Nai Harn (Phuket) is one of the most beautiful beaches not only on the island, but also in all of Thailand. This place will be a real salvation for those who prefer a relaxing holiday and do not need a huge amount of entertainment. But first things first!
Beach Description
If you look at the photo of Nai Harn beach, you can see a smooth and fairly long coastline, surrounded by hills (capes Kata and Promtep) and crystal clear sea. Nearby is a large cassowary park with unique Aeolian trees, and a small salt lake that children love. To the left of it is a sports field and a cozy children’s playground.
The beach is located at some distance from the highway. Only a small town road passes near it, so it is very quiet, measured and calm. With a length of only 700 m, Nai Harn does not seem small at all. It is very helpful for the huge width, which does not depend on the ebb and flow.
Shade and sun beds
There is more than enough natural shade here. In the park and near the pond, it is cool even in the heat. The umbrella area of the beach is located right in the center. Renting mats and umbrellas costs about$6. To save money, you can always buy them at any local store. But the sun beds can only be used on the territory of hotels. According to the mayor of the city, they spoil the appearance of the coastline, so they are under a very strict ban.
Cleanliness, sand and entry into the water
One of the main advantages of Nai Harn Beach Phuket is cleanliness – there is almost no garbage here. The only exceptions are stormy days, but even then the beach visitor is collected in bags and taken to the garbage collector. As for the sand, it is crumbly and soft, very pleasant to the feet. The entrance to the water here is gentle, there are no sharp transitions, the depth increases gradually. And most importantly-no corals and sharp stones! The water is clear, transparent, and a pleasant azure color.
When is the best time to swim?
The most suitable time for swimming is December-March (the so-called high season). During this period, the sea is calm, and the water warms up to a comfortable temperature. But in the off-season (April-November), the waves are so big that it is dangerous to swim here. The left coast is shallower. In addition, there are no underwater currents, which is ideal for couples with children.
On a note! There are reverse rip currents on Nai Harn Beach. That is why a rescue team works here, and places that are prohibited for swimming are marked with red flags with the inscription “Swim here”.
Infrastructure in Nai Harn
The infrastructure of Nai Harn beach in Phuket is rather poorly developed and noticeably inferior to other regions of the country. The most important disadvantages are a paid shower ($0.62) and one paid WC ($0.31), and even those, alas, do not shine with cleanliness and hygiene. Both are located in the western part next to the Nai Harn Hotel.
The shops
Most of the shops operating on the beach offer various tourist accessories. For everything else (including clothing, food and basic necessities), you will have to go to Rawai Street or go to the Viset rd highway. There are several mobile bazaars and two supermarkets – Marco and Tesco-Lotus. Markets are open on Saturdays and Sundays from 15: 00 to 20: 00.
Cafes and restaurants
On Nai Harn Beach, you can find several restaurants and a couple of dozen outlets with cheap Thai food. However, most of them will have to be found outside the beach – on Rawai Street. It is literally crowded with various cafes, pizzerias, restaurants, burgers, makashnits and hamburgers offering dishes of Eastern and European cuisine (including Russian). Among them, there are also quite unusual “instances” — for example, a book and cat cafe. There are a couple of restaurants with a vegetarian menu.
Soups, rice, grilled chicken, traditional pad thai, salads and exotic fruits are most popular. If desired, you can eat any of these dishes right on the beach, sitting under a palm tree. The prices here don’t bite, and the portions are amazing in their size and unsurpassed taste.
Massage parlors
The Nai Harn beach massage parlor looks pretty simple. This is a series of ordinary mats laid under umbrellas. There are a lot of specialists – there are almost no queues.
Entertainments
Nai Harn in Phuket can not boast of a vibrant nightlife. Moreover, it is practically absent here. As for daytime entertainment, they cover almost all existing areas. So, most attention should be paid to the main island attractions – the Naiharn Buddhist Temple, the Promthep Cape Brahma monastery and the Windmill windmills.
Also worth noting are 3 observation decks:
- Windmill View Point (hill 2 km from the beach). You can reach it either on foot or by motorbike, moving along the coastal line in the direction of Yanui;
- Outdoor View Point (Promtep Cape, 3.5 km from the beach) – allows you to enjoy the most luxurious panorama. There are 2 ways to get to this beautiful place – on foot and by songteo. In the latter case, you need to get off at the road fork at the Rawai Palm Beach Resort hotel and overcome another 2 km of the way.;
- Karon View Point (4.5 km from Nai Harn Beach in Phuket) – from here you can enjoy a wonderful view of the main beauty of the island.
In addition, you can ride elephants, walk around the lake, do yoga and popular sports games (snorkeling, football, diving, volleyball), visit the seafood market and take a boat trip to one of the sea islands.
On a note! There are very few tour agencies (especially Russian-speaking ones) on Nai Harn. The most reliable of them are Alpha Travel and Tripster. Both bureaus have Internet sites where you can buy a tour of interest.
Hotels on the beach
Despite the popularity and large influx of tourists, the choice of accommodation on Nai Harn Beach is not rich. The fact is that the main part of the land located around the beach belongs to the Buddhist temple of the same name, so it is simply impossible to build houses on it. Due to these restrictions, only a few hotels operate on the beach. The most popular ones are::
- The Nai Harn 5* is a luxury hotel with a high level of comfort. It annually welcomes participants of the Royal Sailing Regatta. Room rates start at$ 200 per night. The hotel is equipped with everything necessary for a pleasant stay. In addition guests can book a car to the airport or any part of the city;
- Hotel All Seasons Naiharn Phuket 3* is an excellent beach hotel, which is once again confirmed by the photos of Nai Harn in Phuket. It is popular with lovers of peace and quiet, has its own access to the beach. It offers apartments with sea/garden views, a couple of swimming pools, and several dining options.
Several more forks, represented as a small village, are located in the inland part of the island. All other housing (low-cost hotels and private homes) should be sought outside the sacred territory. From there, walk to the beach 15-20 minutes. The cost of 1 night of accommodation in a double room of a five-star hotel is from$ 140 to $ 470, in a three-star hotel-from$55 to $ 100.
How do I get there?
There are several ways to get to Nai Harn in Thailand. Let’s look at each of them.
By bus (songteo)
Small blue minibuses with the “Phuket-Town-Nai Harn” logo depart from Phuket Town (Ranong Street) and go directly to the beach. There are always a lot of people in them, so get ready for crowding and inconvenience. The journey takes about 40 minutes. The ticket price is from 30 to 40 baht ($0.93 – $ 1.23). It is customary to pay at the entrance by transferring money to the driver’s cab. In some cases, it collects the payment itself. The frequency of shipments is once every 20-30 minutes, starting from 6 am and ending at 5-6 pm.
A tip! There are no fixed stops on the route. When you see a blue bus, feel free to raise your hand. To exit songteo, just tap call.
Another bus runs between Nai Harn Beach and the main air gate of the island. However, in this case, you will have to make a transfer in Phuket town. The trip costs 40 baht.
On a bike
You can rent private transport not only at the airport, but also near markets, hotels and other crowded places. The main thing is to have a category “A” license and at least minimal driving experience. By the way, a scooter can be given without a license, but in case of an accident, you will have to answer.
Nai Harn Beach in Phuket, Thailand, is 62 km from the airport. Due to very heavy traffic jams, the road will take 1.5 hours during the day. The route is quite simple – you need to go along the main highway in a southerly direction (through the beaches of Kata, Patong and Karon). When you get to Rawai, follow the Promthep Cape sign to reach the salt Lake, which leads you right in front of Nai Harn Beach. The cost of renting a bike is no more than$ 8 per day.
A tip! If you’re afraid of getting lost, download a map app that works offline.
By tuk-tuk (taxi)
Tuk-tuk parking lots are located at the exit of the terminal. The cost of the trip is$ 12 or 900 baht. Duration – about an hour. From Patong to Nai Harn, you will be charged a little less – from$ 17 to $ 20, which is equal to 600-700 baht.
A tip! It is better to book a taxi in advance. To do this, just call a special service and tell the dispatcher your details. A driver with a nameplate will be waiting in the arrivals hall at any time of the day or night.
Useful recommendations
When planning to visit Nai Harn Beach, take note of the recommendations made from the words of experienced tourists:
- Swimming in the sea is better in the morning. After lunch, a huge number of jellyfish and biting plankton appear in the water;
- Renting a house and eating out will be much cheaper outside of Nai Harn;
- Refrain from traveling to Phuket in September and October – there is a great chance of getting caught in the rainy season;
- Owners of a weak vestibular apparatus should avoid public transport. It is absolutely not comfortable to move around on it, especially in the middle of the day.
Nai Harn Phuket impresses with its unique beauty, stunning nature, tranquility, cleanliness and homely atmosphere. This is the best option for those who have long dreamed of taking a break from the hustle and bustle of youth parties. Come quickly and enjoy the perfect vacation!
