Hillside North of Nui Beach

The Hillside North of Nui Beach trail is an easy-going coastal walk on the green hills above Nui Beach, one of the far south's most secluded coves, near Nai Harn in southern Phuket. It is a real, GPS-recorded 7.2 km loop that follows quiet dirt roads and foot paths up from the end of Soi Laem Mum Nai, crosses over toward the Nui Beach side and loops back, with only gentle climbing along the way. If you want a relaxed Nui Beach hike with sea air and hardly another soul about, this is a lovely half-morning out.

A rare accessible Phuket hill walk. With about 306 m of total climbing spread over easy dirt roads and a high point of only around 160 m, this is one of the more forgiving trails on the island, a good choice if you want jungle and views without a punishing climb.

Who the trail suits

The loop is graded easy and works for most reasonably active walkers.

• Casual hikers and walkers get a pleasant, low-stress loop on clear dirt roads with a bit of gentle up and down, and the payoff of a hidden beach and sea views.
• Trail runners looking for an easy scenic session will enjoy the rolling dirt tracks.

You can log your own time by category and compare on the leaderboard further down the page.

The route and what you will see

The walk starts at the end of Soi Laem Mum Nai and heads up onto the hillside on green dirt roads. In brief:

• The surface is friendly. This is mostly dirt road and clear foot path rather than technical single-track, which is what keeps it easy underfoot.
• The Nui Beach side. The route crosses over toward Nui Beach, where there are plenty more dirt roads to explore. You will spot the occasional old marker left by other hiking groups.
• The views. From the hillside you get glimpses out over the Andaman coast toward the far south of the island. Use the elevation profile above to see where the small climbs sit.

Nui Beach itself is one of Phuket's quieter beaches, a small cove reached down a steep track, so it makes a scenic turning point rather than an easy swim stop. Bring water and sun cover, because the hillside is open in places and the sun is strong.

Best time to hike near Nui Beach

• The drier months (roughly November to April): the best time, with firm dirt roads and clear skies for the coastal views.
• The green season: the hillside is lush but the dirt roads can get muddy and slippery, and the afternoon sun is fierce on the open sections.

Whatever the month, go in the morning for cooler air and the best light over the sea, carry plenty of water, and check the live rain radar and forecast further down this page before you set out.

How to get to the trailhead

The loop starts near Nai Harn in southern Phuket, at the end of Soi Laem Mum Nai, close to Ya Nui Beach and the Nai Harn headland.

• From Nai Harn or Rawai: about 10 minutes by car or scooter.
• From Kata or Karon: roughly 20 to 25 minutes.
• From Phuket Town: about 35 to 40 minutes.

Park near the end of the soi and follow the GPS track from the start point on the map, because the dirt-road junctions are not signposted.

Nearby

This corner of Phuket is packed with easy add-ons: Ya Nui Beach, the Windmill Viewpoint, Promthep Cape (the island's famous sunset point) and Nai Harn Beach are all within a few minutes. For another accessible southern-Phuket loop on a different day, try the Chalong Dam West Side Loop a short drive north.

Riding it: enduro and off-road

The green dirt roads above Nui Beach make an easy, flowing enduro spin, with gentle climbs and fast, open tracks rather than technical singletrack. It is one of the more forgiving rides in the far south and a good introduction to Phuket's off-road riding, though the steep drop to Nui Beach itself is a walk, not a ride.

Route from a GPS track recorded by the Wikiloc member 7/11 and shared on Wikiloc. Trail photos are representative Phuket coast.