Surfing Mai Khao Beach
Updated for 2026
Mai Khao is Phuket’s longest beach and one of the quietest stretches of sand on the island. It is a beautiful place for a walk, but it is not really a surfing beach. The steep drop-off creates heavy shorebreaks and most surfers do not bother checking it unless they are already in the area.
Mai Khao Beach Surf Conditions
| Winds | Variable, very exposed |
|---|---|
| Tides | Conditions vary, but the shorebreak is the main issue |
| Swell | Inconsistent |
| Waves | Mostly shorebreak |
| Surf Details | Steep drop-off, shifting sand banks, not a popular surf spot |
The Surf at Mai Khao Beach
Mai Khao Beach is the longest beach on Phuket at 9 km, or about 5 ½ miles. It is a white sand beach protected as part of Sirinat National Park. There are only limited facilities in some areas, and long stretches of beach can still feel very quiet compared with the southern beaches.
This area now has several large resorts, including the JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa. If you are looking for a quiet beach to have mostly to yourself, this is one of the better places in Phuket.
The surf here is very inconsistent and hardly anyone goes surfing at Mai Khao because of the steep drop-off. When there is swell, it usually creates big shorebreaks, but not much more. It can look like there is a lot of water moving, but that does not mean there are good surfable waves.
Local Note
The photo above shows the area where people sit to watch planes coming in low over Mai Khao Beach as they land at Phuket Airport. It is one of the better-known things to do at this end of the island, and honestly, probably more reliable than the surf.
Mai Khao is better treated as a walking, relaxing and plane-spotting beach than a surfing beach. The steep beach profile can make the shorebreak heavy, especially during the surf season. If you are looking for actual waves to ride, you are usually better off checking Nai Yang, Nai Thon, Bang Tao, Kata or one of the other more reliable Phuket surf beaches.
Sirinat National Park
Sirinat National Park was declared a national park in 1981. This park has one of the last mangrove areas on the island. It is a small park with only a few facilities. The sand banks shift often, making surf reports and conditions difficult to comment on. There are also steep drop-offs from the beach.
Sai Kaew Beach and the Northern End
Sai Kaew Beach, meaning white sand, runs from Mai Khao to the Sarasin Bridge. This is Phuket’s most northern beach. At the far northern end near the Sarasin Bridge are a few inexpensive restaurants that serve excellent food.
There are waves to be had at the outlet from Phang Nga Bay. Tides and conditions vary, but reports of good waves come regularly from here.
Learning to Surf Near Mai Khao
Mai Khao is not a good learn-to-surf beach. The waves are inconsistent, the shorebreak can be heavy, and the steep drop-off makes it awkward for beginners. If you want to learn to surf in Phuket, Bang Tao Beach is usually the more protected option, especially around the southern end. There are also surf lessons available at Kata Beach during the surf season.
We have done our best to go surfing in Thailand as much as possible and to include our personal experiences of this beach and other surf spots in Thailand. Since 2000, we are the original Surfing Phuket guide someone’s gotta do it!!
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