Koh Yao Yai, you’ve probably (almost) never heard of it. This unknown island in Thailand is often skipped by tourists who do the well-known Phuket – Koh Phi Phi – Krabi / Ao Nang round trip. It is a shame that Koh Yao Yai is so often skipped because it is a beautiful island. There are not many activities to do so your days here are good for resting and ultimate relaxation. Below we share the best places to visit and things to do on Koh Yao Yai. Besides that, we share the best accommodations to stay.
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Relax on your own on the beautiful beaches
Koh Yao Yai has about 15 beautiful beaches. The most beautiful beach is Lam Haed Beach. Here you lie under palm trees on beautiful white sand enjoying the mountain views with a handful of other tourists. We found it a truly magical feeling to be here (almost) all alone. Through a large sandbank you can walk dozens of meters into the sea to take beautiful photos of Koh Yao Yai.
Loh Jak Beach is a fine beach to enjoy the sunset. You can see the sun sinking very slowly behind the mountains of Phuket. This beach you have all to yourself, how special is that! The nice thing is that you can also jet ski at this beach, in the afternoon is best. Make sure you are at the beach around 3 p.m., then after a while you will see jet skis being brought. The price is around 1,500 baht (€40) for an hour.
motorbike across Koh Yao Yai
The entire island of Koh Yao Yai is full of palm trees and green nature. It’s a treat to drive around here and just look around you. It is one of the things to do on Koh Yao Yai you would not miss out. You see so many different things here: from beautiful houses built on stilts to real shacks, everything passes by. You’ll find that Koh Yao Yai is an elongated island, from the northernmost tip to all the way south you’ll be driving for over an hour. You rent a motorbike for 250 baht (€7) a day.
Go on an island tour
Because Koh Yao Yai is centrally located between the major islands, you can easily go on island tours. The tour to the Hong Islands is especially popular and also highly recommended due to its white beaches and clear waters. You can snorkel beautifully among the many fish at the Hong Islands. From Koh Yao Yai you do often have a private tour because there are so few tourists there. For a day tour by private longtail boat (including lunch and national park fee), you pay between 2,500 and 3,500 baht (€70 – €100).
The best accommodations in Koh Yao Yai
We camped for 3 nights in Koh Yao Yai. Yes, camping is also just possible in Thailand! These delightful huts at the Bankunyaiy resort are in the middle of nature. It doesn’t get so hot in the cabin, it is kept very clean and there is even a gym on the premises. We really found this a wonderful stay for a few nights! You do need a motorbike to further explore the island but that is necessary from all of Koh Yao Yai. There is no real center anywhere. Best of all, you can book these cute cabins from as little as €9 a night!
If you prefer something more luxurious, the Royal Yao Yai is a top resort. It is right on the beach but there is also a nice pool at this resort. The accompanying restaurant has delicious food and across the street from the resort is the best massage parlor we’ve had in all of Thailand!
How to get to Koh Yao Yai?
Because Koh Yao Yai is an island visited by few tourists, no ferries go here. You can only get here by speedboat. Speedboats go from Phuket, Koh Phi Phi and Ao Nang to Koh Yao Yai 3 times a day. Prices for the speedboat range between 700 and 1,200 baht (€20 – €35).
From neighboring island Koh Yao Noi, you can catch a longtail boat to Koh Yao Yai. You can just go to the pier and there are plenty of longtail boats waiting to take you across. This costs 150 baht (€4). Also check out our handy overview of all the Thai islands. Want to see more undiscovered destinations in Thailand? Then also read our authentic travel itinerary for Thailand.
