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Nai Harn to Kata Beach

Nai Harn to Kata Beach

Nai Harn is one of the main gathering points for cruising yachts over Christmas.
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  • A

NAI HARN ANCHORAGE

8 miles from Ao Chalong

07°46.449N, 98°18.147E

Nai Harn is one of the most favoured west coast anchorages in high season. You can find holding holdingin 8-10 metres virtually anywhere in the bay. The surf can make dinghy landings exciting early and late in the season.

This southwest facing beach is particularly attractive, with The Nai Harn (formerly the Royal Phuket Yacht Club), a recently renovated 5-star resort of considerable fame, perched on the north side of the bay. The view from the hotel’s deck is unbeatable.

Nai Harn is one of the main gathering points for cruising yachts over Christmas and there are many bars, massage huts and local style beach restaurants, with several upmarket restaurants a short taxi ride inland. Phuket Town is 45 minutes away by taxi or bus. Just behind the beach is a fresh water lake with running track and children’s play areas inside.

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Nai Harn Beach from Black Rock viewpoint
Nai Harn Beach from Black Rock viewpoint | photo by IMAGE asia
  • B

JUNGLE BEACH (AO SANE)

8 miles from Ao Chalong

07°46.567N, 98°17.774E

There is secure anchorage at Jungle Beach in 10 metres off the fringing reef in front of the small sand beach at Baan Krating Jungle Resort. There is a local restaurant and bar on the beach with rustic bungalows ashore. The Laem Mum Kok Road gives access back to the main bay and passes right underneath The Nai Harn resort.

Jungle Beach (Ao Sane)
Anchorage (B) Jungle Beach (Ao Sane) | photo by IMAGE asia

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  • C

YA NUI BAY ANCHORAGE

9 miles from Ao Chalong

07°47.087N, 98°17.324E

Deep, rocky Ya Nui Bay – a throwback to what Phuket was like 40 years ago – sits in a deep cleft in the mountainous north headland of Nai Harn, where anchorage is in about 12 metres. There’s a small beach onshore with a restaurant, and only enough swinging room for two or three boats.

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Ya Nui Bay looking north to Windmill Point and Nai Harn
Ya Nui Beach looking north to Windmill Point and Nai Harn | Photo by IMAGE asia
  • D

KATA NOI ANCHORAGE

10 miles from Ao Chalong

07°48.357N, 98°17.814E

Anchorage at Kata Noi is in 8-10 metres off the sandy beach. This beach is home to Katathani Phuket Beach Resort, which occupies most of the beach, and to other smaller bungalows on the southern hillside.

Behind the hotel is a road leading to Kata and Karon Beaches, with a branch south to Nai Harn. Phuket City is 45 minutes by road.

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  • E

KATA ROCKS LUXURY RESORT

11 miles from Ao Chalong

07°48.785N, 98°17.715E

The ward-winning luxury resort and private residence, Kata Rocks, is perched on the headland between Kata Noi and Kata Beach. It has earned accolades for its blend of style, serenity and hospitality.

This unique resort has a private floating jetty during the northeast (high) season. It welcomes visiting yachts who wish to sample the resort’s iconic bar,  restaurant, infinity pool or spa.

By prior arrangement, Kata Rocks can make transport available for, and/or help arrange, provisioning trips to a plethora of nearby supermarkets.

The resort has been a supporter of yachts racing on Phuket for many years. It is the organiser of Phuket’s annual superyacht event, Kata Rocks Superyacht Rendezvous (KRSR) and its companion event, the Kata Rocks Poker Run (KRPR)

In 2024, they introduced their new KR Cat – a Phuket-built catamaran especially designed for luxury day charters.

www.katarocks.com | Kata Rocks Yacht Charter

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Kata Rocks looking towards Kata Beach
Kata Rocks looking towards Kata Beach
  • F

KATA BEACH ANCHORAGE

12 miles from Ao Chalong

07°48.932N, 98°17.807E

The southeast corner of Kata Beach offers anchorage in 8-10 metres on sand. This bay is home to one of the best beaches on Phuket. For a passing yacht looking for a beautiful beach, with activity – but at a quieter pace than Patong, Kata is difficult to beat.

There is a public road that follows the beach from north to south. Behind the beach road, Club Med covers almost half of the bay.

On the south side is Beyond Resort (formerly Kata Beach Resort), a 400-plus room hotel, co-host to the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta since 1998. This 4-star resort is the largest of many reasonably priced resorts here. On the road behind the hotel frontage are numerous restaurants, bars and shops within easy walking distance.

Beside Kata Beach Resort is The Boathouse, a long-time favourite of the yachting community. Its former owner and designer, ML Tri Devakul, was one of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta founders. The Boathouse used to call itself “a restaurant with a few rooms attached”. It still affords a similar experience. Reservations are a ‘must’ in high season. The wine cellar is excellent, with upwards of 250 labels.

Diving and snorkelling around Koh Pu (Crab Island) is good. A note of caution, however: the passage between Koh Pu and the headland is not recommended without local knowledge; there are rocks awash in the channel.

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Kata Beach in front of Club Med
Kata Beach in front of Club Med | Photo by IMAGE asia

See also:

Note that this website may not reflect the most recent updates to the printed book and the eBook. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this book is accurate, the charts of anchorages are based on personal experience and satellite imagery and are intended as a guide only. They should not be used for navigation. Please refer to Official Hydrographic Charts of the respective countries.

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The copyright holders of all content, in print and digital editions, are: Published book © Phuket Publicity Services Ltd. Part. / Texts © Bill O’Leary & Grenville Fordham / Design, layout & charts © Grenville Fordham / Photography: © as indicated in photo credits. All rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means - graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or otherwise – without the express permission of the publisher, Phuket Publicity Services Limited Partnership, and the other copyright owners.

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Phuket Publicity Services Partnership, Ltd.,19/87 Moo 7,T.Srisunthorn, A. Talang, Phuket 83110 Thailand
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