How to get to Yona: the two-pier system, explained
Why there is no street address
Yona is a vessel, not a building — the full story is on is Yona really floating. The practical consequence is that it moves with the monsoon. From May to October the west-coast sea gets rough, so the club relocates to calmer water off the east coast; in the dry season it anchors in Patong Bay where the crowds are. Two anchorages, two piers, one timetable of shuttles from whichever pier is current.
High season: Patong Boat Pier (~mid-November to late March)
Patong is Phuket’s main nightlife beach town on the west coast, and in high season the shuttle leaves from Patong Boat Pier. If you are staying in Patong itself, the pier is a short hop; from elsewhere, agree the taxi or tuk-tuk fare before you get in, or use a ride app — fares quoted after the ride is the oldest trick on this coast. The dress check happens at this pier before boarding, so build in the 30-minute buffer.
Low season: Royal Phuket Marina (~late March to mid-November)
The rest of the year the club sits off the east coast and the shuttle runs from Royal Phuket Marina at Koh Kaew, near Phuket Town — roughly a 30–40 minute drive from Patong depending on traffic. Guests staying on the west-coast beaches consistently underestimate this leg. If your hotel is in Patong, Karon or Kata in, say, July, treat the journey like an airport run: leave early, agree the fare, and do not cut it fine against the last check-in time.
The shuttle itself
Boats run roughly every 20 minutes through the session, the crossing takes about 10 minutes, and the ride is included in every package — as is the return. Last check-in is around noon for the morning session and around 17:00 for the afternoon, and the hour-by-hour rhythm of the day is on the what to expect page. Arriving 30 minutes early is not bureaucracy; it covers check-in, the dress check and the queue for the next boat.
The number one mistake
Going to the wrong pier. Every season I hear from someone who taxied to Patong in June and watched an empty sea. When you book, note the pier for your date — the booking page covers where that information lives — and if your dates straddle late March or mid-November, double-check rather than assume.
Screenshot the pier name and its map pin the day you book, and show the screenshot to your driver. It removes the two failure points — your memory and the driver’s guess — in one move.
Book the session first, plan the taxi second
Frequently asked questions
How long is the boat ride to Yona Beach Club?
About 10 minutes each way on the club’s shuttle, which leaves roughly every 20 minutes from the current pier. The round trip is included in every ticket — what the rest of the day looks like is on the what to expect page.
Where does the Yona shuttle depart from?
Patong Boat Pier from about mid-November to late March, and Royal Phuket Marina near Phuket Town for the rest of the year, while the club sits off the east coast. Always confirm the pier for your specific date when booking.
How far is Yona from Patong?
In high season, barely at all — the shuttle leaves from Patong Boat Pier and the crossing is about 10 minutes. In low season add a ~30–40 minute drive across to Royal Phuket Marina first. The seasonal logic is explained on the vessel page.
What time should I arrive at the pier?
About 30 minutes before your slot — check-in and the dress check both happen on land, and last check-in is around noon for the morning session and around 17:00 for the afternoon.