Besides public free beaches, there are several paid locations on Phuket Island. One of them is Nui Beach – a stunning shore with beautiful spots and photo zones. Everyone who comes to the island dreams of getting here. The fame of this amazing place goes beyond the island and all of Thailand.
The small Nui Beach is located in the southwest part of the island, near Nai Harn and Kata Noi beaches. It consists of two bays, separated by boulders. On one side, there is coarse yellow sand, and on the other, small pebbles are mixed in, so there are usually fewer people. But in general, you won't be able to find complete solitude. The entrance to the area is paid, but the beach is always crowded.
The entrance to the sea has rocks lazily scattered near the water's edge, making them perfect for creating stunning photos. Most tourists come here precisely for beautiful shots, as this place offers not only breathtaking nature and scenic views but also many interesting locations that tourists love.
Benches, rope swings, woven cocoons, and a photo bathtub – these are the highlights of Nui Beach. They blend harmoniously into the wonderful locations created by nature. The photo zones can be used for free, of course, after paying for entry to the beach.
Just a few years ago, this place was open for free visits, but it’s worth noting that there were no impressive photo spots either. Now, as of the 2025 season, visiting this picturesque shore costs 300 baht if you arrive by land. The fee includes a pickup truck ride to the entrance, an entry ticket, and a bottle of water. If you come by sea, the entry fee is 100 baht, but renting a boat from nearby beaches can cost up to 1,500 baht.
Nui Beach on Phuket Island is surrounded by green mountains on different sides. A picturesque palm grove is located near the shore, but don’t expect to hide in its shade. After 11 a.m., the sun lights up the entire area. You can only find shade within the grove or under umbrellas near the sunbeds.
Comfortable resting spots are set up near the café, as there are no sunbeds in other parts of the beach. The sunbeds are technically free – you just need to order something from the café and relax under a large umbrella while enjoying the view of the turquoise Andaman Sea.
The water in the sea is clear, the entry is smooth, there is enough depth for swimming, and there are almost no waves. However, you should enter the water carefully, as sharp stones are sometimes found on the seabed. Having special water shoes would be great, as they can help prevent possible injuries.
However, the swimming area is quite small, and there are usually many tourists. Everyone wants to see the legendary secret beach with their own eyes, so swimming alone is not always possible.
There is a café on the beach. It is cozily nestled under the palm trees and offers visitors the chance to have a snack in the shade of the trees or under umbrellas. The prices are not the most pleasant – you can have lunch much cheaper elsewhere on the island. But the fact that your meal will be accompanied by luxurious sea views and wonderful man-made photo zones probably adds to its value and justifies the prices.
There are several free toilets on the small beach, as well as an outdoor shower.
Near the parking lot, there are also a few small restaurants. Their prices are not much different from those at the beachfront café, but visiting them for variety might be a good idea.
The main attraction in this area is Nui Beach itself. You probably won’t take as many amazing photos anywhere else nearby. Everything here is designed for tourists who love beautiful backgrounds.
But if you’re looking for new impressions, you can visit Karon View Point, which is located nearby. From there, you can see several Phuket beaches. It’s a truly spectacular sight!
There are many more activities than nearby attractions. You can keep yourself entertained all day by choosing from:
- Canoeing
- Riding a glass-bottom boat
- Scuba diving or snorkeling
- Trying underwater hunting
- Relaxing with a Thai massage session
The prices are average for Thailand, so it doesn’t really matter which island beach you choose to add some active recreation to your vacation.
One of the fun activities here is swinging over a cliff. It gives you an adrenaline rush and results in fantastic photos, capturing you in flight against the deep blue sky and turquoise sea.
Nui Beach is called "secret" for a reason – it’s not just a marketing trick to attract tourists. It is truly hard to access and completely deserted beyond its borders. There are no hotels or bungalows on the beach. Simply because there isn’t much space for buildings, and what little space there was has been taken up by cafés.
The nearest hotels are located near the neighboring beaches – Kata Noi, Kata, Karon, and Nai Harn. You can book a room there, but that doesn’t mean tourists will come to this picturesque and photogenic beach every day.
First, the entrance fee can be a deterrent, especially since there are many great free beaches on the island.
Second, getting to Nui Beach is another challenge, and not everyone would want to go through it a second time.
If you are driving from Kata Beach towards Nai Harn, you will pass a beautiful viewpoint – Kata-Karon Viewpoint. After the viewpoint, continue down the main road, and on the right, you will see a sign saying "Nui Beach" and a large dirt parking lot.
You can still reach the parking lot with any vehicle, though a small section of dirt road might make for a bumpy ride. From the parking lot, a mountain road leads to the beach. In the past, visitors had to walk down, but now a small pickup truck service is available to take tourists to the entrance in a few minutes. However, this extreme ride will be unforgettable! Still, the reward for this adventure is a luxurious hidden beach that will leave you with special memories. This is a unique side of Phuket that you definitely need to see!
