Phuket's Best Beaches

PRO TIPS:

• Take a cheap flight from Bangkok right into Phuket. If you use Skyscanner, you can get tickets for as cheap as ~$30 CAD. It's a quick (less than an hour) flight, so it's not only the cheapest, but also the quickest way to get there.
•  If you're looking for the luxury life but are on a budget, this is the island for you. Cheap and luxurious, the hotels and food will give you that upscale experience. 
• 7/11 is your friend! Good snacks, drinks, and essentials abound. 

Day 1

Mai Khao Beach (Free)

Also known as Airport Beach, this beautiful stretch of land is well-named, since it's so close to the international airport where you will most likely be landing. The perfect first stop on your way to your hotel! This beach is large (about 11km) and not too busy so you'll be able to stretch out and spend some time. 

Plane spotting at Mai Khao Beach is excellent! It's proximity to the airport means planes taking off and landing regularily right above the beach. There is noise from the planes, but if you're an avid plane spotter, this is the beach to be on. 

#beach #beachtown #planeviews #aviation 

Pum Thai Restaurant & Cooking School ($-$$$) 

Join Pum's Cooking School for an afternoon session of a Thai cooking class. I recommend the Pum's Little Shoes class, which is 3 hours of Thai cooking essentials and making 3 amazingly delicious dishes (~$60 CAD). There are many classes available, from 30 minutes to a full 6 hour day! Curries, soups, noodles and more - you will leave feeling full and happy and can bring your newfound cooking skills home with you. 

#cookingclasses #localflavors #padthai 

Simon Cabaret ($$)

Time for something a little different this evening. It's not every day that you can watch ladyboys performing in an extravagant show. Simon Cabaret brings is an exciting demonstration of talent and fantastical theatre in the form of an evening show. Grab a drink and enjoy a show you won't see anywhere else in the world. 

#hiddengems #oddities #theatre #danceshow #funvibe 

Day 2

Phuket Big Buddha (Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Akenakiri) (Free)

The 45 meters high Big Buddha has become the most famous landmark of Phuket and is visible from anywhere in the southern part of the island. It is both a temple and a religious place. Not only this white marble statue is majestic, but the view from the hill up there is breathtaking. In front of Big Buddha you can admire Chalong bay and even Phang Nga Bay in the far, and in the back is a beautiful bird view of Kata Beach. 

#oceanviews #panoramicviews #tropicalparadise 

Kata Beach & Surfing (Free - $)

A fantastic place in high season, Kata is sometimes unsafe to swim during the low season (June to November). However, because of the waves, it then becomes popular among surfers and even hosts a surf competition once a year. It’s a great place to learn to surf! A few surf shops rent surfboards here and there and can teach you the basics.

The beach is a great place to spend the day soaking up the sun and enjoying the beautiful beach scenery and a gorgeous sunset. The beach is immense (1.5 km), the sand clear and very soft, and the water has a beautiful blue colour during the high season (December to April). Trees provide plenty of shade to the entire bay, where you will find drink vendors, beach massage, and a few small but good Thai restaurants.

#surfing 

Kata Beach Night Life ($)

Evenings are an ideal time to hit the Kata Beach, grab a drink, and absorb the serenity of this place. Featuring crystal clear waters and white sands, this beach is lively but not chaotic – a perfect environment for relishing a cocktail. There are a few bars and cafés bordering the beach.

It is a surreal experience to sit at this serene spot and watch the sky above the horizon change its shade every minute. If you are in Phuket with your loved one to celebrate togetherness, this experience may help you find the moments you are looking for. 

#nightlife #cheapcocktails 

Day 3

Green Elephant Sanctuary Park Phuket ($$)

In the Elephant sanctuary you can experience elephants in the most natural way. In their natural environment, where they are free and simply wonderful! The Sanctuary is committed to the protection of elephants by offering them a safe and protected life in the elephant sanctuary. There is no riding of elephants and the park is created in accordance with European animal protection laws. 

Feed the elephants mini bananas, give them a mud bath, and then rinse them off in the elephant rinse! The Sanctuary teaches you all about the life of an elephant and how they can bond with humans. They are a bit more pricey, but include pickup from your hotel and lunch and is so worth it.

#rainforest #nationalparks #elephants 

Nui Beach at Nui Bay Member Club ($$)

One last beach and evening!

This bay is another sort of secret off the beaten track, but you do have to pay a fee to use it since the Nui Bay is a private bay with a resident beach club. The entrance fee is 300 baht per person (~$12 CAD). Included is an umbrella, beach mats, towels, a drink and the on-site sauna.

The small beach is only 120 meters long and has not too many visitors – perhaps because of the fee! The sand is a bit rocky, but the water is crystal clear and just awesome. Here you can spend a few secluded and quiet hours at the ocean. In addition, the bay offers a terrific sunset every evening.

#privatebeach 

Alternative: Karon Beach (Free)

A favourite of many who come to Phuket, Karon Beach isn’t quite as popular as Patong but there’s still plenty to do other than sunbathe here. The rocky area around the south of the beach is a top spot for snorkeling, but for those who prefer a more high-octane activity it’s possible to rent jet skis on the beach too. Whilst the sand might not be as soft as some beaches, the length of the beach means you won’t be short on space. The waves can get pretty wild during rainy season, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop; nearby, there are a handful of bars that, whilst they might not match Patong, can easily provide an evening’s worth of entertainment.