Nui Beach is one of my favorite beaches on Phi Phi island. It’s one of the few beaches around the island that have no hotels or any tourist facilities on it. It’s a small but beautiful beach with white fine sand, crystal clear turquoise water, and stunning views of the limestone cliffs.
Many people take long tail boat trips to the beach but I walked all the way from Tonsai Beach and Village to Nui Beach. It was a lovely adventure, especially when the tide at Loh Lana Bay was a bit high.
In this article, I’ll show you the location of Nui Beach on Koh Phi Phi as well as how to get to Nui Beach, and things to do on Nui Beach.
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Where is Nui Beach, Koh Phi Phi?
Nui Beach is a secluded beach located on the northwest coast of Koh Phi Phi Don. It’s about 2.5 km by sea from Loh Dalum Beach, one of the island’s two main beaches. It’s a 10 minute long tail boat ride from Loh Dalum and Monkey Beach.
Nui Beach is the same area as Loh Lana Beach, Laem Tong, and Loh Ba Kao Beach. At low tide, you can walk from these beaches to Nui Beach. It’s around 15 minutes walk from Loh Lana, 30-45 minutes walk from Loh Ba Kao and Laem Tong Beach.
What’s on Nui Beach Koh Phi Phi Don?
Nui Beach is around 100m long sandy beach with crystal clear shallow water and white fine sand. The two sides of the beach are surrounded by limestone mountains. In front of the beach, there are several small cliffs including Camel Rocks that create a scenic backdrop for photos.
The beach is a good spot for swimming, sunbathing, kayaking, and snorkeling. Most people come with the boats with their snorkeling and kayaking equipment.
There are no facilities such as resorts, beach bars, or restaurants, umbrellas, or sunbeds on the beach. People also bring their own beach towels to the beach.
There are not many natural shades either. I visited the beach at mid-day around 1pm and it felt like it was burning, so I recommend bringing lots of suncream with you. Also consider taking enough water and snacks with you to enjoy at the beach.
Behind the beach, you can climb for 5 minutes through the rock to get to the other side of the hill where a small fishing village and Loh Lana Bay are located. I believed that there were no groceries or shops at the local fishing village.
Like most beaches around Koh Phi Phi, long-tail boats dock at Nui Beach, but you can still find spots that are safe for swimming and snorkeling.
Things to do in Nui Beach, Koh Phi Phi
Swimming, sunbathing, and snorkeling
The beach has crystal clear, shallow and calm water making it good for swimming and snorkeling. You can snorkel around the beach or at the Camel Rocks. You can also just chill, sun bathe, and take photos.
Kayaking to nearby Loh Lana Bay
Many people enjoy exploring Nui Bay and nearby beaches by kayaking. Their trip usually starts from Loh Dalum, then Nui Beach, then Loh Lana Bay.
If you don’t have time, I recommend skipping Loh Lana Bay as it’s not as stunning as Nui Beach. If you enjoy kayaking, it’s worth it to kayak for 20 minutes to Loh Lana Bay for more exploration.
How to get to Nui Beach, Koh Phi Phi?
There are three main ways to get to Nui Beach, which include walking, taking longtail boats, and kayaking. I personally walked to the beach and enjoyed the journey. Many people choose the easier option and take a long-tail boat to the beach.
Getting to Nui beach by Walking/ Hiking
Nui Beach is connected with Loh Lana Bay by a jungle trail and coastal trail. You can walk along the shore of Loh Lana at low tide to get to Nui Beach, so the walking/ hiking option is only doable at low tide.
Even though there were lots of signs along the trail, I still used the combination of Google Map and Map.me offline to help navigate the trail.
From Tonsai Bay, Tonsai Village, and Loh Dalum to Nui Beach
I planned to walk to Nui Beach, so I checked the tide before going. I started my walk at around 11am from Tonsai Village. At low tide, I was able to walk along the coastal trail north of Loh Da Lum Beach.
This trail passes Phi Phi Sunset Bay Resort. I walked along the big rocks on the shore until I reached a sign that showed the way to the jungle to head to Loh Lana, Nui bay, Laem Tong, and Loh Ba Kao. It was a 15-20 minute walk along the relatively flat jungle trail.
The trail is well marked and out of the jungle, you can see directions to Loh Lana to get to Nui Beach. It took me about 15 minutes to walk to Loh Lana Bay. When I arrived at Loh Lana, the tide was already up to my knees, but I still spotted the sign at the southern end of the beach saying “Nui Beach 20 mins.”
I still decided to wade along the shore to reach the fishing village, then follow the rope and climb the rocks to the other side of the hill to get to Nui Beach. The rock at the bottom of Loh Lana is quite sharp, so make sure to wear good shoes when walking along its shore.
It took me around 1.5 hours to reach Nui Beach from Tonsai village with lots of breaks along the way. I didn’t spend much time at Nui beach, as I was worried the tide was going to get higher and I might get stuck at Nui beach, but I was still able to wade back to the Loh lana.
There are plenty of long tail boats at Nui beach, you can speak to the boat drivers to see if they can take you back to the main village in case you get stuck at high tide. There is a fishing village nearby, you can also ask locals if they can help you.
Another hiking trail to get from Tonsai and Loh Dalum to Nui Beach is via Viewpoint 1,2, and 3. This way is longer as it involves steep stairs which can be exhausting on a hot day. The trail is well-marked and there is a sign along the way; you can follow directions to SAii Phi Phi Island Village Resort.
I like to take the coastal trail one way from Tonsai to Nui Beach then the way back I take the viewpoint trail. This way also allows me to see the Phi Phi Viewpoint 1,2 3 at sunset. When taking the walking route, I also combine a visit to Nui Beach with Laem Tong and Loh Ba Kao.
From North Koh Phi Phi: Loh Ba Kao and Laem Tong to Nui Beach
Loh Ba Kao and Laem Tong Beach are popular places to stay in Koh Phi Phi for those who want a peaceful holiday away from the crowds and noisy nightlife in Tonsai and Loh Dalum. These areas have a range of luxury resorts and many visitors choose to stay there.
It’s around 20 minutes walk from Loh Ba Kao to Loh Lana, 40 minutes walk from Laem Tong, and 20 minutes walk from Loh Lana to Nui Beach. The trail is paved and relatively flat so it’s easy to walk. In this part of the island, you’re able to catch tuk tuk to get to Loh Lana for around 100 baht.
Long Tail Boats (private and part of a guided tour)
For those who want an easier option to get to Nui Beach, you can easily take a long tail boat from any beaches around Koh Phi Phi. If you are staying in Tonsai Bay, Tonsai Village, or Long Beach, I recommend walking to Loh Dalum to get boats to Nui Beach for a cheaper price.
The price boat costs around 1200 baht two ways and the driver will wait for you to explore the beach. The journey is around 10 minutes. For a cheaper option, you can join a group boat tour that also stops at other beaches around the island.
Get to Nui Beach by Kayaking from Loh Dalum or Loh Lana Beach
If you enjoy kayaking, you can rent a kayak at Loh Dalum then head to Nui Beach for 40-50 minutes. Many people take the routes Loh Dalum, Monkey Beach, Nui Beach, and Loh Lana Beach. Nui Beach is a 20 minute kayak to Loh Lana. I’d only recommend this option when the water and sea are calm.
Where to stay in Nui Beach?
As I mentioned above, there is no accommodation and any tourist facilities on the beach. There is a small local fishing village with just a few families on the other side of the beach, across from the hill. If you want to stay near Nui Beach, you can choose to stay in Loh Ba Kao or Laem Tong Bay.
Loh Ba Kao is home to the five-star resort, SAii Phi Phi Island Village Resort, and a hippie village. Laem Tong, located a bit farther away, is home to a few mid-range and high-end resorts such as Holiday resort, P. P Erawan Palms Resort, Outrigger, and Phi Phi Natural resort.
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So, you have it, my brief introduction to Nui Beach, a small secluded beach on the far north of Koh Phi Phi. It’s well worth a visit if you appreciate the small, picture-postcard beach with white fine sand and crystal clear water and stunning views of the limestone cliffs.