Phuket's longest beach
About 11 kilometres.
Athichitra — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Michelle Maria — CC BY 3.0 · Michelle Maria — CC BY 3.0 · Mikhail Deynekin — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Michelle Maria — CC BY 3.0
Phuket's longest and calmest beach, running about eleven kilometres along the island's north-west coast within Sirinat National Park, so only a few widely spaced resorts sit behind its casuarina trees. Coarse golden sand and open sea, with no vendors or rows of loungers, it is for long walks and quiet. Its best-known sight is planes landing at Phuket airport low over the southern end of the beach; visitors gather to photograph them passing overhead before sunset. In winter sea turtles come ashore to lay eggs on some nights, and the park protects their nests, so keep away from fenced areas. The beach is free. The sea here is open Andaman water, so currents are strong, especially from May to October; obey the red flags, as many have drowned on this beach. In the calm season from November to April swimming close to shore is safer. It is minutes from the airport, good for a few hours before or after a flight, and its sunset is one of Phuket's finest.
About 11 kilometres.
Over the southern end.
Protected nests in winter.
North-west coast of Phuket, within Sirinat National Park, near the airport
Close to shore in the calm season, yes; from May to October the currents are dangerous, so always obey the red flags.