Naka Islands

Naka Yai and Naka Noi Island Day Trips

The Naka Islands are two picturesque islands located less than 20 minutes off the northeast coast of Phuket.

The Islands are also known as Koh Naka, Nakha or Naga Islands.

Koh Naka Yai

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Naka Yai is the larger of these two islands with picturesque views across Phang Nga Bay.

This beautiful island is rapidly changing from a quaint little fishing village into an eco-friendly tourist destination.

On the western side of the island is a small fishing village. There is no electricity on the island. If you choose to stay overnight, the resort have generators to supply power.

Most of Naka Yai’s beaches are wide and sandy, shaded by tall coconut trees. Along the eastern shore, the views out across Phang Nga Bay are simply breathtaking.

The longest beach is on the eastern side, which has chairs and umbrellas for rent.

Naka Yai is included in many day trip tours to Phang Nga Bay; the tours include stopping off along the eastern beach for a few hours to enjoy snorkeling and swimming in the clear waters.

During one of our trips to Phuket, we decided to take this speedboat tour to Phang Nga Bay.

This tour included stops at Panak Island, Koh Hong, James Bond Island, Koh Panyi and a 2-hour stop at Naka Yai Island for swimming before returning to Phuket.

Activities at Koh Naka Yai

Activities include relaxing on the beach, beach walks, fishing, kayaking, hiking, swimming and snorkelling.

Naka Yai is a wonderful island to visit if you are looking for peace and relaxation in beautiful, tranquil surroundings away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Accommodation at Koh Naka Yai

The Naka Island Luxury Collection Resort

If you are planning to stay a few nights on the tranquil Naka Yai Island, the 5-star Naka Island Luxury Collection Resort provides the ultimate luxury Island escape.

Check prices and read more about the Luxury Collection resort.

The resort features guest rooms, suites and one or two-bedroom villas; each villa has private steam showers and an open-air outdoor bathroom area.

Activities offered include sailing, bike tours, kayaking and sightseeing, to name a few.

The resort is an ideal destination for visitors who just want to switch off, relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Naka Yai island.

See reviews from other visitors who have stayed at the Naka Island Resort on TripAdvisor.

Naka Noi

Naka Noi is the smaller of the two islands and lies south of Naka Yai.

The Island is also known as “Pearl Island”, as it is the site where rare South Sea pearls are cultivated.

The Pearl Farm offers perfect conditions for producing beautiful pearls, sheltered away from the monsoon winds.

A tour to the Naka Noi Pearl Farm includes a demonstration of how the pearls are farmed and extracted from the oysters. The island also has a pearl shop where you can purchase pearls of all sizes.

The beach on the northern tip of Naka Noi is stunning. Here, you will also find a beach bar that serves up amazing cocktails, good coffee and a selection of beers and juices. This area of the Island can get busy in the afternoon as it is included in many day trip tours to Phang Nga Bay.

Some tours include a short stop at both Naka Yai and Naka Noi, which is great, but the problem is that they only spend around half an hour at each Island. Which really doesn't give you much time to explore the Islands.

If you're looking for a tour that allows you extra time for swimming, exploring, or relaxing, I suggest you have a look at this early bird tour, which has a one-hour stop at Naka Noi.

How To Get To The Naka Islands

If you want to explore the Islands on your own, long-tail boats can be hired for day trips from Ao Po Pier on the northeast coast of Phuket.

For convenience, unless you are staying at Naka Yai, I would suggest taking one of the day trips I mentioned above, which includes a stop at the Naka Islands.

For those looking for a bit more of an adventure, you can also take jet ski tours, which include the Naka Islands.

There is a selection of jet ski tours to choose from, but before you do, read the reviews as some are better than others, and not all visit the Naka Islands.

If you’re going jet skiing, it’s important to make sure that your travel insurance covers you for this type of activity.