Bang Tao Beach Phuket: what to do and where to stay

By Paula Parker

Bang Tao Beach is one of the best locations in Phuket for family vacations, with a fantastic selection of family friendly hotels that are located directly on the beachfront.

The beach is a large open bay, stretching 8kms in length, and is the second longest in Phuket.

Bang Tao Beach is also known as Laguna Beach, the area around here was once used for tin mining, but has been developed into a luxury resort called "The Laguna Phuket Complex".

The Laguna complex is home to a collection of upmarket luxury resorts, hotels and villas which are situated around six picturesque lagoons and the 18 hole Laguna Golf Course.

Bang Tao Beach is a top spot for a family beach vacation in Phuket

Bang Tao Beach is located between the picturesque Layan and Pansea beaches on the North West coast of Phuket, just a few minutes away from the town of Cherng Talay where you will find local villagers that still make their living by farming, fishing and rubber tapping.

Many expats from around the world choose Bang Tao and the surrounding area to buy their multi million dollar villas.

You won't find vendors on the beach renting sunbeds as all the sunbeds along Bang Tao beach are provided by the hotels and resorts and they are exclusively for use of their guests.

You will still see the odd vendors that will try to sell their goods along the beach.

From November to April Bang Tao beach has a great selection of beach activities including, paragliding, kitesurfing, banana boat rides and jet skis.

Guests of the resorts are also able to enjoy windsurfing and Hobi cats.

Surfing is pretty good at the northern end of the beach.

From May to October swimming at Bang Tao beach can be quiet dangerous.
Before you go swimming check to see if there is a red flag, if there is a red flag do not go in the water!

If the ocean is too dangerous you might want to check out Blue Tree Water Park.

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Most of Bang Tao beach is occupied by the Laguna Resort Complex, which is home to some of the best resorts and villas in Phuket. The following resorts are located within the Laguna Resort Complex.

SAii Laguna

Angsana Laguna Resort

Dusit Thani Laguna Resort

Best Western Allamanda

Laguna Holiday Club

Banyan Tree Resort

Cassia Phuket

There are many other resorts and hotels available at Bang Tao Beach outside the Laguna resort complex. Below is a list of some of the resorts that are located outside the Laguna resort complex.

Or alternatively you may choose to stay in the privacy of a villa or apartment. 

Sunwing Resort & Spa

Best Western Beach Resort & Spa

Amora Beach Resort

There are many more villas, resorts and hotels located near Bang Tao Beach, priced to suit all budgets. 

Located within the Laguna Phuket Complex , is a beautiful wedding chapel. The chapel offers 360-degree panoramic views overlooking the beautiful seaside lagoon with Bang Tao beach nearby.

The Laguna Chapel is the perfect venue for a romantic wedding in Phuket.

Within the grounds of the Laguna Resort Complex you will find 30 restaurants and bars, with some of the best fine dining restaurants in Phuket.

Located on the road towards the entrance to the Laguna Resort Complex you will find a nice selection of restaurants.

Other restaurants worth checking out around Bang Tao are:

Riverside Restaurant is located between Surin & Bang Tao, offering affordable, tasty local food.

Pooh & Friends is another great option, also located at the southern end of Bang Tao Beach.

The Bistro is a little more upmarket, it is located only a 2 minute walk from the Best Western Resort.

Nightlife around Bang Tao was mainly within the luxury five star resorts, the resorts all have their own restaurants, clubs and bars and usually some form of entertainment.  However over recent years Beach Clubs are providing nightly entertainment.  

The Siam Supper Club is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, here you can enjoy a drink and listen to jazz music.

There is also Pepper's Bar which is also located on Lagoon Road. Here you can enjoy a game of pool or watch some sport on the big screen in the comfort of the air-conditioned bar.

Phuket has a host of beach clubs and Bangtao Beach is no exception. 

There is also a couple of other beach clubs around Bang Tao Beach worth exploring.

• Located at the southern end of Bang Tao Beach is Carpe Diem Beach Club, which is open from 12.oopm till late. 

• Xana Beach Club is located at Angsana Laguna Phuket Resort and is open daily from 11.00am to 10.oopm.
  
  

The evening market on the main road in the middle of Bang Tao is definitely a place where you can try the local foods and pick up some bargains.

There is also markets heading back towards Surin Beach with fresh food and cooked foods, clothing and shoes.

We brought a lot of billabong shirts at these markets and the price was cheaper than in Patong. But it was the low season and we did buy lots of shirts, so they may have dropped the price to get the sale.

Take a walk along the beach and you will find a few shops, well not shops but shacks that sell beach wear such as dresses, sarongs and sunglasses.

You will also find beach vendors, but not as many as in Patong that sell Billabong shorts and shirts.

We did buy quiet a few pairs of billabong shorts off one of the beach vendors and they were really good quality.

Along the road outside the entrance to the Laguna Resort Complex, you will find a range of shops, that stock household items and furniture.

There is an Asian Art and furniture store that has a collection of Asian Art, such as handmade wooden Budda images and elephant statues.

You will also find an art gallery and a mini mart which is a lot cheaper than the mini mart within the Laguna Complex. If you go into Bang Tao along the Main Road you will find a 7 Eleven that is cheaper again.

Just inside the entrance to the Laguna Phuket is the Canal Village Shopping Centre, that have a range of goods from crafted antiques to designer clothing.

You will also find the Bangkok International clinic, a mini mart, laundry and dry cleaners, currency exchange and the village bakery.

• Enjoy the beach and beach activities 
• Explore the nearby Layan Beach 
• Spend a day at Blue Tree Phuket Waterpark 
• Play a round of mini golf at Phuket Adventure Golf 
• Enjoy sun-downers at one of the beach clubs
• Treat yourself with a spa treatment at Banyan Tree Spa or Angsana Spa
  
  

Bang Tao Beach is about a 40 minute drive north from Patong, and a taxi will cost around 500 baht or 900 baht return trip.

Try not to use the taxis that are located through the resort complex as they are expensive.

Catch the resort shuttle to the entrance of the complex and then get a taxi from outside the complex, it is cheaper.