Sirinat National Park and Mai Khao beach

The long, wild northern beaches where turtles sometimes nest and planes fly low overhead.

Area

West coast beaches

Start from

North Phuket

Distance

near Phuket Airport

Time needed

half a day – 1 day

Best season

November – April

Difficulty

Easy

Transport

Taxi, scooter

Tickets & rules

National park fee for some areas

Why go

In the north-west of the island, Sirinat National Park protects a long strip of coastline including Nai Yang and Mai Khao beaches, mangroves and casuarina forest.

Mai Khao is the longest beach on Phuket and one of the emptiest. Sea turtles have historically nested here, and conservation groups protect nests in the season.

At the southern end of Mai Khao, planes landing at Phuket Airport pass very low over the beach, a popular sight for aviation fans.

Nai Yang, at the southern end of the park, has a line of seafood restaurants under the casuarina trees and a relaxed local beach atmosphere, with families picnicking on weekends.

The park headquarters has a mangrove boardwalk where you can see mudskippers, crabs and birds at low tide.

Walking Mai Khao for an hour, you may meet only a few people and some fishermen with nets. The sand is coarse and golden, and the sea is wide open to the Andaman horizon.

The story

Mai Khao has an annual turtle release event organised with local conservation projects, when baby turtles raised in protected tanks are released into the sea.

The park also contains mangroves important for fish and birds.

Mai Khao's turtles are part of local identity. Leatherback, olive ridley and green turtles have been recorded nesting along the beach over the years, though numbers have dropped. Volunteers and park rangers patrol during the nesting season, and an annual festival celebrates the release of hatchlings.

Nai Yang's park headquarters area was once a fishing community. The park was established in 1981 to protect the coastline and turtle nesting beaches.

Getting there

Drive north towards the airport; Nai Yang and Mai Khao are signposted.

A suggested plan

1. MorningMangrove boardwalk at the park headquarters.
2. DayBeach walk along Mai Khao.
3. EveningPlane spotting at sunset, dinner at Nai Yang.
4. OptionalVisit the Mai Khao temple nearby or the local fishing village.

Where to stay

Resorts along Mai Khao and Nai Yang; convenient for early flights.

Good to know

• Turtle nesting season is roughly November – February; respect barriers.
• Bring shade; the beach is long and open.
• The beach shelves steeply in places; swim carefully.
• Seafood at Nai Yang is cheaper than in Patong.