Panwan Beach, #Phuket

Panwa Beach, also known as Khao Kat Beach, is not a swimming beach,

and yet has the charm of these remote bays not many

would take the time to explore while visiting Phuket.

Located on   a east coast cape but facing west, the whole area is peppered

with luxury villas and few resorts, a great alternative to relax away from west coast crowded spots.

So if you are after peace,

this is an enjoyable region to spend a slow afternoon staring at nearby islands.

Have lunch or drinks at one of the few restaurants available along the strand,

such as the good old ‘Beach Bar’.

You can even stay at one of the beautiful resorts around,

most popular being the Novotel Panwa,

and enjoy a great morning stroll along the sandy bay

all the way to the few fishing boats at the southern end.

If you drove there, you should also continue up to the nearby ‘Panwa View Point’

(or Khao Kat Views Tower) and get an amazing 360˙ view

on this part of Phuket and the islands around.

Continue south and you will pass by Ao Yon beach (photo below),

another nice sandy bay mostly enjoyed by locals, you can even stop few minutes

at the small Ao Yon waterfall opposite of it.

Go further south and visit the Panwa Aquarium and its small glass tunnel

or stay at the Cape Panwa Hotel and its small but beautiful private beach (photo below).

Panwa beach and its surrounding is not your usual tropical holiday destination,

but once you drive there on a nice day you will see a side of  Phuket  island

not many take the time to enjoy.

Kata Noi Beach, #Phuket, Thailand

Kata Noi Beach is a beautiful little bay if you want to be near Kata Beach action

but stay away from the usual tourist herds.

This nice wide strand of white sand has incredibly clear blue waters during the high season

and fortunately, its ‘out of the way’ location kept it relatively quiet.

Unless you know about it, you probably would miss it.

Except the beach itself and two resorts, not much is going on around Kata Noi Beach,

the usual tailor, convenience store, massage and few bars seem to be waiting for the hotel’s guests.

The northern end of the beach is also a popular spot among surfers

who occasionally get some decent waves for learning and practicing.

When low season arrives, the bay gets rougher and surfing is more challenging.

If you stay at Kata Thani Resort or at Mom Tri’s Villa Royale, you will get free beach chairs,

otherwise it will cost you 200 baht for a pair of loungers and an umbrella,

which is the normal price around the island.

The whole Kata Noi Beach front is occupied by the Kata Thani Beach Resort

and all rooms happen to face the beach… very popular and first rooms are affordable.

If you want to treat yourself to something luxurious

you can try ‘The Shore’, their beautiful new wing, all featuring pool villas.

More unique and renown since decades is the ‘Villa Royale’,

built on the side of Kata Noi northern end.

This unusual hotel, surrounded by a beautiful garden,

used to be a private house converted very successfully into a hotel. In the original wing,

each room has a different design and different decoration,

one of them even still features its own wine cellar built into a rock boulder.

Another spot no to miss while in Kata Noi Beach, is the line of bars built high on top of the back hill,

offering spectacular views on the bay… With name like ‘Small View Point’ or ‘After Beach’

or the newest addition ‘Baan Chom View’ you get the idea :

great sunset, decent food and definitely the best way

to enjoy a beer watching the sun go down on Kata Noi Beach.