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Patong Beach
This is the main tourist area. All the night clubs,
bars, restaurants are gathered on both sides of
roads. Patong also has a beautiful long beach
totalling a distance of several kilometers, suitable
for swimming.
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Karon
Beach
The second largest of Phuket's tourist beaches.
The long, broad beach itself has no development.
The sand is very white, and squeaks funny when
walked upon. The southern point has a fine coral
reef stretching toward Kata and Bu Island. During
low season check for the red flag on the beach
which indicate any warnings regarding the water
situation. Between Karon and Kata Beach is a long
stretch to walk with nothing much inbetween. These
two villages are mainly suitable for families
as it is more quiet than Patong Beach.
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Kata
Beach
Beautiful Kata is a scenic gem, its clear water
flanked by hills, and the picturesque Bu island
sits offshore. Most of the back area is occupied
by Club Med. Kata retains a village feel at its
northern and southern ends. During the low season
an annual surfing contest is organized on this
beach.
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Kata
Noi Beach
South of Kata is Kata Noi, a smaller beach with
only a few hotels and little other development.
The main part is occupied by the big hotel Kata
Thani. The beach itself is superb. Many fish inhabit
the rocks and corals along the beachless shoreline
stretching south.
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Naiharn
Beach
South of Kata Beach and North of Promthep Cape
lies Naiharn beach with its borders the most gorgeous
lagoon on the island. The favorite of many local
expatriats. The middle of the beach is dominated
by the Samnak Song Nai Han monastery, which has
obstructed excessive development and is the reason
that the beach is generally less crowded than
other spots on the southern part of the island.
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Kamala
Beach
This beach is a favoured spot for witnessing sunsets.
Also here it is less crowded even during high
season. Kamala village itself is less touristic
mainly because the majority of the villagers are
muslims and stopped a touristic overdeveloping
with one major exception: the FantaSea Park at
the Northern end.
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Laem
Singh Beach
2 minutes North of Kamala Beach lies Laem Singh
Beach. The name means Lion's Point. The beach
is in a small, curving bay with rocky headlands
at the foot of forest-fringed cliffs and is among
Phuket's most beautiful spots. Very crowded during
the high season and a liitle too rocky for swimming.
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Kalim
Beach
Just North of Patong Bay, where the big tree comes
out in the middle of the main road on the way
to Kamala. Less suitable for swimming as it has
a huge coral reef stretched far out. During low
season many surfers come together at high tide
due to the perfect wave formation.
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Panwa
Beach
The southernmost tip of this cape is home to a
Marine Biological Research Centre and Phuket's
Aquarium where visitors may inspect several hundred
exotic, grotesque, and flamboyantly colourful
marine species found in the teeming waters of
Phuket and elsewhere. Not suitable for swimming.
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Promthep
Cape
Not a real 'beach' Promthep Cape is a headland
forming the extreme south end of Phuket. "Prom"
is Thai for the Hindu term, "Brahma,"
signifying purity, and "Thep" means
'God.' Local villagers used to refer to the cape
as "Leam Jao", or the God's Cape, and
it was an easily recognisable landmark for the
early seafarers traveling up the Malay Peninsula
from the sub-continent. Nowadays a wellknown place
for locals at sunsets.
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Surin
Beach
Evergreen trees line this small, curving bay,
beneath the foothills north of Kamala. Many beach
bars and restaurants are gathered at the Southern
end. The water is superb but visitors must be
careful during the low season the steep incline
of the beach, turbulent water, and big waves make
Surin a dangerous place to swim.
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Pansea
Beach
Pansea is a mouth-wateringly scenic enclave dominated
by two deluxe resorts: Amanpuri and the Chedi.
Film stars or VIPs like to stay there, as they
can get away from the crowds. There are just a
few restaurants and shops nearby.
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Bangtao
Beach
Bangtao is a large open bay with one of Phuket's
longest beaches. It was once used for tin mining,
but has since been developed into a luxury resort.
Most of it is occupied by the Laguna complex,
a massive five-hotel development with golf course.
There are, however, accommodations available outside
Laguna at the bay's south end.
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Nai
Thon Beach
This quiet bay nestled at the foot of high hills
has a fine strip of sand. There is some accommodation
but virtually no other business. Normally very
quiet throughout the year.
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Nai
Yang Beach
This is where the National Park office is located.
The beach itself is on a long curving bay lined
with evergreens that provide shade to picnickers.
The large coral reef is home to many different
species of fish, and Nai Yang is well known as
a site where sea turtles come to lay their eggs
during the period from November to February; the
population of these has however, dropped off greatly.
First class accommodations are available and small
food vendors cater to the many day trippers.
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Rawai
Beach
The palm-fringed beach is best known for 'sea
gypsies,' a formerly nomadic fishing minority
believed to be of Melanesian descent. Many small
boats, from long-tailed boats to speedboats, are
ankered here.
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Laem
Ka Beach
South of the Evason hotel, and North of Rawai
beach is a small rocky bay, popular with Thais
at the weekend. A good place to hire long-tailed
boats. Just ask some fishermen sitting at the
beach.
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Maikhao
Beach
North of the Phuket Airport are many kilometers
of deserted beach characterizing Mai Khao where
there is little tourist business. The water is
fine for swimming during the dry season; the rainy
season brings big waves and strong currents that
are dangerous. This lonely beach is another area
where sea turtles come to lay eggs. It is also
home to what the Thais call a sea cicada, which
is a form of marine life.
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Ya
Nui Beach
Tucked between Promthep Cape and Rawai, Ya Nui
Beach is small but perfectly formed. Steep headlands
at either end hem in this slice of sand which
is visited by gentle waves from December to March.
However, the onset of the monsoon season brings
with it crashing surf and swimming during these
months is not advised. A few small, inexpensive
bungalow operations have esteblished themselves
in the wooded area to the rear of the beach.
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Nui
Beach
The most difficult beach to visit on Phuket, Nui
beach lies between the Kata Viewpoint and Naiharn.
A new, wide, dirt road has recently been cut through
the forested hillside to replace the winding track
down to the beach, however this is just as steep
and difficult to traverse and should only be attempted
by four-wheel drive jeeps and moto-cross bikes.
You can also park your car on the top and walk
down. The company which built the road and operates
the only restaurant on the beach charges a small
fee for its facilities and does not allow visitors
to bring their own food and drink onto the sand.
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Chalong
Bay
This beach has several simple Thai style restaurants
selling some of Phuket's best seafood at reasonable
prices. Not suitable for swimming as the water
is not very clear.
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Maiton
Island
Maiton Island is surprisingly only a one hour
flight from the nation's capital, Bangkok. Maiton
Island's abundance of graceful palms provides
the essential cool and shadowy breeze that has
earned it the name, island of Beautiful Timbers.
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Phi
Phi Island
The rugged Phi Phi Islands are characterized by
steep, lightly vegetated cliffs rising vertically
from the seabed and hidden bays concealing petite,
pristine beaches and calm clear waters.
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Similan
Island
The Similan Island is a cluster of nine tropical
islands; fifty-five nautical miles north west
of Phuket is Thailand's premier dive destination.
The Similan Islands offer a great diversity of
marine life and under-sea terrain.
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Koh
Yao Island
Located in the Bay of Phang Nga, one hour by boat
from Phuket, within a very short distance to the
well-known destinations of Koh Bileh islands,
Krabi. Surrounded by beautiful beaches, untamed
rain forests and many uninhabited islands, the
Resort is ideally situated for peace and privacy.
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