Surin beach Phuket

World class Phuket beach

Surin beach Phuket is not to be mistaken for the Surin Islands or Surin province in north east Thailand.

Surin Beach is a world class Phuket beach. It’s on Phuket’s west coast north of Kamala beach, south of Bangtao and Laguna. It’s not as long or as deep as Kamala beach and it has a different vibe. It has a slightly more upmarket feel than Kamala, probably because of all the millionaire villas on the hills behind, and the luxury resorts such as The Surin or Surin Heights.

There isn’t really a Surin town to talk off, just a road with a few shops. Other hotels are scattered away from the beach.

It’s a popular beach with surfers during the south west monsoon (May to Oct). In high season the sea is calm and great for swimming. You can snorkel at the north and southern ends of the beach.

Surin beach was minimally affected by the 2004 Asian tsunami, whereas Kamala beach just a few minutes south was very badly hit.

Up until relatively recently Surin beach was full of restaurants and some trendy (expensive) beach clubs. They were illegally encroaching on the beach and taking space away from the public. Beach chair renters also hogged beach space and prevented tourists setting their towels down where they wanted. Then in 2014 there was a move to purge Phuket beaches of illegal vendors and all the restaurants and bars that were encroaching on the beach were removed. Rules were also put into place to limit sun loungers to a small area.

The beach is far more beautiful now in it’s natural state with more beach space for everyone, we hope it remains that way.

There are some restaurants at the northern end of the beach. Also in the car park area mobile stalls stop to sell delicious food like grilled chicken, BBQ squid, somtam with sticky rice and so on. Vendors also walk along the beach selling beers and ice creams.

The next beach up the coast is Bang Tao beach. Head south to find Laem Singh.