water, snow—white sand and no waves – such Thai peace and grace here. Photo: loveyousomuch/Shutterstock.com
Now you are aware of the most beautiful and delicious locations on the island. Come, relax and enjoy the hospitality of friendly Thailand. Sabai-sabai!
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Cover photo: saiko3p/Shutterstock.com
