The Best Beaches

Best Beache

- by Bert Maxwell You won’t believe paradise could be so close. A great escape from busy Phuket

Aplace where the water is clear, sand is white and forests green. Unforgettable natural sights! Only 15 minutes away from Phuket by boat. A white crescent of sand sitting between a beautiful forest and crystal-clear, blue, swimmable water.

Banana Beach is all about nature. It was a stunning place long before any person stood on its shore, and that natural beauty is still there today. So, when you embark on this fantastic daytime activity in Phuket, notice how boat noise is kept to a minimum around the beach and how most boats park out on the water, not on the sand.

Watch the fish that swim around curiously in the crystal blue water, and see how the trees hug our buildings and Great Hornbill birds (the inspiration for our restaurant design) fly down from the hillside to

have a look around. This is all part of keeping the beach’s identity.

We not only wanted to preserve the character of Banana Beach Phuket, but add to it as well, with respect for its beauty and environment. That is why our buildings make large use of natural tropical materials, such as bamboo, and also take shapes that connect you to Koh Hey’s wildlife. You get to play and rest in nature here without taking anything away from it except some lovely memories of your Phuket sightseeing adventure.

Banana Beach is the best corner of Koh Hey (Coral Island) and one of the most beautiful attractions in Phuket. You won’t believe that it’s so close and holds so many fantastic Phuket activities. In fact, the speedboat ride from Chalong Pier is already an adventure.

Banana Beach, Thailand

Banana Beach has a backdrop of impossibly-green jungle and looks out on crystalclear water—all part of a national park and marine preservation area (30 minutes by boat from Chalong Pier on Phuket). Banana Boat rides are popular, hence the name, as is snorkeling, sea kayaking, and parasailing. With minimal infrastructure, and one restaurant built out of bamboo, this is a great, less-than-crowded spot to park yourself for the day in the sun.

Where to Stay: You picked the Iniala Beach House as your favorite place to stay on Phuket in our latest Readers’ Choice Awards survey. The design credentials are incredible at this collection of three villas and a penthouse, back on Phuket at Natai Beach. to your every need. No matter where you stay, you’ll have a butler, driver, chef, spa therapist, and housekeeper to attend American chef Tim Butler heads up two restaurants: Iniala Dining, which dishes up Mediterranean-inflected meals and whose menu rotates daily, and Esenzi, which focuses on sustainably sourced seafood.

Here you are, one step closer to something beautiful. You’ll be standing there soon, white sand between your toes, gentle blue sea swishing beside you, and green jungle rising in the other direction. Then within that sea, inside that forest, are more treasures. It’s time to discover. It’s only a quick boat ride away.