Surfing Layan (Le Phang) Beach

Layan Beach is the next beach around from Bang Tao Beach and is located on the northern end. Access to this area is limited to either walking down the beach from the Laguna Phuket area, taking the road from behind the Banyan Tree golf course, or by driving out of the Laguna Phuket complex back onto the highway and following the directions as if going to Nai Thon Beach.

Before reaching the Nai Thon turnoff, there are many roads that take off into the hills overlooking the beach. The surf break is just past the area around Anantara Layan Phuket Resort.

Layan Beach is at the entrance to a lagoon. On the southern side of the bay is Koh Ta, a small island joined to the mainland by a sand spit.

The waves here break on a very shallow coral reef on the northern headland and are definitely for experienced surfers only. It breaks on a mid tide and on a swell over 1 metre. In the right conditions this place can have extremely long rides.

The other spot to check here is on the southern side of the island where a small river outlets. The waves are best at this spot when it is small and the waves break on the sandbank formed by the river. It can get quite fast on its day. Access here can be from the national park reserve, where you may also find a few small local beach restaurants nearby.

Layan is not a beginner surf beach. The reef is shallow, the best waves need the right tide, and the lagoon area can change with the sand and water flow. If you want to learn to surf, Bang Tao Beach is usually the better option, especially around the protected southern end.