Mai Khao Beach – Phuket Travel Guide

This is Phuket’s longest beach stretching for an unbelievable 11kms. Mai Khao beach lies to the north of the Phuket International Airport.

This beach is not very crowded and it is safe for swimming during peak tourist season. However, during monsoon, the sea is rough and unsafe. This area has not seen developmental activities. If you are looking for a lonely spot, away from crowd, this place is right for you.

Sirinath National Park, which was formed in 1981 for the protection of Olive Ridley turtles, includes Mai Khao and the adjoining beaches Nai Yang and Nai Thon. The beaches are overrun with Olive Ridley turtles during the months of November to February, when they come here for laying eggs.

Though Mai Khao is a protected nesting area for these turtles, the endanger threat is getting bigger after each season. When Songkram festival is celebrated in this region, to encourage nature conservation, the newly hatched turtles are released into the sea.

How to reach

You can access Mai Khao beach through many roads. From the airport, proceed towards south in the road to Nai Yang beach. When you reach Sirinath National Park, turn right.

The beach and highway route 402 runs side-by-side. Drive towards north in this highway and take any of the side roads to the left side. You will reach Mai Khao beach. If you drive further north, the highway lies close to the beach.

Things to do

Mai Khao, being part of the National Park, doesn’t see much activity except fishing and hiking. Occasionally, you can see surfers in the northern end of the beach. It is a favorite destination for campers and hikers.

Mai Khao is home to other endangered species of turtles like the giant leatherback turtles. During the Songkram festival, locals release the hatchlings into the sea to help in the conservation efforts. Here you can find another threatened species of mole crab known in the local language as ‘chakkachan talay’. However, being a local delicacy, it is hunted by locals.

Sirinath National Park was formed with the intention of protecting the endangered sea turtles. However, the efforts are not very successful. The National Park has a mangrove section at the northernmost tip of the island. There is an elevated walkway for viewing the mangrove forest. It is not worth driving all the way to the north end of the island just for this. However, if you are in the vicinity, you can visit the place.

Khao Phra Thaeo National Park is good for a day’s hiking expedition. It has waterfalls and hiking paths. Ton Sai waterfall is right near the park gate, but during November-April, you will get to see only water dripping. Bang Pae falls is located 15 minutes walking distance into the jungle and there will be water here all year round. Visitors are charged 200 baht as entrance fee at the gate. If you can manage to reach the gate before 9o’clock in the morning, you can get past without paying any fee as the gate will be unmanned.

Inside the park, there is a Gibbon rehabilitation center, run by volunteers. The gibbons caught from poachers come to this place. The park doesn’t fund this center. It is run on donations from visitors and well-wishers. So if you feel for the cause, you can make a donation or help them by buying products from the shop there. They sell the usual tourist knickknacks like postcards, t-shirts and stuffed animals.