ํYanui Beach — Attraction in Rawai

Important - the ocean currents in the waters between the beach and island can be unpredictably strong and can be very dangerous.

When we were staying at Yanui Beach in December 2019, a tourist and a Thai person went missing at sea in a kayak rented from the beach. They were only kayaking to the nearby island and it is presumed that they were caught in a strong current and possibly capsized. Before they lost contact with shore, they phoned their friends who had been kayaking with them before they became separated, and told them that they were unable to make it back to the beach.

This happened on the first day we arrived at Yanui Beach. Every day following, for 1 week, the Navy set up a large command centre 24/7 at the beach and they conducted all-day searches every day by boat, with divers, and by helicopter. It seemed to be a thorough and well-organized search effort, covering a large area offshore in a grid search.

Unfortunately the couple was never found. I'm not sure that many people spending time at this beach realize the potential for danger in the strong currents further from shore, especially because this beach is so near the southern Cape where ocean currents curling around the island can be especially treacherous.

I report this because at the time I did not see signs posted at the beach warning of the potential of strong currents. Perhaps this has changed since the tragedy. I'm not sure if kayak renters are briefed on the potential danger and given any safety instructions. I couldn’t imagine renting a kayak for a couple of hours during my holiday and being swept out to sea to my death. It's really horrible to think about what those people went through.

Having said all of this as an important safety warning, I want to emphasize that the snorkeling around the beach is phenomenal. As well as swimming within schools of thousands of sparkling silver fish, I observed cuttlefish who seemed just as curious of my presence as I was of them. It is advisable to only snorkel near shore if you are not a strong swimmer, and be aware of the shallow rocks nearby, because when a current unexpectedly flows through, it WILL move you quickly and that may be into a rock covered in urchins.

I hope this information is helpful. If you want more information about the couple that went missing from this beach on their kayak, just search 'missing Yanui Beach December 2019' as there were a number of local news reports...

If I could give negative starts to this place, I would.

We come to this beach often. It’s nice enough and the restaurants across the street are great. Today, we rented some snorkeling equipment from the shop shown below. People seemed nice. We rented two snorkeling sets - well, one pair of goggles/snorkel, two life jackets, and two pairs of fins. The total came to 500 baht

The goggles had a leak and filled up with water (tested on two people’s faces), so we went back and asked to change to another one. Second pair also had a leak and filled up with water for both of us. After 45 minutes of adjusting, tightening, loosening, and trading (we’d brought one pair of goggles/snorkel from home), we decided to just go back and ask for our money back. This is where the problem came in.

Instead of giving our money back, the rather round woman (seen in the photo) told us she will give us half back and we need to leave. We tried to speak with her and she called over her husband (?) who also told us half back. We politely told them we cannot use the snorkeling gear if it is broken when rented, but she told us that we only tried two pairs of goggles and that’s not enough to say her products don’t work - then told us we need to try 10 different pairs before she’ll give us a refund. We said ok, and her husband came over and started talking politely to us about how they can only give half back. At this point, the woman pulled out her phone and started taking photos of us, quad took photos of the 250 she gave us back when we finally left 50% short. While she was taking photos of us, her husband started telling us we have to listen to him and can’t speak, kept telling us that we already touched his equipment so he can’t give us a refund for the rentals, and after a 3 minute monologue, he told us the conversation is over and we need to leave now.

We said ok we’re leaving and took pictures of the place, and the woman ran over and started shouting at us, telling us to delete them. She said she’d delete the pictures she had taken of us, but we told her to keep them and we will also take our own.

Long story short, this place has horrible customer service, extremely rude employees, and a real surprise in this wonderful country. Go to the shop next door, they’re much...

Beautiful & Peaceful Yanui Beach – Worth a Visit! 🌊🏝️ My wife and I spent a relaxing day at Yanui Beach, and overall, it was a great experience! This hidden gem is a fantastic spot for those looking to escape the crowds and enjoy a more laid-back, natural beach setting.

What We Loved 💙 ✔ Calm & peaceful atmosphere – Unlike the busier beaches in Phuket, Yanui Beach offers a more tranquil experience, perfect for couples and those looking to unwind. 💆‍♂️🌿 ✔ Good for snorkeling & kayaking – The water is clear, and there’s a variety of marine life to see. We saw some beautiful fish while snorkeling, and kayaking around the nearby small islands was a lot of fun! 🏊‍♂️🐠🚣‍♀️ ✔ Soft sand & scenic views – The combination of sandy shores and dramatic rock formations makes for stunning scenery, especially during sunset. 🌅

What Needs Improvement 🚨 ❌ A bit far from Phuket’s main attractions – If you’re staying in Patong or other popular areas, getting here takes some time. It’s best to visit as part of a day trip rather than making a quick stop. 🛵⏳ ❌ Mixed seabed – Be careful! – The shoreline has a mix of sand and sharp rocks, and unfortunately, some of the rocks are quite jagged. I actually cut my foot on one of them, so I highly recommend wearing water shoes when swimming. 🩴🚑

Local Guide Pro Tips 🔥 ✔ Bring water shoes – The seabed has sharp rocks in some areas, so protect your feet! ✔ Best time to visit? Morning or late afternoon for fewer crowds and cooler weather. ✔ Bring snorkeling gear – The water is clear, and there are some great spots to explore. ✔ Combine with a visit to Windmill Viewpoint – It’s close by and offers amazing panoramic views!

Final Verdict Yanui Beach is a beautiful, peaceful spot perfect for relaxation, snorkeling, and kayaking. While it’s a bit far from Phuket’s main attractions and has some rocky seabed hazards, the natural beauty and calm atmosphere make it well worth a visit. Just be sure to wear water shoes and enjoy the experience!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 – A hidden gem, but...