Patong is the most famous - some would say infamous - beach resort on Phuket. With its wide variety of activities and nightlife, Patong is an ideal place to party and play.

By night the town has a bustling nightlife which includes literally hundreds of restaurants, chic lounge bars, beer bars and of course discos. The nightlife is centred around Soi Bangla (Bangla Road) however there are quiet parts of town.

Karon, featuring an incredibly long stretch of squeaky white sand, is less hectic than Patong but it still offers a full range of facilities, dining and activities. While it's a fast-growing area, Karon is nicely spread out and rarely feels crowded.

Karon is concentrated around three main areas. In the Karon Plaza area on the south end there a number of budget guesthouses, restaurants and bars. The side sois are worth exploring, particularly the one that leads to a small art community. Nearby, on the beach road leading to Kata, is the football stadium, which hosts both local and international sporting events.

The pleasant bay of Kata, just a few minutes south of Karon Beach, entices many with its white sands and clear waters.

Very popular with families, Kata is an all round favourite due to it's spectacular beach, great restaurants, lively but not raucous nightlife and not to mention varied accommodation options - all close to the beach. April to September surfers flock to enjoy Kata's somewhat small waves.

Bang Tao is a study in contrasts, with the luxurious resorts and villas along its 6km (4 mile) stretch of beach just a few minutes' away from the town of Cherng Talay, where many villagers still make their living as their ancestors did - by fishing, farming and rubber tapping.

The northern tip of the beach, so far untouched by development, is still an area where visitors might find that they have the beach to themselves. Apart from going to the beach and a few bars and restaurants there's not much that you need to leave your resort for.

Naturally beautiful Surin is known as 'Millionaires Row' due the the top-end celebrity haunts Amanpuri, Twinpalms and The Chedi amongst the luxury resorts there, as well as the many US$ 1 million+ houses that sit proudly on top of the hills overlooking the Andaman Sea.

Although popular with tourists it's not a busy resort town, more like a coastal village. Fine white sand and turquoise water has ensured that the picturesque beach is very popular with tourists and Thais alike.

This well-enclosed bay and fishing village has developed rapidly in recent years yet it still retains a small-town feel. Popular with families, Kamala Beach is lined with casual restaurants and food stalls, with good snorkelling at the rocky north end.

One of Phuket's best-kept secrets. Approaching this quiet beach of silky white sand is spectacular in itself - a drive on the coastal road from the south takes you through forested hills while the northern approach winds through a lovely valley and small village. Once you arrive, swim, sunbathe and marvel at how few people have discovered this little piece of paradise.

The casuarina-fringed Nai Yang, together with Mai Khao in the north, forms the longest and most secluded stretch of beach in Phuket, about 10-km altogether.

Two hotels sit on the south end of Nai Yang, while the north enters into Sirinath National Park, a protected marine and coastal area. A good spot to rent a beach chair or gorge on barbecued seafood while lounging on mats spread out in the shade.

With most of its beachfront land occupied by a temple, Nai Harn has been spared from over-development, with only Le Royal Meridien Phuket Yacht Club and Baan Krating, another resort nestled into the hill at its north end. The soft sands and clear waters make Nai Harn an ideal swimming, snorkeling and sunbathing spot, though conditions can be dangerous in the monsoon season of May-October.

First "discovered" by King Rama VII in the 1920s, Rawai is Phuket's longest-established beach resort, though the sea-gypsy village at its north end probably hasn't changed much over the years.

The beach is lined with open-air seafood stalls and restaurants for casual dining under the shade of the casuarina trees. A popular launching point for boat trips to Racha, Coral and other islands.

This bustling bay, a major launch area for boat and dive trips, is filled with bobbing vessels of all shapes and sizes throughout the year. Plenty of casual restaurants, dive shops, fishing charter and tour operators, watersports equipment suppliers, Internet shops and even yoga and Reiki centres are packed into the short street leading to the pier.

Cape Panwa Beach is divided into two parts by a 300-metre long seaside esplanade. The western part is right next to the Thai Navy Headquarters and is only 70 metres long and not that wide. Fishermen use it to beach their long tails and small boys do spectacular jumps and dives off the safety railings at high tide.