Bang Tao Beach

Bang Tao Beach stretches six kilometres along Phuket’s northwest coast — one of the island’s longest unbroken stretches of sand. The Laguna Phuket resort complex anchors the northern end, with five interconnected luxury hotels sharing pools, a golf course and a lagoon system linked by a free internal ferry. The southern half is quieter, with beach clubs, smaller boutique properties and a stretch of open beach that locals actually use.

The Beach

The sand is wide and white, and the gradient into the water is gentle — genuinely good for families and easy swimming in the November-April high season. The water turns rough from May to October when the southwest monsoon brings surf; red flag days are common and swimming outside designated safe zones is inadvisable. The lagoon behind the beach is worth a kayak trip — mangroves, birdlife and quiet channels away from the main tourist strip.

Beach clubs line the middle section of the beach. Xana is part of the Angsana Laguna resort, with a 35-metre pool facing the sea. RAVA, which opened in 2025 as part of Banyan Tree Phuket, has three infinity pools stretching across 150 metres of beachfront — currently one of the larger beach club setups in Phuket. Daybeds and cabanas at both require packages; cocktails run around 400-600 baht.

Where to Eat

Boat Avenue, the shopping strip adjacent to the Laguna complex, is the main off-beach eating hub. Suay Cherngatalay does modern Thai with Michelin recognition; Ta Wai offers traditional Thai in a garden setting; Hosay Bowl covers açaí and poke. The Fun Friday Night Market runs weekly at Boat Avenue from 4-9pm with Thai street food and craft stalls. For lower prices, walk south along the beach past the resort zone where Thai-run restaurants serve fresh seafood at roughly half the resort rates.

Where to Stay

SAii Laguna Phuket (8.7 on Agoda) sits inside the Laguna complex with direct beach access and a family-friendly setup. Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket Hotel (8.6) is the upscale option at the northern end with its own Casuarina Beach Club. Budget options are scarce here — Bang Tao sits firmly at the mid-to-high end of Phuket’s accommodation market.

Getting There

Bang Tao is about 30 minutes from Phuket Airport — one of its practical advantages over the southern beaches. Grab and Bolt both cover the area well and are the easiest way in from town or Patong (15-20 minutes). Songthaews from Phuket Town are infrequent and not reliable for a single trip.

Insider Tip: Walk south along the beach past the Laguna resort zone to reach the open sand where locals swim. Thai-run restaurants here serve fresh seafood at roughly half the resort prices. The contrast with the Laguna complex a kilometre north is immediate.