Naithon Beach

Naithon Beach, on the north-west coast of Phuket, is a charming little beach just south of the larger Nai Yang. Naithon is tucked away under steep hills and is a peaceful beach perfect for swimming and snorkeling. This quiet place has the double advantage of being away from the tourist hordes whilst still having enough facilities at hand for an agreeable stay.

The lovely stretch of white sand is flanked by boulders and you can find spots where you feel you are on your own private beach. The tall trees lining the beach offer a welcome shaded area when the tropical sun gets too much.

You won’t find noisy jet-skis or parasailing motors boats out here – just a few picturesque long-tail boats bobbing out to sea. Over the road from the beach there are restaurants, serving traditional Thai dishes and international cuisine, bars, a dive shop and convenience store. For evening entertainment there is the Up Beach club, at the southern end of Naithon, that bills itself as an ‘exclusive and private seaside experience unlike any other on the island’.

Approaching Naithon Beach from the south of island will take you through some of Phuket’s most stunning views. The journey takes you through virgin jungles and up hills that offer picture perfect scenes of the turquoise Andaman Sea. From the north the road takes you through interesting small villages and a lush green valley.

The beach is part of Sirinat National Park that covers over 90 square kilometres of land and marine area and close by are some Phuket’s finest unspoilt beaches. Naithon Beach has a wonderful laid-back atmosphere to it and there are opportunities to organize dive trips or hire a long-tail boat to explore the hidden coves around the area.