What to Do in Mai Khao Beach?
Mai Khao Beach is the quiet northern end of Phuket, and there is more to do here than the empty sand suggests. You can watch planes come in low over the beach, see baby turtles released into the sea, visit a heritage house museum, cool off at a water park, or tour the Soi Dog Foundation. It runs from family days out to slow temple visits, so it works whether you want action or quiet.
The Beach!
Mai Khao is Phuket’s longest beach, running about 11 km along the northwest coast, and the least developed. It is part of Sirinat National Park, so there is no commercial building on the sand itself. It is also one of Thailand’s few remaining sea turtle nesting beaches, with public hatchling releases each year around April. Add the sunsets and the quiet, and it is about as undeveloped as Phuket beaches get.
Plane Spotting
Planes line up to land at Phuket airport right over Mai Khao Beach, which makes for some dramatic photos. They come in very low over the sand, especially in high season from December to April, when the wind favours westward landings. You get everything from narrow jets to wide-body planes against the blue of the Andaman Sea. To reach the spot you walk about a kilometre from the car park or take a motorbike taxi. Mornings are best, with more flights and better light.
Baan Ar Jor House Museum
This restored Chinese-Colonial mansion dates from 1936 and works as both a heritage museum and a Michelin-recommended restaurant. The three-storey building keeps its original furniture, old photographs and family pieces from Phuket’s tin-mining days. It was built by businessman Tan Jin Nugn, sat empty for decades, then the fourth generation turned it into what you see now. The on-site Toh-Daeng restaurant cooks traditional Phuket dishes from family recipes, with some proceeds going to local education. You can also stay overnight in the homestay rooms.
Splash Jungle Waterpark
Right next to the airport, this tropical-themed water park covers about six acres with rides for all ages. There is the Super Bowl slide, the Boomerango, a 335-metre lazy river, a wave pool and shallow play areas for small children. The slides run from gentle family ones to faster drops. You can rent lockers and towels, and there are restaurants around the park serving Thai and international food.
M Beach Club
This beachfront bar sits inside the JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa, serving barbecue and cocktails with Andaman Sea views. Some evenings there is live music and a fire show. The kitchen leans on smokehouse barbecue paired with tropical drinks, and the beachfront spot is set up for sunsets. It does both casual dining and events.
Wat Mai Khao
This temple has a traditional Buddhist hall and an unusual bird sanctuary behind it. The sanctuary is a small lake ringed by trees where white birds, most likely cattle egrets, nest and feed. The temple itself is plain, without heavy decoration, and holds relics of respected teachers, including the current abbot Phra Ajahn Daeng. You can drive through the grounds and around the lake, and donations go to upkeep. Dress respectfully in the temple areas, with shoulders and knees covered.
Nai Yang Beach
Right next to Mai Khao, this curved bay has the dining and facilities that Mai Khao does not. There are several beach restaurants serving Thai and international food, good for dinner with a sunset. Most Mai Khao visitors come here to eat, since there is little food on Mai Khao itself. The beachfront is more developed than Mai Khao’s natural stretch.
Sports Wake Park
This wakeboarding park runs a full-size cable system about five minutes from the airport. There is a training cable for beginners and a main cable for experienced riders, with obstacles, jumps and rails. Instructors teach first-timers and run sessions for those building their skills. On site there is a restaurant, somewhere to stay and a shop selling wakeboarding gear.
Soi Dog Foundation
Set up in 2003, this non-profit works on street dog and cat welfare across Asia, with its base in Mai Khao. It runs CNVR (Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return) programmes and has sterilised over a million animals since it began. The site now houses more than 1,800 animals in veterinary hospitals and shelters. Guided tours show the rescue work, the medical side and the rehabilitation programmes. Soi Dog had a big hand in Thailand’s 2014 animal welfare law and in helping end the dog meat trade.
Baby Turtle Release
Mai Khao Beach is Phuket’s main nesting site for endangered leatherback sea turtles. Nesting season runs from November to February, and every year around Songkran (mid-April) the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation organises a public turtle release on the beach. The foundation was set up in 2002 and works with the Phuket Marine Biological Center to protect nesting sites, rescue eggs and raise hatchlings in a headstart programme for 8 to 12 months before releasing them into the sea.
The releases take place on the beachfront at Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas and Anantara Layan Phuket Resort, usually in the morning, and they are free and open to the public. I have attended a few over the years and even sponsored a turtle. Watching a baby turtle crawl across the sand and disappear into the waves is a genuinely moving experience. Check the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation Facebook page for the latest dates, as schedules can shift depending on tides and hatchling readiness.
Sirinat National Park
This protected area covers Mai Khao Beach and the coast around it, with an entrance fee for foreign visitors. Inside there are mangrove forests, birdlife and wildlife like monitor lizards. Birdwatchers can spot white-bellied sea eagles, Terek sandpipers and collared kingfishers. It is an important stop for migratory birds and a marine conservation area. Facilities are basic, with spots for a picnic or camping. Part of the park closes during the monsoon for maintenance and protection.
Your Mai Khao Beach Travel Guide
