Natai Beach villas (48 elite havens found)

With a beautiful soft-sand shoreline stretching for 10 kilometres along Thailand’s Andaman coast, Natai Beach is a picture-perfect tropical destination. Found on the mainland in Phang Nga province, just a 10-minute drive over the bridge from Phuket Island, Natai Beach offers travellers a heavenly escape with endless days of kayaking, beach strolls and eco-adventures at nearby islands, jungles and waterfalls. Sand, sea and serenity.

Though Natai is found only 25 kilometres from Phuket International Airport – closer than the popular Patong Beach – only a tiny fraction of the millions of visitors who fly into Phuket each year make their way up to this tranquil beach. Strict building codes that ban large hotels in the area have limited Natai’s beachfront development to just a sprinkling of private villas and boutique resorts – adding an aura of off-the-beaten-track barefoot luxury to the Natai Beach experience. Sand, sea and sophistication.

With its sands blissfully free of vendors and sunbed rentals, to spend a day at the beach is to be immersed in a Natai nature nirvana soothed by the sound of the waves. The balmy turquoise waters are ideal for swimming, surfing, standup paddling or kayaking, though at certain times during the southwest monsoon season of May through October conditions may not be suitable. Off the beach, quiet roads through Natai’s idyllic rural landscapes of towering coconut plantations and sauntering buffalo are perfect for exploring by car or bicycle.

Natai Beach is a great base for discovering the natural wonders of Phang Nga, a province of pristine beauty encompassing jungle-clad national parks, untouched coastlines and the protected Similan and Surin islands. Natai’s dining scene is surprisingly diverse and delicious, from low-key Thai seafood spots run by local families on the beach or in nearby Kokkloy town (5km away) to some well-regarded resort restaurants offering a full wine and dine indulgence. Within an hour’s drive of Natai are a wealth of leisure activities, including golf courses, spas, water parks and all the shopping, dining and nightlife choices on Phuket.