Page 53 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Phuket

Beaches ❮❮ 51

Loh Dalum
9
Beach
MAP L6
This picture-postcard
beach, outlined by
green hills and craggy
cliffs, is understand ably
one of Ko Phi Phi’s most
pop ular destinations.
Swimmers can wade
out into its tur quoise
waters, which, even at
quite a distance from
the shore, are only waist
deep. In the distance,
the colored cliffs of Nui
Bay rise up against the
backdrop of the sky.
Secluded Maya Bay Naiharn Beach
Maya Bay
6 0
A quiet beach on Phuket’s
Perhaps the world’s most
southwest ern tip, Naiharn is framed
famous beach after its role in the by rolling green hills and emerald
Leonardo DiCaprio block buster The waters, and offers a perfect hide-
Beach, beautiful Maya Bay on Ko Phi away far from the crowds. The calm,
Phi Leh has almost single-handedly warm water is ideal for swimming,
inspired travelers worldwide to visit and because there is just one resort
southern Thailand. With its sparkling property here – the Royal Phuket
turquoise waters and exquisite white Yacht Club Hotel, with breathtaking
sand – not to mention the near total views of the bay – travelers feel as if
absence of development – perhaps they’ve stumbled upon a well-kept
Maya Bay truly is paradise (see p100). secret (see pp26–7).
Karon Beach
7 Tha Chat 0 km 5
Chai
MAP H4
This large beach offers plenty of 0 miles 5
space for sunbathers who want a
little privacy. With more than 3 miles Phuket 402 Chang
(5 km) of powdery white sand lapped Sakoo Taeng
gently by the turquoise waters of the Muang
Mai
Andaman Sea, Karon Beach is often Nai Thon 4031
less crowded than its neigh bors in Thalang Bang Pae
Patong and Kata. The magni ficent 4027
coral reef at its southern end is Cherngtalay
perfect for snorkel ing. Tha Rua
Kamala
Mai Khao Beach
8 4233 Kathu 4022 402
Part of Sirinat National Park,
Ratsada
Mai Khao Beach is not the usual Patong Phuket Town
Phuket tourist beach. There are no Chalong
private watercraft, and most of the
buildings are luxury resorts, none of Karon 4021
which infringes on the area’s natural Ko Phi Phi
beauty. Due to the beach’s proximity Kata 25 miles (40 km)
to the airport, airplanes sometimes Rawai
fly low overhead (see p23).

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