Top-5 beaches of Phuket according to Phuket Insider

Insider has been exploring Phuket for many years. During this time, we’ve visited countless beaches on the island and created our own personal ranking of the best ones. Here’s our Top 5 beaches.

Banana Beach on Koh He Island

This small beach – just about 250 meters long – will surely steal your heart. It’s one of our favorite spots, and we often come here ourselves.

Banana Beach is located in a bay and surrounded by cliffs. Here you’ll find white sand, turquoise water, and a gentle entry into the sea. And almost no waves, even in the low season! A perfect option for a quiet and relaxing getaway.

Just a few meters from the shore, schools of colorful fish are swimming, so we never come here without a mask and fins for snorkeling.

The beach area is well-equipped: a consistent design style, cafes, little shops, and beautiful natural spots. So, leaving without a photo shoot is simply impossible!

To get to Banana Beach on Koh He, you need to rent a longtail boat at Rawai Beach. The ride takes only 20 minutes. Entrance to the beach costs 100 baht, which includes access to sun loungers, showers, and restrooms.

Nai Harn

This beach in the south of the island is considered one of the best by many expats and long-stayers. It has fine white sand and a gentle entry into the sea, and because it’s located in a bay, it’s well protected from wind and big waves. There’s also a lake nearby, so if you enjoy jogging, that’s another plus of this location.

The beach itself is quite small – only about 650 meters long – but there’s enough space for everyone: it’s not very popular with package tourists. It’s a beautiful spot: the beach is surrounded by a scenic grove of casuarina trees that provide natural shade. Thais love to have picnics here in the shade of the trees.

Within walking distance of Nai Harn Beach, you’ll find cafés and massage parlors. There’s also a Buddhist temple on the grounds, which you can visit as well – just make sure not to enter wearing bikinis or swim trunks.

Nai Thon

A small, cozy beach with sand that squeaks underfoot like snow. The crunch comes from its high quartz content. By the way, the same type of sand can be found on Karon Beach, which is usually packed with tourists.

Nai Thon is located on the northwestern coast of the island and is part of Sirinat National Park, so there are no sun loungers or umbrellas here. However, this beach is great for swimming with children and for surfing – the seabed slopes gently, and the waves roll in for a long time. Sometimes sea turtles even come ashore at Nai Thon to lay their eggs – it’s amazing if you get the chance to witness that!

The beach itself is clean, well-kept, and secluded. Along the shoreline, there are plenty of nice cafes and restaurants where you can have lunch after a swim.

Surin

This is probably the cleanest sea in all of Phuket. The water at Surin is such a bright shade, it looks as if a filter has been applied. But no — these are natural filters, the real deal.

Surin is located in the northwestern part of the island, between the main beaches of Kamala and Bang Tao. The beach stretches for 800 meters, so it’s easy to find quiet, secluded spots for relaxation.

Tropical trees grow all along the shoreline, and you’ll also find plenty of stalls selling beach goods and street food. At the northern end of the beach, there are rocks surrounded by schools of colorful fish — a perfect place for snorkeling.

Laem Sing

Laem Sing is hidden between Kamala and Surin, and to get here you need to walk along a narrow trail that starts from the southern end of Surin Beach. But if hiking isn’t your thing, there’s an easier option — you can rent a boat from Surin or Kamala.

The beach is surrounded by tropical trees, which give it a sense of privacy. It’s the perfect spot for those looking for peace and seclusion! You can also go snorkeling here or simply enjoy the sunset.

The sand at Laem Sing is fine and pleasant to the touch, and the water is clear with such a rich turquoise shade that it almost looks like it’s been colored with dye. There’s also a small restaurant on the beach, so you won’t go hungry.

We hope these beaches will become your favorites too! You can find other (also beautiful!) beaches in the Phuket Beaches section. Also, check out our other collections, such as Excursions — some of them include visits to picturesque beaches as well.