Nai Han is a quiet beach town located in the south western coast of Phuket , around 18km south of Patong. The area is known for its tranquil atmosphere, beautiful beach, a large lake, and proximity to several beautiful viewpoints like Windmill, Cape Promthep, and Black Rock Viewpoints.
In this article, I will share with you my list of the 10 best things to do and see in Nai Harn. These include Nai Han Beach, Nai Harn Lake, Nai Harn temple and nearby attractions like Cape Krathing, Cape Promthep, Windmill viewpoint, Yanui beach, and Rawai Beach.
See more:
10 Best Things to Do and See in Nai Harn
1. Nai Harn Beach
Nai Harn Beach is a 600m long beach, surrounded by hills on both sides. It has soft white sand, shallow water, and not many rocks, which is ideal for swimming, especially in the high season from November to May. Be sure to look out for the flags to see if it’s safe to swim. Don’t swim if you see the red flags.
Other activities on the beach are sunbathing, snorkeling, paddleboarding, walking, relaxing, or having a beach massage. You can rent sunbeds and umbrellas on the beach.
There are lots of restaurants, shops, and street food stalls along the beach road. You can buy snacks, drinks, food, and souvenirs here. This area has lots of shade, and you can sit at the vendor’s tables and chairs to eat.
You can walk for around 1km north of Nai Harn Beach to a small rocky beach called Ao Sane Beach. This hidden gem is a good spot for swimming, snorkeling, and chilling.
You can check out the nearby black rock viewpoint, the area around Cape Krathing, and Windmill Viewpoint for stunning views of the entire Nai Harn Beach.
2. Nai Harn Lake
Nai Harn Lake is a huge lake located just a few minutes walk away from Nai Harn Beach. In the middle of the lake is the park, where you can relax and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere. The park is a popular place for walking, jogging, yoga, and picnics. It has a nice view of Wat Nai Harn nearby.
Nai Harn Lake is the location of the Loi Kra Thong festival. You can put a floating flower on the lake and enjoy the floating flowers light up at night.
3. Nai Harn temple
Nai Harn temple is a lovely local temple located opposite Nai Harn Lake and close to Nai Harn Beach. You can easily walk between these attractions. You can walk around the temple grounds, checking out different halls, paintings, and Buddha statues. It is a good place to relax and unwind.
It is worth checking out when you’re in the Nai Harn area. If you visit the temple, make sure to respect the place by covering your knees and shoulders.
4. Black Rock Viewpoint
Black Rock Viewpoint, also known as Pa Hin Dam, is one of the many beautiful viewpoints in Phuket. It is lesser known than Karon Viewpoint, Promthep Viewpoint, and Windmill Viewpoint, but has stunning views and a less-touristy atmosphere.
Black Rock Viewpoint is located in the same area as Nui Beach and Cape Krathing. From the main road from Karon Viewpoint, you need to drive around 1km on the dirt road to get to the parking area. From the parking, you can walk for 15-20 minutes to reach the viewpoint.
From Nai Harn Beach, you can walk along the coast to Cape Krathing then Black Rock Viewpoint. You can stop by Ao Sane Beach along the way. The route includes the cliffside and steep sections, so make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and avoid flip flops.
The viewpoint has stunning views of not only Nai Harn Beach, but also Yanui Beach, Promthep Cape, and some other smaller islands like Koh Man.
5. Cape Krathing
Cape Krathing is a nice viewpoint located at the south western coast of Phuket, in the same area with Nui Beach and Black Rock Viewpoint. It has stunning views of the sea and is a good hiking destination.
The road to Cape Krathing is a dirt road and only reachable by a skilled motorbike and four wheel driver. It is best to access this place by foot from either Nai Harn Beach side or Black Rock Viewpoint side. The trail from Nai Harn is more challenging than the trail from Black Rock Viewpoint.
The hike along the coast from Nai Harn to Cape Krathing is around 1 hour. It involves a lot of rocks on the shore and some slippery uphill paths, so make sure to wear good shoes. It can also be very tiring on the hot day and be sure to bring enough water with you.
6. Nui Beach
Nui Beach is a secluded beach located in the south western coast of Phuket, in the same area as the Black Rock Viewpoint. The Beach is only accessible by four wheel drive, making it less populated than other beaches on the island.
If you visit Nui Beach from other beaches on the north like Kata, Kata Noi, Karon, and Patong, you will pass Karon Viewpoint then drive for a few km along the main road. You will see the sign to Nui Beach, and the red dirt road on the right side.
The dirt road to Nui Beach is quite dangerous for riding a motorbike, especially if you don’t have good experience. It is a steep gravel road with lots of rocks in different sizes along the road.
I recommend parking your vehicle in this area then walking down to the beach, or renting ATVs or songthaews to reach the Beach. The songthaews ride is around 100 baht per way.
The beach has calm turquoise waters and coarse sand. It is a great place for swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing. You can rent umbrellas and sunbeds along the shore. There is a beach bar where you can order drinks and Thai food.
7. Windmill Viewpoint
Windmill Viewpoint is one of the most famous viewpoints in Phuket, located in the southern part area. It is close to other famous viewpoints like Promthep Cape Viewpoint.
Windmill Viewpoint is around 5 minutes drive from Nai Harn Beach. It has stunning views of the sea, including Yanui Beach on one side and Nai Harn Beach on the other side.
The viewpoint is free to explore and the best time to visit is during sunset. It is a small viewpoint, you can probably spend around 20-30 minutes enjoying the views and taking photos.
8. Yanui Beach
Yanui Beach is a small beach located right on the island’s main road 4030, between Windmill Viewpoint and Promthep Cape Viewpoint. It is around 6 minutes drive from Nai Harn Beach.
As it is located right on the main road, and is close to other famous attractions, it can be very crowded in the high season. The beach has beach vendors selling snacks, ice creams, and drinks. There are umbrellas, beach mats, snorkeling, paddling boards, and kayaking for rent.
9. Promthep Cape Viewpoint
Promthep Cape is the southern tip of Phuket, offering stunning views of the sea, especially at sunset. It attracts lots of people to visit during late afternoon, watching the sun go down.
Unlike Windmill Viewpoint, Promthep Cape Viewpoint is a large area with a viewpoint platform, observation deck, and you can hike down to the very tip end of the island. You will probably need one to two hours to comfortably explore the Viewpoint.
While in the area, I also recommend visiting the nearby temple called Samnaksong Laem Phromthep. It has a serene atmosphere and stunning views of the Promthep Cave.
10. Rawai Beach
Nai Harn Beach doesn’t have much nightlife, so if you want to enjoy the nightlife and access to more tourist amenities, you can head to the nearby town called Rawai. Rawai is located just 10 minutes drive east of Nai Harn Beach.
Rawai Beach is not best for swimming but the town has good selections of shops, restaurants, bars, and even a seafood market for exploration.
See more:
There you have it, the 10 best things to do and see in Nai Harn, a remote beach town in the southern area of Phuket. Nai Harn is home to a nice beach with lots of water activities, a local temple and lake and nearby viewpoints like Windmill Viewpoints and Promthep Viewpoint.