Kite season, May to October
In the monsoon the sea gets rougher and the bay becomes the kitesurfers' season; the dry months are the time for swimming.
Nai Yang Beach
Sakhu · west coast
A quiet, shallow bay five minutes south of Phuket airport, inside Sirinat National Park: casuarina shade, calm dry-season water and seafood restaurants on the sand.
Also written Naiyang Beach, Nai Yang Bay, Hat Nai Yang, Ao Nai Yang · หาดในยาง · Най Янг
Nai Yang Beach in photographs
Sunset dinner on the sand. Beach restaurants in the evening. Wat Nai Yang, the temple near the beach.
- Sand
- White sand, shaded by casuarinas
- Water entry
- Shallow, gentle entry
- Shade
- Casuarina shade along the shore
- Food
- Restaurant tables on the sand
- Sunset
- Sunset dinners over the bay
- Access
- About 5 minutes from the airport
About Nai Yang Beach
Nai Yang is a wide bay just south of the airport runway, with a fishing village at its southern end and the Sirinat National Park headquarters at its northern end. Casuarina trees line the whole shore, so there is shade to sit in almost anywhere, and the sea stays shallow for a long way out.
A narrow road runs behind the sand with small restaurants, a mini-mart, a dive shop, a tailor and stalls selling cut fruit and street food. Several restaurants put their tables on the beach itself, and at sunset most people move to the sand. Fishing boats work from the village, and planes pass low on their way to the runway just to the north.
From November to April the water is calm and warm, though its shallowness means it is not always as blue as further south. From May to October the sea is rougher, and the bay becomes Phuket's main kitesurfing spot. Weekends are busier than weekdays.
Nai Yang Beach, south to north
The south end: the fishing village
Longtails, the fishing village and the two big resorts: the Phuket Marriott on the beach and The Slate across the road, each with restaurants open to outside guests.
Good
- Resort restaurants, including a seafood grill and a well-known Thai restaurant.
- Fresh seafood landed next door.
Less good
- Boats moored off the sand.
- Resort prices.
Resort guests and anyone booking a special dinner.
The middle: restaurants on the sand
The heart of Nai Yang: beach restaurants with tables under the trees, massage mats, and the narrow road behind with shops, street food and fruit stalls.
Good
- Food and drinks from morning until 22:00.
- Shade everywhere under the casuarinas.
- The easiest place for families to settle.
Less good
- Parking is hard on the narrow road that does not go through.
- Busiest at sunset and at weekends.
Families, sunset diners and anyone who wants everything within a few steps.
The north: the national park
The Sirinat National Park headquarters, picnic spots under the pines and the way north on foot to Mai Khao and the plane-spotting spot. The water here is often the clearest in the bay.
Good
- The clearest water in the bay.
- Quiet picnics under the trees.
- A walk to the runway end, about 1 km on.
Less good
- Park entry fee for foreigners.
- Few facilities.
Walkers, picnickers and plane spotters.
Things to do at Nai Yang Beach
Sunset dinner on the sand. Beach restaurants in the evening. Wat Nai Yang, the temple near the beach.
Swimming · dry season
Paddle in the shallows
From November to April the bay is calm and shallow for a long way out, ideal for children and easy swimming.
Water sports · monsoon months
Learn to kitesurf
From May to October the south-west wind brings the kite school back to the beach. A full beginner course costs about 12,000 to 15,000 THB (2026); the gusty wind suits riders with some experience best.
On the sand
Walk to the plane-spotting spot
Follow the beach north through the national park for about 1 km to the end of the runway, where airliners pass just overhead.
Food and drink
Sunset at Sea Almond
Thai food, seafood and craft beer at tables on the sand; mains are affordable, and card payments carry a small surcharge.
Food and drink
Southern Thai at Black Ginger
A raft takes you across a lagoon to a dark-wood Thai house inside The Slate. Expensive, and one of the island's best-known Thai dinners.
Food and drink
Seafood at Big Fish
The Phuket Marriott's beachfront grill serves seafood, imported oysters and steaks, dinner only, from 18:00.
Wellness
Massage under the trees
Masseuses wait in the shade along the beach; a massage costs about 300 THB.
Nature
Sirinat National Park
The park headquarters sit at the northern end, with a visitor centre, beach forest and a small mangrove area. Open 06:00 to 18:00; foreigners pay 200 THB, children 100 THB.
Snorkelling and diving · dry season
Snorkel the offshore reef
Coral clusters lie 700 to 1,000 m out, with soft corals and anemones. Go with a boat or the dive shop on the beach road rather than swimming out.
Shopping
Street food and fruit
Across the road from the sand, carts sell som tam, grilled chicken and fruit cut to order, next to a mini-mart, a tailor and batik shops.
A day at Nai Yang Beach
The national park opens at 06:00. Walk north along the shaded shore while the sand is still cool.
In the dry season the bay is calm and shallow; children can wade a long way out. The water is clearest towards the northern end.
Thai lunch at The Good View, on a raised wooden deck above the sand, at local prices. The Good View
Walk about 1 km north past the park checkpoint to the end of the runway, where airliners pass low over the beach. Mai Khao Airport Viewpoint
At Sea Almond the tables move out onto the beach in the evening; book a front one for an open view of the sunset. Sea Almond Chilled Restaurant & Cafe
Arrive by wooden raft at Black Ginger, a southern Thai restaurant in an old-style house over a lagoon inside The Slate resort. Black Ginger
Our Nai Yang Beach score
4.4out of 5
Families with small children, a first or last night near the airport, and sunset dinners on the sand.
A shallow, gently sloping bay with casuarina shade, calm water from November to April and restaurants with tables on the sand. It stops short of the top band because the very shallow water is often less clear than on the southern beaches, and the monsoon months belong to kitesurfers rather than swimmers.
The character of the beach
A profile, not a mark: where Nai Yang Beach sits on four scales, and what it is known for.
- Lively
- For children
- Surf
- Snorkelling
No lifeguards · White sand shaded by casuarinas
What is good about Nai Yang Beach
Knee-deep a long way out
The bay shelves so gently that children can wade far from the shore in the dry season with the water barely above their knees.
Shade without a sunbed
Casuarinas line the whole beach, so you can sit in the shade for free all day; there are only a few beach chairs.
Dinner with your feet in the sand
A row of simple restaurants sets tables on the beach, and street food and cut fruit are sold across the road.
Kitesurfing in the low season
From May to October the south-west wind makes Nai Yang Phuket's main kitesurfing spot, with a school on the beach.
A national park next door
The northern end belongs to Sirinat National Park, with its visitor centre, beach forest and mangroves.
Before you swim at Nai Yang Beach
No lifeguard post
There is no lifeguard post; keep an eye on children, even in the shallows.
Boats and kites
Fishing longtails use the south end of the bay, and in the low season kites and boards cross the shallows. Swim away from both.
The reef is far out
The coral lies 700 to 1,000 m offshore; visit it with a guide or boat, and never stand on coral.
Beach dogs
Friendly stray dogs doze in the shade near the beach; let small children watch them from a distance.
Beach clubs, bars and restaurants on Nai Yang Beach
5 places open on the sand in September 2026, walked south to north, then the road behind the beach and a few minutes inland. A price level is what one visit typically costs a person.
The south end: the fishing village
Big Fish Restaurant & Bar
Restaurant · on the sand · 12:00–23:00 on Wednesday (Google Maps shows one day; the other days to check)
The main restaurant of the Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach, on the sand of Nai Yang Beach facing the Andaman Sea.
Black Ginger
Restaurant · the road behind · 18:00–23:00 on Wednesday (Google Maps shows one day; the other days to check)
The Thai restaurant of The Slate resort at Nai Yang, set in old wooden houses on a small lake and reached by raft.
The middle: restaurants on the sand
Sea Almond Chilled Restaurant & Cafe
Restaurant · on the sand · 11:00–22:00 on Wednesday (Google Maps shows one day; the other days to check)
A relaxed beachfront restaurant and café at Nai Yang, with tables that move onto the sand in the evening.
The Good View
Restaurant · on the sand · daily 10:00–22:00
A simple Thai restaurant on the sand at Nai Yang Beach, with a view of the sea and the sunset.
The Beach Restaurant Nai Yang Beach
Restaurant · on the sand
A Thai restaurant at Nai Yang Beach serving seafood, Thai food and international food, with outdoor seating.
Naiyang Bay Restaurant
Restaurant · on the sand
A beachfront Thai and seafood restaurant with tables on the sand, known for crab curry, prawns with cashews and fruit shakes. Beach tables close on windy days.
A few minutes inland
Mai Khao Airport Viewpoint
Viewpoint · a short drive
A stretch of Mai Khao Beach at the end of the airport runway where planes pass low over the sand to land.
Baan Yoga
Yoga · classes Mon 17:00–19:00; Tue 09:00–10:30; Wed 18:00–19:00; Thu 09:00–10:30; Sat 08:00–11:30
A yoga studio at Garden Cottage Resort near Nai Yang Beach, teaching Hatha yoga for every level, with a café and a shop for yoga gear.
Bangkok Phuket Clinic Airport
Health · daily 08:00–20:00
A walk-in clinic of Bangkok Hospital Phuket in Sakhu, near Phuket airport.
Green & Bean Phuket
Café · daily 07:00–23:00
A relaxed café at Nai Yang, close to the airport and the sea; a few cats live nearby.
Leap Coffee and Breakfast
Café · Monday–Friday 07:00–16:00, Saturday–Sunday 08:00–16:00
A small breakfast café in Mai Khao.
Mama's Kitchen
Restaurant · 12:00–21:30 on Sunday (Google Maps shows one day; the other days to check)
A Thai restaurant by the beach at Nai Yang, with an open kitchen where the chef, Mama Pen, cooks.
Nai Yang Fresh Market
Market · Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays 16:00–19:00; vendors pack up from about 18:00
A local evening market opposite Wat Mongkhon Wararam, on the way to Nai Yang Beach, about ten minutes from the airport.
Sirinat National Park
Park · daily 08:00–16:30
A coastal national park of about 90 km² on Phuket's north-west coast, shaded by casuarina trees, protecting Mai Khao, Nai Yang and Nai Thon beaches.
The Andaman Kitchen
Restaurant · 07:00–23:00 on Sunday (Google Maps shows one day; the other days to check)
The all-day restaurant in the middle of the Phuket Marriott Resort at Nai Yang Beach, with indoor and outdoor seating.
A village temple at Nai Yang, officially founded in 1757, once led by the respected abbot Luang Pho Nang Seua.
What it costs to live near Nai Yang Beach
6 months or more
Apartments
฿21,000/ month
median of 3 · from ฿20,500
Villas
฿117,000/ month
median of 1 · from ฿117,000
Townhouses
฿83,000/ month
median of 2 · from ฿56,000
- The zone
- The waterline
- Chosen step: The zone
- A home and its rent
- A place, as the list numbers it
Homes for rent near Nai Yang Beach
6 months or more
- homes for rent nearby
- 11
- within a 13-minute walk of the sand
- 6
- the nearest home to the sand
- 180 m
Only the Phuket Marriott stands on the sand. The Slate and Dewa sit across the road, and many smaller, cheaper hotels, guesthouses and villas line the back roads of the village, a few hundred metres from the beach.
Homes by type
Rent a month
6 homes in the beach zone
- Rooftop pool
- Workspace
3‑bedroom townhouse in Nai Yang, Moon Terrace
฿83,000/ month
180 m to the sand · 2 min on foot
- Workspace
1‑bedroom apartment in Nai Yang, Moon Terrace
฿27,000/ month
290 m to the sand · 4 min on foot
- Rooftop pool
- Workspace
1‑bedroom apartment in Nai Yang, Moon Terrace
฿21,000/ month
430 m to the sand · 5 min on foot
1‑bedroom apartment in Nai Yang, Bayview Gardens
฿20,500/ month
680 m to the sand · 9 min on foot
- Rooftop pool
- Workspace
4‑bedroom villa in Nai Yang, Laguna Beach Condo
฿117,000/ month
800 m to the sand · 10 min on foot
3‑bedroom townhouse in Nai Yang, Bayview Gardens
฿56,000/ month
960 m to the sand · 12 min on foot
Around Nai Yang Beach
Every place inside the beach zone, by category: choose one to see its places, nearest the water first, each numbered as its mark on the map.
- Mama's Kitchen610 m from the sand · 8 min on foot
- The Andaman Kitchen620 m from the sand · 8 min on foot
- Green & Bean Phuket120 m from the sand · 2 min on foot
- Leap Coffee and Breakfast890 m from the sand · 11 min on foot
- Nai Yang Fresh Market600 m from the sand · 8 min on foot
- Bangkok Phuket Clinic Airport920 m from the sand · 11 min on foot
- Baan Yoga820 m from the sand · 10 min on foot
- Kitesurf school, Nai Yang170 m from the sand · 2 min on foot
Lessons in the south-west monsoon, from May to October.
- Wat Mongkhon Wararam (Wat Nai Yang)720 m from the sand · 9 min on foot
Nai Yang Beach by month
The season · November to April
Calm sea, clear water
November to April: the bay is calm, warm and very shallow, the best time for families. The water is clearest at the northern end; after windy days it can look cloudy close to the shore.
The monsoon · May to October
Waves, walks and red flags
May to October: the south-west wind makes the sea rougher and swimming is often off. It is kitesurfing season, the beach is quiet, and some restaurants stay open all year.
| Month | The sea |
|---|---|
| Jan | Calm |
| Feb | Calm |
| Mar | Calm |
| Apr | Calm |
| May | Changing |
| Jun | Rough |
| Jul | Rough |
| Aug | Rough |
| Sep | Rough |
| Oct | Changing |
| Nov | Calm |
| Dec | Calm |
Calm: swim any day Changing: check the flags Rough: monsoon swell, red flags on many days
Nai Yang Beach with children
Nai Yang is one of the easiest beaches in Phuket for small children in the dry season: the water stays shallow for a long way, the trees give shade, and food is a few steps away.
- A very gentle slope: knee-deep water 20 m or more from the shore.
- Free shade under the casuarinas along the whole beach.
- Beach restaurants with child-friendly dishes such as fish and chips.
- Picnic spots under the pines in the national park.
- Planes over the runway end, a short walk north, are a hit with children.
Getting to Nai Yang Beach and parking
- From the airport, by car
- 5–15 min
- From Patong, with the traffic
- 45–60 min
- From Phuket Town
- 40–50 min
Nai Yang is about 5 minutes south of the airport. Turn left at the T-junction before the airport and follow the road towards the Dewa resort; the beach road is narrow and does not go through.
- By car. Minutes from the airport. The beach road narrows and does not go through, so park when you reach the first restaurants.
- By scooter. The easiest way to get around the village and along the beach road, where cars struggle to park.
- Grab and taxis. Taxis and ride-hailing apps both work; booking through an app is usually cheaper than a street taxi.
Parking. Very limited along the narrow beach road. Park near the first restaurants rather than driving to the end.
Who will love Nai Yang Beach, and who will not
Will love it
- Families with small children: shallow water, free shade and food within a few steps.
- Travellers on a first or last night, five minutes from the airport.
- Couples who like a slow dinner at a table on the sand at sunset.
- Budget travellers: street food, 300 THB massages and local beach restaurants.
- Anyone who wants a village feel instead of a party scene.
Will not
- Night owls: there are few bars and almost no nightlife.
- Snorkellers who want coral straight off the sand: the reef is far out.
- Swimmers visiting from May to October, when the sea is often too rough to swim.
Tips for Nai Yang Beach
Park early
The beach road is narrow and does not go through. Park by the first restaurants instead of driving to the end.
Pay in cash
Sea Almond adds about 3% to card payments; cash avoids it.
Book the front row
Sunset tables on the sand fill up; reserve at Sea Almond if you want an open view.
The park fee
The village beach is free. The national park section charges foreigners 200 THB and children 100 THB; it opens 06:00 to 18:00.
Go north for clearer water
The sea is usually at its prettiest towards the northern end of the bay.
Kite season is low season
Kitesurfers come from May to October. Complete beginners may do better at Rawai between November and April.
Fruit across the road
Stalls sell pineapple, guava, mango and papaya cut and ready to eat, for very little.
A good airport base
For an early flight or a late arrival, a night here saves the long drive to the southern beaches.
Questions about Nai Yang Beach
Is Nai Yang Beach good for swimming?
Yes, from November to April. The bay is calm and very shallow with a gentle slope, though the water is not always crystal clear. From May to October the sea is rougher and often too rough to swim.
Is Nai Yang Beach good for kids?
Yes, it is one of Phuket's best beaches for small children in the dry season. The water stays knee-deep a long way out, casuarinas give free shade, and beach restaurants serve child-friendly food a few steps from the sand.
How far is Nai Yang Beach from Phuket airport?
About 5 minutes by car. The bay lies just south of the runway; turn left at the T-junction before the airport and follow the road towards the Dewa resort.
Do you have to pay to go to Nai Yang Beach?
Not for the village beach. The national park section at the northern end charges foreigners 200 THB and children 100 THB, and is open from 06:00 to 18:00.
Can you see planes from Nai Yang Beach?
Yes. Planes pass overhead on their way to the runway just north of the bay, and the classic plane-spotting spot is about 1 km further north along the beach, past the national park checkpoint.
Can you snorkel at Nai Yang Beach?
Only on the offshore reef, which lies 700 to 1,000 m out. It has soft corals and anemones but is too far for a casual swim; go by boat or with the dive shop on the beach road, in the dry season.
Is there kitesurfing at Nai Yang Beach?
Yes, from May to October, when the south-west wind blows at about 12 to 25 knots. A kite school operates on the beach in season; the wind can be gusty, so it suits riders with some experience best.
Where can I eat at Nai Yang Beach?
On the sand at Sea Almond, The Good View, The Beach Restaurant or Naiyang Bay, all at local prices. For a special dinner, Big Fish at the Phuket Marriott and Black Ginger at The Slate are the upmarket choices; street food is sold across the road.
Are there sunbeds at Nai Yang Beach?
Only a few. Most people sit in the free shade of the casuarinas or at the beach restaurants' tables instead.
Are there lifeguards at Nai Yang Beach?
No lifeguards are reported. Swim near other people, watch children closely and stay out of the water on rough monsoon days.
Is there parking at Nai Yang Beach?
Only a little. The beach road is narrow and does not go through, so park when you reach the first restaurants or come by scooter.