6 Best Secret Beaches in Phuket

Ao Sane is an attractive place to spend the afternoon, as it enjoys a fair bit of shade afforded by its groves of tropical almond trees. This sandy expanse has 3 mini-beaches, hulking granite boulders, and excellent snorkelling just offshore.

Ao Sane Beach has a simple yet charming beach restaurant, along with public toilets and shower facilities. It's a yacht-mooring spot between November and May but remains relatively peaceful year-round. To get to the beach, head past the luxury hotels at Nai Harn Beach’s northern end. Follow the road and keep going until you see Ao Sane Beach.

Ao Yon Beach is an archetypical tropical beach in Phuket, complete with palm trees, white sand, and shallow waters. A small beachside village in its own right, you can see to oyster farming rafts just a few hundred metres out to sea.

This south-facing beach can get busy with locals on weekends but is pleasantly peaceful on weekdays. Ao Yon Beach is between Cape Panwa and Novotel Cape Panwa. You can park on the hillside road and walk down to the beach.

Banana Beach gets its rather interesting name from its crescent-shaped strand. Hard to find, yet rewarding, you'll need to trek downhill through a wooded area to reach the beach. There's a beachfront restaurant if you need to refuel throughout the day. 

Swimming is not a good idea between May and November. It's best to skip the beach at high tide and on windy days. However, when the weather is calm, there’s no beating Banana Beach for tranquillity and photo opportunities.

Nui Beach is one of the most beautiful ‘secret beaches’ in Phuket. This 120-metre strip of sand is roughly 3 km through a lush jungle, after the famous Karon Viewpoint. It's a charming little cove offering good snorkelling, kayaking, and fishing.

Nui Beach has a bar/restaurant with thatched huts overlooking the ocean, as well as beach umbrellas on the sands. There's also a spa offering traditional massages and sauna facilities.

Panwa Beach (or Khao Kad Beach) is a tranquil stretch of sand that attracts those who like peace and quiet. Khao Khad is around 8 km east of Phuket Town and covers the west coast of Cape Panwa. The sand is coarse and the water shallow, but it offers scenic views of Chalong Bay and Lone Island.

Luxury villas and condominiums line almost the entire length of Panwa Beach. Dotted in between are fishermen's huts, while the far west end of the beach has a mangrove swamp.

Yae Beach in Phuket is secluded enough to be quiet on any given day, but still sports sun loungers, western-style toilets, and a beach bar for your convenience. This 200-metre-long beach is around 7 km north of Patong, with a feeder road leading to it from the main road. Yae Beach isn't ideal for swimming but is a nice spot for relaxing on the sands.