# Promthep Cape, Phuket > Promthep Cape (Laem Phromthep) is Phuket's southernmost point and its most popular sunset spot: a viewpoint over the Andaman Sea, a Brahma shrine full of elephant statues and a white lighthouse. Entry is free, at any time. Arrive an hour before sunset — crowds gather for it. It's about 13 km from Karon and 18 km from Old Town. Web page: https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket/promthep-cape - City: [Phuket](https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket), Thailand - YesGo score: 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free; parking by the viewpoint - Hours: Open 24 hours — it's an open viewpoint - Best time: An hour before sunset; in the dry season sunset is around 18:15–18:45 - Trail to the point: About 15 minutes down over rocks — wear sturdy shoes - Where: Rawai, southern Phuket — about 2 km from Rawai Beach - Distances: ≈ 13 km from Karon, ≈ 18 km from Old Town, ≈ 23 km from Patong - Coordinates: 7.75869, 98.30339 - Facts checked: 08.11.2026 ## Key facts - **Southernmost** — point of Phuket province (source: Thai Wikipedia) - **TAT** — the Tourism Authority listed Promthep among Thailand's most beautiful sea sunsets (source: Thai Wikipedia) - **1996** — the Kanchanaphisek lighthouse was built for the king's 50-year reign (source: Thai Wikipedia (Royal Thai Navy)) - **95 m** — above sea level is the light, visible about 41 km away (source: Thai Wikipedia (Royal Thai Navy)) - **9 seconds** — between the lighthouse's white flashes (source: Thai Wikipedia (Royal Thai Navy)) - **Laem Chao** — the name of the very tip of the cape, with its palm grove (source: Thai Wikipedia) - **≈ 2 km** — from Rawai Beach (source: Thai Wikipedia) - **1.3 km** — north is the Windmill Viewpoint (source: OSM) ## What is Promthep Cape? **Promthep** (Laem Phromthep) is **Phuket's southernmost point**, 2 km from Rawai Beach. A rocky, palm-covered headland juts into the Andaman Sea, and the viewpoint above it looks out over islands and the sunset. The Tourism Authority of Thailand listed Promthep among the places with the **country's most beautiful sea sunsets** — so hundreds of people gather here every evening. The viewpoint has a **Brahma shrine** crowded with elephant statues, left as thanks. Next to it stands the white **Kanchanaphisek lighthouse**, built by the Navy and Phuket residents in **1996** for the king's 50 years on the throne. Its light shines **95 m** above the sea and can be seen about 41 km away. ## When to go The viewpoint is open **24 hours** and **free**. For sunset arrive **an hour early**: in the dry season the sun sets around 18:15–18:45, and parking and the best spots by the railing fill up in advance. Afterwards everyone leaves at once, so the road down can jam. From May to October clouds often hide the sunset, but the cape is lovely by day too. In the morning it's almost empty. > **The trail to the point is rocky** From the viewpoint a trail leads down to the tip of the cape — about 15 minutes. It crosses rocks and dry grass, is steep in places and slippery after rain. Wear sturdy shoes, keep away from cliff edges and come back before dark — there are no lights on the trail. ## What to see - **Sunset over the Andaman Sea** — from the main viewpoint. - **The Brahma shrine** with its elephant statues. - **The Kanchanaphisek lighthouse** — the white tower by the viewpoint. - **The trail to Laem Chao**, the tip — palms and island views. - **Windmill Viewpoint** — by the wind turbine 1.3 km north, on the road to Nai Harn. - **Nai Harn and Rawai beaches** — nearby, on the way. ## How to get to Promthep Cape 1. **From Karon Beach** it's about 13 km south via Kata and Nai Harn — 15–20 minutes. 2. **From Phuket Old Town** it's about 18 km, 25–30 minutes. 3. **From Patong** it's about 23 km, around 30 minutes. 4. **From the Big Buddha** it's about 15 km, 20–25 minutes. 5. There's no public transport to the cape — taxi, Grab or scooter; agree a pick-up time. ## How long do you need? Allow **30–60 minutes** at the viewpoint, or an hour and a half with the walk to the tip. The classic plan: **Wat Chalong** and the **Big Buddha** by day, Promthep for sunset, with a stop at the **Windmill Viewpoint** on the way. For a sunset without the crowds, watch from the Windmill Viewpoint or Nai Harn beach, and visit Promthep by day. ## Is Promthep Cape worth it? Yes: it's Phuket's best free sunset and a fine view of the island's south at any time of day. The YesGo take: at sunset it's packed, finding space for photos and parking is hard, and then there's a traffic jam. Come early or choose the Windmill Viewpoint next door. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Arriving an hour before sunset - [ ] Sturdy shoes — if walking to the point - [ ] Pick-up time agreed - [ ] Mosquito repellent for the evening - [ ] On the way: Windmill Viewpoint ## Phuket sunsets: compare and choose Sunset spots in Phuket rated by YesGo. - [Promthep Cape](https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket/promthep-cape) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free - [Karon Beach](https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket/karon-beach) — YesGo score 25/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · free - [Bang Tao Beach](https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket/bang-tao-beach) — YesGo score 24/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · free - [Kamala Beach](https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket/kamala-beach) — YesGo score 24/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · free ## Southern Phuket in a day Wat Chalong in the morning, the Big Buddha on the hill in the afternoon, and Promthep Cape for sunset. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Wat Chalong](https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket/wat-chalong) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free 2. [Big Buddha](https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket/phuket-big-buddha) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free (donations) 3. [Promthep Cape](https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket/promthep-cape) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free ## Good to know Promthep Cape is Phuket's southern tip. The Windmill Viewpoint is a separate lookout by the wind turbine 1.3 km north. Hotels named Promthep are simply places to stay in the area. ## Tips - Claim a spot by the viewpoint railing early — it gets packed by sunset. - Ten minutes after sunset the sky is often at its most colourful. - Leave a little before everyone else to beat the jam. - In the morning the cape is almost deserted. - By day: the [Big Buddha](https://yesgo.io/thailand/phuket/phuket-big-buddha), 20–25 minutes away. ## Questions ### Is there an entrance fee for Promthep Cape? No, entry is free. ### What time is sunset at Promthep Cape? In the dry season, around 18:15–18:45; arrive an hour early. ### How do I get to Promthep Cape? By taxi, Grab or scooter: about 13 km from Karon and 18 km from Old Town. ### Can you walk down to the tip of the cape? Yes, by a trail of about 15 minutes; it's steep and rocky. ### Is there parking? Yes, by the viewpoint; it fills up fast at sunset. ### What's nearby? The Windmill Viewpoint and Nai Harn and Rawai beaches. ### How long do you need? 30–60 minutes, or about an hour and a half with the walk. ### Is it worth going by day? Yes — the view is lovely and there's hardly anyone there. ## How we checked There's no official website. The description, lighthouse (1996, light at 95 m, 22-nautical-mile range, a flash every 9 seconds) and TAT listing are from Thai Wikipedia, citing the Royal Thai Navy's list of lights. The 18:15–18:45 sunset is a dry-season guide from astronomical tables for Phuket's latitude; exact times vary. The trail length is based on guides. Distances are OSRM routes from Karon (13.2 km), Old Town (18.3 km), Patong (22.6 km) and the Big Buddha (15.4 km); the Windmill Viewpoint is from OSM coordinates. ## Sources - Thai Wikipedia — Promthep Cape: southernmost point, distance from Rawai, Laem Chao tip, Kanchanaphisek lighthouse (Royal Thai Navy data) - Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), via Thai Wikipedia — listing among the best sunsets - Wikidata Q13026486, OSM — coordinates of the cape and the Windmill Viewpoint; OSRM route — distances --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.