surfing thailand phuket


Its strung by over 25 individual bays and beaches, with hidden coves and rock reefs interspersed in between. Karon Beach, Read More The southern end of the beach has a permanent sandbank in front of a small lagoon and offers a fast and long ride, even with small swells. Its one of the rare intermediate+ spots of the island, mainly because theres a 1,000-meter paddle from shore to break and you cant use the longboats as a shortcut since they dont usually go out if its too rough. If theres localism, this is where youll encounter it. Wed rate it as a fine place to start your surfing journey; a decent primer for places with even more power, like Kuta Bali or Siargao. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. Phuket Beaches 44 Amazing Beaches to Discover! tsunami thailand before drawback wave warning Phuket also has its own airport, Phuket International Airport.

Bangtao Beach is a long stretch of soft sand north of Surin Beach that appeals to beginner surfers with calmer wave conditions.

The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". A few surfing schools and board rental places are found at this southern end near Sunwing Hotel and Catch Beach Club. * Some hotels require you to cancelmore than 24 hoursbefore check-in. There are no board rental places directly on Kalim, but youll find some along the beach in Patong. Kamala Beach offers a great surfing spot at its northern part. Phuket vs Krabi: Where Should You Head Over To On Your Next Holiday? On the east coast of Phuket most of the beaches are muddy mangrove areas and are protected from the swells. Kata Beach hosts yearly international surf contests. The best waves form on the southern and northern headlands.

backpackers socialise Unfortunately, its also the wettest time of year, so dont be surprised to see some rainy days! The island is mostly mountainous with a mountain range in the west of the island from the north to the south. The surfing season starts as the tourism high season is just ending. 17 Best Things to Do in Phuket When it RAINS! The very first surf spot at the north end of Phuket has been named after the airport. We dont like it and not many people we know do. Phuket is probably the unofficial leader of the Thailand surfing industry and the number of local Thai surfers is increasing every year. The northern end of this rock formation sometimes creates a small sandbank that results in a fast and short wave to ride. A few are crowded, many are quiet, some are hidden, and some are still secret. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. However, linking to the blog is welcomed. This small beach on a rocky headland just north of Patong Beach is a great little spot for surfing, with waves up to 3 metres. Surfing here is best suited for Beginners and intermediate surfers. Kata Noi is a tiny bay separated from Kata Beach by a headland with good surfing action at its northern end. Its hardly a wonder that Bang Tao is a favorite of windsurfers. Text and Photos are Copyright Phuket 101 and Willy Thuan 2011 - 2022 - Copy or use of images or texts without written authorization is strictly prohibited (Credit to or mention of the blog does not constitute authorization). From the airport in the north to the palm-topped Promthep Cape, there are some of surprising quality that dont draw the crowds. Then for the past 28 years, my passion for photography has taken me to every corner of Thailand. If youre coming to hit the Phuket surf as a total learner (and wed say this is a top place to get your first surfs under your belt in Asia) then its likely that Karon Beach will be on the menu. Phuket surfing is best from May to October, which is the low season. Surfable at all tides; Nai Harn is not considered too challenging a place by experienced surfers. Phuket, Thailand 83110, Copyright 2022 - Powered By The Wind - Privacy Policy. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Longboards have much more of a place on Phuket's beaches. The island the largest in the country, no less is also the only place in the Land of Smiles that has a proper, year-round surf community. Oddly, the whole area is protected by the Sirinat National Park. Windswells are the powerhouse and they usually push through SW swells that are just about perfect for the neatly angled bays of the Phuket western shoreline, all the way from airports to Nai Harn. Theres also a decent range of different types of waves to be hand up and down its length. Longboards are ideal in Phuket at the end of the surf season when the waves are nice shape and smooth, but too small for shortboards. Wind can play havoc with some of the breaks, which is why you might find that early morning and evening sessions are the best. Kamala Beach offers great surfing experience for all level surfers. That said, the vibe is generally good and Phuket surf is still overwhelmingly beginner level. However, there are many beautiful beaches Born in France a long long time ago, I started to travel the world early and never stopped until I settled in Thailand in 1994. The best months are usually at the beginning and end of the season -May/June and September/October. Most surfboard rental booths offer hourly up to daily surfboard rental rates. Phuket is the biggest island in Thailand, located in the Andaman Sea, in the south of Thailand. I have been a blogger since January 2011. Photo: Blast from the past-award ceremony Quiksilver contest 2000. Surin Beach is a great surfing spot, though some of the heaviest waves in Phuket make it only recommended for advanced and experienced surfers. 4-8-footer swell days will come in there, form on the headland point, and hold well to offer night right handers into the sand. If you have more info or photos of this area or on other surfing spots in Thailand, surfboard rental and prices from the Saltwater Dreaming Surf Shop. Kata Beach is famous for being among the top spots for Surfing in Phuket. All rights reserved. Its easy to see why the planes whiz over the beachfront from morning until night. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 40 Best Things to Do in Phuket and Around. The southern end of the beach is where to head to for a great surfing experience. Winds are variable and waves can reach up to 3 meters. Two craggy heads poke out on either side to envelop the bay in jungle-topped mountains. There are lessons available on Kata, Karon, Patong, Bang Tao and Surin beaches. #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width:400px;}
Sometimes it can be a crumbly left-right peeler for the longboarders. So its best to go during high tide. You get a handful of eateries and even a dedicate skatepark come club to get stuck into. Weve started in the north and run all the way south to offer details on the top surf spots that this island can muster. Look, finding a great hotel wont be a problem in Phuket! We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. We never post anything without your permission. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. We might use affiliate links in this post. Because of its popularity, Kata beach is always packed with tourists but not overcrowded.

There are also surf shops to buy surfboards or rent one or take surfing lessons. Recently there has been an increase in people wanting to learn to surf in Phuket. Twisting slides whiz into a central pool from a private water park. The shallow water makes it difficult to surf as little banks and peaks appear on the surface. Surfboard rental is available at a few shops along the beach. One of the best right-hand waves on the island comes off the reef cluster that hugs the northern headland of Pansea Beach. Bangla Road We have done our best to go surfing in Thailand as much as possible and to include our personal experiences of this beach and other surf spots in Thailand-Since 2000, we are the original surfing Phuket guide someone's gotta do it!! Bangkok Vs Phuket - Choose Your Next Vacation Destination, White Water Rafting in Thailand: 6 Top Places Across the Country, Bungee Jumping in Thailand - Best Places To Try Out the 'Leap of Faith', Nightlife in Phuket - List of The City's Best Places for Nightlife, Shopping in Phuket: 13 Best Shopping Places In Phuket, 4 Elephant Sanctuaries in Phuket for an Intimate Experience, 15 Halal Restaurants in Phuket For Muslim Travellers in Thailand. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. A shallow coral right-hand reef break offers long rides of 50 to 100 metres. All the beaches of Phuket in one page There are no less than 44 Phuket Beaches now on our list! The beach has mainly three main spots. Let us know in the comments below which spot you enjoyed the best. More information on Phuket. The main hazard is the steep drop in on some waves and the constant jet skis driven by people who have no idea what theyre doing! FASTER Accounting Services provides court accounting preparation services and estate tax preparation services to law firms, accounting firms, trust companies and banks on a fee for service basis. Longboard surfing in Phuket seems to be more popular than shortboards and some days there are more longboards in the water than shortboards. Capable of channeling the biggest of the wet-season swells into waves that hold at overhead levels, its a rare performance wave in the Land of Smiles. Surfing in Phuket is a relatively recent development in terms of Thailand's tourism. But aside from catching waves during these months, youll also enjoy less crowded beaches and discounted hotel rates. Fiduciary Accounting Software and Services. The central part of the beach also has a sandbank that creates a nice break at mid-tide. Arnab Ghosh, Share this post on social media Kamala is also great for surfers who want to break up their day of riding the waves to enjoy some dining and drinks on the beachfront, with Caf del Mar beach club and several restaurants lining the sands. Here, surfers can ride the swell on a 100-meter-long spot, with waves reaching up to 3 meters. Some places have no board rental shops. Phuket is roughly midway down the western coast of Thailand. Surfers should find decent waves at any tide level, but conditions are best mid-tide. Board rental is available from a few shops at the beach, and those looking to learn or improve their skills can sign up for lessons at one of the surf schools. Skip Patong. 12 Amazing Gay Bars in Phuket to Have An Entertaining Evening, Sunset in Phuket - 20 Places to Witness the Golden Phuket Sunset. Its sandbanks create waves up to 3 meters, making this section a great place for advanced and experienced riders. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. Keep in mind there are no surfboard rentals or lessons available nearby. Next time you plan a trip to Thailand, be sure to try a bit of surfing in Phuket. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. However, surfing closer to the beach is sometimes possible at low tide. Twitter A combo of easy accessibility, an abundance of west-coast beaches that arent only beautiful but have excellent exposure to the Indian Ocean, and more hotels than you can shake a spring roll at all help. The Saltwater Dreaming Surf Shop at Surin beach carries a large range of surfboards, bodyboards, stand up paddleboards and all those hard to find accessories. Phuket now hosts surfing contests each year held between June to September.Kamala Go Surfing Club has been running an annual contest since 2005. The south end of Kamala Beach fragments into cobblestone sections and smaller coves. 8 Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Phuket for Some Green Delights, Bike Rentals in Phuket: Your Complete Guide To Bike-Renting in the 'Pearl of the Andaman', The 5 Most Wonderful Waterfalls In Phuket. If you wish to use an image from our website with a link back to us, 17 Best Romantic Restaurants in Phuket , 10 Best Typical Southern Thai Food You Must Try in Phuket. This island is a mecca for travel and hosts millions every year. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Kata Noi draws a good crowd of returnee rippers with its right-hand point break. 70% of the island is covered by forest. Its a fully-fledged holiday escape in one. Theres a fantastic left hand point that can get working during bigger storm swells there. At the north end, reef breaks make the big waves. The money spot here is the point break left that works off the rocks at the southern end of the bay. Sadly, youre getting into the province of luxury hotels here and there are frequent reports of staff at the nearby Amanpuri and Surin Hotel trying to stop surfers from getting to the break. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Surin Beach has a rep for being one of the deluxe corners of Phuket. This beach has 3 main parts: its southern part (from the temple to the village) offers a gentle swell that can be surfed when over 1 meter, making it a good place for beginners. Lip out at the right time, though, because rides finish up on shallow sections of rock. For long term rentals see surfboard rental and prices from the Saltwater Dreaming Surf Shop which also has skimboards, bodyboards and stand up paddleboards for rent. There are now many board rental shops and surfing schools which cater to both curious first-timers and hardcore surfers. Details on site. Youll need to navigate gardens of swaying coconut palms and infinity pools to make it to the shore here. Facebook If you are a beginner, it is recommended to hire a guide to get you going. They also get you right on the cusp of Nai Harn beach, which offers a right and left point break of proper quality. Phuket's attractions, such as diving, Patong nightlife, shopping, Thai food and the Thai people, are definitely why people come to Thailand. but before you commit to buying, make sure you contact your airline to check for any extra charges for carrying your board home. The swell that creates Phuket's surf conditions comes from the Indian ocean bypassing the tip of Sumatra. The middle of the bay is given over to a run of mellow beach peaks that chop and change as the sandbanks switch position theres less reef protection. They also offer gardens shaded by swaying causarania trees, a reflective pool just meters from the Andaman Sea, and stunning suites with bathtubs and balconies. The real draw is the out-at-sea reef of coral that gives the occasional head-high A-frame set when theres something bigger in the forecast. In 1999 Quiksilver started running surfing contests at Kata beach. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Use the menu on the right of this page to get information on surfing on all Phuket's beaches. The middle of the beach is protected from the swells and some smaller waves are eminently rideable. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Weve noticed a growing trend in localism here. Surfing in this small bay is best suited for experienced surfers with heavier wave action and strong currents. The west coast of Phuket is the money region. This period is the low season of travel in Thailand. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Kamala Beach offers some consistent breaks and a sheltered bay good for surfers of all experience levels. Again, you might have to do battle with the guards at the lux hotels but its worth it when theres about 5-7 foot in a SW swell since the wave is a ripple goofy ride thats got lip turns and even air potential. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Located near to the Phuket Airport, the Nai Yang Beach is a perfect place to kick off some good waves for surfing. Hey, there was even a pro event held here in the early naughties. Although its advisable to only surf at high tide. I run Phuket101.net and manage large international online travel guides. The main centers for renting surfboards are the Surin Beach, Kamala Beach and the Kata Beach area. More and more surf spots are being discovered, in Phuket and on the mainland. The northern end is a tiny reef point break, making it a tricky yet enjoyable surfing experience. Is there surf in Phuket in December, January, February? So, thanks for that! Winds are southeasterly to northeasterly with waves up to 2 meters. Use sunscreen to protect your skin from sunburn. The largest island in the country, Phuket measures about 30 miles from north to south and little more than 10 miles across at its widest point. Surf conditions at Nai Harn beach are best suited for beginner to intermediate surfers. Designed and developed by industry professionals for industry professionals. In saying that there are exceptions, such as this surfing picture of Phuket below, which was taken on the 25th November 2003. The right-hander main wave breaks near the northern headland. During low tide, Kalim Beach is difficult to surf because of exposed rocks on shallow coral reefs. Although the waves are not high (within three meters high), there are few good spots where the waves offer enough thrill to lure tourists to come and visit Phuket at the low season. This is one of the few places where you can rent boards right on the sand a la Kuta Bali. This page has beach information of the surf breaks in Phuket.

Phuket Or Pattaya - Which Location To Visit On Your Next Thai Holiday? The 2 ends of the beach allow different surfing experiences: at the north end, right in front of the Royal Phuket Yacht Club, a coral reef and rocky break make for big swells. Nai Harn attracts small groups of mostly local surfers, with decent waves ranging from a half-metre to 3-metre swells at each beach end. 2022 Hotels.com is an Expedia Group company. The southern part, which offers a low gentle swell is suited for beginners to learn surfing. Cheongthalay, Thalang

The waves here can be quite fast and are usually more powerful than those at the more popular Kata Beach. Create and share itinerary, download PDF Guides and free access to Holidify's full content. Its still one of the most popular spots on the island and the place wed probably say to begin. The good news here is that you should be alone on the wave. It all starts in the best of the lot, at the north end of the beach just outside the InterContinental Phuket Resort. The good are split between the north head, which offers a more crumbly right hander and the south. Surfing contests are hosted on Kalim Beach every year.

Its usually too affected by the wind to give any good, glassy surf. A long paddle out to the reef and exposure to the winds make Nai Yang a place best left to more advanced riders. The waves here are strong and quick, giving the thrill and fun surfers are usually seeking. And its well known for its good surfing conditions in the northern part. Join now! If you visit Phuket during the calmer months of November through April, some good alternatives to surfing include flowboarding at Surf House in Kata and Patong, standup paddle-boarding (SUP), kayaking and wakeboarding. Rock formations are visible at low tide in the shallow water. A lot of visitors are here for other reasons such as, People on Honeymoon, holiday with family and friends, corporate meetings, but can still have the opportunity to go surfing. Waves are not huge but are great for beginners, and competitions are frequent during the low season. The centre part offers high waves over three meters, making this great for thrill-seekers and advanced surfers. Kata Noi is a beautiful small bay near Kata Beach. The west coast of Phuket has many beautiful beaches and headlands and there are many surf spots known and some not so well known. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Mostly centred along the west coast, ex-pats and locals started surfing a long time ago and over the years has managed to attract a lot of tourists as well. The best surfing spots are near the rocky headlands at each end of Surins 800-metre length. All the shops along Surin Beach cleared out some years ago so that you wont find any surf schools here, and youll need to source your surfboard elsewhere before hitting the waves. Further north along the beach, the waves can get up to 3 meters as it's exposed to the wind.

The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Beginner to advanced surfers will enjoy surfing here, and while Kata can get busy, its rarely overcrowded. There are plenty of reasons why. Its really a right but some like to whip down the steep left and lip back over. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. It starts in April or May most years and lasts until the end of September. Although we think Koh Phayam deserves some plaudits for its ideally-pointed southwest shoreline, Phuket probably just about pips it to the post as the home of surfing in Thailand. The aforementioned west coast is where the action is at. Kalim Beach is one of the best surfing spots for hardcore surfers. We guarantee it is an experience to last you a lifetime. The best time for surfing in Phuket is from April/May to September/October. Located just north of Patong Beach, the central part of the beach is where to head to with a properly waxed surfboard. The center of the beach slopes real fast into the Andaman, so gets sucky and shorebreaky, especially on a high tide. Katathani Resort takes up most of the land fringing Kata Nois beautiful soft white sands, but theres public access from the road. The west coast is also the hub of tourism for the island. Its experts only and reminds us of a sucky Sri Lankan outer reef, which rises and quickly tapers off onto a small shoulder that allows for a couple of rips. Unfortunately, theres no surf school here, but you can easily find surf lessons and board rental nearby.

With waves ranging from two meters to three meters, its ideal for intermediate to advanced surfers. It works on the northern headland and gives a wave that reminds us of a mellow Sri Lankan bay wave like Hiriketiya.

FASTER ASP Software is ourcloud hosted, fully integrated software for court accounting, estate tax and gift tax return preparation. As the weather changes, wind direction switches from east to west around April and the west coast sea starts to see waves perfect for Surfing. The best line up in neat rows to the south end of Kata, helping to plump up even 2-3 foot swells into something steeper and fast. Hotels.com compensates authors for their writing appearing on this site; such compensation may include travel and other costs. Local crews will always have their eyes on this so dont expect to be lonesome when its working its magic. While surfing in Phuket is not ranked among the absolute best in the world, it's certainly the best in Thailand and should not be dismissed entirely. Bang Tao Bay is a wide scythe of sand that carves along the middle of western Phuket. Its one of the longer rides going in these parts. This hotel is a true bucket lister. Our advice? Kalim Beach is certainly one of the best surfing spots in Phuket, but is also not for beginners. The central part of the beach creates sandbanks resulting in fast and slow waves to ride, and the sandy bottom parts offer a safe and slow landing from the waves. Everything you need to know about surfing Phuket while you're on holiday. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Nai Harn Beach can also lay claim to a place in the top surf spots of Phuket. Be sure to carry your own. Its the first of the more famous bays that get good swell exposure on the southern side of Phuket. Oh, and the location is great for surfers, being right by the southern breaks of Kata Beach, which is where Phuket surfing started life. Its soft but not so soft you cant cutback and draw lines. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. At the same time, the air and water temperatures are both usually good and the lower number of tourists puts fewer obstacles in the water, making Phuket a comfortable and safe place to surf. Phuket now promotes the green season, which is the surfing season in Phuket. If youd like to experiment with surfing in a super-safe environment beforehand, try out the flowrider at Phuket Surf House. More often, youll be doing battle with the mushburgers of the middle and the southern end of the beach, which has more consistency but little shape. There are surfable waves at various points along the beach, with some of the best at the northern end near the Novotel Phuket Kamala Beach resort. Phuket surfing mostly happens along the west coast, where you can get decent wave action. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. There are islands and reefs just offshore which are surfable in the right conditions. Nai Yang Beach near Phuket airport has an offshore reef that can kick up some of Phukets best surfing waves, but its a notoriously unpredictable spot. This article includes opinions of the Go Guides editorial team.

The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Its worth going stealth and trying to get through when theres some decent size (something like 4 foot+) in the forecast because you can score a nice shoulder with a good wall for ripping for about 30-40 meters. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. As the monsoons head further north during April to September the surf becomes much bigger, but so do the winds. Yes there is surf in Phuket, But it shouldn't be rated among the top world surfing destinations, even so, while you're in Phuket, a fun surf in uncrowded and friendly surfing conditions could really make your next holiday the best you've had yet. The 2 ends of the beach are good for surfing, but you should be aware that theres a rock formation in the central part of the beach, visible at low tide. Here we will talk about the season for surfing in Phuket, the best places to surf in Phuket and some of the reputed surfing schools in the region. We value your privacy. Hotels.com and the Hotels.com logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Hotels.com, LP in the United States and/ or other countries. With the wind direction switching from east to west around April, the west-coast seas go from perfectly flat to perfect for riding a situation which lasts until the winds turn back around October. Its still no SoCal but there are some ironically expat crews that are starting to get territorial at the busier locations. And its heavy waves and strong currents make it suitable for more experienced and advanced surfers. Its one of the more southerly of the bays here so hoovers up any swell and converts that into a pretty impressive consistency, at least for the Land of Smiles. With decent waves ranging from two meters to three meters, Nai Harn attracts many surfers on its beach. Both ends of the beach are good for surfing.

There are some cruisy little waves that can make it into the big bay, but they are rarely rideable and love a closeout.

Shifting sandbanks make the going unpredictable, but sometimes it's near-perfect here. Nai Harn Beach offers a beach break at its southern end and a beach and reef break at its northern end. Located north of Patong Beach, Kalim Beach is certainly not for beginners.