Koh Yao Noi

Koh Yao Noi: A Quiet Island Between Phuket and Krabi

Koh Yao Noi is a small island in Phang Nga Bay, about 30 minutes by speedboat from Phuket’s east coast. It is part of Phang Nga province and sits roughly halfway between Phuket and Krabi. The island is 12 km long and about 5 km wide, home to a small Muslim community of around 5,000 people.

There are no wide sandy beaches like in Phuket or Phi Phi, and that is exactly why people come here. Koh Yao Noi is green, quiet, and feels like a different part of Thailand entirely. Rice fields, rubber plantations, mangroves on the west coast, and small fishing villages dot the landscape. You can drive the entire island by motorbike in less than two hours. I have spent several weekends here over the years and always leave feeling like I have been away for much longer.

What Makes Koh Yao Noi Special

The limestone cliffs and islands of Phang Nga Bay surround Koh Yao Noi on all sides. No matter where you are on the island, the views are unlike anything in Phuket. The east coast has small beaches and most of the hotels. The west coast is lined with mangroves and has a completely different character. The interior is flat in parts, with rice paddies that turn an intense green in July when the fields are flooded. It is a photogenic island at any time of year, but the rice season is something special.

Life here moves slowly. Fishing families sell their catch by the road, villagers weave baskets, and children ride bicycles along lanes shaded by rubber trees. The local community is predominantly Muslim, and the island has a calm, respectful atmosphere that feels untouched by the tourism that has transformed much of Phuket.

Things to Do in Koh Yao Noi

The best thing to do on Koh Yao Noi is to rent a motorbike and spend a day driving around the island. The roads are paved and mostly flat, with almost no traffic. Stop at the rice fields (aim for the Rong Na Cafe for the best view from the second floor), explore the fishing villages, and find the small beaches on the east coast. Pasai Beach and Klong Jark Beach are the best for swimming, especially at high tide when the water covers the shallow flats.

Kayaking is popular, especially from Pasai Beach to the nearby island of Koh Nok. The paddle takes about 40 minutes, and there is a viewpoint on the cliff with views over Phang Nga Bay. Cycling is another good option for the interior roads. Several hotels rent bicycles, and the flat terrain makes it manageable even in the heat.

Cruising Around Koh Yao Noi

Koh Yao Noi is surrounded by some of the most photogenic islands in Thailand. You can arrange boat trips directly through your hotel or at the main pier. A day cruise around the nearby islands is one of the highlights of any stay here, and because you are already in the middle of Phang Nga Bay, the distances are short and the scenery starts immediately.

Where to Stay in Koh Yao Noi

Koh Yao Noi has a good range of accommodation, from simple bungalows near the sea to luxury pool villas with Phang Nga Bay views. Hotels here are designed to be enjoyed, not just used as a base. You will likely spend more time at your hotel than you would in Phuket. Over the years, I have stayed at Koyao Island Resort, Six Senses Yao Noi, Cape Kudu, and 9 Hornbills tented camp.

See more hotels on Koh Yao Noi

Where to Eat in Koh Yao Noi

There is a surprisingly good choice of restaurants on Koh Yao Noi, mostly serving Thai food, with a few run by expats offering Western and Italian dishes. Most are along the coast or near the main pier. For a quiet evening, hotel restaurants usually serve excellent Thai food in beautiful settings. Here is a selection of popular places:

More Restaurants on Koh Yao

Where to Go at Night in Koh Yao Noi

Beaches on Koh Yao Noi

All the main beaches on Koh Yao Noi are on the east coast, running south to north: Pasai, Klong Jark, Tha Khao, Sai Kaew, and Loh Ha. None of them look like the wide postcard beaches of Phuket or Phi Phi. The sand is coarser, the water is shallow, and the tide makes a big difference to what you see. At low tide, the water pulls out a long way and the seabed is exposed on most of the coast. At high tide, the same beaches look completely different. This is worth understanding before you go, because a lot of first-time visitors arrive at low tide and think something is wrong. It is not. It is just how this side of Phang Nga Bay works.

Pasai Beach

Pasai Beach is the main beach on the island, about 2 km long and located in the southeast. This is where most of the affordable guesthouses, restaurants, massage tables, and small beach shops are. It is the easiest base for a first visit, especially for families. The sand is not the whitest in Thailand and the water gets very shallow at low tide, but the views out to the karst islands of Phang Nga Bay are the real draw. Several food stalls sit under the trees at the southern end of the beach, which is a good spot for a cheap Thai lunch with sea views. Kayak rentals on Pasai are the starting point for the popular paddle to Koh Nok.

Klong Jark Beach

Klong Jark Beach is the next one north of Pasai, about 1.5 km long and usually the quietest of the three main beaches. Six Senses is tucked away at the far northern end, and Sabai Corner sits on the headland at the southern end. The middle of the beach is mostly empty, with a few low-key resorts well spread out. There are restaurants and bars along the beach road, but the sand itself is wide, calm, and shaded by trees. This is also the best spot on the island for snorkelling close to shore, especially at high tide, because the water is clearer than at Pasai. Klong Jark is also sometimes called Long Beach on older maps, which can cause confusion with a different Long Beach in the north.

Tha Khao Beach

Tha Khao Beach is the one worth the extra drive, about 1 km long and located north of Klong Jark. At low tide, a sandbank appears and connects the beach to the small island of Koh Nui just offshore, so you can walk straight out across the sand to the island. It is one of the most photogenic scenes on Koh Yao Noi, and you will usually have the whole walk to yourself. The Khao Pier at the north end is where the boats to Krabi launch, and the daily night market runs along the pier road from about 6 pm to 8 pm. A small metal bridge near the pier leads to a jungle track up to Hornbill Viewpoint, with a panoramic view over Phang Nga Bay. The Tha Khao area is also the budget traveller hub of the island, with several well-priced bungalows and cafes.

Sai Kaew Beach

Sai Kaew is north of Tha Khao and is almost completely undeveloped. There are no restaurants, no bars, no rentals, no signs. Beige sand mixed with small pebbles, calm water, and the Phang Nga karsts in the distance. This is one of the best beaches on the island for a proper swim because the water is deep enough for a few strokes without having to wade out forever. To get here, you need to leave the main road and take a dirt track, so bring your own water and whatever else you need for the day. Parking is along the track, not at the beach itself.

Loh Ha Beach

Loh Ha is the northernmost of the main east-coast beaches, sitting in a small bay surrounded by The Paradise Koh Yao resort. The resort treats it as a private beach, which technically it is not since all beaches in Thailand are public, but in practice most visitors stay at the resort. The sand is fine and the water is clear. If you are not a guest, access is awkward and the track in is rough. Fine to include on a round-the-island drive for the view, but not worth a dedicated trip.

Long Beach (Northern)

Long Beach (sometimes called Yao Beach or Yaow Beach on signs) is in the far north of the island and is only accessible by dirt track. The main road bends inland after Tha Khao, so you need to take the rougher off-road paths to get here. There is a small bar on the beach with food, drinks, and sunbeds, but no hotels and no shops. The sand is slightly rockier than the southern beaches, and the setting feels remote. Worth the ride if you are comfortable on a scooter on gravel roads. Beyond Long Beach, the bays get harder to reach and some can only be visited by longtail boat. Kian Bay and Mankei Bay are two of the prettiest hidden ones, reachable by boat charter.

Kayak to Koh Nok

The most rewarding beach trip on Koh Yao Noi is the kayak from Pasai Beach to Koh Nok. The little island sits about 2.5 km offshore and takes around 40 minutes of paddling each way. There is a small beach at the base and a rope-assisted climb of about 15 minutes to a viewpoint on top of the cliff, looking back over Koh Yao Noi and out across Phang Nga Bay. Kayaks can be rented on Pasai Beach for about 300 baht for a few hours. Go at high tide and early in the morning. The water between Koh Yao Noi and Koh Nok can get choppy in the afternoon, and the paddle back is harder if you leave it late.

How to Get to Koh Yao Noi

From Phuket, boats depart from Bang Rong Pier on the east coast. Speedboats take about 30 minutes and cost around 300 baht per person. The first boat leaves at 8:40 am and the last at 5 pm. There is also a slower longtail boat at 12:30 pm that takes about an hour. To get to Bang Rong Pier, use the Grab app or arrange a taxi from your hotel.

From Krabi, boats depart from Ao Thalane Pier or Nopparat Thara Pier in Ao Nang. The crossing is similar in duration.

Several hotels offer private transfers directly from Phuket Airport. These are convenient but expensive. 9 Hornbills charges 12,300 baht for a one-way private speedboat from the airport (about 1 hour 15 minutes), or 5,300 baht for a one-way longtail (about 1 hour 45 minutes). Note that the luxury hotels are on the northeast part of the island, which is further from the main pier in the south.

Getting Around the Island

You will need a motorbike to explore the island properly. Rentals cost 250-350 baht per day and can be arranged through your hotel. The roads are paved, the traffic is light, and even without much experience, it is far easier than driving in Phuket. Some hotels also rent bicycles, which work well for the flatter interior roads.

Insider Tips

Book your speedboat tickets at Bang Rong Pier before the day of travel if possible, especially during high season. The 8:40 am and 5 pm boats are the busiest. Arriving at the pier 20 minutes early is enough.

Bring enough cash. There are a few ATMs on the island, but they can run out of money, especially on busy weekends. Credit cards are accepted at the larger hotels and some restaurants, but smaller places are cash only.

Rent a motorbike on the first day and spend a full morning driving the entire island before settling in. You will discover small beaches, viewpoints, and restaurants that are not on any map. The rice fields in the interior are at their best in July.

For the best photos of the rice paddies, go to Rong Na Cafe and head to the second floor. The view across the flooded fields with Phang Nga’s limestone cliffs in the background is one of the most photogenic scenes near Phuket.

Kayak from Pasai Beach to Koh Nok island. The paddle takes about 40 minutes, and the viewpoint on the cliff is worth the effort. Go early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat and the day-trip crowds.

Koh Yao Noi is a Muslim island. Dress modestly when visiting the villages, and be aware that alcohol is not sold at every shop. The community is welcoming and used to tourists, but a bit of respect goes a long way.

Koh Yao Noi Through the Years

I first visited Koh Yao Noi in the early 2000s, not long after the first boutique hotels started appearing. Back then, getting to the island was a small adventure. The speedboat service from Phuket was unreliable, and most visitors arrived by longtail from Krabi. There were a handful of simple guesthouses, a couple of restaurants near the pier, and nothing else. The roads were partly unpaved, and the only way to get around was by motorbike or on foot.

Six Senses opened in 2009 and changed the profile of the island. Suddenly, travel magazines were writing about Koh Yao Noi. More hotels followed, then restaurants, then bars. But the island never lost its character. The community kept things under control, and there was never a Bangla Road moment. Today, Koh Yao Noi has enough hotels and restaurants to be comfortable without losing what makes it different. It is still the quiet, green island between two busy provinces, and that is exactly why people keep coming back.

Koh Yao Noi Photos

FAQs About Koh Yao Noi