What to Visit in Bang Tao
Вот перевод на английский язык:
Bang Tao is one of the most prestigious and expensive areas of Phuket. Essentially, it’s a vast 8-kilometer beach zone on the island’s west coast, filled with numerous luxury hotels. The main highlight of this area is the magnificent Laguna complex, home to the most upscale and impressive resorts. It’s like a small self-contained town for affluent travelers, complete with its own infrastructure.
We’ve gathered the best places in Bang Tao here https://phuket-insider.com/en/region/bang-tao/.
Вот перевод на английский язык:
Bang Tao itself is calm and laid-back — none of the wild parties you’d find in Patong. Everything here is elegant and refined, with a touch of luxury. The area is far from the main attractions, and on top of that, logistics can be tricky — traffic jams make it difficult to get around at times. So let’s take a look at what you can visit right in Bang Tao itself.
Beaches
What kind of vacation would it be without simply “soaking up the sun”? The residents of Bang Tao enjoy this just as much as anyone else, but they prefer to do it on secluded beaches.
Banana
A tiny bay hidden among palm trees, granite rocks, and tropical greenery. For a long time, only locals and a few wanderers who strayed from the usual routes in search of silence knew the way here.
The beach truly lives up to its name: its gentle curve, about 200 meters long, resembles a banana laid neatly between the jungle and the sea. It’s important to keep an eye on the water’s rhythm — during high tide, the narrow strip of sand shrinks significantly, and in stormy season the waves can reach the tree roots, reminding you of who’s in charge here.
On the shore, you’ll find a few simple cafes serving Thai food and ice-cold coconuts, while long-tail boats sway at the water’s edge, ready to take you on a spontaneous sea adventure. Banana Beach is also a wonderful spot for snorkeling — the clear water reveals an entire aquarium beneath your feet.
The descent to the beach follows a sloped path, but it’s quick, intuitive, and doesn’t require any preparation. Parking is available along the road, with paid options as well.
Check out our video about this beach.
Bang Tao
A sandy stretch about 8 km long, the second-longest beach on Phuket’s west coast. The sand is fine and clean, and casuarina trees grow along the shore. The southern part of the beach is more lively, with sun loungers, cafés, restaurants, and small shops, while the northern part offers seclusion.
The sea here is calm and welcoming, making this beach an excellent choice for those who enjoy swimming and sunbathing.
Beach Clubs
A beach club is always about luxury with a touch of glamour. And that perfectly matches the vibe of Bang Tao, which is why beach clubs are especially popular here.
Nomad Beach Club Phuket
Working hours: Mon - Thu: 09:00 - 00:00; Fri - Sat: 09:00 - 01:00; Sun 09:00 - 00:00
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An elegant beach club with plenty of seating options. You can choose comfortable sun loungers and daybeds, beanbag chairs, or shaded cabanas.
As the sun sets, the atmosphere shifts gently: the sound of DJ sets blends with the waves, warm string lights illuminate the space, and the night reveals its best highlight — a spectacular fire show.
People come here not just for dinner — they come for the vibe.
Maya Beach Club
Working hours: Mon - Sun: 10:00 - 02:00
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A place where you can start the evening by sipping a cocktail on a sun lounger and end it dancing with your feet buried in the sand. Great parties, themed events, and live performances are held here regularly.
Before you lose yourself on the dance floor for the night, stop by the local restaurant — it’s perfect for a quick gastro pit stop to fuel up for a long evening. The menu is thoughtfully curated, ranging from familiar European classics to vibrant Thai specialties, plus dedicated options for vegetarians.
Check out our video about this beach club.
Carpe Diem Beach Club Phuket
Working hours: Mon - Sun: 12:00 - 00:00
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This is the kind of beach club where you’ll want to come not just for an hour, but for a full lazy day or an atmospheric evening. The menu offers solid European classics and an impressive list of signature cocktails.
On weekends, the place comes alive: a DJ takes over the booth, live sets fill the air, sometimes the evening is graced by a saxophone, and the mood is carried by the rhythms of Latin dance. They know how to create the feeling of a small, effortless celebration — stylish and relaxed, without any pretentiousness.
An important detail: the place is popular, so it’s best to reserve a table in advance.
Elephant Sanctuaries
Seeing these sacred animals is considered a good sign. We support only ethical sanctuaries — and there are such places in Bang Tao.
Elephant Care Park Nai Dee Phuket
Working hours: Mon - Sun: 08:30 - 18:30
This is the largest elephant rescue home in Phuket, where chains have been replaced with freedom and tourist noise with the rustling of the jungle. Here, for the first time in many years, elephants can simply be themselves: walking, eating, playing, and receiving care without conditions.
Visitors can choose short visits with feeding and observation, or a deeper experience — half-day programs that include jungle walks, bathing with the elephants in a pond, and even a Thai cooking class. Every experience here is built on respect: no tricks, no pressure, just a gentle coexistence of humans and nature.
Tickets to Elephant Care Park Nai Dee Phuket can be purchased at a discount via WhatsApp or Telegram.
Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Phuket
Working hours: Mon - Sun: 09:00 - 15:00
The sanctuary is located slightly outside Bang Tao, but still quite close, so we included it in this list. Here, the elephants live happy, free lives. These magnificent animals are incredibly fortunate — they were freed from exploitation in the tourism industry and given the chance to simply enjoy their existence instead of carrying tourists and performing tricks.
At the sanctuary, you can meet the elephants, feed them, take photos, and even bathe with them. In short, it’s a very eco-friendly way to spend your time.
Cafes & Restaurants
If there’s one thing Bang Tao definitely doesn’t lack, it’s luxury venues — the local crowd loves good restaurants. And honestly, why wouldn’t they, when everything is so beautiful and delicious?
PRU
Working hours: Tue - Thu: 18:00 - 22:30; Fri - Sat: 12:00 - 15:00
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The first and so far the only Michelin-starred restaurant on the island. Everyone has different expectations and opinions, so it’s better to try it yourself and form your own impression.
The main reason to visit PRU is the gastronomic discoveries. The chef turns seemingly incompatible ingredients into true masterpieces, and the open kitchen lets you watch the process — it’s always a pleasure to see art being created.
Important: PRU is not a place for beach dress code — you’ll have to leave your shorts and flip-flops at home, even if they’re designer. Style and neatness are valued here — it’s a restaurant with an image and standards for its guests.
NITAN Phuket
Working hours: Wed - Sun: 19:00 - 22:00
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A restaurant recognized by the Michelin Guide and capable of winning you over from the very first course. Here, they believe in honest ingredients: vegetables from their own farms, fish and seafood from trusted local suppliers, and all components are exclusively of Thai origin.
The NITAN team insists that 99% of a dish’s success comes from the quality of the ingredients. But let’s be honest — the remaining 1% plays the role of a magic wand: the chef turns each plate into an elegant story where flavor, textures, and aesthetics come together in harmony. The courses follow one another in a perfect rhythm — always on time, never too fast and never too slow.
Aja Bistro & Bar
Working hours: Mon - Sun: 17:00 - 00:00
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Not only Michelin matters! Aja Bistro & Bar is an equally worthy restaurant. Here, European classics blend harmoniously with the island’s relaxed atmosphere: familiar and cozy, but with a subtle Asian touch.
Chef Jamie Wakeford turns familiar dishes into small gastronomic discoveries. He combines global flavors with local ingredients, creating unexpected combinations — for example, fish and chips made with local grouper, or grilled octopus served with potato salad and fennel.
The bar area is a story of its own. Take a seat at the counter, watch the mixologists at work, and trust the professionals — they’ll choose a cocktail to match your mood.
Sports Sections
If you love good food, you should love staying active too. The residents of Bang Tao know this well, which is why the area has so many gyms and sports courts.
MNT Indoor Tennis Center
Working hours: Mon - Sun: 07:00 - 22:00
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An all-season tennis complex with indoor courts, created for those who aren’t willing to put their training on pause even for a day.
It’s comfortable for both beginners and confident players: you can choose personal training or group sessions with experienced coaches who help you not just practice technique but truly elevate your game.
The center regularly hosts amateur tournaments and sports events, so tennis becomes not only a workout but also a way to meet like-minded people and become part of Phuket’s active community.
Padel Phuket @ Blue Tree
Working hours: Mon - Sun: 08:00 - 22:00
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The trendiest sport right now is padel, and of course Bang Tao is one of the first to embrace it. Padel Phuket @ Blue Tree features six courts: four indoor and two outdoor, all with professional surfaces designed specifically for this dynamic game.
Everything here is set up for you to stay as long as you like: comfortable showers, an atmospheric tapas bar, convenient parking, and even its own equipment shop in case you want to upgrade your racket or pick out a new outfit.
AIRVOLUTION LIFESTYLE WELLNESS
Working hours: Mon - Fri: 08:00 - 19:30; Sat 08:00 - 17:00
A modern space where movement becomes art and training feels like a ritual of rebooting.
It’s easy to find your own format here — from aerial practices to classic ones. The studio’s facilities include aerial yoga halls with silk hammocks designed with careful attention to safety, a calm room for traditional yoga, a barre studio for work at the ballet barre, and a full Pilates zone with professional equipment — from the Reformer to the Cadillac and Stability Chair. A separate room for aerial silks adds to the feeling that you can literally lift off the ground here — both figuratively and literally.
Comfort goes beyond the mat: after your practice, there’s plenty of space to unwind — showers, lockers, relaxation areas, a cozy cafe, an in-house yoga shop, and convenient parking.
Massage & SPA
Relaxing after a tough workout is sacred! And in Bang Tao, you’ve got everything you need for that — the massage and spa salons here are top-notch.
Deep Relax Spa 1 Laguna
Working hours: Mon - Sun: 10:00 - 23:00
A spacious spa that you can easily visit without any unnecessary rituals — booking is just a couple of clicks away right through Google Maps.
Here they don’t just give massages — they know how to give them. Before the session, you’ll enjoy a pleasant ritual: your feet are gently rinsed with lime and a soft scrub, and then the real magic begins — precise, confident work with the body. Every knot is found, every tense muscle is carefully “talked through,” and the fatigue is released so thoroughly it feels like it wasn’t even yours to begin with.
Pinewood Massage and Spa
Working hours: Mon - Sun: 10:30 - 22:00
Imagine this: you’re surrounded by the tropics, yet standing in the cool shade of a pine forest. That’s exactly what Pinewood Massage and Spa feels like.
The menu includes all the classic favorites: Thai, sports, aroma massage, and other trusted treatments for the body. Their signature ritual is a deep foot massage with warm oil and precise work on all the “tension points.” There are also facial treatments — from post-sun skin care to gua sha massage and other gentle yet effective techniques.
Let’s Relax Spa
Working hours: Mon - Sun: 10:00 - 00:00
A branch of a large Asian chain with years of experience and thousands of satisfied guests behind it. Here, Eastern practices are not just words but a finely honed art of restoring body and mind.
The selection of treatments is impressive: classic Thai massage, oil rituals, targeted work on problem areas, as well as multi-hour spa programs.
The interior tells the story of Phuket through the aesthetics of the tin-mining era: historical accents blend harmoniously with modern minimalism, creating an atmosphere of calm luxury.
Porto de Phuket Shopping Mall
Working hours: Mon - Sun: 10:00 - 22:00
This place made the list for a reason — it’s not a typical shopping mall, but a thoughtfully designed space for strolling, meeting up, and dining. The complex feels more like a cozy open-air gallery than a classic mall.
The selection of shops is impressive: from trendy fashion brands and accessories to pet supplies, a huge sports store, and hobby and craft shops. A key attraction is the Central Food Hall, with an excellent range of imported products and a large food court. You can eat right in the market or take your dishes to go — a great hack for enjoying a tasty meal while staying budget-friendly, especially compared to Bang Tao’s restaurant prices.
Bang Tao Night Market
Working hours: Mon 16:00 - 21:00; Thu 14:00 - 20:00
And here’s an even more affordable and authentic option for trying Thai cuisine. This night market is small but has all the essentials. It only operates on Mondays and Thursdays, though.
Street food, fresh fruits and vegetables, seafood, plus clothing, Thai cosmetics, and souvenirs — everything you might need is here. And despite being in an “expensive” area, the prices are quite reasonable.
Discover Bang Tao from different angles! You can find other verified places in this and other parts of the island using our free Telegram bot https://t.me/phuket_insider_bot.
