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Phuket
Attraction (Phuket Beaches)
Rawai
Beach
On the other side of the cape from Nai
Harn beach is Rawai Beach, a very casual
place with only a few bungalow operations, restaurants and smaller
resorts along the main beach.
Rather than a place to sunbathe and swim, Rawai is a launching point
for island excursions. Many longtail boats available for hire line
its shores, where you can arrange a trip to Coral Island, Koh Lone
or Racha Island,or a fishing or snorkel trip.
Rawai was once a popular spot for beachfront dining, but all the open-air
restaurants have now been cleared away. Some are still open, but they
are set back opposite the
road that lines the beach - so it's more difficult to enjoy the view.
Nikita's restaurant and bar still remains on the beach, tucked into
one corner. Good place for a cool drink in the afternoon or evening.
Just west of Rawai is Promthep Cape (Laem
Promthep) a small peninsula that provides a great sunset viewpoint
over the ocean beyond. Great views over the whole area can be seen
from The Mangosteen Resort, located in an elevated area above Rawai.
Heading towards Chalong is the Evason Phuket Resort, a luxurious spot
with some fine dining options, and further along is the popular Friendship
Beach resort, a nice place to wile away an afternoon enjoying a snack
and swimming in the resort's pool.
Kata
Beach
The pleasant bay of Kata, just a few
minutes south of Karon Beach, entices many with its white sands and
clear waters.
The monsoon season of May-October can make for rough swimming conditions,
but it's this time of year that the surfers come out. The south end
of the beach is the best place to watch, or join in on, the surfing
action. Rentals are available for those who leave their boards at
home.
Late in the year as the waters turn calm,
Kata bay becomes populated with beautiful yachts,
which arrive from all over the region to compete in December's King's
Cup Regatta, Asia's premier sailing event.
While Club Med takes up most of the beachfront,
a shaded footpath along the road fronting the resort makes for a pleasant
stroll. Continuing on through the village, walkers will find an abundance
of shops to browse in, from souvenir and ready-to-wear outlets, to
7-11 and local mini-marts, to name brand fashion stores. There are
also plenty of dive shops and tour operators to assist those looking
to explore beyond the beach.
Steak and seafood seem to be the most
common offerings of Kata's many restaurants. Most roadside restaurants
display their selection of lobsters, tiger prawns and plump fish right
in front of their shop for all to see - and for diners to handpick.
There's no shortage of Thai restaurants, and for international fare
there's Scandinavian, Tex-Mex, Indian and Italian places to choose
from, just to name a few.
Among the hotels and bungalows available in Kata, Mom Tri's Boathouse
boutique resort offers the most elegant option, not to mention an
award-winning wine cellar at its restaurant.
More information is available on Kata Beach
website. Click here to discover the Kata Beach Restaurants or here
to find Hotels and accommodation.
Kata
Noi Beach
This cosy bay is found at the end of a dead-end road, just a few minutes'
drive over the hill from Kata beach. There's not much to do in Kata
Noi, which is precisely the point of coming here. Relax, take a walk
along the soft sands, snorkel or swim. It's long been a popular spot
for surfers in the monsoon season of May-October, though swimming
can be dangerous during this period. The popular Kata Viewpoint, offering
a stunning vista across the three bays of Karon, Kata
and Kata Noi, is only a 5-minute drive along a winding road towards
Nai Harn.
Those looking for a full range of dining and nightlife options will
have to venture out to
Kata and beyond, but there are some restaurants and pubs along the
road. A short walk up the hill towards Kata is the celebrated Mom
Tri's Kitchen, which offers world-class cuisine in a romantic setting
overlooking the sea. For accommodation in Kata Noi, the Kata Thani
Resort and Spa and a few low-key hotels and bungalows are ideal spots
for families or couples seeking a quiet holiday.
Karon
Beach
Karon, featuring an incredibly long stretch
of squeaky white sand, is less hectic than Patong but it still offers
a full range of facilities, dining and activities. While it's a fast-growing
area, Karon is nicely spread out and rarely feels crowded.
Karon is concentrated around three main
areas. In the Karon Plaza area on the south end there 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 newly opened football stadium, which
hosts both local and international sporting events.
The sprawling grounds of Thavorn Palm Beach Resort and the Phuket
Arcadia Resort and Spa dominate much of the central part of Karon,
then just north of these is Aroona Plaza. Aroona, which opened a few
years ago, houses a range of nice handicraft shops, good restaurants
and cafes, a few bars and a hotel modeled after the Sino-Portuguese
architecture of Old Phuket. The nice, wide avenue is ideal for taking
an evening stroll and doing some shopping.
The north end features the Karon Circle,
which has sculptures of workers commemorating Phuket's tin-mining
and agricultural past. The busy Patak East Rd leading back from the
circle is a jumble of bars, restaurants, all kinds of shops and small
hotels. While Karon's nightlife is more subdued than Patong, the bars
along this road can get lively and loud in the evenings. Just north
of the circle is a small lake, around which a public park and outdoor
theatre are being developed.
Unlike Patong Beach, big-name restaurants and fast food chains have
yet to arrive in Karon, but it is by no means lacking in dining options.
The restaurants of the larger resorts offer gorgeous settings and
fine food, while the streets are clogged with a range of seafood,
Thai and Western restaurants. For a spectacular sunset view, drive
just a few minutes' north of the beach and stop in at one of the cliffside
restaurants up the hill.
For lunch, the stalls set up on the beach just north of the circle
are worth trying for their curries and other Thai dishes at reasonable
prices, and also for the sheer
Nai
Harn Beach
Located right at the southern end of Phuket, Nai Harn is one of the
island's most beautiful locations. This quiet and tranquil place has
only a few hotels including the Le Royal Meridien Phuket Yacht Club
and is a favourite anchorage for boats during the high season. It's
not a place to hire a jet ski or expect a lot of action. Just yachts
bobbing in the bay, vendors selling ice cream and drinks and a fine
sandy beach. Great for swimming from November to April, however care
should be take in the low season (May-October) when there are strong
undertows. The local restaurants just above the beach make a great
place to relax with a sundowner.
Away from the beach, Nai Harn village
has lots of small restaurants and local bars. Notably Mimmi's, located
on the road from Nai Harn to Kata with a lovely ambiance, chaise longues
and good western food, Banana Corner - excellent value for money and
Don's Restaurant, famous for Texas style spare ribs.
Just north of Nai Harn, along the coast, is Nui Beach, small, secluded
and difficult to access. Further along is Ya Nui, a sandy cove that
attracts snorkellers and divers. Another out-of-the way spot nearby
is the tiny beach of Ao Sane, a great spot for snorkelling, reached
by taking the dirt road that starts at Le Royal Meridien's car park.
Kata Beach, where you'll find a more lively nightlife, is about 20
minutes away, while Patong Beach is about a 30-minute drive.
Viewpoint
From this place can be seen the bays of Kata Noi, Kata and Karon,
and also Poo Island. It is one of the island's best views. A large
public sala, or shelter is there for visitors, and several vendors
sell food, drinks, and souvenir shops. The viewpoint is between Kata
and Nai Han Beach.
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Interest Beaches
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Attractions in Phuket Thailand
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Partner Sites
www.phukethoteltour.com
| www.phuket-hotels-links.com
| www.hotel-phuket.org
| www.1phuket.com
| www.patong-hotels.net
| www.katakaronhotel.com
| www.phuket-map.net
Provided
by Tourism Authority of Thailand
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