Layan Beach – Phuket’s Secret Beaches
Layan Beach - Phuket
LAYAN BEACH: This is one of those oddities of nomenclature. Layan Beach is actually not in Layan Bay. It’s at the north end of Bang Tao Bay, just south of Layan Bay.
Five years ago this was one of the quietest, most delightful stretches of beach on the island. Now, with the construction of multi-million-baht homes all around, there are a few more people on the beach, but it’s still far from crowded.
There’s a friendly restaurant and bar, as well as a recently added tour desk. Not sure why they did that – one suspects that not many people go to a beach to book elephant tours…
Go soon because, on a large tract of land set back from the beach, is the site for the new Shangri-La Resort and Villas. When that opens in a couple of years’ time, there’s going to be serious competition for beach chairs.
To get there: Either stroll north up the beach from any of the Laguna Phuket resorts – about two kilometres – or, if you’re in a car, take the road west from the main intersection in Thalang. When you reach the next village, look out for a turn to the right, signposted to Layan Beach Resort – it’s on a tight left-hand bend. Take that turn and follow the road for about 3.5 km.
When you pass the Baan Saun restaurant, keep an eye out for a turning to the left at the end of the tin-sheet wall surrounding the site for the new Shangri-La resort and villas. Turn left and keep going, over the klong. You’ll come to a T junction. Facing you is a gateway. Go through that and down the track to the beach.
By Alasdair Forbes
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