Where on Phuket can you find the clearest water? You might have various options in mind, but the correct answer is only one — Freedom Beach. This place is boasts the clearest water on the island on the entire island. In this article, we’ll provide a detailed overview of this beach.
Beach information
Length (m): 800 
Cover Type: Sand 
Water Temp (°C): 28 
Cleanliness (1-10): 8 
Crowdedness (1-10): 4 
Infrastructure: Limited 
Best Season: Nov–Apr 
Waves Level: Calm 
Lifeguards Available? no 
Children Friendly? yes
Reviews
Photos
General Information
Freedom Beach in Phuket is a small, paid stretch of land tucked into a cozy bay, just west of Patong. Looking at the map, you can clearly see its location.
Freedom Beach is only about 250–300 meters long and roughly 40–50 meters wide. It’s not without reason that it got its name: “freedom” truly defines how you start feeling here. The beach’s geographical location gives you a true sense of being on an island, rather than someplace that feels like the mainland (the huge, popular beaches of Phuket can sometimes give the impression you’re on a continent).
Although the beach is termed “paid,” it’s important to note that Thai law dictates that all coastlines belong to the state. In practice, you pay for access through a leased private plot that guarantees maintained facilities and a safe, clean environment. Understandably, this plot of land was leased specifically to earn money. But it’s not just a matter of blocking the way and charging a fee like it used to happen in some areas in the ‘90s in parts of Eastern Europe. First, for the fee, you’re not merely trudging through thick jungle (even if on a well-worn path), you’re descending via a concrete staircase, a big plus when it rains. Second, these same people keep the beach clean, which is definitely worth something.
A ticket to the beach costs 200 baht per person (they even provide actual tickets).
Prohibitory sign
You can go for free, but then you’d have to scramble through dense vegetation.
The center of Freedom Beach is lined with boats that bring tourists from Patong, so swimmers usually stay near the edges. On the left is a rocky section where you can take spectacular photos and videos — give it a try, you won’t regret it.
Despite its relative isolation, Freedom Beach in Phuket draws many visitors, and it can get crowded. The only time you can more or less have the beach to yourself and enjoy peace and quiet without crowds is early morning, around before 11 AM.
We recommend also checking out our overview article: Phuket Beaches.
Water Entry and Shore
First, the water is crystal clear, and you can see the seabed clearly, especially in sunny weather, even at greater depth. The water deepens fairly quickly – after just 10–15 meters from the shore, the depth allows for comfortable swimming. However, it’s not a sudden drop; it’s a gentle yet sufficiently deep area that even allows children to bathe (under adult supervision).
Ebb and flow tides don’t have much impact here since they are not very pronounced.
While the waves are generally gentle and non-disruptive, during the low season you might occasionally encounter larger swells that still remain manageable.
As for marine life, there are only beautiful fish in the water. They’re not afraid of people at all; in fact, they’ll swim close hoping you’ll feed them (be careful, feeding fish is prohibited in Thailand and can result in a fine—you can watch, but not feed).
Despite the beach’s popularity, you can always find a free spot in the water (and not in the sense of being jam-packed like some beaches during high season).
On shore, it’s a bit trickier because every year there are more tourists, and the physical size of the beach doesn’t change. Still, you can’t compare Freedom Beach with Patong — they are in two different leagues.
The sand is fine and clean. Shade is available onshore until midday, but unfortunately not afterward. If you read online reviews, you’ll see that without strong sunscreen, it can be quite challenging.
As everywhere in Phuket, you can rent beach chairs here (actually mats, which replace sun loungers). The price is 200 baht per set — chair plus umbrella. Note that personal umbrellas are strictly prohibited, so it’s not worth trying to set one up.
They do not prohibit bringing your own snacks and beverages, so you can bring your own snacks and beverages with you, bearing in mind the limited local infrastructure.
Facilities and Amenities
The narrow shoreline ends where lush vegetation begins, and that’s where you’ll find the once-banned sun loungers; nowadays, you typically see mats and inflatable pillows instead of traditional sunbeds. All of these are rented out together with an umbrella.
As for activities, there’s not much happening here. You won’t find typical tourist amusements like banana boat rides. If you decide to come to Freedom Beach specifically to ride a banana boat, that’s not the best idea. People come here for calm, relaxed rest…
However, underwater leisure here is excellent. The transparent water greatly improves visibility when diving, so photos and videos turn out beautifully.
Infrastructure on Freedom is sparse — which might actually be a good thing. But the reality is, there are no shops, supermarkets, rows of cafés, or souvenir stalls. Occasionally, someone will sell drinks and offer massage services. On the left side, there’s the only restaurant on the beach, whose prices can shock an unprepared tourist (paradoxically, there are no biting sea creatures in Freedom’s waters, but there’s “biting” on the beach in the form of high prices).
Approximate prices:
- Rice with side dish — 180–220 baht
- Coca-Cola — 45 baht
- Singha beer — 100 baht
- Soda water — 45 baht
- Water — 30 baht
You can gauge costs here by the price of water; typically, water isn’t more than 20 baht, but here it’s 30.
The café is open from 9 AM to 6 PM.
Accommodation
There are no hotels or any other forms of lodging like bungalows right on the beach, which helps preserve its natural look. The first hotel you might encounter is a bit inland, near Freedom Beach (closer to Tri Trang or Paradise Beach). However, these spots tend to be fairly removed from civilization.
You can search for a more suitable option for yourself below.
If you want to immerse yourself in Phuket’s atmosphere, Patong is just 10 minutes away, offering a vast range of accommodation.
How to Get There
The question many people have is: how do you get to Freedom Beach from Patong? There are two options:
- By water (in this scenario, you won’t have to pay the entry fee).
- On foot or by land transport (50/50 — either you pay and proceed like everyone else, or you trek through the brush).
The most convenient option is to travel by boat from Patong to the beach. The route is simple: you just get to the pier where, for around 1,800–2,000 baht round trip, you can rent a boat (agree beforehand on where the boatman will wait for you to make it easy to return). A boat is more cost-effective if you split it with other tourists. Boats depart from Karon, Patong, and Kata beaches. You can also negotiate with local fishermen on beaches like Kamala or Bang Tao, but in that case, it may be cheaper and faster to come by land.
To reach the beach by land, you can use your own transportation (motorbike or car) or take a taxi. The taxi fare from Patong to Freedom Beach is about 300–400 baht.
You can approach Freedom Beach in two ways by land; the first is more of an extreme route than a leisurely trip. From Patong heading toward Karon, take the second turn to the beach and continue until you reach a metal gate (always open, unattended). The path here isn’t great, but you can save an extra 200–600 baht (depending on the number of visitors). After passing through the gate, continue straight — there’s only one path, so you won’t get lost.
The second option, which is paid, is the first turn if you’re coming from Patong. Turn toward the Avista Hideaway Hotel, and via the dirt road, you’ll get (or walk if you’re in a tuk-tuk, as they only go to the turn) to an improvised ticket booth, beside which is the path leading down. After you pay, you’re allowed onto the trail to the beach. The concrete steps down to the sea minimize your chances of hurting yourself.
Tip: definitely bring some water for the way back, because climbing up after soaking in the sun can take a while.
How to get to Freedom from Patong
You can theoretically ride a motorbike down to the beach, but it’s not recommended because the road is in terrible shape. The trail lies between the first and second entrances, but again, you might not want to test your luck or your bike’s durability.
So, there are various ways to get to Freedom Beach, as long as you don’t miss the right turn. It’s an excellent place for families and couples: it’s much quieter here than Patong and cleaner than Karon. Don’t forget to share your vacation experiences in the comments — they help those still deciding where to travel!
