Mai Khao Beach

Address: Mai Khao Beach, northwest Phuket (part of Sirinat National Park)

Mai Khao is a long sandy beach on the northwest coast of Phuket island, Thailand, and is the island’s northernmost beach. The shoreline extends roughly 11 kilometres and includes both resort areas and large undeveloped stretches.

The southern part of the beach contains several beachfront hotels and leisure facilities, while the northern sections are dominated by dunes, scrub and protected coastal habitat. The area inside the adjacent protected zone supports sea turtle nesting and limits development, so the northern beach is quieter and less built-up than much of Phuket.

The coastline here is part of a coastal protected area that conserves dunes, mangroves and marine habitat and manages sea turtle nesting sites. Park authorities and local conservation groups monitor nesting and enforce restrictions in marked zones.

Mai Khao sits at the northern end of Phuket island in Thalang District and lies immediately beside Phuket International Airport, with the airport perimeter and supporting infrastructure just a few kilometres from the beach.

• Turtle nesting: Sea turtles regularly nest on the shore; nesting season and protected zones are managed by park authorities, so avoid disturbing marked areas.
• Long, quiet beach: The shoreline’s 11 kilometre length makes it well suited to long walks, running and low-density beach use compared with more built-up Phuket beaches.
• Airport proximity: Frequent aircraft movements are visible from the beach because of the nearby airport, which can affect noise levels at times.

What to See#

• Mai Khao Beach: Runs about 11 kilometers along the northwest coast of Phuket, with hotel development concentrated in the southern sections and largely undeveloped sand dunes and vegetation to the north.
• Sirinat National Park (Mai Khao section): The northern stretch lies inside a coastal protected area that conserves dunes, mangroves and sea turtle nesting habitat and restricts some types of development and activities.
• Phuket International Airport vicinity: Sits immediately adjacent to the island’s main air hub, with the airport perimeter and related infrastructure within a few kilometres of the beach.

From Phuket Town, drive or take a taxi northwest along Route 402 toward Thalang; Mai Khao is the long beach area north of Sirinat National Park and immediately west of Phuket Airport. Local minibuses (songthaews) run toward the airport from major hubs; renting a scooter is common for short local hops.

• Stay out of the flight path if sensitive to noise-the beach is adjacent to Phuket International Airport.
• Look for turtle signs and local conservation volunteers; evening patrols often mark nesting sites.
• Walk north along the shoreline toward Sirinat National Park for quieter stretches and better birdwatching.