Laem Ka Beach

Laem Ka Beach is a 150-metre stretch of white sand on Phuket’s southeastern tip, tucked into Rawai about 20 kilometres south of Phuket Town. Granite boulders bookend the sand at both ends, coconut palms lean in from behind, and there’s no cave system here — that’s a different attraction, and the two get mixed up online often enough that it’s worth saying plainly.

Getting there means driving or riding a motorbike down a narrow lane through a coconut plantation near one of Rawai’s temples; there’s no bus service to the beach itself, and access has occasionally been restricted where the route crosses private land, so it’s worth checking conditions if you’re heading out on a quiet weekday. Once you’re there, the water is calm and shallow enough for easy swimming in the dry season, roughly November through April. The rocky sections bookending the sand are better suited to snorkelling than swimming — bring your own mask, since there’s no rental stand.

Facilities are close to non-existent. No sunbeds, no beach bars, no 7-Eleven around the corner — this is the appeal for anyone tired of Patong-style beach infrastructure, but it also means packing water and snacks before you go. Laem Ka Noi Seafood Restaurant sits nearby with a sea view if you’d rather not self-cater. Offshore, Coral Island (Koh Hae) and Koh Bon are both visible on a clear day, the same islands that longtail boats based at Rawai pier, a short drive away, run day trips out to.

Insider Tip: Weekday mornings are the best window — by afternoon the tide can expose more rock than sand at the western end, and weekend crowds (still modest by Phuket standards) thin the quiet that’s the main reason to come here.

Watch out: Access through the coconut plantation has been affected by private development in the past. If the usual lane looks blocked or gated, don’t force it — ask at a nearby homestay or the seafood restaurant rather than trespassing.

Rainy season (May to October) brings rougher water and more litter washed in, so this is very much a dry-season beach. It suits a couple of quiet hours rather than a full day trip — most visitors pair it with a longer stop at Nai Harn or the viewpoint at Laem Phromthep, both a short drive further along Phuket’s southern tip.