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Ao Yon Beach
Ao is the Thai word for bay. At the south end of Cape Panwa is Ao Yon (Yon Bay). There are two beaches in Ao Yon split by a small headland. The beach that is next to the road is very average. The beach you cannot see from the road is the best in South Phuket.
The beach by the road is a nice enough stretch of sand. The seabed is a little muddy and the series of wastewater pipes running into the sea do not exactly encourage you to go bathing. It does have the very pleasant and friendly Ship Inn at one end. It is a restaurant and bar serving good and reasonably priced Thai and western food.
On the other side of the headland is the nice beach. You can't quite see it from the road so see below for directions.
This is an idyllic and relaxing location. It is the location of Phuket Yacht Club so the bay is full of sailboats. At weekends, they bring local children for a sail.
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The beach is nice white sand, perhaps just a little course and gravelly but nice enough. the beach slopes smoothly into the sea making a nice bathing beach. The bay is quite sheltered and since it is on the southern side of the island, it often avoids the worst of the monsoon season waves so it can be safe to play even in the rainy season.
A small restaurant has recently opened and they rent a handful of sun loungers on the beach or under the trees. They are free of chargeif you are eating or drinking at the restaurant. It is a great place to chill out. The beach is generally quiet and the locals are very friendly. You can watch the odd boat sail out, take a swim or a stroll and while the day away.
The food and drink pricess are not the cheapest on the island but reasonable enough for the location.
The beach is ringed by coconut palms and some residential housing. You can find some very reasonably priced long-term rentals here considering the beach side location.
The rings of white bouys in the middle of the bay are a pearl farm.
How to Get There
There are several routes to the beach. Here is one:
Get onto the Cape Panwa east coast road (Novotel Hotel side). One way there is to drive into Cape Panwa on Sakdidet Road. Turn right at the third set of traffic lights (7-Eleven on the corner) and you will come to a three-way intersection with a small monument in the middle. Turn left at this intersection and follow the road until it meets the mouth of a small river and swings left. Take the next right turn and you are on eastern coast road (Khao Khat Road).
Keep driving south along the Khao Khat Road passed Khao Khat Beach and it will swing left over a hill and down to Ao Yon.
If you keep going, you will come to the average side of the beach. However, before that you should see a model giraffe and then a sign pointing down the hill that says 'Beach Bar'. You should park your vehicle by nthe side of the orad and walk the hundred meters down to the nice beach.
Accommodation
No hotels at this beach. It is sometimes possible to find short term property rentals.
See our Accommodation section for more advice about finding rooms.
