Koh Yao Yai is the larger of the two Yao islands in Phang Nga Bay, between Phuket and Krabi: a long, rural, mainly Muslim island with beaches, mangroves and few resorts, reached by speedboat in about half an hour from Phuket's east coast. It is quieter and less developed than its smaller neighbor, Koh Yao Noi.
The island belongs to Phang Nga province, not Krabi or Phuket, even though most boats come from those two. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) put its sandbar at Laem Had into a 2026 campaign, and more visitors are finding it, but life here still runs on fishing, rubber and coconuts. Come for space and calm, not for nightlife.
Our guide to the quieter Andaman islands shows how the two Yao islands fit with the rest of the coast. This page covers Koh Yao Yai itself and how it compares with Noi.
Koh Yao Yai at a glance (November 2026)
- Province and district
- Koh Yao district of Phang Nga, not Krabi
- Best-known beach
- Laem Had, a white sandbar reaching into the bay (TAT)
- From Phuket
- Bang Rong or Laem Hin pier by speedboat, about 30–40 minutes; slow ferry from Chianwanich pier
- From Krabi
- Speedboats from Tha Len, Nopparat Thara and East Railay; a longtail from Tha Len
- To Koh Yao Noi
- Longtails from Chong Lard pier to Manoh pier, daylight hours
- Malaria
- US CDC: no transmission (table updated April 2025)
A bigger island with a slower pace
Travelfish, which updated its island guide in August 2026, describes Koh Yao Yai as more than twice the size of Koh Yao Noi, long and narrow, ringed with mangroves and white-sand beaches, and still behind its sister island in tourism development. It counts more than a dozen resorts and guesthouses. Villages of wooden houses on stilts sit among coconut groves and rubber plantations, and many families still live from fishing and farming.
The size works in the visitor's favor. With few places to stay on a large island, even in high season a beach can feel like your own. The trade-off is that you depend on your resort, or a scooter, for food and transport, and that evenings are very quiet. The island is on the electricity grid, and Travelfish reports decent internet and mobile coverage throughout.
Laem Had and the beaches
The beach TAT singles out is Laem Had, a white, powder-fine sandbar that stretches out into turquoise water. TAT recommends it for swimming, kayaking, sunrise and sunset, and in 2026 it used Laem Had as one of the check-in locations in its "feel all the feelings" campaign. Like any sandbar, it changes with the tide, so ask at your accommodation when it is at its best.
Travelfish describes white-sand beaches around much of the island, but we could not find an official description of the individual beaches. Choose your base by the beach your accommodation faces and ask the staff how the tide affects swimming there. Bay-facing beaches in this part of Thailand can be shallow at low tide; the same is true on Koh Yao Noi.
Check the tide table before you plan a swim on Koh Yao Yai. A beach that looks perfect at high tide can be too shallow for swimming at low tide. Your resort can tell you the times, or use any tide app set to Phang Nga Bay.
A Muslim island: dress, Fridays and alcohol
Like Koh Yao Noi, Koh Yao Yai has a population that is almost entirely Muslim, and Travelfish describes its people as mostly conservative. Swimwear belongs on the beach and at the pool. Away from the sand, whether in a village shop or riding along the road, wear a top with sleeves and something that reaches the knee; wrapping a sarong over your swimwear is the quick fix. Our page on beachwear and dress rules in Thailand explains where swimwear stops being acceptable and what the law says about going topless.
Mosques mark the villages, Friday midday prayers slow everything down, and during Ramadan many people fast in daylight, so eat discreetly in public then. Get permission before you take a picture of anyone, and leave the camera away at mosques.
On alcohol, we make no general rule for the island. Whether your resort serves drinks is something to check on its own website or booking page before you book. Wherever you stay, do not drink in public in the villages, and never bring alcohol into a family home.
Food in the villages is Muslim-run, so expect halal cooking and no pork. For the certification logo and the Thai Muslim dishes to order, see our page on eating halal or vegetarian in Thailand.
Getting around: the island road and scooters
According to Travelfish, a scenic main road runs the length of the island and is mostly smooth and easy to follow, while the side roads include more dirt tracks. Most visitors rent a scooter from their accommodation or use the resort's transport. Traffic is light, but animals wander onto the road, and dirt tracks can be slippery after rain.
Wear a helmet, ride slowly through villages and do not ride in swimwear. If you have never ridden before, a quiet island is still not the place to learn. Our guide to safe scooter riding in Thailand covers licenses, insurance and what to check before you hire.
Boats from Phuket, Krabi and Koh Yao Noi
From Phuket. Speedboats leave from Bang Rong pier in the north of Phuket's east coast and from Laem Hin pier, and land at Chong Lard or Khlong Hia on the north coast of Koh Yao Yai. Travelfish (April 2026) gives 30 to 40 minutes on the water and speedboat fares from about 390 to 410 baht from Bang Rong. A slow ferry from Chianwanich pier, near Rassada, lands at Laem Yai on the west coast in about two hours and can take a scooter. Phuket's blue bus to Bang Rong pier costs 50 baht from Phuket Town.
From Krabi. Speedboats run from Tha Len pier north of Ao Nang, from Nopparat Thara pier near Ao Nang and from the floating pier at East Railay, and Travelfish also lists a cheaper longtail from Tha Len. In the dry season, the Tigerline network and other companies link the island with Phi Phi, Koh Jum and Koh Lanta. Timetables change by season and boats can stop altogether in bad weather between May and October, so check the current times with the operator and leave a spare day before an international flight.
Our guide to what speedboat crossings are really like explains seating, luggage and when not to board. If a boat looks overloaded or the sea looks dangerous, wait for the next one.
To Koh Yao Noi. Longtails cross from Chong Lard pier to Manoh pier on Koh Yao Noi during daylight hours, and Travelfish says you do not need to book. Agree the fare before you board; our page on riding long-tail boats safely covers life jackets and fair prices.
Koh Yao Noi or Koh Yao Yai: which suits you
| Koh Yao Noi | Koh Yao Yai | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | About 46 km² | More than twice the size of Noi (Travelfish) |
| Places to stay | More choice, plus a community homestay program | More than a dozen resorts and guesthouses, spread out |
| Feel | Quiet, with the best-known views of Phang Nga Bay | Quieter still, more space between places |
| From Phuket | Bang Rong to Manoh, about 30–40 minutes | Bang Rong or Laem Hin to Chong Lard or Khlong Hia, about 30–40 minutes |
| Best for | Homestays, cycling, village life | Long, empty beaches and a resort base |
Both islands share the same conservative culture and the same views. If it is your first visit, Noi is easier, with more restaurants and the community homestays; our guide to Koh Yao Noi covers it in full. Choose Yai if you want a resort on a beach with nobody else around, and cross to Noi for a day.
Day trips, health and other quiet islands
Both Yao islands sit in the middle of Phang Nga Bay, so longtail and speedboat trips to the limestone islands, sea caves and lagoons leave from the island too. Our page on Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island explains the tours, the canoeing and the national park fees.
On malaria, the US CDC lists no transmission on the Krabi islands (Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Yao Noi, Koh Yao Yai), a grouping that includes Yao Yai although the island is in Phang Nga; our malaria guide gives the full picture. Use insect repellent anyway, for dengue.
If Koh Yao Yai appeals because of its emptiness, look further north too. Off the coast near Khura Buri, Koh Phra Thong is a flat, almost roadless island of grassland and long beaches, with even fewer places to stay.
Frequently asked questions
Is Koh Yao Yai in Krabi or Phang Nga?
Koh Yao Yai is in Phang Nga province, in Koh Yao district, according to TAT. Boats leave from Krabi as well as Phuket, which is why many websites call it a Krabi island, but the island itself belongs to Phang Nga.
Which pier in Phuket has boats to Koh Yao Yai?
Speedboats run from Phuket's Bang Rong and Laem Hin piers to Chong Lard or Khlong Hia, taking about 30 to 40 minutes. The slower alternative is the ferry from Chianwanich pier to Laem Yai, about two hours. Check the current timetable, especially between May and October.
Is Koh Yao Yai better than Koh Yao Noi?
Neither is better; they suit different trips. Noi offers more restaurants, community homestays and the famous bay views. Koh Yao Yai is bigger, emptier and better if you want a quiet resort beach. Longtails cross between them during the day, so you can see both.
Is alcohol available on Koh Yao Yai?
It depends on where you stay. The island's community is mainly Muslim, so check whether your resort serves drinks on its own website before you book. Do not drink in public in the villages, and leave it out of any family home you stay in.
Sources
- Tourism Authority of Thailand – From misty peaks to coastal reaches (Laem Had, Ko Yao Yai), 4 June 2026 (checked November 2026)
- Tourism Authority of Thailand – Feel All the Feelings campaign check-in locations, 28 April 2026 (checked November 2026)
- Travelfish – Ko Yao Yai introduction (August 2026) (checked November 2026)
- Travelfish – How to get to Ko Yao Yai (April 2026) (checked November 2026)
- Tigerline Ferry – Stations and network (checked November 2026)
- CDC – Thailand traveler view: malaria (table updated 23 April 2025) (checked November 2026)