Haad Sai Gaew – Phuket’s Secret Beaches
Haad Sai Gaew - Phuket
HAAD SAI GAEW: In English, Crystal Sands, this is at the northern end of Mai Khao Beach, curving round the top of the island and along the shore of the waterway between Phuket and the mainland. Since most people arrive in Phuket by air and leave the same way, few ever see the island to the north of the airport, which is where this lovely beach is.
The part facing west onto the Andaman Sea is well equipped with simple grass-roofed restaurants, but the beach is fairly narrow and shelves steeply, and swimming can be dangerous when there’s even a moderate swell.
For a wider, more pleasant, usually deserted beach, walk north along the sand until you turn the corner and get away from the worst of the breakers. No restaurants here, but the swimming is delightful. The only other people likely to be there will be local kids.
This is a walk of about a kilometre, so if you have kids in tow, or four tons of beer, get back in your car and drive north until you are closer.
To get there: Drive north along the main highway, past the airport turn-off, and keep going. Near the north end of the island is a police check-point, after which the highway splits. You’ll find yourself curving to the left, then right, and then running alongside the ocean. This is the southern end of Haad Sai Gaew.
To get to the north end of the beach, drive on slowly for about a kilometre until you see Tah Chat Chai school on your left. Turn left just before the school (or immediately after it if you miss the first turning).
Drive down to the beach. Park and walk about 400 metres to your left to reach the best part of the beach. Adventurous kids will love the beached barge.
GPS:8º11’52.98”N, 98º17’04.29”E
By Alasdair Forbes
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