Staying in Nai Yang and Mai Khao: quiet beaches next to Phuket airport

Who should stay in Nai Yang?

Nai Yang suits travellers on a first or last night in Phuket, families and couples who want calm beaches and nature rather than nightlife, and visitors who prefer local seafood restaurants to busy resort towns. The airport is only a few minutes away, which makes it ideal for early or late flights.

The trade-offs are distance from the rest of the island, with Patong about an hour away, and limited shops, nightlife and public transport. In the rainy season the beaches can be exposed to strong waves.

Apartments, hotels and resorts in Nai Yang

The 217 properties listed in this area are a mix of apartments, hotels, villas and resorts, with a few guest houses and holiday homes. Small hotels and guest houses line the road behind Nai Yang Beach, apartment complexes and villas are spread around the villages, and Mai Khao has several large beachfront resorts, some of them among the most luxurious in Phuket. Guest ratings are high, with a median of about 8.6 out of 10 on this site.

The north of the island, which includes Nai Yang and Mai Khao, had an average rate of about 7,400 baht a night for upscale and luxury hotels in the first half of 2026, according to market data; the small hotels and guest houses of Nai Yang village are much cheaper. When choosing, check the distance to the airport if noise is a concern, as some properties are under the flight path.

What is there to do in Nai Yang?

Nai Yang Beach is shaded by casuarina trees, with calm water in the dry season, seafood restaurants on the sand and a relaxed, local atmosphere. Mai Khao Beach, to the north, is long and wild; at its southern end, near the runway, the planes pass low overhead, a popular spot for photos. Mai Khao is also one of the few beaches in Phuket where sea turtles still occasionally nest, usually between November and February: a leatherback turtle nest was recorded there in February 2024. Nai Thon Beach, to the south, is a quiet bay with good swimming in the dry season.

Sirinat National Park, which protects these beaches and their mangroves, charges an entry fee of 200 baht for foreign visitors at some access points. From about May to October, red flags often forbid swimming because of strong currents: in July 2026 two tourists had to be rescued after entering the water at Nai Thon despite the flags, so always follow them.

From Nai Yang, the Sarasin Bridge to the mainland is about 20 minutes to the north, and the Heroines Monument and the Thalang National Museum, which tell the story of the defence of the island against the Burmese in 1785, are about 20 to 30 minutes away. Bang Tao and Laguna are about 20 minutes south.

How do you get to Nai Yang?

Phuket International Airport is next to Nai Yang, a few minutes by car or taxi; many hotels offer airport transfers. The Phuket Smart Bus starts at the airport and runs down the west coast to Rawai, for a flat 100 baht.

There is little public transport within the area, so most visitors use taxis, ride-hailing apps or rented scooters. Scooter riders need a motorcycle licence and an International Driving Permit valid for motorcycles, and helmets are compulsory.

When is Nai Yang at its best?

The dry season, from about November to April, is the best time for swimming and for the seafood restaurants on the sand; it is also the season when turtles may nest at Mai Khao. From about May to October the monsoon brings rough seas, frequent red flags and lower prices, with the heaviest rain in September and October. March and April are the hottest months.

What is daily life like in Nai Yang?

Nai Yang feels like a small seaside village. In the morning fishermen bring in their catch, local families walk on the beach, and the massage huts and restaurants under the trees open slowly. During the day the beach is quiet, with a few visitors, children playing and planes passing overhead.

In the evening, the seafood restaurants light up along the sand and the night market sells street food and souvenirs. Many guests are travellers between flights, families and repeat visitors who come for the calm, and Thai families from the rest of the island come at weekends for picnics under the casuarina trees.

For travellers, Nai Yang is a calm, natural and practical base, perfect for the start or end of a trip and for anyone who prefers peace to nightlife.

Where to eat in Nai Yang?

Nai Yang is known for its seafood restaurants on the beach, where tables stand on the sand under the trees and the catch of the day is grilled, steamed or fried with Thai sauces. Prices are lower than in the main resort areas, and the atmosphere is relaxed, especially at sunset.

The night market and the stalls on the road behind the beach sell cheap Thai food, and the large resorts of Mai Khao have international restaurants. For more choice, the restaurants of Bang Tao and Cherngtalay are about 20 minutes to the south.