5 miles from Patong Bay
A pretty bay with several hotels and plenty of restaurants ashore and a busy village atmosphere on the south end of the beach. The bay is easily recognised from seaward by the large structures of the Phuket Fantasea Park and the developments on the southern hill.
North onshore, past the two high-end beach clubs Café Del Mar and HQ, are Twin Palms Montazure Phuket, Novotel Kamala and the Intercontinental Hotel, comprising villas, condominiums hotel accommodation and beachfront restaurants.
Care should be taken when coming into the bay from the south to avoid the rocky patch 300 metres off the headland. Anchor anywhere well out in the bay in 6-8 metres on a sandy bottom.
6 miles from Patong Bay
A beautiful bay framed by two rocky headlands, used to be the favourite spot for paradise seekers and ageing hippies who preferred the short longtail or tuk-tuk ride from Patong to the gruelling bus to Krabi.
Anchor in 3-12 metres on a sandy bottom. There are no umbrellas or food vendors on this beach – but there is a ‘local’ restaurant. just off the beach and a few entrepreneurs will get you cold beers and inflatable beach beds.
The 300-metre steep climb from the main road has been closed by investors in the land, so the only access now is by speedboat from Surin or a long tricky walk around the headland. This beach has returned to what it was 40 years ago.
Around the headland to the north is Surin Bay. One of the island’s only zoned public beaches and park, it has been designated a heritage beach in honour of HM King Bhumipol. As such, there shouldn’t now be any restaurants, beach clubs, toilet amenities or facilities of any kind. However, entrepreneurial vendors have opened pop-up restaurants in the car park and behind the beach – and have ‘created’ access to toilets in the decaying sports stadium.
Surin beach is well-worth a visit now the wall-to-wall sunbeds have gone. Anchor in 5-8 metres anywhere off the beach outside any swim lines that may still exist.
7 miles from Patong Bay
Anchor in front of the famous resort, outside the fringing reef in 15 metres on a sandy bottom. There’s an excellent sandy beach, and good snorkelling on both points.
This anchorage is uncomfortable when the northwest swell is running in February or March, but is secluded, is one of the nicer bays on the west coast, and is home to The Surin and Amanpuri exclusive resorts. Yacht crews may use the hotel restaurants for that special occasion, but it’s wise to make a reservation.
