Phuket’s best beaches aren’t always the ones you’ll find in the guidebooks. To get the inside track, we asked long-time Thailand resident and travel writer Simon Ostheimer to share his intel on the coves and stretches of sand the tourists don’t usually reach. From hidden bays to quiet locals’ favourites, here’s his pick of the island’s secret beaches.
Banana Beach, Coral Island
Sometimes, even escaping to a tropical island isn’t enough. Don’t worry though, as Phuket has a dozen more isles just offshore that make for a perfect day trip. On the top of that list is Coral Island, known locally as Koh Hae, and famed for its crystal-clear waters. If you want to keep your Thailand experience authentic, it’s easily reached via a longtail ride from Phuket, which costs approximately 1,500 baht for a 30-minute return trip.
Related article: Phuket’s Best Beach Clubs
Laem Singh, Surin
Halfway down Phuket’s west coast lies the idyllic beach of Laem Singh, accessed via a steep set of stairs that leads down to the beach. Down on the sand you’ll be treated to popular massage huts, great swimming, and the tasty Italian-Thai cuisine of Ristorante Da Ali. According to old Phuket hands, Laem Singh was once known as the Italian Beach, due to the preponderance of that nationality who came here to sunbathe.
Ao Yon, Cape Panwa
Every Sunday, as the sun rises in the sky, a small fleet of dinghies set sail off Ao Yon’s Phuket Youth Sailing Club. Here, experienced foreign coaches are on hand to teach visiting water enthusiasts the basics of controlling dinghies, powerboats, kayaks and stand-up paddle boards. After you’ve worked up an appetite out on the water, you should head east to the next bay for dinner at the chilled out Secret Cove restaurant.
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Simon Ostheimer
Simon Ostheimer is a Hong Kong–raised travel writer who has spent the past two decades living in cities across Asia — from Thailand and Cambodia to his current base in China — on a mission to find the continent’s best street food. So far his favourites are the xiao long bao in Shanghai and nasi lemak in Kuala Lumpur. He is the author of five travel guides and a contributor to more than 60 magazines.
