Mai Khao Beach
Located in the Nai Yang National Park, Mai Khao Beach at the northern end of Phuket is the longest beach on the island. It is a place full of peace and serenity. Camping grounds are available at various locations. The beach, however, shelves steeply, and is unsuitable for swimming.

Mai Khao also servers as the egg-laying ground for sea turtles. Despite an increasing awareness of the necessity of protecting these rare species, the number of sea turtles has continued to fall in recent years. In an attempt to keep these rare breeds alive, there are annual efforts to protect the beach in the nesting season between November and February. And baby turtles are annually released back into the sea on April 13.

Nai Yang Beach
Set in the national park and located to the south of Mai Khao, Nai Yang is a tranquil and isolated bay suitable for a picnic and swimming. About a kilometer offshore, there is large coral reef for those veteran scuba or snorkel enthusiasts to appreciate the undersea world up close.

Nai Thon Beach
Set on the rim of a quiet bay to the south of Nai Yang, Nai Thon Beach provides a private world for those day-trippers. Both ends of the beach are protected by granite outcrops, which shield the bay and provide homes for diverse marine flora and fauna. While the beach is always crowded with tourists, one can escape into the other isolated realm on Hin Kruai Bay by walking south a few hundred meters.

Bang Thao Beach
held here every December. Besides, the Phuket Laguna Riding Club offers horseback riding along the beach. Yachting is a favored pastime of guests at the Phuket Laguna, too. The constant but fairly gentle breeze blows most of the time, making the waters of Bang Thao Bay also ideal for windsurfing.

At the south of the beach, there is a small exclusive beach comprising about 250 meters of pristine white sandy beach called Pansea. One of the finest beaches on the island, Pansea is suitable for snorkeling over nearby coral reefs.

Surin Beach
This beach lies a short distance north of Laem Singh from which it is separated by a small cape, Laem Mai Phai. Lined with casuarinas trees, this beach far from the madding crowds of Patong is suitable for sunbathing. But it's not good for swimming because of its steeply sloping sand shelf, especially during the Southwest Monsoon.

There are several Muslim fishing communities with their attendant mosques along the west coast of the island, but perhaps the most attractive and appealing is to be found at Bang Thao Village, just inland from Surin Beach. The local mosque, Matsayit Mukaram, is an elegant, whitewashed structure with lacquered wooden doors.

Laem Singh Beach
Hidden by steep hills from the road and from nearby Kamala, this small beach is accessible through a narrow and fairly steep footpath. There is about two hundred meters of fine, white, powdery sand giving onto waters that offer some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving on the island. This beach is the superb paradise for those who want to escape from the multitudes of hawkers, masseuses and water sports.

Kamala Beach
Just south of Laem Sing lies gorgeous Kamala Bay, a pretty relaxed beach suitable for swimming or soaking up a perfect tan. The water at the northern end of the beach is renowned for its clarity, an excellent spot for snorkeling and scuba diving to explore the abundant coral reefs. The centre of the beach is dominated by a peaceful Muslim fishing village with its two small mosques near the southern end of this settlement. It's a good place to try delicious Muslim dishes.

Patong Beach
Phuket's most developed beach offers numerous leisure, sporting, shopping and recreational options along its long crescent bay. Try one of the many popular daytime activities like windsurfing, snorkeling, parachute flying, jet ski, sailing, swimming and sunbathing. During high season this beach is very crowded. Patong is equally well known for its vibrant nightlife filled with endless bars and restaurants, among which seafood restaurants feature prominently.

Kalim Beach
Kalim Beach is actually a continuation of Patong Beach on the northern curve of the coastline. It is located just north of the artistic rocky outcroppings which separate it from Patong beach.

It is a small, charming beach with rocky points and coral reefs. Kalim is a quiet alternative to bustling Patong Beach, yet just in convenient walking distance to the tourist services and night life of Patong.

At low tide, the coral reefs at the northern end of Kalim Beach are close enough to the shore to be explored on foot. They contain an amazing variety of living creatures. Seashells, crustaceans, tiny fishes, starfish and sea cucumbers are found in the coral pools. Caution: It is not wise to walk barefoot because some of the rocks are razor sharp. Wear a strong pair of sandals or track shoes.

The northern half of the beach is exposed to the monsoon winds, and on occasion from June to September the waves become big enough for surfing here.

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 colorful marine species found in the teeming waters of Phuket and elsewhere. Not suitable for swimming.