Rocks in the water
Rocks lie in the shallows, especially near the middle point; wear water shoes and never stand on coral.
Ya Nui Beach
Rawai · south coast
A tiny cove between Windmill Viewpoint and Promthep Cape: clear water, fish around the rocks and Koh Man island a short paddle away, with kayaks on the sand.
Also written Yanui Beach, Hat Ya Nui, Ya Nui Bay, Yanui Phuket · หาดยะนุ้ย · Пляж Я Нуй
Ya Nui Beach in photographs
The beach restaurant under the trees.
- Sand
- Soft white sand between rocky points
- Snorkelling
- Fish a few metres from shore
- Water sports
- Kayak 100 THB, SUP 300 THB an hour
- Views
- Koh Man island offshore
- Sunset
- Sunset in front of the beach
- Parking
- Parking along the beach road
About Ya Nui Beach
Ya Nui is a tiny bay in the very south of Phuket, tucked between Windmill Viewpoint and Promthep Cape. A small rocky cape splits the sand in the middle, grassy slopes rise on each side, and the island of Koh Man sits just offshore, often with yachts and fishing boats anchored in between.
It is one of the easiest snorkelling beaches on the island: fish swim a few metres from the water's edge, and the water between the beach and Koh Man has healthy coral and clownfish in anemones. Vendors on the sand rent snorkel gear, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, and a couple of shaded restaurants across the road serve Thai food and seafood.
Ya Nui is no secret and gets busy in high season and at weekends. From November to April the water is clear and warm; from May to October the west-coast swell often makes the bay too rough for snorkelling and swimming, though bodyboarders use the north end when there is a swell. Many visitors stay for the sunset, a calmer alternative to Promthep Cape.
Things to do at Ya Nui Beach
The beach restaurant under the trees. The beach and the clear water from the headland. The sand, palms and umbrellas, the islet behind.
Snorkelling and diving · dry season
Snorkel from the beach
Plenty of fish around the rocks a few metres from the sand; best at mid to high tide.
Water sports · dry season
Kayak to Koh Man
About 100 THB an hour; the island has healthy coral and clownfish. Wind can make paddling hard.
Water sports · dry season
Stand-up paddle
Paddleboards rent for about 300 THB an hour to explore the bay and around the island.
Swimming · dry season
Swim at the north end
The northern part of the beach is the better place to swim, away from the rocks.
Surfing · monsoon months
Bodyboarding
When there is a swell, bodyboarders ride the waves at the north end.
Wellness
Beach massage
Massages are available on the beach at reasonable prices.
Food and drink
Lunch at Royros
A lively roadside restaurant with a big outdoor seating area under tall trees.
Food and drink
Ya Nui Restaurant
Just across the street in the shade of tall trees; also rents basic bungalows.
Nature
Windmill Viewpoint
On the hill above: Ya Nui on one side, Nai Harn on the other.
Nature
Promthep Cape
Phuket's famous sunset cape, a short drive up the road; crowded at sunset.
Food and drink
Summore Day Cafe
A hillside cafe and bar on the road down from Promthep Cape, with a rooftop deck facing Koh Man.
A day at Ya Nui Beach
The northern part of the beach is best for swimming; arrive early, as the cove is small and fills up.
Rent a mask for 100 THB and swim along the rocks, where fish gather a few metres from shore. Ya Nui kayak and snorkel rental
Paddle a few minutes to the island for more fish and coral; tie up at a buoy or on the rocks. Ya Nui kayak and snorkel rental
A lively local restaurant by the road with a big shaded seating area. Royros Restaurant
Windmill Viewpoint on the hill above gives a bird's-eye view of Ya Nui on one side and Nai Harn on the other. Windmill Viewpoint
Back on the beach to watch the sun set behind the bay, calmer than Promthep Cape next door.
Our Ya Nui Beach score
4.5out of 5
A snorkelling and kayaking morning, with sunset on the sand instead of the Promthep Cape crowds.
A tiny, scenic cove with a rocky point in the middle, the island of Koh Man offshore and some of south Phuket's best shore snorkelling, plus kayaks and paddleboards for rent. It is small and gets busy, rocks in the water make swimming less comfortable, and visitors report rubbish floating in the bay.
The character of the beach
A profile, not a mark: where Ya Nui Beach sits on four scales, and what it is known for.
- Lively
- For children
- Surf
- Snorkelling
No lifeguards · Soft white sand between rocky points
What is good about Ya Nui Beach
Snorkelling from the sand
Rocky areas at both sides and the middle point attract plenty of fish close to shore; gear rents for 100 THB.
Paddle to Koh Man
Kayaks rent for about 100 THB an hour and paddleboards for 300 THB; the island is a few minutes away, with more fish and coral around it.
A picture-perfect cove
The little cape in the middle, grassy slopes and the island behind make it one of the south's most photographed bays.
Sunset without the crowds
The beach faces the sunset; many people watch it here rather than at crowded Promthep Cape.
Shaded lunch across the road
Royros and Ya Nui Restaurant have big outdoor seating areas under tall trees, a few steps from the sand.
Before you swim at Ya Nui Beach
Kayak to Koh Man
The island is a short paddle away; a kayak is the easy way across.
Boats and kayaks
Yachts, fishing boats and longtails anchor in the bay and kayaks cross it; look up when you surface.
Best from November to April
From May to October the swell often makes the bay too rough for snorkelling and swimming.
No lifeguard post
There is no lifeguard post; snorkel with a buddy and stay close to shore.
Floating rubbish
Visitors sometimes report rubbish floating in the bay; wind can also make kayaking hard work.
Beach clubs, bars and restaurants on Ya Nui Beach
1 place open on the sand in September 2026, walked south to north, then the road behind the beach and a few minutes inland. A price level is what one visit typically costs a person.
A few minutes inland
Royros Restaurant
Restaurant · the road behind · 09:00–19:00 on Wednesday (Google Maps shows one day; the other days to check)
An open-air Thai restaurant at Ya Nui Beach, beside the road down to Promthep Cape.
Ya Nui Restaurant
Restaurant · the road behind · 09:30–19:00 on Wednesday (Google Maps shows one day; the other days to check)
A local Thai restaurant across the road from Ya Nui Beach, in the shade of tall trees.
Ya Nui kayak and snorkel rental
Water sports · on the sand
Vendors on Ya Nui Beach renting snorkel gear (100 THB), kayaks (about 100 THB an hour, for two adults or one adult and two children) and stand-up paddleboards (300 THB an hour).
Windmill Viewpoint
Viewpoint · a short drive
A hilltop lookout beside a large wind turbine between Nai Harn and Ya Nui, looking down on Ya Nui Beach and the islet Koh Man.
Promthep Cape
Viewpoint · a short drive · open 24 hours
The southern tip of Phuket island, a headland that is the island's most popular place to watch the sunset.
Summore Day Cafe
Café · a short drive · daily 10:00–20:00
A hillside café, restaurant and bar on the road up to Promthep Cape, with terraced gardens above the Andaman Sea and Ko Man in the middle of the view.
What it costs to live near Ya Nui Beach
6 months or more
Apartments
฿40,000/ month
median of 2 · from ฿18,000
Villas
฿152,000/ month
median of 2 · from ฿100,500
Townhouses
฿83,000/ month
median of 2 · from ฿65,500
- The zone
- The waterline
- Chosen step: The zone
- A home and its rent
- A place, as the list numbers it
Homes for rent near Ya Nui Beach
6 months or more
- homes for rent nearby
- 11
- within a 13-minute walk of the sand
- 6
- the nearest home to the sand
- 180 m
A couple of the restaurants across the road rent basic bungalows. Most homes and hotels are in Nai Harn and Rawai, a few minutes' drive away.
Homes by type
Rent a month
6 homes in the beach zone
2‑bedroom townhouse in Ya Nui, Sea Breeze Estate
฿65,500/ month
180 m to the sand · 2 min on foot
2‑bedroom villa in Ya Nui, Casuarina Park
฿100,500/ month
180 m to the sand · 2 min on foot
- Rooftop pool
Studio apartment in Ya Nui, Sea Breeze Estate
฿18,000/ month
190 m to the sand · 2 min on foot
- Sea view
2‑bedroom townhouse in Ya Nui, Sea Breeze Estate
฿83,000/ month
210 m to the sand · 3 min on foot
2‑bedroom apartment in Ya Nui, Andaman Residence
฿40,000/ month
400 m to the sand · 5 min on foot
- Workspace
- Pets allowed
4‑bedroom villa in Ya Nui, Casuarina Park
฿152,000/ month
420 m to the sand · 5 min on foot
Around Ya Nui Beach
Every place inside the beach zone, by category: choose one to see its places, nearest the water first, each numbered as its mark on the map.
Ya Nui Beach by month
The season · November to April
Calm sea, clear water
November to April: clear, warm water with the best visibility for snorkelling and calm days for kayaking. Busiest in high season and at weekends.
The monsoon · May to October
Waves, walks and red flags
May to October: rough seas rule out most snorkelling; with a swell, bodyboarders use the north end. The sunset and the viewpoints are still worth the trip.
| Month | The sea |
|---|---|
| Jan | Calm |
| Feb | Calm |
| Mar | Calm |
| Apr | Calm |
| May | Changing |
| Jun | Rough |
| Jul | Rough |
| Aug | Rough |
| Sep | Rough |
| Oct | Changing |
| Nov | Calm |
| Dec | Calm |
Calm: swim any day Changing: check the flags Rough: monsoon swell, red flags on many days
Ya Nui Beach with children
Ya Nui is fun for families with children who can swim and snorkel: fish close to shore, shells in the soft sand and kayaks for two adults or an adult with two children. Rocks in the water make it less comfortable for toddlers, and there are no lifeguards.
- Fish to spot a few metres from the sand.
- Shells for children to collect.
- Kayaks take two adults or one adult and two children; life jackets available.
- Rocks in the shallows: water shoes help.
Getting to Ya Nui Beach and parking
- From the airport, by car
- 55–75 min
- From Patong, with the traffic
- 45–55 min
- From Phuket Town
- 30–45 min
Ya Nui is on the coast road between Nai Harn and Promthep Cape. From Nai Harn, drive over the hill past Windmill Viewpoint for about 5 minutes; the beach is on the right. From Rawai, follow the signs to Promthep Cape and drive downhill for about 10 minutes; the beach is on the left.
- By car. Follow the signs to Promthep Cape and Rawai Beach; parking is along the beach road.
- By scooter. The easiest way to combine Ya Nui with Nai Harn, Windmill Viewpoint and Promthep Cape.
- Grab and taxis. Taxis and ride-hailing apps reach the beach road; arrange a ride back in advance.
- On foot. From Nai Harn, walk over the hill past Windmill Viewpoint.
Parking. Parking along the road behind the beach.
Who will love Ya Nui Beach, and who will not
Will love it
- Snorkellers: fish from the sand and coral around Koh Man.
- Couples after a kayak trip and a sunset away from Promthep's crowds.
- Day-trippers doing the southern loop of Nai Harn, Windmill Viewpoint, Promthep Cape and Rawai.
Will not
- Anyone hoping for a deserted cove: it gets busy in high season and at weekends.
- Anyone unsteady on rocks: the shallows are rocky in places.
Tips for Ya Nui Beach
Kayak rather than swim to Koh Man
The crossing is only for strong swimmers; a kayak costs about 100 THB an hour.
Watch the wind
On breezy days, paddling back from the island can be hard work; stay close if the wind picks up.
Snorkel at mid to high tide
The water covers the rocks better, so you are less likely to touch coral or urchins.
Come on a weekday
The cove is small and fills up at weekends and in high season.
Stay for sunset
The beach faces the sunset and is much calmer than Promthep Cape.
Bring a bag for rubbish
Visitors report litter in the bay; take yours home.
Questions about Ya Nui Beach
Is Ya Nui Beach good for snorkelling?
Yes, it is one of the best shore snorkelling spots in south Phuket. Fish gather around the rocks a few metres from the sand, and the water around Koh Man has healthy coral and clownfish. Go from November to April.
How much does it cost to rent a kayak at Ya Nui Beach?
About 100 THB an hour for a kayak, 300 THB an hour for a stand-up paddleboard and 100 THB for snorkel gear.
Can you swim to Koh Man from Ya Nui?
Only if you are a strong swimmer. A kayak is the easiest way; the island is a few minutes' paddle away.
Is Ya Nui Beach good for swimming?
It is good in the dry season, best at the north end. Rocks in the shallows make it less comfortable than sandy beaches, especially for children.
Where can I eat at Ya Nui Beach?
Royros and Ya Nui Restaurant are just across the road, with big shaded seating areas; vendors on the beach sell snacks, fruit and drinks.
Is there parking at Ya Nui Beach?
Yes, along the road behind the beach.
Is Ya Nui good for sunset?
Yes. The beach faces the sunset and is a calmer alternative to crowded Promthep Cape.
How do I get to Ya Nui Beach?
From Nai Harn, drive over the hill past Windmill Viewpoint for about 5 minutes; the beach is on the right. From Rawai, follow the signs to Promthep Cape and continue downhill for about 10 minutes.