Nai Yang Beach
Is
noted for its impressive forest of tall casuarina trees, and as a picnic spot
for Thais. Mobile food and fruit venders gather around the perimeter of the park
and do a brisk business especially on weekends.
As throughout
southern Thailand if you find a beach that is popular with local Thais it will
also have a wonderful selection of grilled seafood stalls and other Thai munchies
and Nai Yang Beach is no exception.
During low tide swimming
can be good and a large coral reef a short distance offshore harbors a considerable
variety us sea life and seashells are known to wash ashore here, especially after
a monsoon storm.
Nai
Yang Beach has a very different feeling than beaches to the south. The Pearl
Village Hotel across from the beach usually has an elephant in residence that
will give you ride on the beach and splash water on you for a few baht. Nai Yang
is usually the last beach stop on the north beach safari. (See Photos of Nai
Yang Beach)
Comprises two beaches
the Nai Yang and the Mai Khao beach and covers over 10 miles of beautiful white
sandy beach on the north end of the island. Most planes fly over the park when
landing at Phuket’s airport. At low tide from the air the sea can appear
muddy compared with the translucent water off the beaches farther to the south
and partly for that reason the beaches here have always been less popular with
tourists and are not as developed. Another reason is the shore drops steeply into
deeper levels, creating unpredictable and potentially hazardous water currents
during the monsoon season. All of which is just fine with the Giant Ridley Sea
Turtle who can weigh up to 850 kg (1874lb) and who tend to be shy creatures and
prefer the beach to themselves. Between November and February each year these
lumbering giants clamber onto the sandy shore at night to lay their eggs. Digging
holes with their flippers, they lay up to 200 leathery-shelled eggs, an instinctual
behavior said to be 90 million years old. Unfortunately the number of sea-turtles
who make there yearly appearance continues to decline. This has led to efforts
locally to increase the turtle population, with education programs for villagers
and the release into the wild of turtles spawned in captivity. The turtles usually
lay the eggs very late at night and you are allowed to witness this wonder of
nature, but try not to disturb the turtles laboring at their task. Authorities
maintain strict surveillance on the turtle eggs and move many of them to special
hatchery fields.
Located on the north end of Nai Yang Beach
is the Nai Yang Park Visitor’s Center, which offers displays of corals shells
butterflies, turtles, and other interesting fauna found on the island. Camping
is allowed on both beaches and the park maintains a few modest bungalows near
the Visitor’s Center.
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