Nai Yang Beach
Nai Yang Beach - Phuket is part of the Sirinath National Park, which also includes Mai Khao Beach, the next beach along to the north, and Nai Thon, the next beach along to the south. Nai Yang is where the National Park office is located. The area was declared a national park in 1981 to protect the Olive Ridley Sea Turtles that lay their eggs here from November to February. The beach itself is on a long curving bay lined with tall casuarina trees that provide shade to locals who come to picnic on the weekends. Mobile food and fruit venders gather around the perimeter of the park and do a brisk business especially on weekends.
As throughout southern Thailand if you find a beach that is popular with local Thai's it will also have a wonderful selection of grilled seafood stalls and other Thai munchies and Nai Yang Beach is no exception.
During low tide swimming can be good and a large coral reef a short distance offshore harbors a considerable variety us sea life and seashells are known to wash ashore here, especially after a monsoon storm.
Nai Yang Beach has a very different feeling than beaches to the south. The Pearl Village Hotel across from the beach usually has an elephant in residence that will give you ride on the beach and splash water on you for a few baht.
To get to Nai Yang Beach take the Nai Yang Rd. and look for signs indicating the park entrance. Camping is allowed on the beach.
