Luxury Villas in Nai Thon

Nai Thon is one of Phuket’s quietest beaches, a short, sandy bay on the north-west coast with forested headlands at either end. It lies within Sirinat National Park, which protects this stretch of coastline, and as a result it has never been built up in the way the beaches further south have. There are a handful of resorts and restaurants behind the sand, a road that winds over the hills to reach it, and very little else.

Sirinat National Park runs north along the coast through Nai Yang and Mai Khao. Nai Yang, a few minutes away, is a long, gently curving beach shaded by casuarina trees, with simple seafood restaurants along the sand and a relaxed, local feel. Further north, Mai Khao is Phuket’s longest beach, a wild, open stretch running for around ten kilometres from the airport to the island’s northern tip. At its southern end, by the runway, planes pass low overhead on their final approach, which children in particular love to watch.

Villas around Nai Thon tend to sit on the hillsides above the bay and in the green countryside behind it, with views over the treetops to the Andaman Sea and sunsets straight over the water. It is a place for doing very little: beach mornings, afternoons by the pool and quiet dinners. It suits couples, families and anyone who wants to feel well away from the busy parts of Phuket while still being close to everything they need.

Its location is a real advantage. The airport is usually around fifteen minutes away, so arrival days and departures are easy, and it makes a calm first or last stop on a longer trip. Layan, Bang Tao and the Laguna area, with their restaurants, shops and golf, are around twenty to thirty minutes south, and the bridge to Phang Nga province and the long beaches beyond is a short drive north.