Naithon Beach (or Nai Thon) is the smallest resort beach in the northern part of Phuket Island. It’s about 0.6 miles (1 km) long and just over 164 feet (50 meters) wide, though it expands significantly at low tide.
Beach Overview
Naithon Beach is located 6.2 miles (10 km) from the airport and 18.6 miles (30 km) from Phuket Town.
The beach is relatively popular during the high season. It’s not as busy as Patong, but you might still find a fair number of people. The sea is excellent, with clean, clear water perfect for snorkeling. The sand is fine and yellow, and the beach is lined with loungers and umbrellas.
In the low season, there are hardly any tourists, and some hotels may be closed. The sea is rough, with large waves. The beach is part of a national park, so there are plenty of trees and greenery. It’s ideal for nature lovers who prefer peace and quiet.
However, during peak season, it can get quite crowded. If you’re interested in other places, check out my brief overview of all the beaches in Phuket to help you choose the right one for you.
Swimming
The shoreline is even, and the sand slopes gently into the water. At low tide, it can be quite a walk to reach the water. Naithon is a great spot for family beach vacations.
From May to September, like many other beaches in Phuket, there are often big waves, and the water becomes murky from the sand. In winter, the water is clear and clean.
Sunbeds and Shade
Throughout the beach, there is natural shade from casuarina trees, but only in the morning and only for the loungers close to them. Lounger rental is 100 baht per day.
Fortunately, Naithon’s low crowd density allows loungers to be placed freely in two to three rows, or even just one row, spaced far apart to ensure peace and privacy for tourists.
Beach Photos
Amenities
The beach town has the usual establishments: massage parlors, restaurants, and mini-markets. These are almost the only places for shopping. As mentioned earlier, the beach area has not been developed for tourists for unknown reasons.
Hopefully, future development plans will turn Naithon into a full-fledged beach like Karon or Patong. The only available activity on the beach is a kite surfing school, but due to the small waves, this sport is suitable only for beginners.
Many tourists enjoy leisurely swimming in the warm water, getting massages right on the loungers, and having lunch at the local beach restaurant, where tables are set on the sand. Lunch costs from 70 baht per dish, and if you visit the local pizzeria, you’ll pay about 300 baht for a whole pizza.
In the southern part of the beach, you can snorkel and dive into the calm sea with a scuba tank. Underwater, there is a broken shoreline full of reefs and sea creatures.
Without intuition or, better yet, a map of these reefs, you are unlikely to find anything but empty corals. Maps are sold right on the shore. In the low season, it’s best to wear flip-flops and stay with your friends, as the beach can feel like a ghost village.
The water brings heaps of trash to the shore, which almost no one cleans up. It’s quite a sight! There are no cultural points of interest if you get bored with beach activities.
Naithon is in the center of a national park. There’s even a stretch of untouched jungle in front of it, but most of the area near the beach is occupied by mangrove trees.
Accomodation
The hotels offer a small number of accommodations but cater to all tastes. There are bungalows with private pools that resemble a hidden tropical village, as well as budget guesthouses (starting from 600 baht per day).
These accommodations are located either along the road that runs parallel to the shoreline or within a 5-7 minute walk from the beach.
On both sides of the beach, slightly elevated above the surroundings, are two five-star hotels with excellent views and villa accommodations:
At any hotel, you can rent motorbikes (from 200 baht) or call a taxi to get to another place on the island. Taxi services to the main road in Phuket cost 150 baht or more, depending on the driver.
How to Find the Beach
There is no public transport to the beach; you can get to Naithon either by taxi or by driving your own car. The nearest beaches are Bang Tao and Nai Yang.
Head north on the main island highway Thep Krasat Tri from Phuket Town or south from the airport. Pay close attention to road signs. When you see a sign for Thep Krasat Tri Nai Yang Rd (Route 4031), turn there.
After about 5-7 minutes, you will reach a fork. Take a left and continue following the road signs. Turn left again, and the road will lead you to a village from which a mountain road takes you to Naithon Beach. It’s easy to find from there.
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