Beaches · Northern tip of the island, by the airport
Mai Khao Beach
The longest beach on Phuket: about 11 km of almost empty sand in Sirinat National Park, with planes landing low over its southern end.
Access
By road
Time to allow
A long walk, or a quiet afternoon
Best time
December to March, when the sea is calmest
Why go
Come for space. This is kilometres of sand with almost nobody on it, few loungers or vendors except at the southern end, and, at that same end, the planes coming in to land. It is a beach for walking more than for swimming.
What you will find
About 11 km of coarse sand along the north-west coast, the longest beach on the island, inside Sirinat National Park with Nai Yang and Nai Thon. At the southern end the airport runway meets the coast and planes pass very low over the beach.
Sea turtles nest here in some years: a leatherback laid eggs in March 2024, and the park guarded the nest.
Getting there
By road: Phuket International Airport is at Mai Khao, at the northern tip of the island, about 32 km north of Phuket Town. Grab and Bolt work across the island.
Before you go
The seabed shelves steeply close to the shore and the currents are strong in the monsoon, from May to October. Lifeguards are few for such a length, and four people have drowned here in three years, according to provincial figures. Never swim under a red flag: it means swimming is prohibited.
Near the runway, signs forbid standing in the approach path, and the jet blast throws sand. Drinking and selling alcohol are forbidden on the park's beaches, with fines from 5,000 baht after a warning.
Where this place leads
Common questions
Can you swim at Mai Khao Beach?
Carefully, and best from December to March: the seabed shelves steeply close to the shore. From May to October the currents are strong, lifeguards are few for the beach's length, and a red flag means no swimming.
Where do you see the planes at Mai Khao?
At the southern end, where the airport runway meets the coast. Signs forbid standing in the approach path, and the jet blast throws sand.