Mai Khao and Nai Yang, near the island's northern tip close to the airport, are Phuket's longest and quietest beaches.
Mai Khao
Part of Sirinat National Park, Mai Khao is a long, largely undeveloped stretch of sand known as a nesting site for sea turtles during nesting season, and backed by a handful of large luxury resorts rather than a built-up town.
Nai Yang
A short distance south, Nai Yang has a more local feel, with a row of seafood restaurants under shade trees right behind the beach — popular with residents on weekends rather than being purely tourist-facing.
Sirinat National Park
Both beaches fall within the wider protected area covered in our Sirinat National Park guide — part of why this stretch of coast has stayed considerably less developed than the west coast's main tourist beaches.
Why stay here
Proximity to the airport (useful for very early flights, see our airport hotels guide) and a genuinely quiet, uncrowded beach experience, at the cost of being far from Patong's nightlife and restaurant density.