Koh Naka Yai Island

20/05/2019 Sepp Hatzl 2,541 views No Comments

Koh Naka Yai Island is a small island off the northeast coast of Phuket. The island is only about 1.7 miles (2.7 km) long and less than a mile in width at its widest. It is very close to the island of Phuket, only 1.25 miles (2 km) away at the closest part. The island is close enough for a quick getaway from Phuket, even for half-day in the morning.

Koh Naka Yai Beach is the largest beach on the island and is located on the southwest coast of Koh Naka Yai. There are numerous places to stay and it has a Muslim mosque and a beach club. Its proximity to the main island of Phuket makes it a busy place for visitors coming for a day or shorter trip.

Koh Naka Yai Beach Clubs

COMO Beach Club – This is not your usual beach club, it’s a high-end luxury resort with what they call a beach club. You won’t find any toga parties here. The public can visit, but some report showing up on their private boat and not being given a great welcome. Beautiful spot, but primarily for guests of the COMO Point Yamu resort.
There was no mention in the reviews about types of cuisine available, food ratings, service, or just about anything else. Not sure what the experience is! If you try it, let us know if you would.
Z Bar – Just north of the main Koh Naka Yai Beach, this bar received good reviews at Google with 4.4 out of 5 stars. Most reviewers commented that the sunset experience here was not to be missed! Many raved about the cocktails, chips and tapas, but others were less satisfied with the taste and/or service. The overwhelming majority of guests loved the experience and highly recommend others visit Z Bar.

Koh Naka Yai Beach Restaurants

The Naka Palm Restaurant – Some confusion as to what the name of this restaurant is in Google. Maybe will be sorted by the time you see this. This restaurant is not beachfront, it is set far back off the beach by 500 feet (152 m) or so. The primary cuisine is Thai seafood and nearly all reviewers were happy with their meals and service received.

Koh Naka Yai Beach Accommodation

Though there are no good accommodation on the beach, there are other locations around the island where you can stay. We’ll list two of them below.

COMO Point Yamu – A high-end luxury resort and villas located on the northeast side of the island. Pool, bar, and restaurant are all on-site. Though they had ample reviews, we couldn’t find anyone commenting in-depth on the facilities, food, or service. Accommodation include 79 rooms and 23 private villas for rent. Rates were between 18,000 and 48,000 THB when we checked booking a month in advance during high season.
The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Phuket – Also not located right at Koh Naka Yai Beach but it is found just to the north on a backward s-curved beach at the northwestern side of the island. The beach on the west side is free of most rock and coral, on the east side of Z Bar the coral comes right up to the beach.
They have an extensive health spa on site. Many reviewers online were overwhelmed by the beauty of the location and the helpful and very friendly staff. Some complained about outdated features of the resort. The restaurants were said to be priced on the high side, but “My Grill” restaurant in particular was mentioned as having really great food and was highly recommended. Resort rates start around 10,000 THB per night.
Note – The property was recently bought by Marriott and is in the process of being renovated.

Koh Naka Yai Beach Facts & Features

Location in Relation to Phuket: Just under 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Ao Po Pier on Phuket’s east coast on the northeastern side of the island.
GPS Data: 08° 03` 18” N, 98° 27` 27” E
Surrounding Beaches: There are other beaches on the island, but they are unnamed.
Direction Facing: Southwest.
Beach Length: 1,240 meters (4,068 ft.)
Beach Width: 13.8 meters (45 ft.) on average.
Estimated Beach Area: 17,007 m2 (183,060 square ft.)
Beach Quality: Light colored sand, deep in places, and a gradually sloping shoreline which makes wading common here. There are patches of coral at the south end of the beach, but there is plenty of room for wading on the north end without fear of stepping on coral – which starts as the water deepens.
Ocean Bottom: Clear close to shore, with large coral patches surrounding the island further out in the deeper water.
Restroom / showers facilities? Located around the island, but no public facilities. Using the facilities at one of the bars or beach clubs is easiest.
Beach features: Gradually sloping. Filled with palm trees. Pier on the north end.
Public or Private? Entrance fees? Public, but there are extra charges for everything you need to use like restrooms or beach chairs/umbrellas.
Lifeguard Available? No.
Boat anchorage possible? Not sure.
Boat dock and marina? Yes, on the north end of the beach, and there are other piers around the island.
How to reach Koh Naka Yai Island? From Ao Po Pier by longtail boat.
Attractions: Viewpoint in the center of the island; a beach club (COMO); and Z Bar. In addition, you can hike around most of the shoreline around the island.
Activities: Snorkeling over the coral when the water is high enough. Extensive coral formations all around the island. Jet skis and bicycles for rent.
Surfing? None.
Sunbeds Available? Yes, at Z Bar, COMO Beach Club, and various accommodation around the island.
Umbrellas? Yes, same as above.
Water quality: Very Good.
Convenience shop available? No.
Massage available? Yes in resorts.
Picnic possible? Yes, however please don’t leave your rubbish behind.
Smoking? Thailand authorities are cracking down on smoking at beaches around the country. Soon they expect to make it a country-wide smoking ban – so do stay up to date because fines are high and can include prison time.
Warnings: Jellyfish and stingrays can be a problem. Be aware.