Nopparat Thara
Long, quiet national park beach with casuarina trees and a more local feel than Ao Nang
Best For
About Nopparat Thara
Hat Nopparat Thara is a 3-km beach adjoining Ao Nang to the northwest, separated from the main resort strip by a small headland and protected as part of the Hat Nopparat Thara – Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. The beach is longer, quieter, and more scenic than Ao Nang: rows of casuarina trees provide shade, the water is clearer at high tide, and the sand stretches almost to the horizon at low tide, revealing sandbars and distant karst islands. A small pier at the eastern end connects to the islands; the western end has a national park visitor centre. The area attracts a slightly different visitor mix — travellers wanting beach tranquillity within easy reach of Ao Nang's amenities (10-minute walk or ฿40 songthaew).
Highlights
- 13-km beach shaded by casuarina trees with national park protection
- 2Sandbar walk at low tide with dramatic karst backdrop
- 3Less crowded than Ao Nang with a more local atmosphere
- 4National park pier for boats to Phi Phi and the Four Islands
What Nopparat Thara is like
There is little to walk to directly on the beach itself — the shade and the sandbars are the draw, not a run of restaurants — so most of the day is spent at whichever spot you have picked rather than moving between venues. After dark the area is close to silent; there is no bar scene here to speak of.
Who stays here
Suits travellers who want beach time without a commercial strip attached, and who do not mind walking or catching a ride for dinner and boat trips. A poor fit for anyone who wants restaurants and shops within sight of their room, or any kind of evening entertainment.
Getting around
The beach has few businesses lined up along it, so covering its length means walking the sand rather than hopping between shopfronts. A songthaew or the coastal path connects to Ao Nang's beachfront strip for restaurants and boat trips, and a hired motorbike opens up the national park visitor centre and the pier at the far end.
Consider instead
- Ao Nang Beach Area — a short ride away for restaurant choice, bars, and the longtail pier, if total quiet turns out to be too quiet.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- More peaceful and scenic than Ao Nang beach itself
- National park status keeps development low
- 10-minute walk or short songthaew to Ao Nang facilities
Cons
- Fewer restaurants and facilities directly on the beach
- Water shallow at low tide — swimming best at high tide
Frequently Asked Questions — Nopparat Thara
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