The Small but Charming Ya Nui Beach
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Ya Nui beach is a charming tiny bay, tucked in a cove between the Windmill Viewpoint and famous Promthep Cape in the very south of Phuket Island. It looks like a secret beach, but it is very well known and can be busy on some days. Don’t expect to find a deserted secret beach such as Banana Beach, in the north of Phuket or the hard to reach Nui Beach nearby.
The beach is tiny, with a unique rock formation splitting it into two bays, and a large island in front of it. The water is blue-green and beautiful, except maybe in the northern part where a small stream reaches the sea, and sand is thin and powdery.
You’ll find an occasional beach chair and even a diving centre operating near the beach. Tiny thatch-roofed restaurants serve all the usual Thai foods, nothing fancy, but you get to cold drink with your feet in the sand, and this only is enough to stop for a break.
What makes the small cove of Ya Nui beach unusual and attractive is the small cape in the middle, the big island in the background and the grassy slopes on each side. The bay is frequently sheltering yachts and fishing boats and is also a beautiful beach for easy snorkelling, with clear waters and plenty of rocky areas. If you feel like going a bit further away, you can rent a kayak. In case you fall in love with the beach, you’ll find across the road the ‘Yanui Bungalows’ a very local accommodation with a restaurant and diving centre.
Where to Eat in Ya Nui
There is only one restaurant in Ya Nui, which also happens to rent basic bungalows. It’s called Ya Nui Bungalow, and it’s just across the street from the beach, set in the welcome shade of tall trees, it is a perfect place for lunch. They serve excellent Thai food at the right price so don’t hesitate.
How to Get to Ya Nui
Ya Nui is very easy to find. If you come from Kata or Patong, take the direction of Nai Harn Beach and keep driving through. Follow the signs to Promthep Cape and Rawai beach. The road curves a lot and goes up and down. Keep your eyes on the side of the road not to miss it: in the lowest curve, you will see cars parked on one side and a restaurant under the trees on the other side. You will understand as soon as you see it (see photo below). There is little parking in front of the beach, but you can also park on the road that turns right, perpendicular to the main road.
Ya Nui Beach Photos
