Patong Beach Kiteboarding

I was on Patong beach yesterday and I took a few photos to show what the weather is like in Phuket at this time of year. Yesterday was a typical Phuket low season day.

It was fine for most of the day with a nice on-shore breeze. We had a heavy rain shower at about 4pm that lasted about 20 minutes. We watched the rain arriving from out at sea and sheltered under a beer tent. It was good fun, everyone crowded in together.

Those who didn't mind getting wet just stayed out and enjoyed the warm rain, including the kite surfer shown below. He was going for hours and was pretty good, even doing a couple of jumps for me as he went past.

Some people like a deserted beach. I actually like the life on Patong beach. Yesterday there were people swimming, fishing, playing football, running, picnicing etc.

Nai Yang Beach Phuket

I was up around Nai Yang beach yesterday so I took a few photos to show why it's one of my favourite beaches these days. As Phuket gets more developed NaiYang beach is managing to maintain a chilled out feel. There are parts of the beach where you can hire a sun lounger and umbrella but much of the beach is left empty. There are no jet ski's to disturb the peace, just long tail boats used by local fishermen. You can enjoy a beach side massage or have a snack at one of several small beach restaurants.

The southern end of the beach is the busiest with restaurants, chill out bars and a couple of kite surfing schools that operate during the north west monsoon (May to October). At the northern end the beach brushes up against Sirinath National Park and small bamboo restaurants sit under the shade of the casuarina trees.

NaiYang beach is located a few minutes south of Phuket airport on the north west coast of Phuket Island. From November to May (the Thailand dive liveaboard season) Nai Yang beach can be a good place to stay before trips to the Similan Islands or before early flight departures from Phuket. From May to October when all Phuket diving is done from Chalong Bay I would not recommend Phuket daytrip divers to stay in NaiYang because it's too far from the boat pier and most dive centres will charge extra for the transfer.

You don't have to pay a national park entrance fee to go on NaiYang beach

NaiYang beach front restaurants

Another terrible low season day in Phuket ;)

Kitesurfing is very popular at NaiYang beach

NaiYang beach main street

Walk north on NaiYang beach and you'll have the beach to yourself

North end of NaiYang beach looking south

Tasty Thai food served at these small NaiYang beach restaurants

NaiYang beachside salas

Guaranteed Whalesharks in Phuket?

Although we always tell Phuket divers that whalesharks cannot be guaranteed in Phuket, that is exactly what one dive centre was doing yesterday. It's been a while since we've had so many whale sharks around in July. A good sign.

Looking north along Patong Beach Phuket

While in Patong beach this morning I took a couple of photos of the beach just to back up what I wrote yesterday about the great low season weather that we are having. These photos looking north and south show clear skies and a clean, uncrowded beach. Patong beach can get a bit too busy for my liking in the high season but in the low season (I think I'm supposed to call it Green Season now) Patong beach is kept clean and is great for walking or running on. There are still some people around and all the bars and restaurants are open for business so there is no feeling of the resort being closed down for winter.

Looking south along Patong Beach

Still on the Phuket weather, we've had no wind for a few weeks but anyone in to kitesurfing will be glad to know that there is a steady 15 knots blowing since Thursday. I was at NaiYang beach yesterday and there were 6 kitesurfers on the water and a few more setting up.