Local Attractions – Mai Khao Beach

Mai Khao is 11 kilometres long, the longest beach in Phuket, and because it is part of the Sirinat National Park, it still looks in some parts as deserted as when we first visited it in 1990. A few luxury hotels appeared at a respectable distance from the beach, but there were no beach chairs, no umbrellas and no food vendors in sight, except at the south end when the planes landed over the beach. It might just be a question of time, but you can still walk kilometres and only meet three local people fishing.

Then our favourite spot is to watch the planes landing at the very end of the runway of Phuket International Airport. It’s a bit of a walk in the sun, but it is awe-inspiring and loud. They get close to the beach, as you can see in the photos, and watching these monsters casting their massive shadow on the turquoise water is just amazing.