Training on the beach is one of the highlights for our guests here at Tiger Muay Thai and MMA. It makes for a nice occasional change of atmosphere. The following is a short list of some of our favourite beaches on the island of Phuket.
Nai Harn Beach (6 km from camp)
Nai Harn is a small community located on the southern tip of the island between Rawai and Kata. Nai Harn bay is sheltered by a palm covered island 400 meters offshore and two large mountains that rise on the eastern and western sides of the beach. It is nestled on a large, flat lagoon and has a beautiful clear surface during the high season.
A popular scenic lookout is on the mountain to the west. It sits beneath three large windmills, making it a favored spot for photographers to capture the alluring view of the Andaman sea, Nai Harn bay, the offshore island and the many yachts and sailboats floating gently in the calm water. The Nai Harn Meridian Yacht Club is the only hotel on the 1km stretch of beach. It sits on the eastern end nestled against the cliffs. The sand is very fine and white, and small shells and sand dollars can be found on the 30-40 meter slop to the water when the tide changes. During the high season (November-May), the water is calm, flat, and perfect for long swims along the beach. In the low season, the waves tamely roll in from off-shore with the direction of the changing winds.
During the low season, surfers are a common sight on the south-western end of the beach. Both Nai Harn and Kata beach are known for their nice surfing and body boarding spots, with 2-3 meter wave swells and a good rolling break. The waves are easy to catch off the sand bar.
Small restaurants offering Thai food, seafood, beer and other drinks are located close to the beach. A lounge chair, umbrella, and small table can be rented from a vendor for 100-120 Baht a day. Thai women wait by their small grass huts, offering a nice massage right on the beach for as little as 100 Baht an hour.
Directly behind Nai Harn beach is a protected lagoon where Jet-ski races are held every year. Yoonique’s Bar and Grill and The Rasta Bar are popular amoung students after an evening on the beach. The great atmosphere, live band and friendly locals, Yoonique’s has become the after-beach bar of choice in Nai Harn.
Don’s Cafe is another popular restaurant among students. Don has been rooted in Nai Harn and Phuket for almost 20 years. The restaurant offers great prices on food like cheeseburgers, steaks and BBQ, making it favorable amoung people with a taste for home.
There are several other nice restaurants and bars along the main stretch of road in Nai Harn. Vendors selling fresh seafood like fish, crabs, and shrimp can be found on the Rawai beach front road over the mountain.
Kata Noi Beach (6 km from camp)
Kata Noi Beach is located just a few hundred meters southwest of Kata Beach. It is approximately 1km long, resting directly behind the 5 star Kata Thani Hotel, with a fantastic view of the Andaman Sea. Tall pine trees line the road, and a gentle slope leads directly to the beach front.
Kata Noi is a great place to swim and relax during the high season. The waves are more gentle and the atmosphere is calm. Peninsulas protect both ends of the beach, stretching out approximately 200 meters giving it affable flat surface. In the low season, body boarders come out to ride the waves which can reach over 2 meters.
The heart of the Kata community is not far from Kata Noi. Many nice restaurants are within walking distance. The Kata lookout station is accessible by following the main road on the mountain above Kata Noi. There is a welcoming paved observation area and cold fresh drinks at the top of the mountain. The view is breathtaking with Kata Noi, Kata and Karon beaches all stretched out before you and complimented by the blue water of the Andaman. This is one of the finest photographic spectacles on the island.
Kata Beach (6 km from camp)
Located in the heart of the Kata community, Kata Beach is a popular tourist spot expanding over 1km and lined with a large pine tree road in front of the Club Med Resort. On the southern and northern ends of the beach there are large rocks that lead to cliff faces, similar to Nai Harn. Vendors rent lounge chairs, umbrellas and small tables, and small grass and bamboo huts offer fruits, snacks, drinks (including beer) and Thai food right on the beach.
The water at Kata Beach is perfect for swimming, running or water sports during the high season. It is calm and flat, making for a nice relaxing day at the beach. Jet Skis, banana boats, and boogie boards can all be rented at great prices, as well as other popular water sport equipment.
Surfing competitions are held every year when the wave conditions are ideal. Kata has decent sized rolling waves allowing for a long ride. Offshore the sandbar shifts regularly allowing for a nice 60-80 meter ride inshore. In the boating season sailboat races and the King’s Regatta attract many tourists as they race along Kata and head around the tip of the peninsula on Nai Harn. Sailboats and yachts come from all over the world to anchor in the calm waters of Kata Beach to take in the sights and sounds of Phuket.
A small reef rests just offshore and is a popular dive spot among the many local dive companies. Colorful fish and coral populate the area, making snorkeling a very pleasant experience in the clear waters around Kata and Karon.
With clear and clean blue water, beautiful white sands, tall pines and easy access, Kata Beach is known to be one of the nicest beaches on the island of Phuket. It is a favorite among tourists and an excellent and inviting spot to take photos.
Karon Beach (7 km from camp)
Conveniently located right off the main beachfront road and Karon circle (round-a-bout), Karon Beach is one of the most popular beaches on the island. It is wider, longer and more open than Kata and Kata Noi, and directly faces the Andaman Sea. Like Kata, the sand is a radiant white and the water is crystal clear. There are also many small beach restaurants and vendors that sell drinks, snacks, BBQ and spicy Thai salads. The 5 km stretch is a popular spot for exercise like running, walking and swimming. The sand stretches 30-40 meters to the water, which is calm and great for swimming, snorkeling or just relaxing on a raft.
The Karon lagoon and walk way are located directly behind the beach and are popular among runners and walkers. It is also a favored place to watch the breathtaking sunsets and enjoy the company of friends and loved ones. During the “Loy Kratong” festival, Thai and foreigners release small floats decorated with flowers, incense and candles called “kratongs” into the water. Next to the lagoon, a small recreation plaza hosts live bands, Muay Thai fights, dance shows and other events throughout the high season.
The long and open space of Karon beach makes it a popular spot for water sports like Jet Skiing, boogie boarding, parasailing and riding banana boats. Vendors spend the day covering the entire length of the beach selling goods and snacks for very reasonable prices. Sunbathers prefer Karon as it has little protection from trees and lots of direct sunshine. The beach is very clean and many people enjoy taking long walks at sunrise and sunset. As on Kata, Kata Noi and Nai Harn, lounge chairs with umbrellas are also available for rent.
The main road to Patong and Kata runs behind Karon beach. There are many 4-5 star hotels facing Karon, including the Arcadia Hilton, Felix Karon, and the Waterfront Tower. The beach is a popular spot for families and honeymoons.
Patong Beach (12 km from camp)
Patong Beach is a major tourist attraction in Phuket. The main beachfront road and all of the businesses, bars, hotels and shops face the beach which is more than 3 km long.
There are many different sections that have small recreational and sitting areas that face the water behind the beach. During the high season Patong becomes very crowded, which causes traffic congestion and noise along the main road front where tuk-tuk drivers, motorcycle taxis and regular taxis hawk after customers. Needless to say, you will never be without a ride.
Due to the amount of tourists and vendors, Patong Beach is not always very relaxing. After the tsunami, the government introduced new rules to improve conditions along the beach. However, constant problems between venders and renters create headaches for sunbathers and swimmers trying to relax. In an attempt to beautify and renovate the beach, the government has taken control over how many lounge chairs and umbrellas will be available to rent. While Patong Beach is convenient and has a nice view of the Andaman Sea, the atmosphere is very busy and most people staying there enjoy the fast-paced lifestyle and action that makes the area so popular.
Fast food outlets like McDonalds, KFC, Subway, etc are all located along the beach road. Grocery stores, dive shops, and stores carrying just about anything you need are there as well. Major hotels like the Holiday Inn, Bura Sara, Coral Reef, and others all have ideal spots facing the ocean. Guesthouses and bungalows available for rent can be found on the north end of the beach.
Nai Thon Beach (20 km from camp)
Nai Thon Beach is a tropical paradise located on the central-western coast of Phuket island, in a close proximity to Laguna Beach. A large reef just offshore, tall pines and coconut palms protect the beach which is several kilometers long. With the distance between Nai Thon and the other crowded tourists beaches, it is a pleasant spot for a quiet afternoon picnic and swim. Several nice hotels sit at both ends of the beach, leaving a vast area that is unspoiled by vacationers. Under the pines, small wooded huts and buildings offer drinks and food.
Nai Thon is a quiet and peaceful area located 20 minutes from Patong past the Kamala and Surin beaches. The sunsets are quite stunning and the natural sweep of the bay creates an almost oval shape to the beach.
Due to the limited tourist activity on this part of the island, you will have to bring a blanket and other items you may need for personal use. During the high season, lounge chairs and umbrellas are sparce on the stretches that are open and without hotels.
