Cape Panwa Phuket in May. Cape Panwa in Phuket: observation decks, deserted beaches - an ideal place for lovers of a relaxing holiday

Cape Panwa can be interesting for both adults and children. So, what can you do at Cape Panwa:

Phuket Aquarium

This is undoubtedly the main entertainment in Panwa (and one of the most popular in Phuket). The aquarium is located at the end of Cape Panwa. It is relatively small, but with good collections of fish and marine life of various sizes and colors - seahorses, shrimps, crabs. There is a separate room where the inhabitants of the deep sea (sometimes quite scary) swim in aquariums, and, of course, there is a huge aquarium with a tunnel - sharks, stingrays and huge fish swim overhead. At the exit from the aquarium, you can see a small gift shop. By the way, the aquarium is located on the territory of an operating research institute, where you can visit with your own eyes how sea finches, little sharks and other fish are grown, and to the turtle aquariums you need to walk along the territory of the center along the sea strip - they are located right on the street. Advice: it is better to go on an excursion to the Aquarium on your own, without a guide, in order to take a good look at everything without haste. A really worthwhile place especially for those who come to Phuket with children.

Panwa Observation Deck

It is located at the "head" of the cape, in the north of the peninsula: follow the sign to Novotel, then turn onto "Khao Khad Views Tower" (Khao Had is a neighboring village). Near the observation deck there is a large parking lot, as well as cafes and shops and a small park-garden where you can sit on benches. The park is very fresh. Despite the fact that this is the second most popular attraction of the cape, there are not very many people here. The stairs leading to the site are quite steep, but when you finally climb to the top, you will not regret the effort spent - panoramic gorgeous views of southern Phuket, Chalong Bay, Andaman Sea and Phuket Town are insanely beautiful! The two-level observation tower (the top floor is better) offers maps in Thai and English so you know what you are actually looking at.

Panwa beaches

Panwa's main beach, Panwa Beach, also known as Khao Cat Beach, may not even be quite suitable for swimming, but these quiet coves have perfect charm! The beach is located on the east coast of the headland and is dotted with luxury villas and several resorts: a great alternative for a getaway away from the west coast and its touristy areas. So, if you want peace and beauty, then this area is the best option for a day or two - lying on the sand, admiring the nearby islands - what could be better! Enjoy lunch or a drink at one of the few restaurants on the beach, like the good old Beach Bar. In principle, you can even stay in one of the most beautiful resorts in the area - the most popular of them is Novotel Phuket Beach Resort Panwa 4 *. Then you will have the opportunity to enjoy a morning walk along the sandy bay, with several fishing boats moored in the southern part. If you drive a little south, you will find yourself on ayo Yon beach (Ao Yon), another nice sandy bay where mostly locals go - stop for an hour's rest next to a small waterfall next to the beach. Further south we see the Aquarium and Cape Panwa Hotel with its small but very beautiful private beach... The beaches of Panwa and the surrounding area are not quite the usual "tropical" paradise and, perhaps, not even the most ideal beaches, however, when you find yourself here, you will get to know Phuket from the other side.

Park "Tarzan Adventure"

Fly over the treetops and try your hand at overcoming difficult obstacles in a stunning location in an alpine forest at Cape Panwa with a breathtaking view of Chalong Bay and the Andaman Sea in this park. It is located about 3.5 kilometers north of the very edge of the cape. At the park's stations, there are ropes, nets, boards, steps, nets, cables and even skateboards. The park has a total of 42 stations, 15 wooden bridges, 3 rope bridges and the like. Be sure to wear sportswear, and gloves and helmets will be provided on the spot. After exercising, you can relax with a fruit snack in the park bar.

Cruises by sea

You can contact, for example, the Andaman Sea Club Sailing Charters. Well, what could be nicer than spending a day sailing along the coast of the island! Stops for swimming, snorkeling are possible and of course a fantastic lunch will be offered (if you book a yacht for the whole day).

Spa salons

There are spa salons in every self-respecting hotel on the cape, as well as outside hotels, and they are cheaper. But I would like to separately note Cool Spa Phuket, which is located in the luxury complex Sri Panwa Phuket surrounded by rainforest, at the top of Cape Panwa. Presumably, the prices there are not the lowest, but the comfort and service are at the highest level. Scrubs, Thai massage, sauna - everything is as usual, but you need to try it yourself in order to believe in the authenticity of the colorful epithets.

Russell Sunset Bar

Well, Cape Panwa's nightlife is far from the most tumultuous and lush. There are bars in some hotels, and there are separate ones. But this one just needs to be noted. The Russell Sunset Bar is located on Soi Aonui Street, in the center of the cape, a few steps from the Cape Panwa Hotel and Spa Resort. The bar is small but the atmosphere is very friendly and cozy. The owners of the bar, Russell and Alice, are very nice and funny people who can tell a lot about Phuket and other places in Thailand. Great cocktails; sometimes sporting events are shown; nice music - in general, come here closer to 9-10 pm, you will not regret it!

Diving and snorkeling

Well, we must admit that no one dives around Cape Panwa. However, diving is still offered to tourists - however, they are taken to the south or southeast of Phuket. With snorkeling, everything is a little easier. There are small coral thickets off the coast of Panwa Beach, but, as in the diving situation, to enjoy the most beautiful underwater views, it is better to sail by speedboat or long-nosed boat away from the headland, for example, to Coral Island and Banana Beach.

Hello!! I decided to write about our first impressions of Phuket, in a month and a half there will be only dry facts and thoughts about whether the island is suitable for life, but for now, under the influx of emotions after the weekend, I can safely say that I definitely like Phuket!

Although, to be more precise, I like the way we saw it.

Firstly, now there is no such influx of tourists, especially Russian ones, and secondly, sun loungers have been removed from all the beaches, according to pictures from the Internet a year ago, the beaches cannot be recognized))

Thirdly, we live in a non-touristy part of the island - there are Thais or expats / longsters around, but if we talk about the sea, then not all of the island's coastline is popular with tourists. Therefore, all the beautiful places in the south of the island - bays, capes, viewpoints and beaches, are created here, as if for us)) this is where we went on Sunday morning.

We arrived at Cape Panwa, here is an embankment in granite,

Walked down the pier to the warship

had breakfast with papaya, made a circle on a bike at the tip and returned again to the embankment, where a cafe had already opened

and lured us for a cup of cappuccino))

I was overwhelmed with some unusual feelings, which I just could not imagine Phuket, clearly not so .. as if we are somewhere in Finka on the lake

While we were sitting on the embankment drinking coffee, and before our eyes was a picture of a turquoise sea, a beautiful embankment,

silence and idyll

After the coffee shop, we stopped at a couple of beaches, some of course, just for a walk, contemplation,

but we didn't go for a swim either (we love to swim in the pool more).

And then, unexpectedly, we saw the beach-bay Ao Yon (Ao Yon) first from above,

and of course we went downstairs

if they showed me this photo, I would say with confidence that it is or))

In the west of Phuket, the beaches are different, let them be for tourists, but this one will remain for us 🙂 by the way, it is low tide now and despite this, it is quite bathable here.

We drove to the long Panwa beach,

here the ebb is much more noticeable,

but the bay is still very picturesque

Even autumn was discovered here

In general, Phuket liked its rugged coastline, if you go along it, wherever you look, the bay for a photo 🙂

how many yachts are there ..

Directly from this beach there is a road to the Khao Khad view point,

from where there is a 360-degree view,

from here you can see the very bay along which we rode below

On the opposite side is the Chalong harbor, and at the top sparkles the snow-white Big Buddha statue

And on the other side - a scattering of islands in the haze

the sun is just rising there, so we will come here again to watch the sunrise 🙂

We also drove around Phuket Town, looked into the park on the embankment, and then visited our "Balinese" (in the sense, Russians, but we met in Bali) friends for tea 🙂 and were already at home by lunchtime.

A little more about Phuket:

As for the food, something is cheaper here, something is more expensive than in Bali. It is not very clear with fruits, while there is nothing seasonal - mangoes for $ 2-3 per 1 kg, pineapples for $ 0.7 per 1 piece, bananas for $ 1 per bunch. Durians, mangosteen, passionfruit are not in season yet, we are waiting for lychees and even more mangoes, they will soon go 🙂

As for housing, there is a lot of it, but the prices are good only for a long period, if we talk about monthly rent, then the price is 1.5-2 times more expensive than if you rent the same housing, but under a contract for six months or a year. Large selection of condo apartments (multi-storey complexes, with swimming pools, fitness). Motorbikes 200-250 baht per day or 3500 baht for 1 month.

And they also scared us with terrible traffic jams and bad driving culture, eh .. these naive people have not been to Vietnam and do not know what really traffic jams, narrow roads, and real traffic, everything is nothing here)

The only thing is that the traffic lights are very long - 1-2 minutes, oh and yes, once we got a little stuck on the road because of the Queen)) if in Huahin we were often blocked the road because of the arrival of the King, then here we got to Her Majesty))

That's all! Before leaving, we will thoroughly travel to all the beaches, bays, look into all areas of Phuket, maybe we will raft to the neighboring islands, but for now we work 🙂 By the way, read the following Lyosha's article about making money on the trip!

Cape Panwa is the southeastern part of Phuket's island. To get here from the airport, you need to drive 42 kilometers. Cape Panwa has several beaches ranging in length from 200 m to 3 km.

The main advantage of resting in Panwa is the opportunity to enjoy the natural, unspoiled beauty of Phuket's nature. The seaside here is overgrown with coconut trees, the water is crystal clear. From the coast, amazing views of the small islands located near Cape Panwa open up.

Tours to Panwa

Prices for tours for 2 people for 7 nights with a departure from Moscow

Beach

The beaches of Cape Panwa are sandy and white. However, the sea here is highly prone to ebb and flow, so swimming is always impossible. In addition, the bottom at Cape Panwa is rocky.

Beaches where you should go swimming if you are relaxing at Cape Panwa:

The most popular beach in Phuket. The beach is located in the west of the island, the distance is 26 kilometers.

A long beach known for its squeaky sand. The beach is 23 kilometers away.

Well-groomed and comfortable beach for relaxation, located 22 kilometers, in the southwest of the island.

Weather

The weather at Cape Panwa matches that of Phuket. The best time to travel to the island is from November to March. It is at this time that dry sunny weather prevails. Tours to Phuket during these months are especially popular with those who are tired of the cold. From April to October, as a rule, the weather becomes hotter, heavy rains and high humidity are observed daily.

sights

Walking along the coast is one of the favorite activities of those who have chosen to rest in this resort. located throughout the resort. In the center of the cape there is an observation deck from where you can admire Chalong Bay. At Cape Panwa, there is the Marine Biological Research Center, which operates a huge (Phuket Aquarium). Here you can see rare species of coral, extraordinary tropical fish, shellfish and other inhabitants of the Andaman Sea. Huge turtles are also raised here, which you can even get to know personally.

Hotels

There are several hotels of different categories on Cape Panwa. All of them are located on the first line. Almost every hotel has a swimming pool.

Kitchen

The hotels have restaurants that are ready to offer guests of the resort both Thai and European cuisine. Small and cozy restaurants can be found on the main road and in the side streets that adjoin it. On the embankment located next to the Aquarium, a market opens in the evening where you can buy ready-made Thai food.

Cape Panwa Beach (Cape Panwa) is located in the southeastern part of the popular tourist destination, Phuket Island, between Chalong and Makham Bay beaches. In fact, there is far from the only beach strip on the cape, and the name "Panwa Beach" is common to several small sandy sections of the coast.

The length of the beaches on the cape is different - from 200 meters to 3 km. The coast is covered with light sand, the rest strip is mostly narrow - about 5 meters. Trees approach the sandy beach, creating natural shade. And the sun in these parts is very strong, especially in spring and summer, you can get sunburned very quickly. Do not rely only on trees and shade, it is recommended to use protective creams with a high protection index.

Far from Phuket Town, and even more so from Patong, Cape Panwa Beach is considered optimal for a calm and even secluded holiday away from hangout places. Couples in love and people with children have chosen these places. There are enough relaxation hotels and a very developed resort infrastructure.

The main disadvantage of Panwa is the difficulties with transport links. Indeed, it is not very convenient to get there: only by your own / rented transport or by transfer, since there are no regular bus routes to this area.

Panwa Beach is famous for its picturesque landscapes with a scattering of islets, suitable for families with children. Monsoons on the shore are rare. During the season there is always good weather and a calm sea. Moreover, hurricanes and winds are rare even during the rainy season (although it is not so noticeable in Phuket, it is well known that this place is suitable for year-round beach holidays).

As for the attractions in the Panwa beach area, the most interesting place that should be visited by tourists (especially with children) is definitely the local Aquarium, which has a giant living collection of marine life. Not far from the beach is the Khao Khad observation deck, which offers stunning views of Phuket.

Hotels on Panwa Beach

Panwa Beach is one of the most popular with tourists. Therefore, there is nothing surprising that the choice of hotels here is quite large. Resort hotels on the Cape can be selected from different beach areas. In addition, villas and apartments are available for booking a few meters from the coast.

The most popular hotels on Cape Panwa are of a fairly high standard:

All options can be explored on the map:

Reviews of Panwa Beach in Phuket

Tourist reviews about the rest on Cape Panwa are devoted to the beach (different areas) and resort infrastructure, individual hotels. Tourist.Ru has monthly reviews that allow you to judge the weather at the resort and choose the best time for a trip.

People speak positively about the developed infrastructure, write that the beach is clean, the water is clear, and there are many restaurants and cafes near the coast.

How to get to Cape Panwa Beach

Tourists who have chosen a large hotel on Cape Panwa for recreation can count on a transfer directly from the airport. However, this point needs to be clarified in advance. Usually the transfer is included in the tour price, but not always (therefore, this issue should be checked with the travel agent in advance).

The distance from the airport is approximately 45 km and from Phuket Town - 10 km.

An alternative to hotel transfers for independent tourists is bike / car rental or taxi services: the cost of the trip is according to the counter, about 750 baht. Taking into account the distance (almost 40 km), the journey from the airport takes just over an hour. It is closer and cheaper to get from busy Patong - about 25 km.

Taxis, by the way, can be ordered through the popular Uber app on your smartphone. Also in Thailand, the Grab Taxi service is very popular. It is the Southeast Asian counterpart of Uber. You can also place an order via your smartphone. We recommend comparing prices in both services and therefore making a decision and placing an order.

If you do not want to bargain with taxi drivers and do not want to guess which car will meet you, then it makes sense to order a transfer. The car will arrive in advance and will be waiting for you at the agreed place. The price is fixed online, so you will be immediately aware of how much to expect. And all the cars that provide such services are modern and comfortable, safe and equipped with air conditioning (this is very important in hot and humid Phuket). One of the fastest and most comfortable ways to get to the cape from the airport or Phuket resort is a transfer to Panwa Beach from KiwiTaxi:

Search for transfers to Panwa

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Video: Panwa Beach, Phuket, from above + surroundings, aerial photography from a drone

Panwa beach on Google Maps panoramas

They prefer to stay and book rooms in hotels on its western coast, as the infrastructure is well developed here, and you can also find a hotel for every taste, which cannot be said about the eastern territories of the island.

For example, one of the most interesting places in the eastern part of the island is Cape Panwa and, accordingly, Panwa Beach, which is located on it.

Features of local recreation

Cape Panwa has a very convenient location - monsoons practically do not come here, which affects the ebb and flow, so you can swim and sunbathe close to the water surface here all year round.

It is also interesting that the coast offers a stunning view of the numerous small islands in the sea.

You can often find a large concentration of fishing boats near the coast (the village of fishermen is located nearby), so it is not always possible to enter the sea, and they do not come here to swim, since this part of Phuket is not the best option for swimming.

If, nevertheless, low tides come to the beach, then the sandy area turns into just a mess of mud and stones of various sizes. True, such a phenomenon happens here quite rarely and passes quickly.

There are several very expensive luxury hotels on the cape, the main factor of pricing in which is the privacy and quietness of the area where they are located. Accommodation in them is not available to everyone, since the cost of living in a room is quite high.

Location

Panwa Beach is located on the southeastern coast of the island between beaches such as Chalong and Makham Bay. The airport of Phuket island is about 35 kilometers from here, while you can reach it in just 10-15 minutes, as it is located 7 kilometers from Panwa.

The easiest way to get to Panwa is to take a taxi from Phuket Airport. You can order it at the appropriate counter right in the airport building. There is also a board with the rates of state passenger transportation services. If you stop a taxi on the street, be careful and negotiate the fare in advance, as there is no taximeter in the cars here, and the price that the taxi driver will tell you upon arrival at the final point may not suit you at all.

There is no public transport towards Panwa Beach, so all that remains is taxi or car rental.

From Phuket town, in addition to the above methods, you can also rent a tuk-tuk, since the distance from here to the beach is not great. But, this transport will not reach the very sandy zone, but will only reach the village of Ban Panwa, and from there you will have to go either by taxi or walk, as there is no other transport here. If you choose the second option, then take the Chao Fa highway until the first traffic light, and there turn east (Sakdidejana street). It will lead you to the cherished goal in about 10 minutes (by car) and in an hour if you move on foot, which happens quite rarely.

The beach itself can only be reached on foot, since transport is closed here. Even if you rented a car or took a taxi, you will have to walk about 150-200 meters from the parking area to the sandy coastline.

Entertainment and attractions

Cape Panwa is not replete with various kinds of entertainment venues or attractions, but still those who come here in search of peace, tranquility and tranquility will find something to their liking.

For example, taking a boat trip to one of the islands that you see on the horizon is not difficult and will not cost a lot of money. For such a trip, you just need to go to one of the fishing boats and negotiate a price with its owner.

Cape Panwa is famous for the fact that it houses a large biological research center, which deals with the study of marine fauna. There is also an Aquarium, which allows you to see a lot of aquatic inhabitants of these places, as well as the flora of the Adaman Sea. It will be interesting not only for children, but also for adults, especially since the ticket price here is only about 100 baht.

A few kilometers from the aquarium, there is an observation deck offering stunning views of the surroundings and the sea with numerous small islands. The visibility from here is 360 degrees.

Those wishing to have fun can be invited to visit the club and at the same time a large pool - Baba Pool.

There are no interesting beach fun here, since everything that can be accessed is already reserved for the guests of the Novotel hotel, and the rest of the beach looks more like a wild territory than a beach equipped for tourists.

At the height of the season, you can find several souvenir shops here, where they sell interesting things at a very reasonable price that you can not only bring for a gift, but also buy for yourself, as well as clothes and beach accessories.

The beach is perfect for brisk walking or jogging, as the sandy area is flat and gentle. That is why in the mornings you can meet Europeans on a jog in the morning.

And, finally, if vacationers suddenly want to plunge into active holidays, organize a shopping tour or go on an excursion, nothing prevents them from getting to any other beach or visiting Phuket town in search of affordable and interesting entertainment.

Accommodation

Panwa is not at all popular with tourists, especially if you believe the reviews on popular tourist sites. This is due not only to its location and infrastructure, but also problems regarding how to get there.

But, despite this, in this part of the island there are quite a few good and expensive hotels, some of which are world famous chain hotels. For example, here you can stay in a fashionable hotel from Raddison Blu Plaza. Cape Panwa, Novotel, Sri Panwa and others are also considered respectable hotels, which are very often chosen by wealthy vacationers. There are not many inexpensive hotels here, but nevertheless, even a budget tourist, if desired, can find a suitable room for himself in Baan Panwa or The Panwa Guesthouse.

To the west of Panwa Beach, there are a large number of private villas intended for both personal use and long-term rental to vacationers.

Restaurants, bars and cafes

Despite the fact that there are not many such establishments here, there is still plenty to choose from. There are several good restaurants and cafes right on the beach, where you can taste not only national Thai cuisine, but also enjoy European delicacies.

Vacationers highlight Secret Cove and Ship Inn from beach establishments, where you can not only enjoy delicious food while admiring the sunsets and surroundings, but also use free internet access.

Since in the establishments on the beach the assortment of dishes and products is more aimed at having a snack, they mainly sell here light snacks and soft drinks. If you want to have a hearty meal, you will have to get away from the beach.

Among the restaurants that are located in the vicinity of the beach, Lainapa, which serves the best Thai cuisine, and Live India, where you can taste the national cuisine of the Indian state, are considered worthy of the highest praise.

On the way towards the capital of the island of Phuket, there is a small and rather good restaurant called "Best Food Good View", which literally translates from English as "excellent food, beautiful view." Here you can not only enjoy delicious national and European cuisine, but also admire the beautiful views of the Chalong Bay.