Situated on Naka Yai, a small island in the turquoise Andaman Sea just off Phuket's eastern coast, The Naka Island Resort & Spa is an idyllic and luxurious retreat from everyday life. As the only resort on the island, it's peaceful and more private than many Phuket resorts. So, it's the perfect spot if you're looking for a relaxing tropical getaway. Having just visited, I'm excited to share my honest review of The Naka Island to help you decide if it's the right Phuket getaway for your trip.
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About The Naka Island
When searching for a special place to spend my 40th birthday, we came across The Naka Island, Luxury Collection Resort & Spa. As the only resort on Naka Island, and just a short speedboat ride from Phuket, it looked like the perfect tranquil escape.
This luxury 5-star resort has roughly 70 private villas, as well as about 20 deluxe king rooms, that guests can book. On the property, you'll find a variety of amenities, such as 3 restaurants, a spa, kids' club, fitness center, as well as meeting spaces.
Booking The Naka Island
The Naka Island Resort & Spa is one of American Express' Fine Hotels + Resorts properties. As AMEX platinum card holders, we booked our stay at The Naka Island Resort & Spa through American Express to take advantage of the additional perks offered to members. These perks include a room upgrade (when possible), guaranteed 4pm late check-out, and a $100 property credit.
The Naka Island is also part of the Marriott Bonvoy Luxury Collection so if you're a Marriott member, you might want to book through their site to use points to cover your stay. Otherwise, you might find good deals on one of the hotel booking sites.
Pro Tip: Since The Naka Island is more remote, I suggest staying on Phuket's main island for a couple of nights to see the sights (i.e. Phuket town, night markets, temples, etc.). Then, spend a couple nights at the end of your stay on Naka Island to just relax, swim, and soak up the sun.
How to Get to The Naka Island
To get to Naka Island, there are a few steps but it all worked very smoothly.
Flight to Phuket
First, you'll need to get to Phuket. The easiest way is to fly to Phuket International Airport (airport code: HKT). You can find direct flights to Phuket from international hubs like Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Doha, Sydney, and more. Domestically, you can find many flights to Phuket each day from other Thai destinations, such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
Or, Bus to Phuket
Alternatively, for a cheaper domestic transportation option, you could take a bus to Phuket. Many VIP buses run to Phuket from Bangkok each day, as well as other Thai cities. Taking a bus is a great way to see the scenery, reduce your carbon footprint, and save a few bucks. However, it's a long journey so generally I'd recommend flying.
Taxi to Marina
Once you're in Phuket, take a taxi or Grab taxi to Ao Po Grand Marina on Phuket's eastern coast. From the airport, a taxi costs ~700 Thai Baht (THB) or 21 USD. Although you could arrange transportation through the resort for a smoother transition, we usually book a Grab as it's much cheaper.
Pro Tip: Be sure to download the Grab App before traveling to Southeast Asia. This local rideshare app is the best way to easily and cheaply get around this region.
Speedboat to Naka Island
Once you arrive at the marina, you'll check in at The Naka Island Resort office there. It was a bit confusing for our taxi driver to find, but he asked around until the parking attendants told him where to go. There's a small stand right across from the ATM in the parking lot where you can get out and they'll help with luggage.
Then, they'll direct you to the office, which is set up like a comfortable hotel lobby with restrooms and drinks available (coffee, tea, water, soda). While we checked in, a staff member also gave us a quick 5-minute shoulder massage!
After checking in, we boarded the speedboat to Naka Island. It only took about 10 minutes and we were on the island before we knew it.
The Naka Island Experience
Arriving on Naka Island
Arriving on Naka Yai, more staff greeted us warmly and showed us to our buggy (golf carts used to transport guests around the property). Love, our guide, shared a story with us about The Naka Island. Local folklore says Naka Yai is the body of a dragon. Two other small islands in this bay, Raad and Naka Noi, make up the head and tail of the dragon respectively.
When you arrive on The Naka Island, everyone must ring the gong twice. First, to alert the dragon to your presence and second, to make a wish.
Since our room was not quite ready for us, we had a nice lunch in the Tonsai restaurant to pass the time. It worked out quite well because by the time we arrived, we were very hungry anyway.
Our Sea View Pool Villa
Originally, our booking was for a Garden View Pool Villa. My strategy was to book a room I'd be happy with either way, though I was hoping for an upgrade to a sea view. Since I'd missed the first part of our check-in, and Jeremy sneakily told me we hadn't been upgraded, I was extra surprised when Love opened the gate to an incredible Sea View Pool Villa!
To introduce us to our villa, Love took us on a brief tour, pointing out the amenities and features of the room. Architecturally, the villas have the look of adobe-style houses, with lots of curves and natural tones, giving them a serene vibe.
Villa Bedroom
First, we toured the bedroom, a spacious, air-conditioned room with lots of natural light, a king-sized canopy bed with mosquito nets, a sunken table / desk, and a large relaxing couch. The sofa can be made up into a bed for a third guest.
In the bedroom, you'll also find a coffee machine, TWG tea bags, and complimentary bottled water of which you can request refills throughout your stay.
We also received a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine, a fruit basket, and a birthday cake. I'm not sure how much of that was for being AMEX members and how much of it was for my birthday, but either way, it was appreciated!
If you have a special occasion you're celebrating during your stay, be sure to let them know ahead of time as they really go all out.
Notes: One of the things people complained about in online reviews of The Naka Island were the blinds. It's true, they're not black-out drapes. They're creamy linen drapes which mostly cover the windows. However, you will have light coming into the villa, at night from the garden lights, and once the sun is up, the room is light.
Living in a city like Hong Kong, this didn't bother us. If you need complete darkness to sleep, I recommend bringing an eye mask with you.
Villa Closet / Bathroom / Garden
Behind the bedroom is another whole section of the villa - the closet, bathroom, and garden. A stone path leads you up to a massive open-air, screened-in room with tables for your luggage, a dresser, closet with plenty of hangers.
The room also contains a toilet room, plus a double vanity and steam-room shower. Not that the steam was necessary when we visited. I took icy showers to cool off!
Continuing in a circular path, exit out the other door of the bathroom and you'll find a separate hut with a giant soaking tub and an outdoor shower.
Continuing down this stone path through another door leads directly to the pool area. It's a convenient way to the bathroom when you're dripping and don't want to go indoors.
Notes: As I mentioned above, this whole section of the villa is open-air, meaning no air-conditioning. Several online reviews complained about this, so I was prepared for it to be hot. And it was, especially in the mid-day sun. During certain seasons and at night, it won't be so bad, and there is a fan to help circulate the air.
Also, be prepared for geckos. They're cute and help with mosquitos so I always welcome their company.
Villa Outdoors
Finally, the main events of the Sea View Pool Villa - the jaw-dropping sea view and the surprisingly-spacious private infinity pool. Keeping with the curved theme, even the pool has no sharp lines.
Beside the pool, you have a patio with two sun loungers overlooking the view. Our villa (no. 60) had a metal railing at the edge, but it looked like many of the other villas did not. Perhaps because the drop from our patio was higher than from other villas.
Note: In my opinion, these villas are not suitable for families with small children, unless you're prepared to keep a very close eye on them. Lots of safety hazards exist, especially in the outdoor areas, for curious little ones.
The villa has a couple of other outdoor lounging spaces, including a couch under the porch and a covered pavilion with floor mats, a table, and a ceiling fan. It's nice to have options to get out of the sun.
We absolutely loved spending time outside, admiring the sea views and cooling off in the pool. Naka Island has an amazing variety of birds and listening to their calls provided a peaceful soundtrack during the day.
One morning, a hornbill came to visit our villa for a snack of the berries growing on one of our trees. It was exciting to see one up close.
Sunset View
Our sea view pool villa was on the western side of the island, so we had a great sunset view. Unfortunately, most of the days, the horizon was kind of cloudy. But we had some good sunset colors on our last night.
Having a western facing villa meant some intense afternoon sun though, which heated up the open-air spaces quite a bit. Something to consider when you're booking.
The Naka Island Resort Features
Although we spent a good amount of time in our villa just relaxing by the pool, The Naka Island Resort has plenty of activities and amenities to occupy guests.
Spa Naka
At The Naka Island, you'll find a full-service spa that has a variety of massages, facials, and body & nail treatments. The spa itself is a serene oasis that continues the adobe aesthetic with water surrounding the treatment rooms. It's a peaceful place to relax and unwind during your stay.
Dining at The Naka Island Resort
For guests' dining pleasure, The Naka Island Resort has 3 restaurants and 1 bar available on property.
We enjoyed most of our meals at Tonsai Restaurant since we love Thai food and well, we were in Thailand! Spending 4 nights at The Naka Island meant we got to know and love the staff at Tonsai. They were all very friendly and made us feel so welcome.
On my birthday, both the breakfast staff and the dinner staff wanted to make me feel special so I ended up with two cakes and a lot of singing that day!
Notes: Although some reviews complained about the food and how expensive it was, it seemed in line with what you can expect from luxury resorts in Thailand. Yes, it's much more expensive than local restaurants, with main dishes costing 500-900 TBH (18-26 USD). Since there's not much on the island, you'll probably eat at the resort for most meals, so factor in these costs to your trip budget.
We found the Thai dishes and smoothies we had to be absolutely delicious. So, even though we were paying what we do in Hong Kong for these dishes, at least they were tasty! The chef will adjust the spice level for you, so if it's not spicy enough the first time, ask for more. They're happy to accommodate.
Breakfast Buffet at Tonsai
We thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast buffet each morning at Tonsai. The buffet had a great variety of western and Asian breakfast food options. In addition, they had several fresh cooking stations set up for made-to-order eggs, juice, noodles, and desserts. If you're feeling fancy, you can enjoy some sparkling wine or a Bloody Mary with your breakfast as well.
Z Bar
A cocktail bar at the tip of the island with views of picturesque Phang Nga Bay, Z Bar is a great place to grab a drink while admiring the karsts in the distance.
Private Beach
One of the great things about The Naka Island is its private beach. Though not a huge beach, this white sandy beach with gorgeous turquoise waters is a great spot to relax. Loungers with umbrellas line the beach and I never saw them fill up throughout our stay.
Note: This beach is highly affected by the tides. So during low tide, the water level will drop dramatically. When we visited, low tide was around sunrise and sunset, so it didn't impact swimming or water sports for the majority of the day.
Beachside Pool
If you decide to stay in one of The Naka Island's deluxe rooms or a private villa without a pool, you'll no doubt take advantage of the beautiful beachside swimming pool. With lovely ocean views, it's a great alternative to swimming in the sea during low tide.
Other Amenities
In addition to the things I've already highlighted, The Naka Island offers a range of other amenities and activities for guests to enjoy. For those who want to stay active, you can work out in the fitness center, participate in morning yoga, or try Muay Thai (Thai kickboxing) with an expert trainer.
Families traveling with children will enjoy the Kids Club which has games for all ages, as well as a jungle gym, rock climbing wall, and ball pit.
If you're looking for a venue for a party or wedding, The Naka Island would be a great spot. We saw both a wedding and a birthday party while we stayed there and they looked like wonderful events.
Tours and Water Sports
If you're looking to get off of Naka Island and out onto the water, you can hire a private boat tour to nearby islands. Or, you could rent a wave runner / jet ski for a half hour to ride around Naka.
On the northern end of the beach, there's a private water sports hut where you can rent boats or borrow a kayak. For the jet skis, it's cash only, so be sure to bring enough cash with you to Naka (no ATMs on the island) if you plan to rent jet skis. When we visited, it was 2,000 TBH (60 USD) for 30 minutes.
Looking for Phuket Adventures?
Here are some fantastic Phuket tours to consider booking on your next trip!
Exploring Naka Island - Beyond the Resort
Although The Naka Island is the only resort on the island, there's also a small village where locals live. About a 15-minute walk from the resort, you'll find the village which has a few houses, a mosque, and a restaurant.
Continue past the village into the jungle for another 15 minutes or so, and you'll come to Tab Po Beach. It's another stunning, white sandy beach with a view of the karsts in Phang Nga Bay.
If you're walking across the island, especially in hot season, be sure to do it early and bring lots of water. It's a hot and sweaty walk even in the morning.
Need ideas for your trip to Phuket? Find out How to Spend 5 Days in Phuket, Thailand!
Q&A about The Naka Island
After staying at The Naka Island Resort & Spa, I'd like to answer a couple of questions that might help you decide if this resort is right for your stay.
Would I Enjoy The Naka Island Resort?
As much as I loved staying at The Naka Island, I realize it may not be for everyone (for example, my mother). However, I believe if you've read my review, then you should have a good idea of what to expect. If you still think it sounds great, then you'll most likely love it just like we did.
Here are a couple of things with which I think some travelers may take issue and should consider their comfort level before booking.
Not a Lot of Air-Conditioning
If you're new to tropical climates, you may not be prepared for the lack of air-conditioning throughout this resort.
As I mentioned before, the private villas only have air-conditioning in the bedroom, which is not unusual for Thai houses but can be shocking if you're not prepared for it. However, if you book a deluxe room instead of a villa, it seems the bathroom is also air-conditioned, so this could be a good alternative for those that desire it.
Additionally, most of the restaurants are open-air, but do have ceiling fans which help circulate the air. The only restaurant with an air-conditioned dining option is Rum Chapel. However, 24-hour room service is available, so if you find it too hot to eat in the restaurants, you could order rooms service to your villa.
Personally, we typically prefer the fresh air and alfresco dining. But since I was 6.5 months pregnant during our trip, I struggled with the heat more than I normally would, so it made me more aware of it.
Critters
Given its lush jungle surrounds and open-air spaces, critters are bound to show up in your villa. In our bedroom, we only had a few mosquitos and luckily the bed has mosquito netting.
In the closet/bathroom area, more mosquitos and other small flying insects could get in, but turning on the fan helped keep them away. I'm not sure that I even got bitten at The Naka Island, unlike at our Airbnb where we stayed the few nights before, where I got eaten alive.
Another frequent visitor were the geckos, including cute baby ones! I happen to love geckos and when we lied in Laos, they were all over our house, so they don't bother me. But my mom freaks out when she seems them inside so I felt it was worth mentioning. I really only saw them in the bathroom area, but I heard their chirps a couple times in the bedroom.
Again, the deluxe rooms probably would not have as many critters in them since they don't have the outdoor spaces that the private villas have. I think the resort must spray for bugs regularly because I saw far fewer than expected.
When to Visit The Naka Island Phuket
Though Phuket remains warm year-round, the season during which you visit will impact your trip. Here are a few things to take into consideration when planning when to visit Phuket.
Visiting in Dry Season (December - March)
Dry season from December to March is Phuket's high season, when the weather is sunny and gorgeous, seas are calm, plus temperatures and humidity are (slightly) milder. It's also the most expensive season for accommodations in Phuket, and Thailand in general, due to the high number of tourists visiting the country.
Visiting in Hot Season (April - May)
In hot season from April to May, temperatures are scorching and prices for accommodations begin to drop. It's a transitional season, meaning that you might see more rain than in dry season, or none at all. For The Naka Island and lack of air-conditioning, it might be an uncomfortable time of year to visit.
Visiting in Rainy Season (June - October)
Rainy season (or monsoon season) from June to October is Phuket's low season. Temperatures are hot and humidity is high as heavy rains douse the region. Plus, the seas are much rougher and often are not fit for swimming due to the strong currents.
However, it can be a great time of year to visit due to lack of crowds and low accommodation prices. Depending on your luck, it may rain constantly every day, or you might just have a couple of strong showers each day but also a fair amount of sunshine. It's often hard to predict.
Speaking of hard to predict, November is another transitional month between the rainy and dry season. Typically, rains begin to dry up and humidity lessens throughout the month.
Other Places to Stay in Phuket
If you don't think that The Naka Island is the place for you, use the map below to continue your search for the perfect Phuket accommodations.
Final Thoughts
If you're looking for a tranquil getaway in Phuket, The Naka Island is a great choice. We had an incredible stay at this beautiful resort and I couldn't have asked for a better spot to celebrate turning 40! I hope this review has helped you decide whether The Naka Island is right for your trip.
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