Skip to main content
Visit Thailand Today

Nui Bay

A small sheltered cove on Lanta's west coast, forested hills behind, and far fewer people than the big beaches.

4.6(1,847)
Directions
Featured in: The 10 Best Beaches in Koh Lanta, Ranked

Plan your visit

Hours
Open 24 hours daily

Check Monsoon Windows

Andaman coast beaches (Phuket, Krabi) have rough seas May–October. Koh Samui's beaches are roughest October–December, and Hua Hin's wettest months are September and October. Plan your beach trip around these windows for calm water and safe swimming.

Stay within reach of Nui Bay

Sponsored

Search Koh Lanta hotels with your dates. Filter for free cancellation if you want to hold a room and decide later.

See hotels near Nui Bay

Opens Booking.com with your dates

Also compare on Expedia · Trip.com

Best rated within a 11-minute walk

Details

Address
Moo 5 Ao Nui Bay Tambon Ko Lanta Yai, Amphoe Ko Lanta, Chang Wat Krabi 81150, Thailand
Full opening hours
MondayOpen 24 hours
TuesdayOpen 24 hours
WednesdayOpen 24 hours
ThursdayOpen 24 hours
FridayOpen 24 hours
SaturdayOpen 24 hours
SundayOpen 24 hours

Why go, and how to do it well

Come here for the size, not despite it. This is a small cove on the west coast of Koh Lanta Yai, hemmed in by forested hills that run right down to the sand, and that shelter keeps the water calmer than the long open beaches further north. Good for a swim, good for a snorkel, not much good if you want beach bars and a row of loungers. There are a few facilities nearby, but it stays low-key.

Go early. There's no gate and no closing time, so first light is yours, and by mid-morning the day-trippers start filtering in. November to April is when the Andaman behaves itself and the water clears up. In the green season you'll often have the place close to yourself, though the sea can turn moody.

I'd treat it as a half-day stop rather than a base. Bring water and something to eat if you plan to stay put.

Written by Mac Kiley · Updated Sep 2026

Tours that include Nui Bay

Guided visits and day-tour combos that include Nui Bay.

Sponsored · GetYourGuide
Tours here

Nui Bay: tickets, guides & combos

Most bookings cancel free up to 24 hours ahead

See prices

Around here, on foot

Well-rated places within a short walk of Nui Bay, nearest first. Minutes are at an easy pace in the heat.

Experience hints

Visitor favorite

Moo 5 Ao Nui Bay Tambon Ko Lanta Yai, Amphoe Ko Lanta, Chang Wat Krabi 81150, Thailand

Open in Google Maps

More beaches nearby

All within 1.6 km of Nui Bay.

Klong Jak Beach

Klong Jak Beach

580 m walk4.7(660)
Ko Lanta Yai, Ko Lanta, Krabi, 81150, ตำบล เกาะลันตาใหญ่ อำเภอเกาะลันตา กระบี่ 81150, Thailand
A secluded white-sand beach on Koh Lanta's southern coast, known for calm waters and a relaxed atmosphere.
Bakantiang Beach
Hidden Gem

Bakantiang Beach

690 m walk4.6(368)
ทางหลวงจังหวัดหมายเลข 4245 Tambon Ko Lanta Yai, Amphoe Ko Lanta, Chang Wat Krabi 81150, Thailand
A rainforest-fringed beach on Koh Lanta with waterfront bars, eateries, dive schools, and beachside stays.
Kantiang Bay

Kantiang Bay

1.2 km away4.5(603)
152-152/1 Moo 5 Kantiang Bay, Amphoe Ko Lanta
Kantiang Bay is southern Koh Lanta's horseshoe of jungle-backed sand — the beach that convinces people to extend their stay. Steep green hills wrap around both headlands, the swimming is good year-round in season, and sunsets fill the whole bay. It's far enough from Lanta's busier northern beaches (
Bamboo Beach

Bamboo Beach

1.6 km away4.3(1,174)
Bamboo Beach, Ko Lanta Yai, Ko Lanta District, Krabi, Thailand
A quiet, accessible beach on Koh Lanta's north end, popular for its calm waters and relaxed atmosphere.

Tips for Visiting Beaches

Go Early for Empty Sand

Even the busiest beaches are nearly deserted before 9 AM. A sunrise walk is the best hour of the day on the sand, and you'll beat the heat for a morning swim.

Use Reef-Safe Sunscreen

Many Thai marine parks ban chemical sunscreens that damage coral. Bring reef-safe (mineral/zinc-based) sunscreen from home — it's harder to find and pricier in Thailand.

Nui Bay: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nui Bay worth visiting?

Nui Bay holds a 4.6★ rating from 1,847 Google reviews, placing it among the highest-rated beaches in Koh Lanta.

What are the opening hours of Nui Bay?

Nui Bay is open 24 hours a day — see the full day-by-day schedule in the location info on this page. Hours can change on Thai public holidays, so check ahead for holiday visits.

When is the best time to visit Nui Bay?

The best months to visit Koh Lanta are November – April, with the most reliable weather. Crowds peak in December – January & European school vacations — going early in the day usually means fewer people. Months to think twice about: May – October (monsoon; many businesses close).

Where is Nui Bay located?

Nui Bay is at Moo 5 Ao Nui Bay Tambon Ko Lanta Yai, Amphoe Ko Lanta, Chang Wat Krabi 81150, Thailand, in Koh Lanta. Getting around Koh Lanta: Motorbike rental (฿250–300/day; one main road runs the west coast); Tuk-tuks and songthaews along the beach road.

Also popular in Koh Lanta

Nomad Beach Bar Koh Lanta
Hidden Gem

Nomad Beach Bar Koh Lanta

4.9(124)$$$$
109 Moo 5 Bamboo Beach, Yai, 4245 Following Giants Rd, ตำบล เกาะลันตาใหญ่ อำเภอเกาะลันตา กระบี่ 81150, Thailand
A beachfront bar on Bamboo Beach serving food and drinks in a relaxed, open-air setting.
Phoenix Divers - Koh Lanta Diving, Freediving, Snorkeling

Phoenix Divers - Koh Lanta Diving, Freediving, Snorkeling

4.9(1,677)
Sala Dan, Ko Lanta District, Krabi 81150, Thailand
Sharp instructors, clear briefings and proper food on the boat, though the decks do get crowded.
Koh Ngai

Koh Ngai

4.6(319)
Ko Lanta Yai, Kantang District
A tiny Trang island with one long east-facing beach, no town and no roads, just turquoise shallows, coral you can swim to, and three islets in the view.
Why Not Bar

Why Not Bar

4.3(1,464)$$$$
9, Yai, Tambon Ko Lanta Yai, Amphoe Ko Lanta, Chang Wat Krabi 81150, Thailand
Barefoot beach bar with live guitar, an 8:30pm fire show and mains around ฿150–250.

Similar Beaches across Thailand

Railay West Beach

Railay West Beach

4.5(7,719)
2R7P+7RP, Ao Nang, Mueang Krabi District, Krabi 81000, Thailand
The swimming beach on the west side of the Railay peninsula, white sand between limestone cliffs, where the Ao Nang longtails land for ฿100 each way.
Long Beach Koh Phi Phi

Long Beach Koh Phi Phi

4.7(3,829)
PQHP+PGM, Ao Nang, Mueang Krabi District, Krabi 81000, Thailand
Take the 100-baht longtail, not the walk, and come in the morning before the tide drops.
Suan Son Pradiphat Beach

Suan Son Pradiphat Beach

4.6(2,943)
Unnamed Road Tambon Nong Kae, Amphoe Hua Hin, Chang Wat Prachuap Khiri Khan 77110, Thailand
Pine shade, calm water and mostly Thai families, about as far from the Hua Hin resort strip as you can get.
Thong Nai Pan
Featured

Thong Nai Pan

4.6(1,619)
Thong Nai Pan Beach
Two horseshoe bays on Phangan's northeast corner, calm water, jungle behind, and no party noise.
Featured in These Guides
2-Week Thailand Itinerary

2-Week Thailand Itinerary

14-day itinerary

Solo Female Travel in Thailand

Solo Female Travel in Thailand

Specialist guide