Nai Harn Beach

South of Kata Noi and north of Promthep Cape, Nai Harn Beach is not Phuket's longest beach, but it borders the most gorgeous lagoon on the island. The middle of the beach is dominated by the Samnak Song Nai Harn monastery, which has obstructed excessive development and is the reason that the beach is generally less crowded than other spots on the southern part of the island. A wide variety of water sports can be enjoyed, but swimmers should be alert for the red flag which warns of dangerous currents during the monsoon season from May to October. One can walk to nearby Promthep Cape to observe sunsets, which are often fiery and spectacular.

Nai Harn Beach is one of the more isolated beaches, right at the bottom of the island and nestled in a bay defined by headlands and islands. There is one big and beautiful hotel here, Le Meridien Phuket Yacht Club, along with one new mid-market, bungalow resort. Other than this there are no buildings to be seen at Nai Harn Beach, and the beach is backed by the green of casaurina trees and coconut palms.

Even the road into Nai Harn beach winds in a confused manner through the rubber plantations and small villages, giving the feeling of getting far, far away from the busy beaches like Patong Beach. The fact that quite a few foreign residents who live on Phuket Island have settled into the green valley at the back of Nai Harn Beach says much about the tranquillity of the place. Most of these people have come looking for the perfect island life.

During the high season, from November to May, the bay of Nai Harn is a favourite anchorage for yachts, due to the protection from winds that the surrounding headlands afford, and the quiet calm of the water here. This also makes delightful swimming conditions that are only matched, perhaps, by the bay of Kata. Many residents of Phuket choose this beach for swimming due to such ideal conditions, and to the fact that there is never a big crowd here.

Because this beach faces directly southwest, it takes the full force of incoming monsoon waves during the wet months from May to October. The pounding of the waves builds up sand, cleans it and reshapes the beach into one of the best on the island. Also, the wet season waves are often great for surfing, with either board or body. But if you are a weak swimmer and come at the monsoon time of year, there are plenty of green and quiet places to take walks to. And hills to climb.

Right at the back of the beach, in the centre, is a Buddhist retreat. Monks live here, but it is not yet a fully-fledged monastery. But its existence protects this important part of the beach from further development, for in Thailand monastery land cannot be sold or developed easily. A little behind this retreat is a large reservoir which also holds off development and guarantees an open, green future for Nai Harn.

There are a couple of things to note about the one big hotel here, the Phuket Yacht Club hotel. This is a hotel, not a real yacht club, and it is one of the most beautifully located hotels on the island. Set right into the side of the hill on the Northwestern side of the beach, the balconies and rooms of this look out over the magnificent vista of Nai Harn's yacht-studded bay, its islands and enclosing headlands. A cool drink on their terrace at sunset can become one of Phuket's most spectacular, or romantic experiences.

Surprisingly, a public road runs directly under the Yacht Club hotel, right through the carpark. Everyone can drive through the main gate, under the hotel and follow the road for a couple of kilometres. There are two more bungalow resorts along this road that are especially quiet - Ao Sane and Jungle Beach Resort. These are two of those special, romantic places that make great escapes for those wanting get away from the crowds, at budget prices. But go as a couple, for here it is really quiet.

See Hotels in Nai Harn Beach