Author: Allphuketrealestate | Total views: 39 Comments: 0
Word Count: 2986 Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2008 5:48 PM

All Phuket Real Estate - Phuket Beaches

Bangtao

Bangtao is a 8 km long sweeping crescent shaped bay with a gentle slope and absolutely pure white sand and is fringed with rows of casuarina trees. The constant but gentle breeze on this bay has made Bangtao Beach very popular with windsurfers and it plays host to several international competitions each year. The main entrance to Bangtao beach is 2 km north of Surin Village and marked with large signs from the sprawling Laguna Phuket complex that takes up most of the middle of the bay.

The Laguna Phuket complex, containing five luxury hotels and an 18-hole golf course, dominates a large area of Bang Tao. However, it is not difficult to find a quiet spot to enjoy the crystal clear water and stunning white sand.

This remark able complex of five luxury resort hotels integrated into one into what appears to be small city by the sea.

The Banyan Tree Phuket, The Allamanda, Dusit Laguna, The Sheraton Phuket, and the Laguna Beach resort all employ the same low rise village style architecture that are uniquely designed to blend with the vastness of the old tin mine which is what this area used to be. The old tin mining lake is now a beautifully landscaped lagoon that serves as a watersports center.

The southern end of the beach is more developed and is where most of the accommodation is located, so if you want the beach to yourself, walk to the northern end where its much quieter.

There are a number of shops, restaurants and bars near the entrance to Laguna Phuket, as well as those within the resort complex. The nearby town of Cherng Talay has a few shops as well as a fresh market. Canal Village within Laguna Phuket comprises about 30 shops, mostly selling handicrafts and clothing items.

Chalong

Chalong is a large bay with a pier that is the main departure point for diving and fishing trips from Phuket. The pier is a good place to charter boats for fishing, diving or snorkeling trips to nearby islands.

Chalong Bay does not have a great beach for swimming due to the muddy bottom and large number of boats moored here. It is also home to the islands only active yacht club which organizes regular yacht races which often involve racing around the five islands that protect chalong making it a perfect natural harbor for smaller craft.

Just inland is Chalong traffic circle. This area is popular among expat’s living in Phuket and there are some good restaurants and bars nearby.

The Chalong area is home to numerous tour operators, yachting companies, game fishing charters and dive shops. You will also find spas offering massages, herbal saunas, yoga classes and a Reiki centre in the Chalong Circle area. Phuket Zoo is located in the Chalong area.

There are some delicious and inexpensive seafood restaurants along the beachfront with views of the charming bay. These can be found either along the road past Phuket Zoo or just to the south at Chalong Pier.

Kamala

Kamala is about 10 minutes drive north from Patong and a great place for those wanting to get away from the hustle and bustle. The southern end of this beautiful bay has a coral reef just a few meters offshore. Kamala is not over-developed yet, although there are some guesthouses and a few resorts.

The 2.5 km crescent shaped bay is dotted with casuarinas trees on the first half of the coastline and coconut palms and sugar palms decorate the other. In the past two or three year, Kamala has changed a lot and became a small beach resort with all the facilities for perfect holidays, but still peaceful and friendly. Many New hotels opened along he beach road, and some more secluded on the smaller southern beach, like the Kamala Bay Terrace Resort or the the Kamala Beach Estate.

This end of the beach offers a peaceful tranquil environment with crystal clear water and coral reefs just a few meters offshore. Back to the bridge and a right turn brings you to a small fishing village strung out along the beach going north. Intermixed with small house is the occasional store and restaurant.

There is a good selection of Thai restaurants, noodle shops and a few western restaurants in the area. The local people are mostly ethnic Malay and there are some good local restaurants serving tasty Muslim food.

Karon

Karon, featuring an incredibly long stretch of squeaky white sand, is less hectic than Patong but it still offers a full range of facilities, dining and activities. While it 's a fast-growing area, Karon is one of Phuket 's longer beaches, very popular due to its fine white sand. Being so long the sun beds are well spaced out so it never feels crowded.

Karon is concentrated around three main areas. In the Karon Plaza area on the south end there a number of budget guesthouses, restaurants and bars. The side sois are worth exploring, particularly the one that leads to a small art community. Nearby, on the beach road leading to Kata, is the football stadium, which hosts both local and international sporting events.

Whilst Karon 's nightlife doesn't have the frenetic pace found in Patong there 's still plenty of fun to be had. Revolving around bars, Karon 's nightlife is packed into a small area with many places to choose from.

The bars are popular with both expat’s and tourists, some are beers bars but they're harmless enough. Most places start to close at midnight.

Souvenirs can be found everywhere in Karon however you need to look elsewhere for a major shopping experience. Beachwear and clothing is widely avail able.

Kata

The pleasant bay of Kata, just a few minutes south of Karon beach, entices many with its white sands and clear waters.

Very popular with families, Kata is an all round favorite due to its spectacular beach, great restaurants, lively but not raucous nightlife and not to mention varied accommodation options - all close to the beach. April to September surfers flock to enjoy Kata 's somewhat small waves. The beach is palm lined and fairly busy but never too crowded to be annoying.

In the high season, yachts moor just offshore, adding to the ambience and the sunsets here are some of the best in Thailand. Restaurant lined or tree lined, there 's a perfect spot for everyone at Kata.

With the exception of the popular Easy rider’s Pub with its live, excellent but loud music - and a few pockets of beer bars - nightlife in Kata is mostly family oriented and relaxed. Kata 's many open-air bars, restaurants and shops are where most visitors relax in the evening. There are some good bars that open late but they are very unobtrusive, however those who seek them out will find them.

For many, one of the main draws to Kata is the number of high-quality restaurants that offer excellent value for money. Kata is fortunate to have more than its fair share of eateries that have been recognized as amongst the best in Thailand. In southern Kata there are several upscale resorts and restaurants where fine dining is avail able.

Kata is split into two focal areas: Kata Centre, which is at the northern end close to Karon and Kata South, home to several resorts. The Club Med takes up most of the beach road, resulting in a shaded footpath that makes for a pleasant stroll. Continuing on through the village, visitors will find an abundance of shops to browse in, from souvenir and ready-to-wear outlets, to 7-Elevens and local mini-marts, to name-brand fashion stores. There are also plenty of dive shops and tour operators to assist those looking to explore beyond the beach

Laem Singh

Laem Singh is a small secluded beach that can get quite crowded during the high season. Easy to get to but can also be easy to miss if you are not careful.

Laem Singh beach is located a few minutes drive north of Kamala in a small curving bay at the foot of forest-fringed cliffs. There is no accommodation here and not much other development except a few restaurants.

Both entrances to the beach have car parks, for which there is sometimes a small charge. If you don't fancy the steep walk down, head for the second car park on the road coming from Kamala heading north. The path here is longer but not as steep.

Because the beach can only be accessed by a walk down a steep path, Laem Singh has a more private feel than many of Phuket 's other beaches. Nevertheless it can get quite busy on the weekends with plenty of sun-beds as its one of the most beautiful spots on the island.

Laem Singh really is a gorgeous beach and the sea here is lovely. The southern part has some nice coral which is worth exploring with some snorkel gear. This can be rented from one of the shops on the beach. There are usually some sea kayaks for rent or you could also go water-skiing or rent a jet-ski for some faster thrills.

Mai Kao beach

Located just north of the airport is Mai Kao beach, an incredibly long and deserted stretch of sand.

There is no tourist development here except for the JW Marriott Resort & Spa. Mai Kao is the longest beach on the island and also the most deserted. If you really want to get away from it all this is the beach for you.

Mai Kao is part of the Sirinath National Park, which also includes Nai Yang and Nai Thon, the next beaches along to the south. The area was declared a national park in 1981 to protect the Olive Ridley Sea Turtles that lay their eggs here from November to February.

The sea here is fine for swimming during the dry season but a strong undertow and large waves make Mai Kao particularly dangerous for swimmers between May and October.

Nai Harn

One of the loveliest beaches in Phuket, Nai Harn is relatively undeveloped thanks to the Samnak Song Nai Harn monastery which occupies a large portion of the beachfront land. Except for the exclusive Phuket Yacht Club and its amazing view on a turquoise bay and some small islands, Nai Harn is not as developed as other south coast beaches.

This beach is not recommended for swimming during monsoon season but it really varies according to daily weather changes. Watch for the warning flags and use some common sense. A number of food vendors here offer inexpensive but quite tasty food.

Behind the beach is a lagoon where there are some up market housing developments and a few good bars and restaurants.

The many yachts anchoring in the bay during high season add to the tropical holiday feeling which is unique on Phuket Island.

Ao Sane

This is a small rocky beach that can only be reached by a small road that runs underneath the Phuket Yacht Club. There are a couple of bungalow operations here as well as a couple of restaurants.

Nai Thon

Nai Thon is a nice quiet place to sit in the sun or take in a swim. Although it’s quiet, the beach

is not completely deserted and there are a few sun beds avail able for hire.

As you descend the last hill you will find a peaceful, quiet cove, beautiful along its length, and well sheltered from wind and waves and offers wonderful swimming. Both ends of the beach are flanked with rocky headlands jutting out to the sea. Corals and rich marine life are drawn to the rocks and they offer excellent fishing.

Part of the reason Nai Thon has managed to remain so peaceful is that it is quite isolated. The road leading to the beach winds through jungle and rubber plantations as well as over a few hills. There is a small fishing village across the road from the beach with some small bungalows and a few small restaurants.

Patong Beach

Patong Beach is a beach on Phuket 's west coast. It is the main tourist resort in Phuket and contains the centre of Phuket 's nightlife and cheap shopping on the island. The beach became popular with western tourists, especially Europeans, in the late 1980s. Numerous large hotels and chain hotels are located in Patong.

Patong 's 3 km strip of golden sand is one of the most popular beaches in Phuket, it 's a place to watch the world go by. By day, Patong Beach is a hive of activity with parasail and jet-ski operators, boat drivers, beach vendors and masseuses all vying for the attention of the many visitors relaxing on the beach chairs.

During November to April (NE monsoon) the water is very flat and calm. May to October (SW monsoon) there can be some larger waves on some days however Patong beach is safe to swim on most days, pay attention to the red flags when they're out.

Patong Beach is maybe more famous for its nightlife than the 2-kilometer beach that runs the entire length of Patong. Nightlife is centered on two main areas Bangla Road and Paradise Complex, with Bangla Road being predominantly straight and Paradise Complex being predominantly gay. Much mixing of the two scenes occurs due to Phuket Island 's tolerant nature.

Being the main centre of tourist activity in Phuket, its no surprise that Patong has the highest concentration of restaurants to be found on the island. Patong is a cosmopolitan place, attracting visitors from all over the world and the cuisine choices reflect this in their diversity. If you're feeling adventurous there 's bound to be something you've never heard of and if you're missing the pleasures of home you're sure to discover a restaurant with some down-home comfort food.

Patong Beach transforms into a large night bazaar every evening, when all the main roads become clogged with stalls selling handicrafts, silk scarves, sarongs and a variety of beach clothes, leisure wear, leather goods and luggage, CDs, computer games and electronic gadgets and toys.

It 's chaotic but fun if you approach it with the right attitude -- just remember that bargaining yields the best results when done lightheartedly and with a smile. The two Ocean Plaza department stores in Patong, one on the south end of the beach road and the other on Bangla Rd, are good spots to escape the heat while shopping. Jungceylon is a monster of a shopping centre. It contains just about everything that shoppers could conceivably need and is a must-do if you're a bargain hunter. Situated on Rat-U-Thit Rd. diagonally opposite the eastern end of Soi Bangla, you simply can't miss it. The two main stores in the complex are Robinson and Carrefour. The almost 200 other stores in this new shopping heaven sell branded goods.

Surin

A kilometer north of Laem Sing Beach lays the popular Surin Beach. As of now this beach has not been developed Although there are now a few hotels springing up Surin is still quiet and peaceful bay lined with a row of stately Casuarina trees.

For the careful swimmer Surin offers some good snorkeling opportunities at both ends of the beach but during the rainy season the water visibility is not very good. Big waves that are common on Surin beach during the monsoon season have caused a steep drop from the shore to the water line and can create dangerous undertow conditions. During high tide when the swells are big and running swiftly good surfing condition exist here and is becoming an increasingly popular sport. There are some vendors renting surf boards at the beach at a reason able price. Good surfing conditions can make for hazardous swimming and care must be taken with children and non-swimmers.

Surin Village

Is the traditional heart of Phuket’s Muslim community. As you pass through this picturesque village strung out along the highway you will see the Ban Thao Mosque. This impressive and ornate structure is the largest mosque on the island. Visitors are allowed and discrete photos may be taken, but care should be exercised and avoid going on Fridays the Muslim holy day. The village offers several roadside markets that offer up delicious Muslim food and fruit picked fresh from the many nearby orchards. When ordering food or buying fruit you may have to resort to "point and smile technique", because English is for the most part only spoken by the younger generation. At the traffic light you can continue straight to the Heroines Monument and the main road to Phuket Town or go left and continue for your tour of the northern beaches

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