Three Beaches That’ll Make You Forget You’re in Phuket

‘No swimming,’ a sign read.

Ironically, the warning caught my eye, prompting me to stop and fancy just that. I probably wouldn’t have spotted the beach that shimmered through the woods if nobody had chosen to tell me what not to do.

Curious, cocky, and nosy all at once, I walked down the steep, rooty path through the small forest and discovered an almost empty area of soft, light-brown sand, transparent, greenish-blue waters and a green backdrop to enjoy without the crowd.

Situated on the northwest coast of Phuket, hidden behind woodland, you’ll find this piece of paradise called Haad Hin Kl̂wy – Banana Rock Beach – which you can scarcely see through the trees.

I didn’t find out if the sign was meant to warn people from currents or if locals just wanted to keep the masses away. Anyway! I’m not bananas, the calm sea looked safe to me, even now that it was October 2017 – allegedly the month when monsoon rain is the heaviest.

Not more than a handful of westerners were swimming, ignoring the sign too, so I followed suit and took an invigorating dip.

The waves may wash up to the tree line at high tide. Your best chance of not ending up with a wet towel, covered in sand that sticks to it like glue, is at the beach’s northern and southern end.

There’s a seafood restaurant that’s only open in the peak season. It’s a bit costly but that’s because the poor guys need to carry the ingredients down the hill. The food is fresh, fishermen bring round their catch.

How to Get There

Look for the Trisara villas if you’re coming from the south (Bang Tao). You’ll find them some 500 metres away from Banana Beach. Slow down once you’re driving downhill, and there it is on your left.

If you’re coming from the north, pass Nai Thon and watch out for the beach on your right when you’re going uphill.

What to Bring

Towel, sunscreen, food and drinks, mobile phone plus a bag to carry away your rubbish.

Best Time to Visit

Now, before everyone else is there as well! Swimming is safer in the high season from November to May, but that’s when a couple dozen tourists show up too. In a nutshell, go there on a sunny day in early June or late October, and you’ll be virtually alone.

Another quiet beach you should check out is close to Patong, Phuket’s tourist hustle and bustle. Given that it’s within spitting distance of Phuket’s well-known area, it’s all the more surprising that most locals haven’t even heard of it.

Tri Trang Beach, snuggled into the headland, is just a 15-minute ride away from Patong.

Despite the numerous coconut palms, you won’t find much shade here almost until close to sunset. In other words, a soft spot for beaches with green-tinted waters isn’t enough to make you rave about Tri Trang: you have to be a sun-loving beach bum.

Another fact worth mentioning is that you can’t swim here at low tide. This is quite a downer, especially at full moon when the only sea you find is one of corals and stones. Check out the tide chart to prevent disappointment.

All the same, this 500-metre long beach is such a peaceful, quiet place to recharge your batteries that you’ll resent me for mentioning it in this article.

I feel your pain.

One day people will have discovered every beach in this world, we can hardly avoid it.

How to Get There

Despite its close proximity to Patong, barely a local can give you directions – they just don’t know Tri Trang. Go south along the last part of Patong Beach Road and turn left at the Amari Coral Beach Resort. Watch out for Baan Yin Dee, go past it, then drive down the road to Tri Trang Resort. It’s signposted.

What to Bring

Sunscreen, towel, bug repellent, a book and your mobile phone to take photos.

Best Time to Visit

At high tide in the off-season. And I have to point it out again: go there now before everyone else! A new hotel was built some months ago, and I imagine the area will only get busier because of that.

At the northern end of the island, you’ll find Haad Sai Kaew, which translates to glass sand beach.

If you pick up a fistful of dry sand, watching it stream out between your fingers, the light-brown grains that shimmer lightly look indeed like small pieces of broken glass.

Sai Kaew stretches from Mai Khao Beach all the way to Sarasin Bridge that links Phuket to the mainland.

A former teacher colleague of mine told me you could only swim there from December to January. Apparently, there is a sharp drop in the water going down a thousand metres. I can confirm that the water gets deep real quick, and that the sea has a lot of force with its violent waves crashing ashore in a thunder.

Throughout the year, you’re virtually alone here and can enjoy talks with nature, listen to the waves caressingly assaulting the endless stretch of this beach, and admire fantastic views of the setting sun and fairy tale skies.

How to Get There

On the way to Phang Nga, some two hundred metres after Phuket’s checkpoint, you can park anywhere and will see the coastline on your left. There aren’t any restaurants so bring your own food and drinks.

Ready to wander in solitude?

Aight!

Wind down and relish the peace and quiet before the pressures of the day begin again.