All you need to know to visit Koh Yao Noi
Southern Thailand
663 km from Bangkok
Province of Phang Nga
Thai prononciation : Ko yao noï
Practical guide to go and visit Koh Yao Noi
Located in Southern Thailand, in Phang Nga Bay, the most beautiful sea landscape in the country, the small Koh Yao Noi island lives as much from tourism as from fishing and agriculture. This is what gives it all its charm since, in addition to beaches, there are mountains, waterfalls, rice fields, buffaloes, rubber plantations, and even mangroves. The strength of this island is its local life, its simple authenticity, some would say. But also its breathtaking view of the karst peaks of Phang Nga Bay on its east facade.The island is about half the size of its neighboring big sister, Koh Yao Yai, which is also worth a visit. Many travelers like both islands but often Koh Yao Noi is often their favorite. It is also more visited probably thanks to the exposure on social networks, especially Instagram, of its most famous luxury hotel, the Six Senses Yao Noi whose photos make you dream of staying there (but you'll need the budget to make the dream come true ;)). Anyway, don't worry, there are very nice accommodations for a much more reasonable budget, I recommend some of them on this page.
Koh Yao Noi does not exactly offer postcard clichés beaches but has some nice beaches which, depending on the tides and location are not that goos for swimming because of low tide or protruding rocks. The best beaches for swimming in Koh Yao Noï are Klong Jark and Pasai beaches. It is also where we find the most hotels and restaurants.
Accommodations in Koh Yao Noi
Koh Yao Noi has a wide range of accommodations ranging from the very luxurious Six Senses Yao Noi which makes you dream but with a quite expensive price, to more backpacker hotels through accommodation at intermediate prices which often also offer incredible settings and views. I would rather recommend you stay in accommodation on the east side of the island because that is clearly where the best view is! Personally, I like the Tha Khao area, but if you want to have restaurants, bars, and massage parlors... nearby, it's better to stay in Klong Jark or Pasai, which are the liveliest beaches on the island.Find accommodation in Koh Yao Noi
My recommandations
Practical information about Koh Yao Noi
There are a few ATMs, in Koh Yao Noi main village, and even a 7-Eleven!The population of Koh Yao Noi is almost exclusively Muslim, which means that you will not find pork in restaurants and that you will find restaurants and bars selling alcohol with no difficulty (but there is no alcohol at 7-Eleven) but note that it is quite inappropriate to drink alcohol outside of these establishments, in the street or even on the beach or if you do it, be discreet. As you understand, Koh Yao Noi is not a destination for night parties goers!
How to go to Koh Yao Noi ?
Koh Yao Noi is accessible by boat from both Phuket and Krabi. From Phuket, speedboats depart from Bang Rong Pier. From Krabi, they mostly depart from Nopharat Thara Beach near Ao Nang. There is also a boat connection between Railay and Koh Yao Noi. Koh Yao Noi's main arrival port is the Manoh Pier on the west side of the island.My selection of tours & activities in Koh Yao Noi
Discover Koh Yao Noi beauty and local life
Offered in English
This 3 days and 2 nights tour will make you discover one of the most charming islands in the Andaman Sea in Southern Thailand. Largely wild and rural, Koh Yao Noi is ideal for travelers who like to get off the beaten track and experience local life.
How to get around in Koh Yao Noi ?
To get around Koh Yao Noi, the most practical is to rent a scooter but only rent one if you are a skilled 2 wheels driver. Many bike rental shops in koh Yao Noi offer motorbikes with sidecars. Otherwise, most hotels in Koh Yao Noi rent mountain bikes to their customers (count around 150 THB per day) and apart from two quite steep climbs, getting around the island by bike is quite easy.Finally, you can hire the services of a tuk-tuk for the day or half a day. Count 800 THB for half a day regardless of the number of passengers. A ride from any hotel on the island to the Manoh Pier costs 150-200 THB.
Other places to see in Koh Yao Noi
Pasai Beach
Just after Klong Jark Beach, it is the liveliest beach in Koh Yao Noi, the one with the most resorts and restaurants. It is also suitable for swimming, especially at high tide. At low tide, it a little less good with around 1 meter high of water.
Batik dyeing workshop
This small batik workshop, a traditional wax-based dyeing technique, is run by a cooperative of women living in Koh Yao Noi who want to preserve this craft. You can make your own creations guided by their teachings.
Old pier
This long concrete pontoon that extends very far into the sea is photogenic. It is not worth the detour on its own but the whole area is nice to visit by bike. It can also be a nice spot for sunset on Koh Yai Noi.
Weather & climate in Koh Yao Noi
The best time to visit Ko Yao Noi is from November to April. The rest of the time, it's the monsoon. If in general, it does not disturb your stay too much, it is true that in September and October, the showers are nevertheless very frequent and can more easily block you in your bungalow for hours.When to go to Koh Yao Noi ?
How to ask in Thai to go to Koh Yao Noi ?
I want to go to Koh Yao Noi / Yak paï ti Ko yao noï.Where is Koh Yao Noi ? / Ko yao noï you ti naï ?
All COVID-19 restrictions for coming to Thailand lifted from October 1 !
We have been waiting for it for months, hoping it will happen on July 1, but it will finally be October 1, 2022, when Thailand will lift the last COVID restrictions to enter the country. From this date, it will no longer be necessary to show...
