Koh Nakha Yai

Koh Nakha Yai sits off Phuket’s northeast coast in Phang Nga Bay, a short longtail crossing from Ao Po Pier in Thalang district — and it’s really two different islands depending on which side you land on. The northern beach belongs entirely to The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, whose roughly 70 pool villas are the only accommodation here; it’s reached by the resort’s own speedboat and isn’t open to day visitors. The southern and eastern beach is the public side, the one longtail hires and Phang Nga Bay day tours actually stop at.

That public beach is a long stretch of sand backed by coconut palms, with a small fishing village further along the island’s west coast where the local population still lives — no island-wide electricity outside the resort, so don’t expect much beyond a handful of provision shops and vendor stalls selling fruit, grilled snacks, and cold drinks to day-trippers. Swimming and snorkelling are the main activities, with calmer water than Phuket’s west-coast beaches thanks to the island’s sheltered position inside the bay. Kayaking and a walk along the shoreline round out what most people do with a few hours here.

Watch out: If you’re picturing a private-island escape, know that “private” applies to the resort side only. The public beach gets a steady run of day-tour boats, especially on weekends and in the late afternoon when Naka Yai is often the last stop before boats head back to the mainland.

Access is straightforward: hire a longtail directly at Ao Po Pier for around 15-20 minutes each way, or book onto a day tour that includes the island as a stop on a wider Phang Nga Bay itinerary. Independent travelers can negotiate a return trip with boat operators at the pier rather than booking a packaged tour, which usually works out cheaper for a group.

Insider Tip: Weekday visits get you a genuinely quiet stretch of beach — most tour operators concentrate their Naka Yai stops on weekends and school holidays, so a Tuesday or Wednesday trip can feel close to having the sand to yourself.

Ao Po Pier and its surrounding villages fall inside the area covered by Nai Yang, the closest location hub for this stretch of north Phuket. Ban Bang Rong sits in the same Pa Khlok subdistrict for a mangrove-kayaking add-on before or after the boat out to the island, and Sirinat National Park covers the protected beaches back on the mainland side if you want a second stop in the area.