Naithon Beach (Naithon Beach or Nai Thon) is the smallest resort beach in the northern part of Phuket island, measuring only 0.6 miles (1 km) in length and just over 164 feet (50 metres) in width, though during low tide it expands considerably.
Naithon is located 6.2 miles (10 km) from the airport on one side and 18.6 miles (30 km) from the capital – Phuket Town on the other.
Beach Overview
The beach is relatively popular during high season. It can’t compare to Patong of course, it’s much quieter and more peaceful here, but there can still be quite a few people on the shore. The sea is excellent with clean and clear water, perfect for snorkelling enthusiasts. The sand on the beach is fine and yellow. Sunbeds with umbrellas are set up along the coast.
During low season there are hardly any tourists and hotels might be closed. The sea gets rough with large waves. The beach belongs to a national park so there are plenty of trees and other greenery around. It’s ideal for nature lovers who don’t fancy noise and hustle and bustle.
But during peak season there are still loads of people here. If anyone’s interested in reading about other places, I’ve got a brief overview of all Phuket beaches which can help you decide which beach to choose.
Swimming
The beach line is even, the sand slopes gently into the water, and at low tide you have to walk quite a distance to reach the water. Naithon is a suitable place for family beach holidays.
From May to September, as on many other Phuket beaches, large waves are common here and the water becomes cloudy with sand. In winter the water at the beach is clear and clean.
Sunbeds and Shade
Throughout the beach there’s natural shade from casuarina trees, but only in the morning and only for the row of sunbeds placed right next to them. Sunbed rental costs 100 baht per day.
Fortunately Nai Thon’s lighter crowds allow sunbeds to be freely arranged in two or three rows, and in some places even in a single row far apart from each other to avoid disturbing tourists’ peace.
Beach Photos
Amenities
The beach town consists of a standard set of establishments (massage parlours, restaurants and mini-markets). The latter are pretty much the only places where you can spend time shopping. As mentioned above, the beach area wasn’t developed for tourists for unknown reasons.
We can only hope that the latest development plans will turn Naithon into a proper beach like Karon or Patong. Among the available activities on the beach you can only find a kitesurfing school, but due to the small waves in the sea, this type of sport is only suitable for beginners.
Many tourists enjoy lazy swimming in the warm water, massages right on their sunbeds and lunch at a local beach restaurant where tables are set up on the sand. Lunch costs from 70 baht per dish, and if you visit the local pizzeria, you’ll have to shell out about 300 baht for a whole pizza.
In the southern part of the beach you can put on a breathing mask and dive into the depths of the calm sea with scuba gear. Beneath the water hides a broken shoreline full of reefs and marine animals.
But without having a knack for it or better yet a map of these reefs, you’re unlikely to find anything except empty corals. Maps are sold right there on the shore. During low season it’s worth wearing flip-flops and sticking together with your mates as the beach becomes like a ghost village.
The water noisily washes piles of rubbish ashore which practically nobody cleans up. Quite a sight! There aren’t any cultural points of interest here in case you get bored with beach leisure.
Nai Thon is located in the centre of a national nature park. In front of it there’s even a patch of virgin jungle, but most of the space near the beach is occupied by mangrove trees.
Accommodation
Hotels offer accommodation that, while not numerous, caters to every taste. There are bungalows with private pools built in the form of a hidden tropical village, and cheap guesthouses (from 600 baht per night).
They’re all located both along the road running along the coastline and within a 16-23 feet (5-7 minute) walk from the beach.
On both sides of the beach, rising slightly above the surroundings against the backdrop of tropical thickets, two five-star hotels with beautiful views and villa accommodation can be seen:
At any hotel you can rent motorbikes (from 200 baht) or call a taxi to get to some other place on the island. For taxi services to the main Phuket road you’ll have to pay 150 baht or even more, depending on which taxi driver you get.
How to Find the Beach
Public transport doesn’t go to the beach; you can get to Naithon either by taxi or by your own car. The nearest beaches are Bang Tao and Nai Yang
Drive along the island’s main highway Thep Krasat Tri from Phuket Town in a northerly direction, or from the airport in a southerly direction. Pay close attention to road signs; as soon as a sign indicating Thep Krasat Tri Nai Yang Rd (route 4031) comes into view, you need to turn.
Then after about 5-7 minutes there will be a fork where you should take the left and drive to the road sign. From there turn left again, and the road will lead you to a village from which a mountain road leads to Naithon Beach. It won’t be difficult to find it.
