Located along the western shores of Thailand, Nai Yang Beach is so much more than just one of the country’s many tropical oases: it’s highly sought-after locale due to its beautifully preserved lands. The perfect getaway for nature lovers, Nai Yang Beach sits near multiple national parks teeming with jungles that are virtually untouched by man. Here, in addition to the scenic views along the coast of the Andaman Sea, you’ll also have the opportunity to experience nature and wildlife like never before.
Outdoor Fun at Nai Yang Beach
In addition to the usual, laid-back beach activities, like sunbathing, sandcastle building and swimming, there are a number of other enticing things to try out while you soak up the sun at Nai Yang Beach.
Kitesurfing
Kitesurfing gives adventurous travelers the chance to experience the beauty of Nai Yang Beach in a truly exhilarating way. This thrilling water sport combines aspects of many different athletic activities, including wakeboarding, windsurfing and paragliding. In kitesurfing, the surfer stands on a type of wakeboard and grasps onto the handle of a large, controllable power kite. Then, as the power of the wind catches the kite, the surfer surges across the water, steering through a combination of kite control and the use of bodyweight to orient the board.
A local business right on the beach offers kitesurfing lessons. Kite Boarding Asia Phuket, also known as KBA Phuket, provides lessons in which one instructor works with no more than two individuals, ensuring you’ll get the one-on-one instruction you need to kitesurf safely and successfully. Experts at KBA Phuket also take care to match each individual with the appropriate gear for their weight and experience level, which helps ensure little to no wait time when renting gear.
KBA Phuket is open every day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and offers the following lesson options:
- One-day course on logistics and safety for beginners, 4,000 THB per person
- Three-day course from beginner to first water start, 11,000 THB per person
- One-day refresher/improver course, 4,000 THB per person
- Three-hour private kitesurf lesson, 8,000 THB per person
- Two-hour wakeboarding lesson, 3,500 THB per person
- One-hour private wakeboarding lesson, 1,000 THB per person (gear not included)
Snorkeling
Hidden just below the surface of the Andaman Sea, a dazzling kingdom of marine life flits about among coral reefs, just waiting to be discovered. Exploring the underwater wildlife off of Phuket‘s coast is an incredible opportunity — one that most people will never get the chance to experience. Snorkeling or scuba diving are the best ways to get up close and personal with life under the Andaman Sea.
Snorkeling is often the more affordable option for experiencing Andaman Sea life. A number of local shops will rent you snorkeling gear for a do-it-yourself adventure along the shoreline. Snorkeling this way, you’ll likely encounter brightly hued tropical fish, like blue tangs and parrotfish, flitting about in the reefs. If you keep your eyes peeled, you may even see a clownfish or two poking their heads out between the flowing tendrils of anemones. The luckiest DIY snorkelers sometimes witness larger marine life, like turtles, eels and leopard sharks.
If you’d prefer a guided tour to a do-it-yourself snorkeling adventure, there are also snorkeling trips available. For these, you will travel by boat to destinations that present a chance to see larger, more exotic sea life than you’d likely experience right at the shoreline. This includes many of the incredible giants of the deep, including whitetip and blacktip sharks, manta rays and the enormous whale shark. With whale sharks reaching lengths of up to 33 ft. and manta rays having wingspans of up to 30 ft., these wonders are truly something to behold.
Scuba Diving
The pricier, more time-intensive option for exploring the depths of the sea is scuba diving — but this option presents incredibly unique sights and experiences. There are over a dozen main dive sites off the western coast of Phuket, including multiple reefs, a few cavernous regions and even a coral-covered sunken excavator called the Tin Lizzy.
Aqua One Watersports Phuket Co. Ltd., located just a few minutes’ walk from Nai Yang Beach, offers a number of options for scuba diving lessons, certifications and adventures. Their English-speaking guides are known for being extra helpful. They also rent out snorkeling gear. Course offerings range in price from 4,900 to 18,900 THB, and in duration from one to five days.
Sirinat National Park
Sirinat National Park is a lush, 90-square-kilometer nature preserve along the northwest coast of Phuket. It is a protected area, about one-fourth of which is land and three-fourths sea. This park is home to a wide range of exotic plant and animal life. A portion of the white sand beach was once a spawning ground for leatherback sea turtles. However, the hatchlings’ survival rate was very low, which is believed to be due to the development of the surrounding lands. Unfortunately, no leatherback sea turtle nests or eggs have been found in Sirinat National Park since 2013. Multiple types of sea turtles do, however, frequent the reefs, which sit below the surface of the sea, about 700-1,000 meters from the shoreline. Species of reef found here include mushroom coral, soft coral and sea anemone, which provide homes for clownfish.
Lining the beaches of Sirinat National Park, you’ll find beach forests, which provide ample opportunity to spot a number of interesting, colorful bird species. Feathered friends that can be seen here include the common myna, bright yellow oriole and Asian fairy-bluebird, known for the striking sections of vibrant blue along its back.
Other members of the animal kingdom can be observed in the small section of mangrove forest in the estuary of Sirinat National Park, where the salty seawater mixes with freshwater. The keen eye may spot shrimp and grouper fish swimming through the water-submerged roots of the half-dozen mangrove species that live here. Mangrove forests also provide homes for an odd and intriguing fish called the mudskipper, which is known for its ability to spend long expanses of time out of the water. In fact, mudskippers use their front flippers like arms and can actually be seen climbing the roots and branches of mangrove trees. A fish climbing a tree — that’s a sight worth the 200 THB (100 THB for children) entry fee to Sirinat National Park!
Splash Jungle Water Park
Located just a 20-minute drive from the center of Nai Yang Beach, Splash Jungle Water Park is the perfect way to cool off after soaking up some vitamin D. Known for having “more waves than a beauty pageant,” this water park costs 630 THB for kids and 1,305 THB for adults, ages 12 and up. This park’s dozens of rides are sure to delight children and adults alike, and the on-site restaurants and bars throughout the park make it a great way to spend a day in Phuket.
Big kids and thrill-seekers are sure to love the adrenaline rush of rides, from water slides to raft tubes to a gravity-defying flip called the Boomerango. Little ones and those interested in a more relaxing time can visit the water playground, wave pool or 335-meter lazy river. Then, when you work up an appetite from all the adventuring, stop by one of the many snack huts throughout the park for a quick bite. Or, if you’re in the mood for a sit-down meal, Splash Jungle Water Park is home to four bars and restaurants.
Previous guests of Kingsacre say:
- “This is a really lovely and well designed hotel, the owners have built this hotel resort from scratch so a lot of love has gone into this project and equally they treat their guests with just as much love. We had an enjoyable 2 days of peace and relaxation, however there is the beach and various shops and restaurants located within a 10-minute walking distance.”
- “Breakfast there was amazing and made me feel like home. Bungalow was surrounded by beautiful trees, flowers and butterflies. It was cozy, clean and equipped.”
- “Lovely little place tucked away in a beautiful garden with an inviting swimming pool. The room was large, very clean, with outside space to sit and relax.”
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Food and Drinks at Nai Yang Beach
Because Nai Yang Beach is nestled along the scenic coast of the Andaman Sea, you’ll find incredibly fresh seafood at the local restaurants. But above and beyond the expected (and delicious) seafood, you’ll discover delightful cocktail bars and restaurants offering classic Thai cuisines as well.
MaMaNang Restaurant
Open every day from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., MaMaNang Restaurant requires reservations and is located right along Nai Yang Beach. Known for its generous portion sizes, this spot offers gorgeous seaside views at tables where you’ll enjoy having your feet in the sand as pine and palm trees sway overhead. Previous guests recommend visiting right around sunset for unforgettable views of the Andaman Sea. MaMaNang Restaurant even offers delicious smoothies and a handful of vegetarian-friendly options, as the meat in many of their dishes can easily be substituted with tofu.
Fan-favorite food and drinks from their menu include:
- Lobster
- Green curry
- Coconut smoothie
- Mango smoothie
- Vegetarian spring rolls
- Singha beer
- Grilled prawns
Phen’s Restaurant Bar & Coffee
Another beautiful beachfront oasis, Phen’s Restaurant Bar & Coffee is known for going all out with holiday decorations. The Nai Yang Beach seating allows you to have your feet in the sand while a large tree strung with soft lighting shades you. Indoor and patio seating are available as well, should you prefer not to be in the sand. Don’t be fooled by how busy this restaurant can get: they are known for friendly and quick service even during their busiest hours. This spot is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. There is a separate vegetarian menu available, and this spot will substitute meat with tofu if asked.
Past guests enjoyed the following selections from the menu at Phen’s Restaurant Bar & Coffee:
- Mango passion fruit smoothie
- Red curry
- Pad Thai
- Mango sticky rice dessert
- Spicy shrimp soup
- Panang fish filet
- Pepper tiger prawn
Black Ginger | Thai Restaurant | The Slate, Phuket
Located within The Slate resort, Black Ginger is a gorgeous restaurant that receives rave reviews. Reservations are required to get a table at this location, and hours of operation are from 6:30-10:30 p.m. each day. Black Ginger also requires that all patrons adhere to their “smart casual” dress code, so stay away from lounge or beach attire when dining here.
A visit to Black Ginger is more than just a meal — it’s an immersive cultural experience. The building itself is built to look like a traditional Thai mansion and is perched above a lush lagoon, which all guests are taken across by boat to arrive at the restaurant. Everything from the dishes’ ingredients to their presentation reflects the luxurious ambiance of this locale. The authentic Thai cuisine at Black Ginger is the best of the best. It’s worth noting, though, that you’ll pay top dollar here, including putting down a deposit when you make a reservation.
Previous guests of Dang Sea Beach Bungalow say:
- “The most perfect place to kick back and relax, fantastic bungalows, beautiful staff and excellent beach, restaurants are close and serve good quality food.”
- “They give you free lawn chair to take on the beach where you have to rent in other places. You don’t even have to leave the area because there’s food places everywhere and shopping too. They can book a tour too if you’d like and arrange things so you don’t have to worry.”
- “Rooms are well maintained and very clean. Front counter staff is friendly and accommodating. We stayed for only one night because we needed to catch a plane the next day. It’s conveniently close to great restaurants.”
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