Maihhao beach Phuket

Phuket’s longest beach

Maikhao beach is the longest beach on Phuket. It’s 11 km’s of golden sand at the northern end of Phuket’s west coast. To the south is Naiyang beach and Phuket international airport. North is Sai Keow beach.

Maikhao is also Phuket’s quietest beach with fewer visitors than the beaches in south Phuket. The resorts at Maikhao aim more at higher end tourists. Hotels include the JW Marriott, Sala Phuket, the Renaissance and the Centara West Sands, which is also home to the Splash Jungle Waterpark.

Locals also like Maikhao at weekends. There are seafood restaurants are at the southern end of the beach and lots of places to have a picnic in the shade.

There are washroom facilitates at the south end of the beach as well as a national park camping area.

There is no nightlife at Maikhao beach apart from what’s offered inside resorts.

Swimming at Maikhao beach

Maikhao beach is ok for swimming but not as good as other beaches like Kata or Naiharn. The beach dips quite quickly into the sea so you can soon be out of your depth. There are no life guards on duty and rip currents can be strong in low season (May to Oct). The best months are late January to April when the sea should be flat calm.

Every year on Mai Khao beach around the Songkran festival time, there is a baby turtle release program.

The main issue with staying at Mai Khao beach is the isolation from the rest of the island. Taxi’s to Patong or Phuket town will be expensive. Many tour operators and day trip dive boat operators will charge you an extra taxi fare to pick you up from a Maikhao beach resort because it’s so far our of the way.

Although Maikhao beach is close to Phuket International airport if you want to stay near the airport because you have an early morning flight it is more convenient to stay at Naiyang beach.

Diving from Maikhao beach

If you are doing Phuket day trip diving from Chalong bay we do not recommend that you stay in Maikhao beach because you’ll have to pay extra for transfers and spend a long time sitting in a minibus.

If you are doing day trips to the Similan Islands or Koh Bon then Maikhao is better located than southern Phuket beaches because you will be transferring north to Thap lamu pier (near Khao Lak), but there will still probably be an extra charge.

Most liveaboards will pick up from hotels in Maikhao at no extra charge.