Koh Yao Yai is the larger of the two Koh Yao islands in the middle of Phang Nga Bay, administratively part of Phang Nga province and roughly midway between Phuket and Krabi. It is one of the least developed islands of its size on this coast: a Muslim fishing and rubber-farming community, a modest number of resorts, and long stretches of shoreline with nobody on them.
There is no airport and no mass tourism. Visitors come precisely because the island has stayed quiet, and use it to see Phang Nga Bay's karst scenery without the day-trip crowds. Its sister island, Koh Yao Noi, a short hop north, is slightly smaller and slightly more developed.
Getting there
Koh Yao Yai sits between Phuket and Krabi, and boats run from both sides. From Bangkok, fly to either airport and continue by road and boat.
From Bangkok
Via Phuket
~2h from HKTFly Bangkok to Phuket, then taxi to Bang Rong pier on Phuket's east coast (30–40 minutes from the airport), where speedboats and longtails cross to the island's Klong Hia pier through the day. This is the most common approach.
Check schedules on 12Go →Via Krabi
~2.5h from KBVFly to Krabi and cross by speedboat from the Ao Nang side; boats connect Ao Nang and Railay with the Koh Yao islands daily in high season, taking about an hour. Schedules thin during the monsoon.
Check schedules on 12Go →Cross-bay ferries
variesThe Phuket–Krabi cross-bay boats call at the Koh Yao islands, so the island slots into an Andaman route between the two without backtracking.
Check schedules on 12Go →
Phuket's airport, with its wide international network, is the practical gateway: it is possible to land at HKT and be on the island within about two hours.
Airport transfer · The main piers are Klong Hia in the north and Loh Jark in the south. Motorbike sidecar taxis meet scheduled boats and resorts arrange pickups; there is no taxi fleet to hail, so onward transport is worth booking with your accommodation.
Weather by season
Koh Yao Yai shares the Andaman calendar: dry from November to April, wet from May to October. Its position in the middle of Phang Nga Bay shelters it somewhat from open-sea swell, and the short crossings from Phuket run year-round, though speedboat rides get bumpy and wet in the monsoon.
Year-round climate
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Conditions by month
Seasonal averages for the Andaman coast. Tap through to the monthly weather guide for detail.
Dry season
Nov–AprCalm bay water, reliable crossings, and the best conditions for longtail trips among the karsts. December to February is peak, which here still means quiet.
Hot months
Mar–MayThe hottest stretch, with the first monsoon storms arriving in May.
Green season
May–OctRain in bursts and weather-dependent boat tours. The bay stays calmer than the open coast and most resorts remain open at low rates, but afternoon crossings can be rough.
Where to stay
Where to stay
Where to stay on Koh Yao Yai
Three broad zones share one quiet island: the arrival north, the sunset west coast, and the fishing-village south and east. Tap an area to compare.
The north: Klong Hia & Laem Had
Arrival pier from PhuketBest for: Easiest transfers, the sandbar beach, top-end stays
The island's front door, with the Klong Hia pier taking the Phuket boats and, on the northeast corner, Laem Had's white sandbar beach looking across to Koh Yao Noi. The island's most polished resort sits on its own headland here.
On the map
- Klong Hia pier (boats to Phuket)
- Laem Had Beach
Hotels to shortlist
Santhiya Koh Yao Yai Splurge
Teak-heavy resort on a private northeast headland, with its own boat from Phuket.
Beyond the resorts, beds near the pier are village homestays and small guesthouses.
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Getting around
A quiet paved road network loops the island through rubber plantations and villages, and traffic is minimal. Scooters rented through accommodation are the practical way around, and many resorts lend bicycles for shorter runs.
There is no ride-hailing and no public transport beyond the sidecar taxis that meet the boats, so plan transfers through your resort. Distances are real: pier to pier takes about 30–40 minutes by scooter.
Things to do
- Laem Had Beach. The white sandbar at the island's northeast corner, its best-known beach, extending at low tide toward Koh Yao Noi.
- Phang Nga Bay by longtail. Private charters visit the bay's karsts, hong lagoons, and James Bond Island from the quiet side, without the Phuket day-trip crowds.
- Snorkelling day trips. The small Khai islands between here and Phuket make easy sand-and-snorkel stops on the way across.
- Village and farm life. Morning markets, stilted fishing villages, and dawn rubber tapping are the island's actual economy; low-key cycling and village tours run on request.
- Koh Yao Noi. The slightly busier sister island is a short longtail hop from the northern piers and makes an easy day trip.
Local character & practical notes
The island is almost entirely Thai-Muslim, and daily life follows the mosque and the tides. Dress modestly in the villages, keep beachwear to the beach, and note that alcohol is served in the resorts but generally not sold in local shops.
Tourism remains deliberately small-scale, built on homestays and a modest number of resorts, and the island has so far avoided large-scale development. Cash matters: ATMs exist but are few, and smaller places do not take cards.
Going deeper
Opinion & first-hand guides to Koh Yao Yai
This page keeps to the facts. For recommendations and first-hand takes, these blog posts go further.