Ya Nui Beach
Small cove on the Promthep road with a rock-and-coral reef for snorkelling from the sand; kayaks for rent.
Nai Harn · 150 m · Lifeguards: None · November–April · Revision Sep 5, 2026
Key facts
as of September 2026 · All sources- 150 m
- Length
- None
- Lifeguards
- partly sheltered by headlands
- Exposure
- moderate
- Rip risk, May–Oct
- low
- Rip risk, Nov–Apr
- November–April
- Best months
- roadfree
- Access
- 28.8–31.0 °C
- Sea °C
- $29 per car, index median
- Airport taxi to Nai Harn
Short answer
Ya Nui Beach is 150 m of sand in Nai Harn, partly sheltered by headlands, without lifeguards, reached by road free of charge. Best months to swim: November–April; rip-current risk from May to October: moderate. Good for snorkelling, children, quiet.
Ya Nui is the small cove on the road between Nai Harn and Promthep Cape, split in two by a rocky outcrop and fronted by a shallow reef that makes it the easiest snorkelling from the sand in the south: parrotfish and sergeant-majors a few strokes from the beach in the calm months. Kayaks and masks are rented on the beach and Koh Man, the islet offshore, is a paddle away. It is partly sheltered by the headlands but still takes the south-west swell and, with no lifeguards, is not a green-season swim. It fills with a coachload for an hour most high-season mornings and is otherwise quiet. The Windmill Viewpoint above it is the sunset spot.
Source: phuket101 — Nai Harn Beach guide (Ya Nui) (Sep 5, 2026) · All sources
Sea by month
| Month | Sea state | Rough days | Sea °C | Best months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | calm | 0 | 28.8 | yes |
| Feb | calm | 0 | 29.1 | yes |
| Mar | calm | 0 | 29.8 | yes |
| Apr | calm | 0 | 30.7 | yes |
| May | some swell | 4 | 31.0 | — |
| Jun | some swell | 8 | 30.1 | — |
| Jul | some swell | 13 | 29.9 | — |
| Aug | some swell | 9 | 29.9 | — |
| Sep | some swell | 12 | 29.4 | — |
| Oct | calm | 2 | 29.5 | — |
| Nov | calm | 0 | 29.8 | yes |
| Dec | calm | 0 | 29.0 | yes |
Source: Open-Meteo (ERA5), 2015–2026 (island rough-sea days, 2015–2025, damped for a beach that is partly sheltered by headlands); Open-Meteo Marine API (sea-surface temperature, 2022-12–2026-09).
Median monthly mean, west-coast grid point, 2022-12–2026-09 · Open-Meteo Marine API
Island rough-sea days, median per calendar month, 2015–2025; the beach's best months in the figure colour · Open-Meteo (ERA5), 2015–2026
The table above applies the island's marine normals to this beach: median rough-sea days per calendar month from Open-Meteo (ERA5), 2015–2026 (2015–2025, marine fields from 2022), damped by the beach's shelter, and median sea-surface temperature from Open-Meteo Marine API (2022-12–2026-09). Calm months here: October–April. Some swell: May–September. No month is rough here on the model. The sea is 28.8–31.0 °C as monthly medians, warm in every month; temperature never decides a swim on Phuket, the sea state does. The best-months row is the beach's own calm season and is derived, not opinion.
Safety
Ya Nui Beach is partly sheltered by headlands, which decides its year. A headland takes the edge off the south-west swell, so on the island's rough-sea months (May–September) the sea here is usually 'some swell' rather than 'rough', and the beach is often usable when the open beaches are red-flagged; the rip-current risk from May to October is moderate, and rips still run off the rocks at the ends on big days. There are no lifeguards, so the judgement is yours. Phuket records around 30–40 drownings a year, most of them between May and October on the open west coast; the hospitals catalogue names the nearest 24-hour emergency room from Nai Harn, and the emergency number is 1669. Jellyfish drift in after storms on the whole coast; vinegar is the first aid.
Facilities
- Loungersyes
- Restaurantsyes
- Toiletsyes
- Showersno
- Parkingyes
- Natural shadeyes
A few loungers, kayak and snorkel rental, a couple of restaurants across the road.
Getting there
road · free
On the coast road between Nai Harn and Promthep Cape; roadside parking.
$29 Airport taxi to Nai Harn, per car, index median, September 2026 · n = 5
Hotels in Nai HarnAirport transfer to Nai HarnLiving in Nai Harn
Getting there
On the coast road between Nai Harn and Promthep Cape; roadside parking. There is no entry fee. The beach is 1.5 km from the centre of Nai Harn as the site defines it. From the airport, the taxi-counter fare to Nai Harn was $29 per car as the index median in September 2026 (5 observations); the airport-transfer page compares taxi, ride-hailing, minivan and the Smart Bus for the area. 45 km separate the airport from Nai Harn by road. The nearest other beaches in this catalogue are Nai Harn Beach (1.3 km), Ao Sane Beach (2.1 km), Rawai Beach (3.3 km), Nui Beach (3.7 km).
Facilities
A few loungers, kayak and snorkel rental, a couple of restaurants across the road. Loungers, where present, are rented by the day from licensed operators in zones set after the 2014–2016 clean-ups. Natural shade exists behind the beach. Food and drink are available at or just behind the beach. Nearby in the things-to-do catalogue: Promthep Cape (0.4 km), Windmill Viewpoint (0.5 km). Hotels, villa rents and the cost of a day in Nai Harn are priced on the area page from the index.
Neighbouring beaches
- Nai Harn BeachLake-backed bay between two headlands with the clearest high-season water in the south; a yacht anchorage in the calm months.
- Ao Sane BeachThree tiny coves of coarse sand and boulders past the Nai Harn hotel driveway; snorkelling and a dive-centre feel.
- Rawai BeachLongtail-boat shore and seafood market rather than a swimming beach; the departure point for the southern islands.
- Nui BeachTiny cove below the Karon Viewpoint road, reached by a steep track; a beach-club operation was ordered removed in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ya Nui Beach safe for swimming?
In November–April, yes — the sea is calm on the island's marine normals. From May to October the rip-current risk is moderate: a headland softens the swell but rips run off the rocks on big days. There are no lifeguards. Red flag means no swimming; in an emergency call 1669.
When is the best time to visit Ya Nui Beach?
November–April. The sea is calm here in October–April, on the island's marine normals (Open-Meteo (ERA5), 2015–2026) applied to a beach that is partly sheltered by headlands. Sea temperature runs 28.8–31.0 °C through the year, so it is never the deciding factor.
How do you get to Ya Nui Beach?
On the coast road between Nai Harn and Promthep Cape; roadside parking. Entry is free. The airport taxi to Nai Harn was $29 per car as the index median in September 2026; Nai Harn is 45 km from the airport by road.
Does Ya Nui Beach have loungers, restaurants and toilets?
Loungers, Restaurants, Toilets, Parking, Natural shade; not showers. A few loungers, kayak and snorkel rental, a couple of restaurants across the road. Other beaches in Nai Harn: Nai Harn Beach, Ao Sane Beach.
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