Stage 3: Nai Thon Beach → Bang Tao Beach
Something happened between Stage 2 and Stage 3 that attracted more walkers than ever. Nineteen people set off together on Sunday morning. From the five who started at the Sarasin Bridge on the first stage, the group has grown considerably, and this is really encouraging.
We started at Nai Thon, a smaller and quieter beach than some of its busier neighbors, and a lovely place to begin the morning. The first stretch is easy, straight along the sand, until you reach an area of rocks near the end. Here we had to walk carefully because some of the rocks are slippery, so we all took our time. After the rocks, there are some wooden stairs that connect the beach with road 4018. The challenging part was about to start.
From here, the route follows a narrow road for a while, and with such a large group, we had to be especially cautious. This is where the good practices are important: we wore our high-visibility safety vests, walked in single file, kept to the side, and faced the traffic so we could see the cars and the cars could see us. On these narrow roads, being visible and predictable is the most important thing.
Along the way, we passed the entrance to the new parking area for Banana Beach. This beach used to be a hidden and quiet spot, not easy to reach. In the last few years, it has become much more popular and touristic, with easier access and many more visitors. It is a common story in Phuket: one more beautiful place that becomes busier as more people discover it.
After Banana Beach came another steep section before we dropped down to Layan Beach. Layan is a wide, calm stretch at the northern end of Bang Tao Bay, and just offshore sits a small island, Koh Kala, close enough to reach at low tide. It's one of those quiet, scenic corners of the coast that rewards you for arriving on foot.
From there, the walking got easier, just a long, flat stretch straight through Layan and then Bang Tao, one of the longest beaches on the island. After the rocks, the road, and the climbs of the first half, this final stretch felt like a reward: soft sand, the sea on one side, and good company all the way.
We finished at Freedom Bar, tired, warm, but happy and satisfied. Three stages done. What stayed with me most from this one wasn't the rocks or the hills, but the atmosphere: nineteen people, many of whom didn't know each other at the start, walking and chatting their way down a beautiful coast together. That's the heart of it.
If you'd like to walk this stretch yourself, you can download the route below and follow the exact path we took. Just take care on the slippery rocks near Nai Thon, and go carefully on the road section.
Eighteen stages to go. One island, one step at a time.
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