The dry season
November to April: the sea is calm, warm and shallow at Nai Yang and clear at Nai Thon, the best months for swimming and snorkelling. Hotels fill up, but the beaches stay calmer than those in the south of the island.
Sakhu
District
A quiet subdistrict on Phuket's north-west coast: two beaches shaded by casuarinas inside Sirinat National Park, fishing villages, and the airport minutes away.
Sakhu in photographs
Sakhu. Sakhu. Sakhu.
- Nature
- Two beaches inside a national park
- Access
- 5 to 20 minutes from the airport
- Quiet
- Low-rise villages, no nightlife strip
- Food
- Seafood restaurants on the sand
- Water sports
- Kitesurfing May to October
About Sakhu
Sakhu is a subdistrict of Thalang on the north-west coast, between Mai Khao, where the airport is, and Choeng Thale to the south. Its two beaches, Nai Yang and Nai Thon, both lie inside Sirinat National Park, so the shore is lined with casuarina trees rather than buildings. Inland, low hills alternate with farmland and village streets.
The subdistrict has five villages: Nai Yang, Trok Muang, Sakhu, Nai Thon and Bang Ma Lao, the last split off from Nai Yang in 1999. Local history says the name comes from Sa Kho, a large pond where cattle came to drink.
Nai Yang is a wide, shallow bay just south of the runway, with a fishing village at its southern end and the national park's headquarters to the north. Nai Thon, about 7 km south of the airport, is a smaller bay of fine sand between rocky headlands, with one road of small restaurants and hotels behind it.
Life here is slower than on the southern beaches. There are no malls and no nightlife strip: people come for the shade, the seafood restaurants on the sand and the short drive to the airport. In the monsoon, Nai Yang becomes Phuket's main kitesurfing beach.
What is good about Sakhu
Beaches inside Sirinat National Park
Nai Yang and Nai Thon belong to Sirinat National Park, which protects 22 km² of coast and 68 km² of sea. Casuarinas shade the sand, and a reef lies 700 to 1,000 m offshore.
The closest coast to the airport
Nai Yang is about 3 km from the terminal and Nai Thon about 7 km, so an early flight or a late arrival is an easy drive.
A village pace
No high-rises, no jet skis at Nai Thon and no bar street: evenings mean dinner on the sand and an early night.
Dinner with your feet in the sand
Restaurants along Nai Yang's beach road set their tables on the sand at sunset, from simple Thai seafood places to the resort restaurants at the south end of the bay.
Kitesurfing in the monsoon
From May to October the south-west wind makes Nai Yang Phuket's main kitesurfing beach, with a school working through the season. The wind is gusty: it suits riders with some experience.
Easy beaches for small children
In the dry season Nai Yang stays knee-deep far from the shore, and the trees give free shade along the whole beach.
Sunsets over the Andaman
Both bays face west, so the sun sets over open sea all year; at Nai Yang most people move to the sand for it.
Things to do at Sakhu
Sakhu. Sakhu. Sakhu.
On the sand · dry season
A shaded day at Nai Yang
Spread a towel under the casuarinas, swim in the shallow bay and eat at a beach restaurant a few steps away. The village part of the beach is free.
Nature
Sirinat National Park
The park's headquarters at the north end of Nai Yang has picnic spots under the trees, camping and park rooms. Foreigners pay 200 THB, children 100 THB (2026).
Nature · dry season
The Naithon staircase
A weathered wooden staircase drops through the forest to the sea near Nai Thon. It is steep and uneven: go slowly.
Culture
Wat Mongkhon Wararam
Nai Yang's village temple, also called Wat Nai Yang, with a white reclining Buddha and walls of mirrored tiles. Entry is free; cover shoulders and knees.
Food and drink
Nai Yang's fresh market
Opposite the temple on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, from about 16:00 to 19:00: fruit, seafood, meat and cooked Thai food to take away.
Food and drink · dry season
Sunset dinner on the sand
Restaurants on Nai Yang's beach road carry their tables onto the sand in the evening; book a front-row table in high season.
Water sports · monsoon months
Kitesurfing season
From May to October Nai Yang's wind draws kitesurfers from around the island; lessons run through the season, best for riders who have tried it before.
Snorkelling and diving · dry season
Snorkel the rocks at Nai Thon
The fish are around the rocky points at either end of Nai Thon; the middle of the bay is sand. Calm days from December to April are best.
Family
Watch the planes
Planes pass low over the north end of Nai Yang on their way to the runway; the best-known plane-spotting beach is just north, at Mai Khao.
On the sand · dry season
A quiet afternoon at Nai Thon
Tall trees shade the whole beach and vendors keep their distance; many people simply hang a hammock between the trees.
Food and drink
Italian above the bay
Vero Trattoria, at the resort on the hillside above the south end of Nai Thon, serves Italian food and wine away from the beach road.
A day at Sakhu
Walk Nai Yang's shore while it is cool, as the fishing boats come in at the village end.
Swim at Nai Thon while the sea is calmest, or snorkel the rocks at either end of the bay.
Lunch in the shade at one of Nai Yang's beach restaurants. The Good View
A look inside Wat Mongkhon Wararam; on market days the stalls open opposite at about 16:00. Wat Mongkhon Wararam (Wat Nai Yang)
Both bays face west: take a table on the sand or a spot under the trees. Sea Almond Chilled Restaurant & Cafe
Grilled seafood at a beach restaurant, then home: Sakhu is quiet after dark.
Places in Sakhu
Our picks
Sirinat National Park
Nature reserve · Nai Yang BeachA 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.
Naithon Beach Staircase
Viewpoint · Nai Thon BeachA staircase by the road above Naithon Beach that many drivers pass without noticing, nicknamed "Stairway to Heaven".
Wat Mongkhon Wararam (Wat Nai Yang)
Buddhist temple · Nai Yang BeachA village temple at Nai Yang, officially founded in 1757, once led by the respected abbot Luang Pho Nang Seua.
Sea Almond Chilled Restaurant & Cafe
Restaurant · Nai Yang BeachA relaxed beachfront restaurant and café at Nai Yang, with tables that move onto the sand in the evening.
The Good View
Restaurant · Nai Yang BeachA simple Thai restaurant on the sand at Nai Yang Beach, with a view of the sea and the sunset.
Black Ginger
Restaurant · Nai Yang BeachThe Thai restaurant of The Slate resort at Nai Yang, set in old wooden houses on a small lake and reached by raft.
Big Fish Restaurant & Bar
Restaurant · Nai Yang BeachThe main restaurant of the Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach, on the sand of Nai Yang Beach facing the Andaman Sea.- No photograph yet
Naiyang Bay Restaurant
Nai Yang BeachA 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. 
The Beach Restaurant Nai Yang Beach
Restaurant · Nai Yang BeachA Thai restaurant at Nai Yang Beach serving seafood, Thai food and international food, with outdoor seating.- No photograph yet
Naithon Beach Club Restaurant and Bar
Restaurant · Nai Thon BeachA restaurant and bar at Naithon Beach, within walking distance of the Naithonburi Beach Resort. 
Inthanin Naithon
Restaurant · Nai Thon BeachA small Thai restaurant on the sand at the south end of Naithon Beach.
Shameena Restaurant & Lounge
Restaurant · Nai Thon BeachA small family-run Thai restaurant just across the street from Naithon Beach.
Vero Trattoria & Wine Bar
Restaurant · Nai Thon BeachThe Italian restaurant and wine bar of the Pullman Phuket Arcadia, above Naithon Beach near the airport.
Restaurants
KIRI Restaurant
Restaurant · Nai Thon BeachA beachfront restaurant on Nai Thon Beach, its tables facing the sea; a modern tropical room with space between the tables and fans on hot days.
Lertrod Kitchen
Restaurant · Mai Khao BeachA bright air-conditioned Thai restaurant across from Phuket airport in Sakhu, listed in the MICHELIN Guide since 2019.
Mama's Kitchen
Restaurant · Nai Yang BeachA Thai restaurant by the beach at Nai Yang, with an open kitchen where the chef, Mama Pen, cooks.
Natural Restaurant Airport
RestaurantA branch of Phuket Town's Natural Restaurant (Tammachart) at Baan Nai Yang, 2.4 km from the airport, with indoor and outdoor terraces.
The Andaman Kitchen
Restaurant · Nai Yang BeachThe all-day restaurant in the middle of the Phuket Marriott Resort at Nai Yang Beach, with indoor and outdoor seating.
Cafés
Green & Bean Phuket
Café · Nai Yang BeachA relaxed café at Nai Yang, close to the airport and the sea; a few cats live nearby.
Leap Coffee and Breakfast
Café · Nai Yang BeachA small breakfast café in Mai Khao.
Markets
- No photograph yet
Nai Yang Fresh Market
Fresh market · Nai Yang BeachA local evening market opposite Wat Mongkhon Wararam, on the way to Nai Yang Beach, about ten minutes from the airport.
Health
Bangkok Phuket Clinic Airport
Clinic · Nai Yang BeachA walk-in clinic of Bangkok Hospital Phuket in Sakhu, near Phuket airport.
Yoga
Baan Yoga
Yoga studio · Nai Yang BeachA 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.
- The zone
- A home and its rent
- A place, as the list numbers it
Homes and places on the map
Buddhist temple
Viewpoint
Nature reserve
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
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Restaurant
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Fresh market
Yoga studio
Homes in Sakhu
Homes are low-rise: condos and pool villas around Nai Yang and on the hills above Nai Thon, resorts near the beaches and village houses inland. The national park keeps building off the sand; aircraft noise depends on the exact spot and the wind.
30 homes for rent in SakhuSakhu through the year
The monsoon months
May to October: the south-west monsoon brings wind, waves and red flags, and swimming is often unsafe. Kitesurfers arrive at Nai Yang, some small restaurants close, and the tide leaves debris on the sand.
Sakhu with children
Sakhu suits families with small children in the dry season: Nai Yang's water stays shallow far out, trees give shade and food is steps from the sand. For daily life, malls, hospitals and most international schools are a drive away.
- Nai Yang's slope is very gentle: the water is knee-deep 20 m or more from the shore.
- Free shade under the casuarinas along both beaches.
- Picnic spots and camping at the national park headquarters.
- Planes passing low over the north end of Nai Yang are a hit with children.
- Nai Thon has lifeguards and flagged swimming zones by day; swim between the flags.
Getting to Sakhu and parking
- From the airport, by car
- 5–20 min
- From Patong, with the traffic
- 40–60 min
- From Phuket Town
- 40–50 min
Sakhu is the nearest coast to the airport: Nai Yang is about 3 km from the terminal and Nai Thon about 7 km. The orange airport bus to Phuket Town stops at Nai Yang; the Smart Bus does not, so most people use a car, a scooter or a ride app.
- Grab and taxis. Taxis and ride apps work from the airport and around the villages; an app is usually cheaper than a street taxi.
- The local bus. The orange airport bus stops at Nai Yang on its way between the airport and Phuket Town, about hourly; fares run from 30 to 100 THB by distance, cash only (2026).
- By car. A short drive from the airport on quiet roads. From the south, the road from Layan to Nai Thon winds through forest above the sea.
- By scooter. The easiest way around the villages, where the beach roads are narrow and parking is short.
Parking. Easy at Nai Thon, under the trees along the beach road. Tight at Nai Yang, where the road is narrow and does not go through: park at the first restaurants.
Who will love Sakhu, and who will not
Will love it
- People who want shade, a book and an early night rather than bars and crowds.
- Families with small children: shallow, shaded beaches and food on the sand.
- Retirees and long-stay residents who want village life with the airport minutes away.
- Remote workers who fly often and want the airport close.
- Kitesurfers with some experience, from May to October.
Will not
- Night owls: there is no nightlife strip, and Patong is 40 to 60 minutes away.
- Day-trippers from the south of the island: it is a long drive for a beach day.
- Swimmers in the monsoon: from May to October the sea is often closed to swimming.
Tips for Sakhu
Park at the first restaurants
Nai Yang's beach road is narrow and does not go through; leave the car near the first restaurants rather than at the end.
Cash for the park
The national-park end of Nai Yang charges foreigners 200 THB and children 100 THB (2026); the village part of the beach is free.
A good airport base
For an early flight or a late arrival, a night here saves the long drive to the southern beaches.
Swim between the flags
From May to October the sea is often rough; at Nai Thon lifeguards mark the safe zone with flags by day.
Market afternoons
Nai Yang's fresh market opens at about 16:00 on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday; the cooked food goes first.
Mind the staircase
The wooden steps near Nai Thon are weathered and steep; if in doubt, take your photos from the bottom.
Kite season is low season
Nai Yang's wind blows from May to October and is gusty; complete beginners do better at Rawai from November to April.
Hospitals are in town
The large private hospitals are in Phuket Town, 40 to 50 minutes away; save the route before you need it.
Low-season closures
From May some small restaurants and shops close for weeks; check before you drive.
Questions about Sakhu
Where is Sakhu in Phuket?
On the north-west coast in Thalang district, next to the airport. It takes in Nai Yang and Nai Thon beaches and borders Mai Khao to the north, Choeng Thale to the south and Thep Krasatti inland.
Is Nai Yang in Sakhu?
Yes. Nai Yang is one of Sakhu's five villages and the beach most people mean when they name the area; Nai Thon, further south, is the subdistrict's other beach.
How far is Nai Yang from Phuket airport?
About 3 km, 5 to 15 minutes by car. Nai Thon is about 7 km south of the airport, 10 to 20 minutes away.
Do you pay to go to Nai Yang beach?
The village part of the beach is free. The national-park section at the north end charges foreigners 200 THB and children 100 THB (2026).
Is there airport noise in Nai Yang?
Planes pass low over the north end of the bay on their way to the runway. In the village most people find the noise mild, but it depends on the exact spot and the wind, so listen before you rent.
When can you kitesurf at Nai Yang?
From May to October, when the south-west monsoon blows. The wind is gusty and suits riders with some experience; beginners usually learn at Rawai from November to April.
Can you swim at Nai Yang and Nai Thon all year?
The best months are November to April. From May to October the sea is often rough and red flags go up; Nai Thon has lifeguards and flagged zones by day.
Is there a market in Nai Yang?
Yes, a fresh market opposite Wat Mongkhon Wararam on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, from about 16:00 to 19:00 (2026), with fruit, seafood and cooked food.
Is Sakhu a good place to live?
For a quiet life near the airport, yes: low-rise homes, two national-park beaches and a village pace. The trade-off is distance: big malls, hospitals and most international schools are a drive away.