By Kylian Dev
Where is Koh Yao Yai?
In the middle of Phang Nga Bay, next door to its smaller sister.
Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi together form the Ko Yao district of Phang Nga province, in the bay of limestone islands between Phuket and Krabi. Yao Noi is the closest island, just to the north across a narrow sound.
Yao Yai means “big long island” and Yao Noi “little long island”, and the two are often visited together. Yao Noi has the village feel and most of the restaurants, while Yao Yai has more space and fewer visitors. Our Koh Yao Noi guide covers its smaller neighbour.
What is Koh Yao Yai like?
Rural, Muslim, unhurried.
Most people on the Ko Yao islands are Muslim, and the villages live from fishing, rubber and farming rather than tourism. Koh Yao Yai is the less developed of the two, with long roads between beaches, rubber plantations, small mosques and a few resorts hidden along the coast.
There are fewer restaurants than on Yao Noi and evenings are early, so this is the island for a book, a bicycle and an unbroken view. Dress modestly in the villages.
How do you get to Koh Yao Yai?
By boat, from either side of the bay.
There is no bridge and no airport. You reach Koh Yao Yai by boat from the east coast of Phuket, from the Krabi side of the bay, or by hopping across from Koh Yao Noi. Phuket airport is the nearest (our Phuket airport guide explains the way to the piers), and if you fly into Krabi instead, see the Krabi airport guide.
The pier depends on your resort and on the tide, so ask your accommodation which pier and which boat to take, and whether they collect you. Schedules change with the season, so confirm the last boat of the day.
Beaches and what to do
Swimming on the west coast, views of the bay from everywhere.
The west coast beaches, such as Loh Paret, face Phuket and offer better swimming than the tidal bays of Yao Noi. Inland, rubber plantations, fishing villages and quiet lanes are ideal by bicycle or motorbike, and viewpoints open over the limestone islands of the bay, especially at sunrise and sunset.
If sightseeing on the water is the point, the bay’s best-known rock is a day trip away; see our James Bond Island guide.
Where to sleep on Koh Yao Yai
Resorts and pool villas on the coast, homestays in the villages.
Beachfront resorts
ComfortThe main choice, spread along the west coast, some of them upscale
Pool villas
CouplesPrivate villas with a view over the bay, for couples and honeymooners
Village bungalows and homestays
BudgetSimple rooms in or near a village, for travellers who want local life
Places are spread out along the coast and there are few restaurants outside the resorts, so choose the resort for its setting. Book ahead in the high season and bring cash, as cash machines are rare.
When is the best time to go?
The dry months for the sea, the green months for the quiet.
| Period | What to expect |
|---|---|
| November to April | The dry season: calmer seas, regular boats, everything open |
| May to October | The south-west monsoon: greener and emptier, more rain and rougher seas, some places closed |
The whole Andaman coast follows the same pattern; see our rainy season guide before you book outside the dry months.
Who Koh Yao Yai is not for
Better to know before the boat.
Koh Yao Yai or the other Andaman islands?
Four small islands, four different holidays.
Yao Yai is the easiest of the four from Phuket. For quieter, remote beaches far to the north, read about Koh Phayam; for reefs and white sand far to the south, Koh Kradan and Koh Ngai. To chain islands into one route, see our island hopping guide.