Surin Beach is perfectly situated on the west coast of Phuket, and I believe it’s one of the most beautiful, convenient, and harmonious beaches on the island. It’s easy to travel from here to nearby beaches and Phuket Town. The beach has stunning soft sand, plenty of shade, excellent amenities, and lots of undeveloped areas.
Beach Overview
Surin Beach is bordered to the north by the small, semi-private Pansea Beach, separated by an impassable headland. To the south, it ends at another small headland with rocky waters.
Surin Beach is less than a kilometer (0.6 miles) long. It’s wide but crowded with sunbeds and umbrellas during the high season, often arranged in five rows.
The sand is fine, light, and ranges from yellow to almost white, depending on the lighting. There’s no silt; the water is clear and beautifully turquoise. During the season, cleaners are constantly tidying up, and there are plenty of trash bins. The beach is always neat and clean.
In high season, the beach gets crowded. Unlike the spacious and relaxed Bang Tao, Surin is more of a party spot. You’ll find many young and older tourists enjoying beers on sunbeds. Families with children are less common but still present.
The northern end of the beach is more spacious and less crowded, sheltered by a high shore with palm trees. During the off-season, there are fewer sunbeds and tourists, many cafes close, and unnecessary infrastructure is removed. This beach is a favorite among tourists.
Swimming
The shore is quite steep, especially noticeable at low tide when it gets deep quickly. At low tide, the entry is gentler. The waves are strong, even when they look small. Off-season, powerful waves start in April. Near the headland, storm waves crash dramatically against the rocks, sending spray high into the air.
During the season, the sea is gentle and beautiful, though it’s rarely completely calm; there’s usually some white-foamed surf. Since it gets deep quickly, the waves don’t break until the last moment. In-season, floating ropes mark swimming zones, and a pontoon bridge is set up for walks.
There are many jet skis. If you like rocks, you can head to the ends of the beach. Kids who can swim or are with their parents enjoy it here, as it’s clean and the water is clear, but there’s not much space to run around.
Sunbeds and Shade
Behind the beach is a promenade with steps leading up at several points. Trees grow along the promenade, providing shade for open-air cafes. However, on the beach itself, shade is limited. You need to choose spots with more sprawling canopies. By noon, the sun reaches everywhere.
There’s not much free shaded space; most of it is occupied by paid sunbeds. There’s a free public shower in the center of the beach, near the parking lot and temple. Sunbeds cost 100 baht ($3), and the first row can be 150 baht ($4.50). In the last row, shade is also provided by trees on the promenade, making it cooler.
Since the beach is enclosed by high shorelines, it’s very hot most of the time, like a sauna, because it’s poorly ventilated by the wind.
Beach Photos
There are two streams at the ends of the beach. The one on the north side towards Bang Tao can be too deep to cross in everyday clothes—up to waist-deep.
Amenities
There are many open-air cafes and bars under the trees with sea views. There’s a fair amount of nightlife. On the north side, there are upscale establishments. In the center of the beach, there’s a Thai temple. Beyond the promenade is a large open space.
To the north, there’s a park-like area opposite the Hilton, with a modest playground. In the center of the field, there’s a large tree decorated with lanterns. Near the temple, a large stadium is being built.
In the evenings, people gather on the high shore to watch the sunset. Then, the numerous lights of restaurants and other tourist spots come on, and music plays. The atmosphere is that of a pleasant resort without being overly seedy.
Accommodation
There isn’t much accommodation in Surin. There are a few expensive hotels:
- Novotel Phuket Surin Beach Resort 4 (Holiday Inn Resort Phuket Surin Beach)
- The Chava Resort 4
- Twinpalms Phuket – Sha Extra Plus 5
- Benyada Lodge 4
- The Surin Phuket 5
There are expensive condos—30,000 to 40,000 baht ($850-$1,140) for a one-bedroom apartment. There’s more housing across the main road and at the junction with Bang Tao, but it’s a 10-minute or more walk to the beach. Even the Hilton is not on the first line and requires crossing a small road.
There is no accommodation directly on the beach, just a promenade with cafes, and behind it stretches a large undeveloped area like a park.
How to Find the Beach
There is centralized parking in the middle of the beach, near the temple. A narrow road runs along the promenade between two rows of cafes and shops, where you can drive through and park a bike. To the north, a road goes through the village and hotels to Bang Tao.
A busier and larger road leads away from the shore to McDonald’s and a large Tesco Lotus, both near Bang Tao.
It takes about 40 minutes to walk from Surin to McDonald’s and Tesco Lotus, passing a continuous line of local shops, European-style restaurants, bakeries, a local market, and mosques. The road in the other direction goes uphill to Kamala.
A songthaew (shared taxi) from Phuket Town takes 40 minutes and costs 40 baht ($1). From Kamala, it’s also a songthaew ride of about 10 minutes. From the main road where songthaews pass, it’s about a five-minute walk to the water. From other beaches, you’ll need to change at Phuket Town. From the airport, it’s a 30-40 minute taxi ride costing 1000 baht ($28-$30).
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