The beauty of Nai Harn
Contents
- The beauty of Nai Harn
- Nai Harn Beach Video 2021
- What to Do in Nai Harn Beach
- Beach Massage
- Ao Sane Beach
- Ya Nui Beach
- Nai Harn Lake and Wat Nai Harn
- Black Rock Viewpoint
- Windmill Viewpoint
- Promthep Cape
- Rawai Beach
- Where to Eat in Nai Harn
- Rock Salt
- The rooftop restaurant at The Nai Harn
- Ao Sane Restaurant
- Promthep Cape Restaurant
- Aek Rawai Seafood
- Rawai Seafood Market
- Rawai View Cafe
- Shopping
- Where to Stay in Nai Harn
- The Nai Harn
- Photos of Nai Harn Beach
- Nai Harn Beach Map
- What’s Nearby?
- FAQs about Nai Harn Beach
Nai Harn is a superb beach with smooth white sand, tucked between green hills and tiny islands in the south of Phuket. More laid back than west coast tourist spots, Nai Harn has enough restaurants, hotels and shops 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.
Nai Harn Beach Video 2021
Subscribe to our YouTube for more Phuket videos!
The beach is vast with clear blue water during the high season and is not too busy during high season (December to May). It can get a bit crowded during the peak months of December and January. A small stream coming from the lake nearby opens on the southern part of the Nai Harn beach, and you will have to get your feet wet to go to the other side.
What to Do in Nai Harn Beach
Despite the remote location, there are a lot of exciting things to do around Nai Harn. There are two ways to get excellent bird views of Nai Harn Beach. The easy way is to go to the Windmill viewpoint next to Ya Nui Beach.
Beach Massage
Having a massage on the beach for 300 baht for an hour is the best way to treat yourself when you start to get tired of doing nothing. If you prefer a peaceful and quiet massage, there are real shops some near the restaurants. Don’t worry about finding one; they will find you, usually greeting you with the usual “Hello, you want massaaaaage?”
Ao Sane Beach
Ao Sane is a tiny sandy cove with a restaurant, a small hotel and a few beach bungalows in the back of Nai Harn. To reach this beautiful hidden beach, you will need to drive through the Nai Harn Resort.
Ya Nui Beach
The small but much loved Ya Nui Beach is on the main road between Nai Harn and Promthep Cape.
Nai Harn Lake and Wat Nai Harn
Between the beach and the lake, Wat Nai Harn was once a small and unknown temple surrounded by walls. After adding a brand new building, it expanded to become a landmark. The lake behind the beach, once natural, is now a large concrete pond where you can rent some paddle boats, fun for the kids.
Black Rock Viewpoint
If you are ready for a bit of exploration and climbing, try the Black Rock Viewpoint, but for this one, you would have to drive back to the Karon viewpoint to find the entrance road. That one requires a bit of dedication.
Windmill Viewpoint
The windmill viewpoint is 2.8 kilometres south of Nai Harn and would take about 30 minutes to reach by walk. It offers a superb panoramic view of the beautiful Ya Nui Beach and Promthep Cape in the far. If you look to the right, you can see part of Nai Harn Beach and The Nai Harn Resort on the hillside. If you know where to look, you can even spot Ao Sane Beach.
Promthep Cape
Promthep Cape is 3.5 kilometres south of Nai Harn Beach. You could walk to this iconic landmark, but it would take you about 45 minutes, including some incline. The cape is famous for sunsets, but keep in mind that the place can get quite busy as people come by car and even by buses sometimes around 5 or 6 pm to take a sunset photo.
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. It is also where you can hire a longtail boat or a speedboat to reach the nearby islands of Koh Bon or Coral Island.
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 placed in front of the restaurant and follow your instinct and appetite! It’s fun and very relaxing.
The road leading to Nai Harn beach has plenty of excellent restaurants such as Maggie & Mario’s Pizza, De Renata and Rum Jungle Cafe, or continue south to Promthep Cape Restaurant and have a seafood dinner with a sunset view. The is a must!
Rock Salt
For something more sophisticated, walk to the beautiful Rock Salt restaurant at The Nai Harn Resort, just at the end on the beach. It’s a lovely place for lunch with a view. For dinner, don’t miss their rooftop bar!
The rooftop restaurant at The Nai Harn
The rooftop of the Nai Harn is immense and breezy, superbly designed and offers incredible views on 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 very modest restaurant on Ao Sane, a tiny beach hiding a couple of kilometres behind The Nai Harn.
Shopping
Along the road, 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 or 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, beach games and snorkelling gears.
Where to Stay in Nai Harn
Only a few hotels are really near Nai Harn Beach: the All Seasons Nai Harn, the superb The Nai Harn, formerly ‘Le Meridien’ and the newly opened Chinoiserie Collection Resort & Spa.
The Nai Harn
The Nai Harn is a unique hotel in a unique location; all rooms have fantastic sea views with very long (but narrow) balconies. The restaurants used to be famous; people were driving long distances to try them. Travellers have changed, hotel designs have changed, but this hotel has not, it is still a great hotel and an excellent place to have a drink while enjoying a sunset on the southern end of Phuket.
Photos of Nai Harn Beach
Nai Harn Beach Map
What’s Nearby?
FAQs about Nai Harn Beach
Q. What is there to do around Nai Harn?
a. There are quite a few places to visit around Nai Harn Beach:
Q. What are the best hotels in Nai Harn?
- The Nai Harn Phuket
- Sunsuri Phuket
- Baan Krating
- Chinoiserie Collection Resort & Spa
- The Gallery Hotel Nai Harn
Q. Where to eat in Nai Harn
a. There are only a few restaurants in this area
Q. When is the best time to visit Nai Harn?
a. The best time to visit Nai Harn is between November and April, which is 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.