Banana Beach, also known by locals as Banana Rock Beach, is hidden on the western coast of Phuket, between Layan and Naiton beaches, in a cosy bay at the foot of a mountain.
Thanks to its location, concealed by terrain and jungle from the casual eyes of tourists driving along route 4018, Banana Beach remained a secret paradise for those who appreciate solitude and unspoiled nature for a long time. Now times have changed, and the beach has followed in the footsteps of Maya Bay on the Phi Phi Islands.
Beach Overview
Enclosed by rocky capes on two sides that prevent access to the beach along the shore, and behind the bay by a mountainside, Banana Beach was and remains not the most accessible beach in Phuket, but nevertheless one of the most popular.
From the road, a couple of trails lead to it, near one of which there’s now even a parking space for vehicles. And from the sea, taxi boats and speedboats now arrive regularly, so by 10 a.m. there’s a mass influx of tourists.
I would recommend coming here at 8-9 in the morning, then you’ll catch a couple of hours of peace and open space.
Swimming
Banana Beach is perfectly suited for swimming and beach leisure. The shore has no steep drops, except during the rainy season when waves wash away the sand thoroughly, causing a one and a half feet (0.5 m) high cliff to form at the tide line, but this is typical for many similar beaches in Thailand.
Waves occur regularly, but only with a tailwind. The sea entrance is clean only in the centre, without stones and corals, although some large boulders can be found right in the middle of the beach. On the flanks of Banana, there are already deposits of stones underwater and walking on the bottom there isn’t possible.
Sunbeds and Shade
The shore has excellently preserved its jungle, so there’s more than enough shade on the beach. And all the shade is not somewhere far away, but right at the water’s edge – but only until noon. It’s the western shore, which means that after midday the sun beats down on your face until sunset.
Some time ago, sunbeds with umbrellas were present on Banana (in the photo I caught just that period). But with the wave of new directives from the Phuket administration that swept all the island’s beaches, the sunbeds were removed from here. So all visitors to Banana Beach bring bamboo mats and inflatable mattresses with them.
Beach Photos
Amenities
Banana Beach is located in one of the least developed areas of Phuket, so for 2.5 miles (4 km) around there are only mountains, jungle, one road and a couple of large hotels.
On the beach itself stands a small Thai café with astronomical prices, but they cook quite well and offer a freshwater shower, which makes up for all their markups.
Beach equipment rental was previously available on the beach, but the current situation will need to be clarified during the next visit. You can enjoy some decent snorkelling here if you have a mask and fins.
Accommodation
On Banana there are no buildings except for the café, and the nearest villas and hotels are located at a considerable distance from the sea entrance. The closest hotels to the beach are the five-star hotel with spectacular views Andaman White Beach 5, which is roughly halfway between Banana Beach and Naiton.
At approximately the same distance from Banana Beach, but in the other direction, closer to Bang Tao, is Anantara Layan Phuket Resort 5.
How to Find the Beach
Save the point from the map below in your navigator and follow its directions. If you’re entering Banana from the north, from Bang Tao beach or from the south Naiton, then after Andaman White Beach Resort there will be two hairpin turns, left and right.
After reaching a straight road, look for parked cars or a homemade beach sign (which sometimes falls off). If you drive as far as Anantara Layan Phuket Resort 5, it means you’ve already passed Banana Beach. If necessary, transport can be left right on the roadside.
