The dry season
November to April: a calm, shallow sea in front of the hotels, dry days and the estate's busiest months. The Triathlon comes in mid-November, and traffic at the Laguna junction is at its worst around Christmas and Chinese New Year.
Laguna
Area · Choeng Thale
Six hotels, villas and an 18-hole golf course around lagoons that were tin-mine pits, linked by shuttle boats, with Boat Avenue's shops at the gate.
Laguna in photographs
Laguna. Laguna.
- Nature
- Lagoons and parkland between the hotels
- Walking
- Paths for running and cycling
- Children
- Pools, kids' corners and a calm sea
- Facilities
- Golf, spas, a clinic and groceries
- Food
- Beach clubs and Boat Avenue's restaurants
About Laguna
Laguna Phuket is a resort estate of more than 1,000 acres in the middle of Bang Tao Bay, in Choeng Thale on Phuket's north-west coast. Six hotels with more than 1,400 rooms, private villas, condos and an 18-hole golf course stand around a chain of lagoons between the beach and the road inland. Boat Avenue and Porto de Phuket, two open-air shopping streets, sit at its gate.
The lagoons are old tin-mine pits. In 1984 the founders of what became the Banyan Tree group bought 222 hectares of abandoned, polluted mining land at Bang Tao Bay, cleaned the soil and planted more than 7,000 trees. The hotels followed, and Banyan Tree Phuket, the group's flagship, opened in 1994. The estate is still run as one destination, with its own security, roads and gardens.
Inside, life moves at a resort pace. Shuttle boats cross the lagoons and shuttle buses link the hotels for their guests, runners and cyclists use the paths, and three beach clubs, XANA, RAVA and Casuarina, face the sea and sell day passes to anyone. The rest of Choeng Thale, with its fresh market and local restaurants, is a short drive inland.
What is good about Laguna
Lagoons from a tin mine
The lagoons between the hotels are the flooded pits of an old tin mine, now ringed by trees planted in the 1980s; shuttle boats cross them about every 30 minutes from 10:00 to 21:00.
Paths for running and cycling
A developer counts 15 km of paths through the estate; the Laguna Phuket Marathon in June and the Triathlon in November run on Laguna's roads and paths.
Golf, clinic and groceries
Laguna Golf Phuket's 18-hole, par-71 course lies next to the beach; Bangkok Hospital Phuket runs a walk-in clinic in the estate, and Villa Market at Boat Avenue covers groceries.
Built for families
The hotels have pools and kids' clubs, RAVA has a kids' corner, XANA keeps the music low, and from November to April the sea in front is shallow with a sandy entry.
Beach clubs and the gate
XANA, RAVA and Casuarina sell day passes with food and drink; Boat Avenue and Porto de Phuket at the gate hold dozens of restaurants, and a market fills Boat Avenue on Friday evenings.
Sea and lagoon
The estate says it is the only place on the island with water sports both on the sea and on a lagoon.
Things to do at Laguna
Laguna. Laguna. Laguna.
Swimming · dry season
Swim off Bang Tao
The estate's 3 km of beach is the middle of Bang Tao Bay: shallow and calm from November to April, with casuarina shade; Bang Tao Beach has a page of its own.
Food and drink
XANA Beach Club
The calm club, at Angsana: a 35 m pool facing the sea, sofas on the sand, wood-fired pizza and live music rather than a DJ; 10:00 to 21:00.
Food and drink
RAVA Beach Club
Banyan Tree's club on 150 m of shore: three infinity pools, a live-fire grill, a kids' corner and a Sunday brunch; 10:00 to 22:30, book ahead.
Food and drink
Casuarina Beach Club
Sunbeds and cabanas on the sand, Mediterranean sharing plates and the resort pool with a day pass: 900 THB for an adult, 700 of it food and drink credit (until 31 October 2026).
Nightlife
Smigos at the north end
A thatched bamboo bar just before the headland to Layan: beanbags facing the sea, Thai and Western food and a fire show most nights; 10:00 to 23:00.
Sport
Laguna Golf Phuket
An 18-hole, par-71 course between the lagoons and the beach; visitors pay about 4,500 THB with caddy and cart, or about 3,000 THB for the green fee alone (2026).
Shopping
Boat Avenue
An open-air street of shops and restaurants at the gate, about five minutes from the sand, with Villa Market for groceries and a free car park.
Food and drink
Friday market
Fridays from 16:00 at Boat Avenue: grilled meat and fish, noodles, salads and smoothies at outdoor tables by a small stage, with T-shirts, bags and phone cases.
Sport
Triathlon and marathon
The 32nd Laguna Phuket Triathlon, on 15 November 2026, swims in the sea and in a lagoon; the Laguna Phuket Marathon is held each June, next on 12 and 13 June 2027.
Wellness
Spas
Banyan Tree's spa began here, and the other hotels and the Veya wellness retreat have spas of their own.
Boat trips
The shuttle boat
Hotel guests ride free boats across the lagoons between the hotels, about every 30 minutes from 10:00 to 21:00.
Shopping
Canal Village
Once the estate's shopping arcade, now a quiet service hub with a wellness clinic, currency exchange and a few shops.
A day at Laguna
Before the heat, the paths between the lagoons belong to runners and cyclists.
From November to April the sea is calm and shallow; casuarina shade is best before late morning.
Wood-fired pizza by XANA's pool, or the grill at RAVA. XANA Beach Club
A round at Laguna Golf, or a treatment at one of the hotel spas. Laguna Golf Phuket
Sunset is the main event at the beach clubs; Smigos, at the north end, adds a fire show. Smigo's Bar & Restaurant
Boat Avenue's restaurants, or on Friday the market's food stalls. Boat Avenue
Places in Laguna
Our picks
XANA Beach Club
Beach club · Bang Tao BeachThe beach club of the Angsana Laguna Phuket on Bang Tao Beach, for a lazy day by the pool and the sea.
RAVA Beach Club
Beach club · Bang Tao BeachA large beach club on Bang Tao Beach in front of the Laguna resort complex, opened in late 2024.
Casuarina Beach Club
Beach club · Bang Tao BeachThe beach club of the Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket on Bang Tao Beach: sunbeds, cabanas and poolside daybeds, open to outside guests.
Smigo's Bar & Restaurant
Beach bar · Bang Tao BeachA thatched bamboo bar on the sand at the north end of Bang Tao Beach, towards Layan, opened in 2022.
Laguna Golf Phuket
Golf course · Bang Tao BeachAn 18-hole resort course inside the Laguna complex at Bang Tao, redesigned in 2014.
Boat Avenue
Community mallAn open-air centre of restaurants, bars and shops at the entrance to the Laguna area in Cherngtalay (Bang Tao).
Fun Friday Avenue Market
Night market · LagunaA Friday evening market on Boat Avenue in Cherngtalay, near Bang Tao and Laguna.
Bangkok Phuket Clinic Laguna
Clinic · Bang Tao BeachA walk-in clinic of Bangkok Hospital Phuket in Laguna, Choeng Thale.
Restaurants
La Marée
Restaurant · LagunaA European restaurant on Lagoon Road at Bang Tao, led by a chef trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris.
Mrs B Bar & Table
Restaurant · LagunaA grill restaurant and cocktail bar at 19/1 Lagoon Road in the Boat Avenue area of Bang Tao, built around an open kitchen with a wood-fire grill.
Nanami Yakiniku
Restaurant · Bang Tao BeachA Japanese yakiniku (grill-it-yourself) restaurant at Boat Avenue on Lagoon Road, Bang Tao.
VAMOS Phuket
Restaurant · Bang Tao BeachA Spanish tapas restaurant at 168 Cherngtalay (Bang Tao); the chef, Rene, has cooked for more than 30 years in America and Hong Kong.
Cafés
BEANS Coffee Roaster
Café · Bang Tao BeachA coffee roaster and café at The Society near Bang Tao Beach, where visitors can make up their own blends.
Gyms
Delta55 Fitness
Gym · Bang Tao BeachA higher-end gym near Boat Avenue in Cherngtalay with Life Fitness, Hammer Strength and Technogym equipment, open 365 days a year, with no lock-in contracts.
Water sports
Seahorse Sailing Phuket
Sailing club · Bang Tao BeachA sailing school on Bang Tao beach, sailing in a sheltered lagoon or on the open sea.
- The zone
- A home and its rent
- A place, as the list numbers it
Homes and places on the map
Beach club
Beach club
Beach club
Beach bar
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Community mall
Night market
Golf course
Sailing club
Homes in Laguna
Branded residences, pool villas and condos inside the estate, some on the golf course or the lagoons, with newer condo projects at its edges and in the Laguna Lakelands plan. Condos listed for rent under Laguna averaged about 37,800 THB a month for one bedroom in October 2026.
4 homes for rent in LagunaLaguna through the year
The monsoon months
May to October: the south-west monsoon sends swell into the open bay and red flags fly on many days. The lagoons, pools, golf course and spas carry on, the beach is quieter, and the marathon runs in June.
Laguna with children
Laguna is one of the easiest places on the island with children: hotel pools and kids' clubs, beach clubs with kids' corners, quiet paths, a clinic in the estate and, from November to April, a shallow, calm sea. International schools are 10 to 15 minutes away by car.
- Shallow water with a sandy entry from November to April; watch the flags from May.
- RAVA has a kids' corner; XANA and Casuarina keep the music low.
- Casuarina's day pass is 450 THB for a child of four to twelve and free under four.
- Bangkok Hospital Phuket's walk-in clinic is inside the estate.
- HeadStart International School is about 4 km away; BISP and UWC Thailand 10 to 15 minutes.
Getting to Laguna and parking
- From the airport, by car
- 20–30 min
- From Patong, with the traffic
- 25–40 min
- From Phuket Town
- 30–40 min
Laguna is in the middle of Bang Tao Bay, 20 to 30 minutes south of the airport and 30 to 40 minutes from Phuket Town. The way in is past Boat Avenue at the Laguna junction; inside, shuttle boats and buses link the hotels for their guests.
- The Smart Bus. Route 1 (airport to Rawai) stops at Laguna near Boat Avenue; wave at the bus. 100 THB, hourly from 08:15 to 23:30 (2026). The stop at Cassia, inside, works only in the morning.
- Grab and taxis. Grab works well here and is the simplest way from the airport.
- By boat. Free shuttle boats cross the lagoons between the hotels about every 30 minutes, 10:00 to 21:00, for hotel guests.
- The local bus. Free shuttle buses link the hotels from 06:00 to midnight, for hotel guests.
- By car. A car or scooter suits villa stays; at peak times the Laguna junction slows to a crawl.
- On foot. Boat Avenue is about five minutes from the sand; within the estate, paths run along the lagoons.
Parking. Hotels, beach clubs and the golf course have their own parking; Boat Avenue's free car park fills on Friday evenings.
Who will love Laguna, and who will not
Will love it
- Families with young children: pools, kids' corners, a calm sea in season and a clinic on site.
- Couples after resort calm, spas and sunset at a beach club.
- Travellers who want five-star hotels and villas in one guarded estate.
- Runners and cyclists: paths through the estate, a marathon in June and a triathlon in November.
- Long-stayers who want security, golf and international schools within reach.
Will not
- Night owls: there is no nightlife strip; Patong is 25 to 40 minutes away.
- Tight budgets: hotels and rents here sit at the top of the island's range.
Tips for Laguna
The shuttles are for hotel guests
The free boats and buses serve the Laguna hotels; staying elsewhere, plan on Grab, a scooter or the Smart Bus.
Wave at the Smart Bus
Wave at the bus at the Laguna stop near Boat Avenue; in the evening traffic keeps it from the Cassia stop inside.
Book RAVA ahead
It fills on busy days and walk-ins may be turned away.
Spend the day-pass credit
Casuarina's 900 THB adult pass includes 700 THB of food and drink (until 31 October 2026).
Friday parking
Boat Avenue's free car park fills on Friday evenings when the market runs; come early or take Grab.
Allow for the junction
At peak times the Laguna junction and Srisoonthorn Road slow to a crawl; leave extra time for the airport.
Watch the flags in the monsoon
From May to October the bay takes the swell; swim only where and when the flags allow.
Canal Village is for errands
Go for the clinic or currency exchange, not for shopping; it is almost empty in the evening.
Golf: caddy and cart included
A visitor's green fee of about 4,500 THB includes caddy and cart; about 3,000 THB buys the green fee alone.
Recently changed
- August 2026
A guide updated in August 2026 put Skypark Elara, the first phase of the Laguna Lakelands plan, due in October 2026; the plan allows up to 5,000 homes over 5 to 10 years from 2024.
Questions about Laguna
Is Laguna Phuket a town or a hotel?
Neither: it is a resort estate of more than 1,000 acres in Choeng Thale, with six hotels, villas, condos, a golf course and lagoons, run as one destination. The beach in front of it is Bang Tao.
Can I visit Laguna if I am not staying there?
Yes, for the beach clubs, restaurants, golf and Boat Avenue: XANA, RAVA and Casuarina sell day passes and Laguna Golf takes visitors. The free shuttle boats and buses are for hotel guests.
How far is Laguna from the airport?
About 20 to 30 minutes by car, south along the coast. Smart Bus route 1 stops at Laguna near Boat Avenue: 100 THB, hourly from 08:15 to 23:30 (2026).
Is Laguna good for families?
Yes. Hotel pools and kids' clubs, beach clubs with kids' corners, a walk-in clinic in the estate and, from November to April, a shallow, calm sea make it one of the easiest places on the island with children. International schools are 10 to 15 minutes away.
Can you swim at Laguna in the rainy season?
Often not in the sea. From May to October the south-west monsoon brings swell into Bang Tao Bay and red flags fly on many days; the hotel pools and the beach clubs' pools carry on.
Where do people shop near Laguna?
At the gate: Boat Avenue has Villa Market, restaurants and a Friday market, and Porto de Phuket has more shops and restaurants. Canal Village, inside the estate, is now mostly services.
Is there a doctor in Laguna?
Yes. Bangkok Hospital Phuket runs a walk-in clinic in the estate for consultations, wound care, blood tests and vaccines; its information line is 1719.
How much is a condo in Laguna?
Condos listed for rent under Laguna in October 2026 started at 12,000 THB a month and averaged about 37,800 THB for one bedroom; the listing area also takes in Cherngtalay and Layan. For sale, small condos start around 5 million THB and beachfront villas reach 400 million.
When is the Laguna Phuket Triathlon?
The 32nd edition is on Sunday 15 November 2026, with individual, team and sprint races and a duathlon; the swim is in both the sea and a lagoon. The Laguna Phuket Marathon is held in June, next on 12 and 13 June 2027.