In April, we spent close to two weeks in Thailand, visiting some new spots and revisiting others. Some last-minute flight changes had us flying via Frankfurt to Phuket on Condor instead of Air Canada to Singapore then Bangkok, so we ended up with an extra few days on this trip. Since our trip was starting in Phuket, we looked at options and decided to spend some time on Koh Yao Noi.
We didn’t really know much about Koh Yao Noi, but decided to visit after seeing it featured in a YouTube video by Dane and Cindy (Midlife Travel Tales). If many spots in Phuket seem crowded and you’re not into the Patong Beach vibe, Koh Yao Noi will be excellent for you, though it may also be too quiet if you’re looking for nightlife.
Logistics & Getting There
Our first and most relaxing stop on this trip was the small island of Koh Yao Noi, a 45-minute boat ride from Bang Rong Pier in Phuket (which is about 30 minutes from the airport). To get to and from Phuket, there are shared public boats available, but we booked the boat transfer offered by our hotel for its guests.
Island Overview & Things to Do
Koh Yao Noi is pretty small and low-key. It spans about 12 km (7.5 mi) long from north to south and roughly 4 km (2.5 mi) wide at its widest point. During our 3 days on Koh Yao Noi, we enjoyed:
- Waking up each day to watch the sunrise on the beach
- Long beach walks
- Ocean swimming/dipping during high tide
- Eating lots of yummy Thai food (pad krapow, massaman at Kayacurries, papaya salads, roti, and honey chicken)
- Bird watching to capture photos of the elusive and fascinating hornbills
- Biking around the island
- Enjoying the amenities at our hotel, Cape Kudu (check out our review and room tour video here).
- Exploring local mangroves
- Snagging a shaded swim at the Six Senses beach
- Having sunset drinks at a few local bars
If you don’t just want to relax, you can also do kayak trips, island-hopping tours, and cultural activities like batik dyeing.
Transportation Options
Scooters
Scooters are easy to rent and are the main way for locals and tourists to get around the island. You can ride a scooter around the entire island in about 30 to 45 minutes. Generally, the roads are in excellent condition and traffic is light, though some parts of the island are very hilly and narrow.
Truck Taxis (Songthaews)
If you don’t feel like walking, biking, or scootering, there are truck taxis available (known as songthaews). These trucks have benches in the back and offer an open-air, slow-ride experience to get between various spots. They do not operate on meters and fares can vary. From our memory, it cost us 100 Baht per person (~$3 USD) to get from our hotel, Cape Kudu, to a sunset bar about a 10-to-15-minute drive away. Songthaews are also available to hire for custom island tours.
The Biking Reality Check
We decided to bike around the island, setting out around 09:00 with lots of water, sunscreen, and adequate sun coverage. It was very lovely for the first bit while the road was flat, and we really enjoyed the scenery of the sea, local villages, and nature.
Then we tackled our first hill, thinking this would be it… nope! After 2–3 major steep climbs and descents, we were happy to reach a 7-Eleven in town where we guzzled about 2 liters of water in minutes. Despite our best efforts to prepare, it got hot very fast. We managed to avoid getting sunburned and enjoyed a refreshing dip in our pool at Cape Kudu afterward!
The bike ride took about 2 to 2.5 hours. We saw other tourists doing the ride coming from the opposite direction who also looked to be struggling. This excursion is not for the faint of heart and would be best done much earlier in the morning, or omitted entirely.
Beaches & Swimming Conditions
The beaches around Koh Yao Noi are decent with soft, flat sand, though some spots can be a little rocky. However, they are very flat and heavily subject to the tides:
- Tides: During low tide, it is difficult to swim, so you need to go in during higher tide.
- Clarity: Water conditions tend to be clear, though after rains or in certain spots, it can be a little less clear at times.
Overall, we enjoyed leisurely dips to cool off, but these were not the best swimming conditions we have experienced. If you are okay relaxing by the beach and just dunking to cool off, you will be satisfied with Koh Yao Noi. If that sounds unappealing to you, make sure to book a hotel with a pool or take tours out to better places for ocean swimming.
Costs & Budget
For cost, things in Koh Yao Noi are pretty reasonable:
- Accommodations: Ranges from super cheap hostel style for backpackers to mid-range options (like Cape Kudu) up to the super expensive and luxurious Six Senses hotel.
- Food & Drinks: Food and drink options are varied and generally pretty reasonable. A meal on the beach with 2–3 Thai dishes and beers costs about $15–$20 USD. Some of the bars also offer sunset happy hours where you can get 2-for-1 cocktails or just have a beer at a decent price.
Weather & Best Time to Visit
We visited during April, and the weather was warm, sunny, and a little humid. We did have one evening of rain and thunderstorms.
The dry season (and generally considered the best time to visit Koh Yao Noi) runs from November to April, with peak cool and dry weather from December through February.
Culture, Local Customs & Practical Tips
Koh Yao Noi has a few minor things tourists need to know about:
- Local Culture: It is in a predominantly Muslim part of Thailand.
- Alcohol Availability: Alcohol is available, but only a few local stores sell it and they are often closed. Most tourist-oriented restaurants have beer and cocktails, but many local spots do not, and wine is not commonly available other than at fancier places.
- Removing Shoes: It is common for people to take their shoes off when entering some stores and restaurants.
- Food Highlights: Try Massaman curry, which is popular all over Thailand, but especially here. Also, when ordering chicken satay, it often comes served with garlic bread, which is common in this region!
- Rubber Plantations: You’ll see rows of tapped rubber trees around the island. Feel free to admire them from the road, but avoid touching the trunks or collection cups because the fresh latex sap is extremely sticky, ruins clothes, and is part of a local farmer’s daily livelihood.
- Payments & Money: Credit cards are generally widely accepted, but you should always carry Thai Baht cash for smaller spots or for the songthaews. We exchanged our cash in Vancouver prior to arriving for this part of the trip.
- Packing Advice: Bring your own sunscreen and feminine hygiene products. While there are stores on the island, there is not a large selection of these items available.
Final Recommendation
Would we recommend coming to Thailand just to visit Koh Yao Noi? It depends on what you are looking for. We think it makes a great addition to a trip to the Phuket area where you want a quieter atmosphere, or as part of a longer trip with island hopping around other parts of Thailand. You could also consider adding it as a getaway after some time in Bangkok.
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