Koh Yao Yai 2026: how to get there from Phuket, beaches, where to stay
Quick answer: Koh Yao Yai is a rural island in Phang Nga Bay, about 30 to 60 minutes by boat from Phuket's east coast, depending on the pier and the boat. You come for the calm, the empty beaches and the boutique hotels, not for nightlife. Best time: November to April. Koh Yao Yai ("the big island") is larger and less touristy than its neighbour Koh Yao Noi. Its fishing villages, rubber and coconut plantations and long, almost empty roads make it a quiet escape, with no bars or souvenir shops. The hotels are clustered along a few beaches in the west and south; the island suits a night or two from Phuket.
Highlights
Beach huts
A wooden terrace facing the pale sand: the island stays simple, without big resorts or crowds.
The beaches and islets
Pale sand, coconut palms and wooded hills in the distance, with very few people, especially midweek.
A tour of the island by scooter or bicycle
The roads are quiet and cross villages and plantations; the island can be seen in a day.
Boat trips
Outings to the neighbouring islets and Koh Yao Noi can be booked at the hotel or the pier.
Practical info
Tips
- There is no big nightlife and cash machines are not everywhere: take cash in baht before the crossing. The residents are largely Muslim: dress modestly in the villages. Transport on the island is limited: book a transfer with your hotel or hire a scooter on arrival. Boat times change with the season and the tide: confirm them with your hotel before booking. To compare with the neighbouring island, read Koh Yao Noi from Phuket; to see the whole bay, the Phang Nga Bay.
How to get there
From Phuket: speedboat or ferry from the island's east coast (about 30 to 60 minutes depending on the pier); check the pier and timetable with the hotel Hotel transfer plus boat: offered by most hotels on the island on request On the island: scooter, bicycle or car with driver
Opening hours
Nearby
See on the map →
Comments
No comments yet.