Information: Bang Tao Beach is a large, open bay with one of the island's longest beaches. Once the site of a tin mining operation, it is today occupied largely by the Laguna Beach Resort . Upmarket health and sports facilities abound, including a golf course and Phuket''s most famous herbal spas. At the southern end there are smaller and less expensive hotels and a number of restaurants. There is also the Canal Village.

Information: Kalim Beach is a quiet, attractive area that is far enough away to be away from it all, yet still close enough to the action to be fun. It is a small beach littered with rocks situated north of Patong Beach. Kalim Beach is actually a continuation of Patong and the beaches are separated by a rock formation going into the sea. The sea around the beach offers excellent coral reefs making it attractive to people who like snorkeling and diving. When the tide is out a substantial amount of coral is revealed and it can be interesting to wander around to see the variety of living creatures the coral maintains

Information: Just north of Patong Beach you'll find a more quiet thai village set in a valley with a picturesque beach. Kamala Beach still has the standard touristy stuff but you don't need to walk far to find a fairly unaffected place. The beach is more than 2km long, quite wide and the water is shallow for a long way out. Framing the whole scenery is the rainforest mountains of Phuket coming down all the way to the waterfront on both sides.

Most of the development is at the southern end of the beach, where a handful of restaurants and a couple of mid-range hotels pull the smallish crowds. The northern end is pretty much undeveloped, with a few beachfront bamboo-hut type restaurants and cheaper guesthouses. During high season, water sports take up a lot of space here with scuba diving/snorkeling, windsurfing, fishing trips and island hopping all running on a daily basis. During the short wet season don't be surprised to find the locals and the occasional tourist trying to fit in a bit of surfing here.

From Kamala Beach you can visit Banana Rock, a small island 30min with longtail from the beach. It is a hidden gem among Phuket dive sites, truly spectacular variety of marine life, here you can spot rarities like frogfish and harlequin shrimps as well as a resident turtle, cuttlefish, Napoleon wrasse and a lot more.

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Karon Beach, featuring a long stretch of squeaky white sand, is less hectic than Patong but still offers a full range of facilities, dining and activities. While it's a fast-growing area, Karon is spread out and rarely feels crowded.

Karon is concentrated around three main areas: The Karon Plaza area on the south end features a number of budget guesthouses, restaurants and bars. The side sois are worth exploring, particularly the one that leads to a small art community, where some budding Thai painters have built a complex of huts, pubs and art galleries in which they live and work.

Nearby, on the beach road leading to Kata, is the football stadium, which hosts both local and international sporting events.

The sprawling grounds of Thavorn Palm Beach Resort and the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa dominate much of the central part of Karon. Just north of these is Aroona Plaza. Aroona, which opened a few years ago, houses a range of handicraft shops, good restaurants and cafes, a few bars and a hotel modeled on the Sino-Portuguese architecture of Old Phuket. The wide beachside avenue is ideal for taking an evening stroll and doing some shopping.

The north end features Karon Circle, with its sculptures of workers commemorating Phuket's tin-mining and agricultural past.

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Kata Beach, otherwise known as Kata Bay, is very popular with families, Kata is an all round favourite due to its spectacular palm-lined beach, great restaurants, lively but not raucous nightlife and varied accommodation options all close to the beach. From May to October surfers flock to catch Kata's waves and from November to April the beach is alive with sunseekers.

Kata Beach is in fact not one beach but two beaches that are separated by a headland at the south end of Kata Yai Beach and the northen end of Kata Noi Beach.

Kata Yai Beach:

The beach is wide, two kilometres long and made of fine white sand which gently slopes away into the blue waters of the Andaman Sea.

It is fringed by casuarinas trees, under which you will find vendors selling drinks, food, massage services, souvenirs and the like. These vendors will be happy to serve you at your sun lounger which you can hire for a nominal charge.

For those who prefer to be a little more adventurous than lying around in the sun all day, the beach offers jet skiing, parascending, banana rides, water skiing and long tail boat excursions, also diving packages are available to local coral reefs. Most hotels and guest houses are situated in this area.

Kata Noi Beach:

This is a much smaller bay, only ten minutes walk away from kata yai. Lush green jungle covered mountains surround the beach.

This tranquil piece of paradise is dominated by the Katathani Hotel with its lush tropical gardens. Also there are a few restaurants, bars, and tailors.

Kata Beach Nightlife:

Kata Beach has a small village-like atmosphere, which is quite pleasant for strolling around of an evening. The bar scene here is fairly low key and informal. Many places have pool tables and television which make them ideal for adults and children alike but that's not to say there is a shortage of places to sit, relax and drink a cocktail or two.

If Thai food is what you like, then you'll find an endless amount of places serving all kinds of local dishes. You will also find European food served in many places and there are some great Scandinavian restaurants too.

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The beach is not visible from the road but the small parking area is located about half way up the grade at the north end of Kamala Beach look for the small handmade signs. This is one of the undeveloped beaches frequently missed by visitors who are unaware of its location. Its a five minute walk down a fairly steep path to reach this remote little beach.

The natural beauty of this beach is enhanced by the fact it sits well below the highway which lends a serene and quiet feeling that is not always present on other beaches in Phuket.

It is a good bathing beach with golden sand sloping smoothly into the sea. However with the crowds, have arrived jet skis and banana boats.

This beach has some of the best snorkeling in Phuket right off the beach. The headlands and rock formations are home to corals and many fish. Particularly the southern end of the beach where you will see lots of fish feeding around the rocks.

Information: Nai Harn is not Phuket's longest beach, but it borders the most gorgeous lagoon on the island. The middle of the beach is dominated by the Samnak Song Nai Han monastery, which has obstructed excessive development and is the reason that the beach is generally less crowded than other spots on the southern part of the island. A wide variety of water sports can be enjoyed, but swimmers should be alert for the red flag which warns of dangerous currents during the monsoon season from May to October. One can walk to nearby Promthep Cape to observe sunsets, which are often fiery and spectacular.

Information: Nai Thon Beach lies to the northwest of the island. It is an isolated area and a great place to escape the crowds. Sheltered from the wind and big waves, it is peaceful and relaxing. Many locals use this beach for picnics and family get-togethers. You can buy refreshments from the charismatic beach vendors who sell tropical delights in the shade of the mammoth trees. This is a great place for surfing.