Bang Tao Beach Holidays

Bang Tao curves along Phuket’s west coast, looking out over a wide bay. The travel guides sell it as a luxurious beach resort, which is a fair description. But the town has also got something of a bohemian edge. Its cerulean shores are hemmed by a four-mile-long stretch of white sand, which is overlooked by an eclectic mix of stylish hotels and rustic beach bars. Days here tend to be spent snoozing under the shade of the palm trees, interrupted only by plates of red curry crab and bottles of ice-cold Chang beer.

The nightspots of Bang Tao sing to the same unhurried tune as those you’d find in places like Goa and Formentera. They stack up along the beach and the back roads, half-hidden by palms and lit up by hazardously-strewn fairy lights. Some are thoroughly rustic, with just a few wooden stalls and barrels for drink-placing. Others, like some of the more high-end seafood restaurants, show off white linen tablecloths, carefully-placed candle lanterns, and cocktail menus as long as your arm.

If you fancy practising your swing, Bang Tao is home to one of Asia’s best golf courses. It’s an award-winning 18-hole course with tropical lagoons and mountain views, right next to the beach. For something completely different, there are a handful of Thai and Chinese temples in the village, each one displaying impressive artwork and figurines fashioned from gold.