Freedom Beach

With over 30 beaches found on this stunning island it is hard to decide which to visit. Of course you have the large and easy to get to like Kata, Karon, Patong, Kamala and Surin beaches, filled with vendors and tourists all packed in while enjoying the sun. You also have the smaller beaches, out of the way beaches, like Layan that are a popular spot for the locals but don’t offer much in the way of food and refreshments. Then you have the beaches that are the little hidden gems that not many know about, are hard to get to and often charge an entrance fee like Freedom Beach.

Located on Phuket’s west coast, only a few minutes away from Patong, this 300 meter long stretch of beach is the height of luxury with it’s fine white sands and crystal clear waters. Set within the Patong Bay this magnificent piece of paradise is surrounded by thick, lush jungle and enclave by glistening granite boulders separated in the middle by the long tail boat landing area. Freedom Beach gets its “exclusivity” from the fact that there are only two ways to get there. One is by long tail boat that you catch at the southern end of Patong beach on the jetty, although they only operate during high season and they do charge a rather high price of 1,100 – 1,500 baht per trip. The other way is a rather intimidating dirt “road” located about 200 meters above Freedom Beach near the top of Patong Hill heading towards Karon. The parking lot is on your right, roughly 80 meters after Rasta Baby Bar. There is a small fee of 100 baht to park. The walk down is quite challenging and strenuous but well worth it.

As mentioned above the beach is separated into two parts by the long tail landing: the northern end is a “free for all” with soft white sands, large granite boulders to explore and a cement staircase that is great for getting that perfect panoramic view of the beach itself and its neighboring islands; the southern end is owned by the aptly named “One and Only Restaurant” which has sunbed and umbrella rentals for 120 baht per person on offer, and can accommodate up to 120 diners on their breezy outdoor seating area while their menu offers a variety of Thai and international dishes at a slightly higher price than usual for Phuket.

For those who wish to do more than just sunbathe, there are a few activities on Freedom Beach such as volleyball, soccer and snorkeling. The calm shallow waters are home to a wonderful array of crustaceans and local fish as well as brightly colored corals and sea flora. There are no jet skis or other loud aquatic vessels so it’s safe to swim and quiet for those who are relaxing. So if you want to leave the heavy loud crowds behind and enjoy a peaceful and quiet day in the tranquil nature of Phuket, Freedom Beach is definitely the beach for you!.