What to do in Nai Harn Beach?
Contents
- What to do in Nai Harn Beach?
- Things to do in Nai Harn Beach
- Beach Massage
- Nai Harn Lake and Wat Nai Harn
- Nearby beaches
- Ao Sane Beach
- Ya Nui Beach
- Rawai Beach
- The viewpoints around Nai Harn
- Windmill Viewpoint
- Black Rock Viewpoint
- Promthep Cape
- Where to stay in Nai Harn
- The Nai Harn
- Where to eat in Nai Harn
- Rock Salt
- Samut Restaurant
- Sea Oak Cafe
- The rooftop restaurant at The Nai Harn
- Ao Sane Restaurant
- Bukito by Promthep Cape Restaurant
- Aek Rawai Seafood
- Rawai Seafood Market
- Shopping
- Photos of Nai Harn Beach
- Nai Harn Beach Map
- Business Directory
- What’s Nearby?
- FAQs about Nai Harn Beach
Nai Harn is a superb beach with soft and smooth white sand tucked between green hills and a couple of tiny islands in the very south of Phuket. More laid back than west coast tourist spots, Nai Harn has enough restaurants, hotels and shops near the beach for a great day and has remained relatively untouched. The protected bay offers great anchorage for sailing boats and luxury yachts and has always been very popular among expats and locals. There is no town nearby, but dozen scattered restaurants along the road that goes north.
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The beach is vast, with clear blue water during the high season and not too busy during the high season (December to May). However, it can get a bit crowded during the peak months of December and January. The land in front of the beach itself is protected by law, and thankfully nothing can be built on it, and very tall casuarina trees cover it.
If you get hungry, there is a line of restaurants just across the small street beyond this land. It’s not further than a hundred metres. At the south end of the beach, a small stream of water from the lake across the road crosses the beach, and you will have to get your feet wet to go to the other side.
Things to do in Nai Harn Beach
Despite the remote location, there are many things to do around Nai Harn. In addition to the beach, visitors can explore several viewpoints, many local Thai and seafood restaurants and even a beautiful Thai temple.
Beach Massage
A massage on the beach for 300 baht for an hour is the best way to treat yourself when you start tired of doing nothing. If you prefer a peaceful and quiet massage, there are some real shops near the restaurants. Don’t worry about finding one; they will find you, usually greeting you with the now-iconic “Hello, you want massaaaaage?”
Nai Harn Lake and Wat Nai Harn
Wat Nai Harn was once a small and unknown temple surrounded by walls between the beach and the lake. After adding a brand new building, it expanded to become a landmark. Once natural, the lake behind the beach is now a large concrete pond where you can rent some paddle boats, which are fun for the kids.
Nearby beaches
While Nai Harn itself is undoubtedly the nicest beach in the south of Phuket, several lovely coves and beaches are at a short distance.
Ao Sane Beach
Ao Sane is a tiny sandy cove hiding somewhere in the back of Nai Harn, where visitors will enjoy a very relaxing Thai restaurant by the beach, a small hotel and even a handful of cheap beach bungalows. You must drive through the Nai Harn Resort to reach this beautiful hidden beach.
Ya Nui Beach
The small but much loved Ya Nui Beach is on the main road between Nai Harn and Promthep Cape. Visitors can rent kayaks and standup paddleboards and then enjoy a nice lunch at one of the lovely Thai restaurants across the street.
Rawai Beach
Rawai beach, about 4 kilometres south of Nai Harn, is not a swimming beach but is great for fresh seafood by the ocean. You can also hire a longtail boat or a speedboat to reach the nearby islands of Koh Bon or Coral Island.
The viewpoints around Nai Harn
There are three amazing viewpoints near Nai Harn. Two offer excellent bird views of Nai Harn Beach, and one is a famous sunset spot for shooting panoramic sunset photos.
Windmill Viewpoint
The windmill viewpoint is 2.8 kilometres south of Nai Harn and would take about 30 minutes to reach by walking, but it is not physically challenging. It offers a superb panoramic view of the beautiful Ya Nui Beach and Promthep Cape in the far. Looking to the right, you can see part of Nai Harn Beach and The Nai Harn Resort on the hillside. You can even spot Ao Sane Beach if you know where to look.
Black Rock Viewpoint
If you are ready for some exploration and are not afraid of climbing a steep hill, try the Black Rock Viewpoint. The view on Nai Harn is definitely worth the effort, but ironically, for this one, you must drive back to the Karon viewpoint to find the entrance road. That one requires dedication, but the view is truly rewarding.
Promthep Cape
Promthep Cape is 3.5 kilometres south of Nai Harn Beach. You could walk to this iconic landmark, but it would take about 45 minutes, including some incline. The cape is famous for sunsets, but remember that the place can get quite busy as people come by car or bus, sometimes around 5 or 6 pm, to take a sunset photo.
Where to stay in Nai Harn
Only a few hotels are near Nai Harn Beach, including the superb The Nai Harn, formerly ‘Le Meridien’ and Chivitr Resort & Spa.
The Nai Harn
The Nai Harn is a unique hotel in a unique location; all rooms have fantastic sea views and long (but narrow) balconies. The restaurants used to be famous; people drove long distances to try them. Travellers and hotel designs have changed, but this hotel has not; it is still a great hotel and an excellent place to drink while enjoying a sunset on the southern end of Phuket.
Address: 23/3 Moo1, Vises Road, Rawai, Muang District, Phuket 83100
Phone: 076 380 200
Range: 5-star
Swimming pools: 1
Restaurants and bars: 3
Distance to the closest beach: down the stairs
Where to eat in Nai Harn
Your only problem will be to decide which restaurant you’ll pick for lunch. There are a few local shops to choose from, all nicely set in the shade of the huge trees near the beach. They all look the same and serve more or less the same classic Thai dishes at a reasonable price. Just browse the illustrated menu in front of the restaurant and follow your instinct and appetite! It’s fun and very relaxing. There are also a few restaurants along the road between Nai Harn and Ao Sane beach. Rock Salt from The Nai Harn Resort is the most attractive among them.
The road to Nai Harn beach has plenty of excellent restaurants such as Maggie & Mario’s Pizza, De Renata and Rum Jungle Cafe. You can also drive south to Bukito by Promthep Cape Restaurant for a seafood dinner with a sunset view.
Rock Salt
For something more sophisticated, walk to the beautiful Rock Salt restaurant at The Nai Harn Resort, just at the end of the beach. It’s a lovely place for lunch with a view. For dinner, don’t miss their rooftop bar!
Location: The Nai Harn
Address: 23/3 Moo 1, Vises Road, Rawai, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83130
Hours: 7 am – 10am, 12.30 – 10 pm
Phone: 076 380 286
Samut Restaurant
Samut is a trendy restaurant in Nai Harn, serving modern Thai cuisine focusing on local seafood prepared with local ingredients and spices. ‘Samut’, meaning ‘Ocean’ in Thai, is perfect for a special occasion, and while it appears like a high-end restaurant, it brings a new fresh and unique touch to Phuket island.
Location: Chivitr Hotel, Nai Harn Beach
Address: 14 120, Rawai, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83100
Hours: 4 pm – 11 pm (closed on Tuesday)
Phone: 06 1162 5269
Facebook: click here
Sea Oak Cafe
Sea Oak is a delightful little restaurant serving a surprisingly vast choice of healthy food near the beach in the shade of immense trees.
Location: Nai Harn Beach
Address: Naiharn Beach Rd, Rawai, Meuang, Phuket 83130
Open: 8 am – 5 pm, closed on Wednesday
Phone: 064 926 4666
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seaoaknaiharn/
The rooftop restaurant at The Nai Harn
The rooftop of the Nai Harn is immense and breezy, superbly designed and offers incredible views of the bay and island nearby. This rooftop is a place for an unforgettable sunset with a cocktail!
Ao Sane Restaurant
Enjoy local food in this modest restaurant on Ao Sane, a tiny beach hiding a couple of kilometres behind The Nai Harn. The setting with wooden tables facing the blue water of the Nai Harn bay is breathtaking. The menu is vast and very affordable.
Bukito by Promthep Cape Restaurant
Bukito by Promthep Cape Restaurant is a surprisingly good place to enjoy a relaxing dinner with a view once you have your photos of the famous sunsets of Promthep Cape in the south of Phuket, just past Nai Harn Beach. Often missed by the thousand tourists visiting the area daily, Bukito cooks surprisingly good Thai and seafood served by a friendly crew.
Location: Promthep Cape
Address: 94/6 Wiset Road, Tambon Rawai, Amphoe Mueang Phuket, Chang Wat Phuket 83130
Open: 11 am – 10 pm
Tel: 076 288 084
Shopping
Along the road, a few tiny shops sell the usual batiks, beach necessities and stuff, but the best are the many fruit vendors along the street selling beautiful tropical fruits. Have you ever tried Dragon fruits, Star fruits, or freshly peeled ripe mangoes harvested the same day?
Of course, there is a mini-mart (or two) and the unavoidable tailors.
As you walk under the tree along the beach, you will find a few more shops selling everything you need for the beach, mostly buoys, beach mattresses, swimsuits, lots of kids’ stuff to build castles, and beach games and snorkelling gears.
Photos of Nai Harn Beach
Nai Harn Beach Map
What’s Nearby?
Ao Sane Beach ⛱️ What to Do in Ao Sane?
Phuket Windmill Viewpoint
Promthep Cape Sunset Viewpoint in south Phuket
FAQs about Nai Harn Beach
- Q. What is there to do around Nai Harn?
a. There are a few things to do nearby
Ao Sane Beach
Ya Nui Beach
Windmill Viewpoint
Promthep Cape Viewpoint - Q. What are the hotels in Nai Harn?
a. There are only a few hotels in Nai Harn
The Nai Harn Phuket
Chivitr Hotel
The Gallery Hotel Nai Harn - Q. Are there good restaurants around Nai Harn?
- Q. When is the best time to visit Nai Harn?
a. The best time to visit Nai Harn is between November and April, the high season in Phuket.
- Q. How far is Nai Harn from Phuket Airport?
a. Nai Harn is 49.2 km or 1-hour drive from Phuket International Airport and 17 km from Phuket Town.
