The Naka Island Resort on Koh Na Kah Yai offers a relaxing blend of tropical nature and modern comfort. The spacious pool villas with sea views are perfect for unwinding, while restaurants, a spa and an infinity pool provide variety. Whether as a couple or with the family, here you will find peace and quiet, good food and little experiences that make your stay special.
Review #81
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- Daily complimentary breakfast for two guests per room
- Hotel credit worth USD 100 (once per stay)
- Daily complimentary basic Wi-Fi
- Early check-in and late check-out (subject to availability)
- Complimentary upgrade (subject to availability at check-in)
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Content
Location
The Naka Island Hotel is located on the beautiful small island of Koh Na Kah Yai nestled in the famous Phang Nha Bay, east of Phuket.
Getting there
If you are already travelling in southern Thailand, you can easily reach Phuket by car or minivan – the Sarasin Bridge takes you directly to the island. From Krabi, the journey takes about 3 hours depending on traffic, and from Khao Lak about 1.5 hours.
Those travelling by long-distance bus can also arrive stress-free: the bus station in Phuket Town is well connected, and of course, you can also fly directly to Phuket International Airport. From there, it takes about 45 minutes by taxi to Patong and about 30 minutes to Phuket Town. Depending on your destination, the airport bus takes 60-90 minutes, but it is also significantly cheaper.
How to get to the resort
To get to Naka Island, you have to go to the Welcome Lounge at Ao Por Pier. As far as I know, the only way to get there is by car, so you will need to organise a Grab or a taxi. Of course, you can also arrange to be picked up by the hotel.
It’s about a 30-minute drive from the airport. However, we came from our last hotel, The Racha, which is located on the island of Koh Racha, just off the southern tip of Phuket. The journey from the pier there took us about an hour that day.
Check-in
As The Naka Island resort is located on the island of the same name off the coast of Phuket, you can only get there by boat. To my knowledge, there is no other way to get there, and to maximise the holiday experience on the island itself, check-in is done in the Welcome Lounge on the main island of Phuket at Ao Por Pier.
As we arrived at the pier, we were already greeted warmly in the car park and our luggage was taken care of, finding its own way to our villa on the island. From the car park, we were then driven to the actual Lobby Lounge by buggy.
Fun fact: the lounge is really called the Lobby Lounge because there is no actual lobby in the island resort as it is simply not needed! Exciting, isn’t it?!
Welcome Lounge
We were greeted very warmly at the Lobby Lounge and invited into the wonderfully air-conditioned inside. I quickly popped to the loo and when I returned two minutes later, Fabi was already right in the middle of the check-in process.
The formalities were dealt with quickly and everything was perfectly prepared – as Marriott had asked us in advance via chat at what time we would be arriving. We were given some information about the resort and the activities on offer, also we were asked right away if we would like a table reserved for us in one of the restaurants for the evening.
We were also able to help ourselves to the small snack buffet and refreshments. Once everything had been sorted out, we made our way to the boat, which was waiting for us just around the corner.
Crossing
The transfer takes place every 30 minutes, and only one other party consisting of two people checked in with us. Accordingly, we had the whole boat to the four of us – but anyways the crossing takes a maximum of 10 minutes, if that.
Welcome at the resort
As we arrived at the jetty on Naka Island, two members of staff were waiting for our two groups, each with their own buggies. They helped us out of the boat and gave us another extremely warm welcome.
From there we went to the gong to appease the island’s dragon and make a wish. At the gong, we were served a drink and given a cold, fragrant towel alongside a rose made of palm leaves!
After that we got a short tour of the resort with all kinds of explanations and then went straight to our villa. We didn’t need to check in again – everything had already been taken care of in the Lobby Lounge.
Naka Island at a glance
Opened in 2011, The Naka Island Resort offers a total of around 90 units, including 70 villas with private pools and an additional 20 classic rooms. In 2018, the entire pool area was renovated, followed by a comprehensive modernisation of the spa area in 2020. The resort is part of Marriott’s Luxury Collection.
The rooms and villas are spread across the island, nestled in tropical nature with the Tonsai and My Grill restaurants located directly on the beach and by the pool, while the Rum Chapel is slightly more secluded. The spa area is located on a hill with a panoramic view of the bay, and the modern gym is right next to it. At the very end of the property is the Z Bar with a magnificent view over Phang Ngy Bay.
By the way, the staff at the resort are only referred to as ambassadors, and as the resort is quite spread out, you can always order a buggy from anywhere to take you to any point in the hotel.
At the time of our stay, there were quite a few Chinese guests and a relatively large number of children on holiday here too!
Villa
As always, we had booked the cheapest room category – in this case, the Naka Room. However, even before we arrived, we could see on the app that we had been upgraded to a Villa with Pool. So we went straight to Villa No. 29.
Welcome
Upon arriveing at the villa, we were greeted by two towel elephants alongside a greeting card and a handwritten note. Our welcome gift, consisting of local sweets, another welcome letter and mosquito spray, was already waiting for us on the table in front of the window.
Living room and bedroom
The glass front door of the villa leads directly into the combined living room and bedroom. Immediately to the left is a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the pool. In front of it is a seating area with a table set into the floor. This is a wonderful place to work or eat while enjoying the magnificent view.
Opposite the door, in front of the window, is a built-in couch where you can relax, as well as fixed sideboards to the left and right. The television is on the left, information about the hotel is on the right, and the safe is tugged away inside the cupboard. In addition, an aroma lamp floods the room with a wonderful scent.
The king-size bed is very comfortable and offers two identical pillows per sleeper, which vary slightly in firmness as well as a light, large duvet. There is a lamp on each bedside table – in addition, you will find the telephone and further information on the left, also an alarm clock, the remote control for the air conditioning and a notepad with pen on the right.
The minibar is located just to the right of the entrance door and consists of a small desk built into a niche, on which you will find the capsule coffee machine, water and glasses. Cutlery and snacks are available in the drawer. In the adjacent cupboard, you will find a small refrigerator with refreshments and alcoholic beverages, as well as additional glasses, cups, and a kettle. Except for everything you need for preparing yourself coffee and tea, drinks and snacks are subject to a charge.
Bathroom
The bathrooms in the villas at The Naka Island are an experience in themselves! To get there, you leave the main building and walk along a narrow, covered corridor that opens onto the courtyard. On the way there, on the outside, there is a kind of sideboard for storing clothes, the toilet and a bench alongside another sideboard. At the entrance to the actual bathroom, there is a built-in cupboard on the right-hand side where you will find bathrobes, two different types of slippers, an ironing board with iron, everything you need for shoe care and everything you need in case you want to send laundry for cleaning.
The actual bathroom with a large vanity unit and two sinks is located on the left with a view of the courtyard. There you will also find the usual amenities, as well as Byredo wash and body lotion. At the very end of the room, there is a walk-in rain shower.
The entire area is really beautifully designed and wonderfully combines luxury with a large dash of adventure. The problem with it? The entire area has no air conditioning, so you’re basically always walking into a hot, humid wall when leaveing the villa to go to the toilet, for example. Incidentally, the windows in the toilet are just nets, so going to the toilet feels very tropical and sweaty…
The courtyard is accessible from opposite the shower, and right next to the villa is a small house that houses the outdoor bathtub with an attached open-air shower. The slats in the window by the tub can be opened and closed, allowing you to bathe with a view or in complete privacy.
Turndown
Of course, The Naka Island Resort also offers a turndown service. So when you are out for dinner, the hard-working housekeeping team comes over and prepares the villa for the night. The fabric blinds and mosquito net on the bed are lowered and a sweet little treat is provided for you.
However, it should be mentioned that the blinds do not completely darken the room and there are also some gaps through which a relatively large amount of light enters the bedroom in the morning. In addition, the small window behind the coffee machine cannot be darkened at all – this was not a problem for us, but if you are only able to sleep in completely darkened rooms, you should bear this in mind.
View
In our opinion, THE highlight of this villa is the truly beautiful pool. It is located directly in front of the panoramic window and blends in wonderfully with the tropical nature thanks to its kidney shape. On the right-hand side, there are two sun loungers with a parasol, and opposite, a fairly large gazebo invites you to relax. The view from this villa is of the jungle behind the resort. Mosquito repellent is definitely a good idea here. 😉
Villawechsel
Shortly after our arrival, we received confirmation from several sources that two wedding parties would be celebrating their big day on Naka Island the following day. Accordingly, we requested a villa that would take us as far away from the hustle and bustle as possible. Due to the circumstances and as a gesture of goodwill, we were given another upgrade to a Pool Villa with sea view and moved into Villa No. 63.
Basically, the villas are all identical – only the view differs. So here’s the other view for you. Really great, don’t you think?!
Resort activities
Pool
Naka Island has two pools for its guests.
The large infinity pool by the beach is centrally located in the middle of the resort and offers two really large pool areas. In the upper pool, most of the sun loungers are placed directly in the water, arranged in pairs and each equipped with a parasol. The second, shallower pool, located a little further down, is nestles up against the larger pool.
Some sun loungers are also set up around the pool on the upper section of the beach. However, it can be a little difficult to find a shady spot here. So bear in mind that it can get quite warm.
The Sala Pool is located inside the resort, somewhat randomly between the villas, and we really didn’t know what to make of it. There were only three sun loungers, and most activities take place in the adjacent buildings. So the pool doesn’t really invite you to relax.
Kid´s Pool
There is no separate children’s pool. However, the infinity pool by the beach has a large area that is very shallow, where small children can play and splash around.
Beach
Unfortunately, the beach here is not comparable to our previous hotel, The Racha, but is still beautiful – although the water is rather murky and not clear. If that doesn’t bother you, you can certainly enjoy swimming here.
However, the hotel is located on a small lagoon and at low tide, all that remains is a very wide area with stones and a little sand. Then swimming at Naka Island beach is not possible. During our stay, low tide was in the afternoon, so swimming would only have been possible in the morning. The water was wonderfully lukewarm, though.
Delicious snacks and cold towels are available at the beach and the infinity pool.
Fitness Center
The gym on Naka Island is located in its own small building within the spa complex. Spread across three rooms on two floors, you will find everything you need for a decent workout. However, the equipment is not particularly new and the rooms are somewhat odd in terms of size and layout. The free weights area is integrated into one room, but I really think it would have been better if it had been given its own room. In terms of space, that would certainly have been possible.
Otherwise, the entrance area with the stairs is very spacious, and this is also where the refreshments, towels and fruit are located.
Spa
Unfortunately, we were unable to view the interior of Spa Naka. The brief tour we requested only took us to the changing rooms, the (steam) saunas and the ice room.
Kid´s Club
The Naka Island Resort offers a fantastic indoor kids’ club for younger guests, with activities that vary daily.
Besonderheiten
The hotel is truly one of the best starting points for visiting Phang Nga Bay. For more information, check out the Naka Explorer, which is available to all guests online and in print in the villas.
Restaurants
All of the restaurants at Naka Island Resort are grouped around the central infinity pool and offer great views of the sea and the pool. Just by the end of our stay, the first menu was changed, and by the end of November, some renovations should be completed and a new concept introduced – so we’ll probably have to come back and test the resort a second time for you. 😉
Tonsai
The main restaurant at Naka Island Resort mainly serves Thai dishes and specialises in local cuisine from the island of Phuket. This restaurant is set to be expanded in near future and will offer more international dishes.
My Grill
The beach restaurant mainly offers grilled dishes and seafood with the best view of the sea. Around most of the building is a kind of pool with two seating areas sunk into the ground, each with space for two large round tables. So , if you wish, you can sit and eat below the water level. In future, the restaurant is likely to serve (local) Thai food.
On our first evening, we had a really delicious meal here and enjoyed ourselves with excellent service. We had ravioli and salmon fillet for dinner, with a little sweet surprise for dessert.
Rum Chapel
This restaurant is the only one in the entire Naka Island Resort that is located in a separate building and therefore has air conditioning. Currently, the restaurant still serves international cuisine, but is set to become an Italian restaurant on the day of our departure.
On our second evening, we had our first taste of the pizza, and it did not disappoint. Incidentally, we were even given a cold towel before AND after the meal. Superb!
Z Bar
The bar is located on a kind of hill at the very end of the resort, where the island slopes down into the sea. This is the best place to enjoy the sunset. By the end of November 2025, this bar is to be expanded to include additional seating, a larger bar and a kitchen, so that a proper menu can be offered instead of just snacks, as is currently the case.
Epicurian Moment
In addition, the daily Epicurian Moment, customary for all Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, understandably takes place here at Z bar. At 6 p.m., the moment when day turns into night is celebrated. The history of the island’s name is recounted in a short speech, and guests are invited to light a candle, make a wish, and then symbolically release it into the sea. Afterwards, refreshments, fruit and finger food are served.
The ceremony is beautifully designed and offers a great opportunity to pause for a brief moment. The location is truly beautiful and, if you are lucky like us, you can even see the islands in Pha Ngnag Bay when the weather is clear.
Breakfast
Breakfast at Naka Island is served in the all-day dining restaurant Tonsai until 11:00 (!) a.m. The restaurant, which is not particularly large, makes excellent use of its small corners and presents the buffet perfectly. In a relatively small space, the kitchen crew manages to offer everything you could possibly want.
The ingenious system at the live cooking stations seemed old-fashioned to me at first, but it worked excellently and after a few moments of scepticism, I was quite enthusiastic about it. You go to the respective station, take one of the preprinted forms and tick what you would like, also stating your table number. The selected dishes and juices are then served at your table – and very quickly at that.
At first, we weren’t too keen on the idea of not even having a small menu to order from, but we quickly changed our minds. The system works great, eliminates misunderstandings and also offers a lot more variety. Plus, it’s good to get up and walk around a bit every now and then – isn´t it. The food and drinks were all excellent, and we had a wonderful, relaxed start to the day twice!
Check-out
Since there is no lobby on the island, we checked out quickly and easily with the Concierge right after breakfast. Everything was well prepared and went smoothly. As a small gift, we were even allowed to choose a box containing one of six different versions of the Naka dragon, and we also arranged a time for our luggage and us to be picked up from the villa.
Costs
We paid 21,600 THB for two nights at the end of April 2025 in the cheapest room category, which was equivalent to around 570 euros at the time of our stay. The upgrade was due to our status and the hotel’s goodwill; breakfast was as well included due to our status.
Departure and onward journey
The buggy picking us up for our departure arrived ahead of time and our luggage was even transported from the villa for us. We were asked if we had forgotten anything and then headed straight for the pier. On the way, the gong was struck one last time in order to bid our farewells to the island.
At the pier, we had to wait for the boat a short while , but as soon as it arrived, we headed back to the main island. There, we cooled off briefly inside the lounge and were then taken to the taxi, which drove us to the airport.
We then flew on to Koh Samui, from where we took another boat transfer to Koh Phangan and our last hotel on this tropical island hopping trip. There we spent three wonderfully relaxing days at the beautiful Anantara Rasananda.
Conclusion
From day one, everyone addressed us by name and everyone, absolutely everyone, always waved and greeted when walking or driving by. When we were out walking, literally every single buggy driver who passed by asked if we wanted a lift!
We can recommend The Racha to all travellers. Families get their money’s worth here, and couples, solo travellers and groups can easily find their place, whether they prefer to stay in the villa or seek the company of other guests at one of the pools.
For us, The Racha is a classic luxury resort and is therefore classified in the luxury category on our scale.
Rating
Above all, the fantastic service earns Naka Island a very good 9 out of 10 possible points! Well done!
We only deducted one point for the sea and the beach. It may be that we were a little spoiled by our previous stay at The Racha with its perfect beach and incredibly clear waters. But the beach location here is just not really that great which really is a shame, to be honest.
Go there?
Yes! Absolutely. If you can cope with the minor fact that the sea is rather so-so, you can have a great holiday here!
Booking with EVRYWHRE
Would you also like to holiday at Naka Island Resort? Then book through our Preferred Partner Rate! It won’t cost you any more, but will bring you real benefits:
✔ Free breakfast
✔ Upgrade subject to availability
✔ £100 hotel credit
✔ Early check-in & late check-out
✔ Earn points as usual
You can find all the details on our Booking Hub.
YouTube Review
So if you’d like more information and, above all, moving images of Naka Island Resort, just take a look at our YouTube review.
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