Ko Yao Noi
Quiet Muslim Fishing Island In Phang Nga Bay Between Phuket And Krabi · Ko Yao, Phang Nga
Ko Yao Noi is a small, green island in the middle of Phang Nga Bay, between Phuket and Krabi, about 12 km from end to end, home to a few thousand mostly Muslim people who live by fishing, rubber tapping and coconuts, and to a scattering of bungalows, homestays and a few upscale resorts. Its great sight is the view east across calm water to the limestone karst islands of the bay, towers of grey and orange rock rising sheer from the sea, best at sunrise from the east-coast beaches. The beaches, among them Pasai, Klong Jark and Tha Khao, are pleasant rather than perfect, being tidal, with wide flats of mud and rock at low tide. People come for the quiet: kayaking to hidden lagoons, or hongs, in the karsts, rock climbing, cycling rubber-plantation lanes, boat trips to the bay's islands, and homestays with village families. There is no nightlife, and visitors are asked to dress modestly and drink discreetly. Longtails and speedboats cross from Bang Rong pier on Phuket and Tha Len pier near Krabi, and quieter Ko Yao Yai lies a short hop across the channel.
Manoh Pier, Ko Yao, Ko Yao, Phang Nga, 82160, Thailand
NO OPENING TIME HERE WAS CHECKED. The typical pattern: the island and its beaches are open at all times, but public boats from Bang Rong pier on Phuket and Tha Len pier near Krabi run only in daylight hours, several times a day, with the last boats leaving in the late afternoon or early evening, and fewer sailings in the rainy season. Kayak and boat trips leave in the morning and are timed to the tides. Village restaurants may close in the daytime during Ramadan, and some bungalows and restaurants close from about May to October. The traps that ruin a stay are arriving at the pier after the last boat, planning a beach swim at low tide, expecting sunset views from the east coast, and running out of cash on an island with few ATMs. Confirm current times before relying on them.