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Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi by Private Yacht from Phuket
Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi by Private Yacht from Phuket
Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi are a pair of islands in the middle of Phang Nga Bay, lying roughly halfway between Phuket and Krabi. They are among the calmest places you can reach from Phuket in a day: no high-rise resorts and no crowded beach clubs, just rice fields, rubber plantations, mangroves and long stretches of quiet coastline.
About Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi
- Koh Yao Yai is the larger of the two islands, roughly 30 km long.
- Koh Yao Noi is the smaller island and lies to the north of its bigger neighbour.
- Both islands sit in Phang Nga Bay, in Phang Nga Province, between Phuket and Krabi.
- Along the coastline you will find small bars and restaurants, with a village near the pier.
- Motorbikes and tuk-tuks can be rented locally for exploring inland.
The islands remain a genuinely local place. You will pass wooden houses among the trees, buffalo grazing on the rice fields, rubber plantations and thick mangrove channels — the kind of everyday island life that has disappeared from the busier parts of the Andaman coast.
How should you behave on Koh Yao?
Residents of Koh Yao take care to preserve their traditions, and visitors are expected to do the same. Away from the beach it is normal to dress modestly, and to refrain from drinking alcohol in public places. Guests who respect this are made very welcome — the unhurried evening gatherings in the villages are one of the most memorable parts of a visit.
Beaches and things to do
The beaches here are strikingly beautiful, though not all of them are equally suited to swimming. The cleanest stretches are on the east side of the islands, and swimming is best around low tide, which falls at a different time each day. One of the best known spots on the east coast is Haad Pasa beach, which also appears on maps as Sor Ngam beach or Haad Khlong Jaak.
- Kayaking along the mangrove channels and limestone shoreline
- Snorkelling and swimming on the eastern beaches
- Hiking and walking inland through plantations and rice fields
- Scooter rides around the island roads
- Simply meeting local people and seeing traditional island life
How far are Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi from Phuket?
Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi sit in Phang Nga Bay. In a straight line it is about 16 km (9 nautical miles) from Ao Po Grand Marina to the islands. This is an approximate position estimate, not an exact navigational distance from a specific pier. From Chalong Pier in the south it is about 30 km — about an hour under way. We measure routes into Phang Nga Bay from Ao Po: the hour saved stays with the islands.
For a motor yacht, a crossing of this length typically takes about 30–35 minutes, depending on the yacht, the weather and the state of the sea. Ao Po Grand Marina is the closest departure point for Phang Nga Bay and the Krabi side, so we measure routes in that direction from there. Your exact pier depends on where the boat is berthed and is confirmed when you book.
Where does this route depart from? Chalong Pier and the island's marinas are compared in where yachts depart from in Phuket.
Day on a private yacht: Phuket – Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi and back
A private charter is the most comfortable way to see both islands in one day. You travel at your own pace, stop where the water looks best, and skip the ferry timetables entirely. If you would like to combine the trip with other spots in the same bay, Hong Island in Phang Nga and Koh Pak Bia sit close by, while Phi Phi and Bamboo Island make a natural alternative for a longer day out.
Twelve years on this island, our three yachts and the terms in writing — the company page.
Ready to plan your day around Koh Yao? Contact Horizon Cruises Phuket and we will put the route together with you.
How long does the trip take on different boats?
Koh Yao is about 16 km from Ao Po Grand Marina (about 30 km from Chalong Pier), and that distance sits differently on different hulls.
| Boat | Cruising speed | One way |
|---|---|---|
| Speedboat | 25–35 knots | ~20 min |
| Motor yacht | 9–28 knots | ~30 min |
| Power catamaran | 8–18 knots | ~40 min |
| Sailing catamaran | 5–7 knots | ~1.5 h |
Times are calculated and run a little longer in practice: the captain eases off in swell and close to shore.
What is there to do at Koh Yao?
Koh Yao is two inhabited islands in sheltered water between Phuket and Krabi. People live here, fishing villages and plantations work here, and it is the only destination on the list where the point of the trip is not only the beach.
The water between Phuket and Krabi is protected on both sides, so it is calmer here than in the open sea south of Phuket. For those who get seasick, and for windy days, this is the most reliable destination on the map.
How a day at Koh Yao actually goes
| Time | Full day | Half day |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | depart | depart |
| 08:35 | first stop, the bay is empty | first stop |
| 11:00 | move to the second anchorage | head back |
| 12:30 | lunch on board at anchor | alongside |
| 14:00 | third stop or back to the first | — |
| 15:30 | head back | — |
| 16:30 | alongside | — |
The schedule is yours to move: a private charter has no timetable to hold to. But the eight o'clock departure is worth keeping — the tour boats reach the popular anchorages between ten and eleven, and the first hour and a half decides what kind of day it becomes.
When is the best time to go, and when is it not?
From November to April the Andaman side has calm water and predictable visibility — this is the main season. From May to October the south-west monsoon brings wind and swell in bands rather than continuously: there are calm weeks in July and rough days in December.
In practice, in low season the route is chosen on the morning, not a week ahead. The captain reads the forecast and takes the side of the island that is in the lee. Trips are almost never cancelled — they change shape. If the weather genuinely does not allow a safe departure, it is discussed case by case.
Recommended Yachts for Your Koh Yao Tour
Horizon Cruises Phuket offers a private yacht charter to Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi tailored to your group. Two of our vessels are especially well suited for this trip:
- Technema 89 “Say Yes” — a spacious motor yacht ideal for families and groups seeking comfort on the way to Koh Yao.
- Beluga 88 — a stylish yacht offering a relaxed, private atmosphere for couples or smaller parties.
See our full yacht fleet or contact us to plan your Koh Yao day trip.
Both islands lie in Phang Nga Bay, roughly halfway between Phuket and Krabi. Koh Yao Yai is the larger island, about 30 km long, and Koh Yao Noi lies to the north of it.
Koh Yao Yai is the larger of the two, roughly 30 km long. Koh Yao Noi is smaller and sits to the north, with the most developed part of its coast on the east side around Haad Pasa beach.
The beaches are beautiful but not all of them suit swimming. The cleanest stretches are on the east side of the islands, and the water is best around low tide, which falls at a different time each day.
Popular activities include kayaking through the mangroves, snorkelling and swimming on the eastern beaches, hiking inland past rice fields and rubber plantations, and exploring the island roads by scooter or tuk-tuk.
Yes. Koh Yao is a traditional community and visitors are expected to respect that: dress modestly away from the beach and avoid drinking alcohol in public places.
What does a trip to Koh Yao cost?
The price is per boat per day, not per person: from ฿18,900 for a speedboat for 4–12 guests, from ฿20,900 for a sailing catamaran for 8–120, from ฿33,900 for a motor yacht for 6–80, from ฿39,115 for a power catamaran, from ฿100,000 for a luxury yacht. The group shares one sum.
Fuel for the distance — about 32 km there and back — is added to the rate, plus fees where the route incurs them. Season moves the base rate by roughly a quarter: low season May to October, high season November to April, peak from 20 December. Full tables are on the yacht charter prices page.
What to bring
A hat, sunglasses, high-factor sunscreen and a light long-sleeved shirt for the middle of the day — it protects better than any amount of cream. Swimwear worn under your clothes saves the changing routine. Cash in baht for fees, if the route incurs them. A dry bag if you take a phone into the water.
Towels, masks and fins, water, soft drinks, ice and life jackets in adult and child sizes are already on board. On full-day trips most boats include lunch.
Koh Yao or Hong Island in Phang Nga — which should you choose?
Koh Yao is about island life and calm water: villages, plantations, a long quiet shoreline. Hong is about limestone walls and the lagoon inside them. Both depart from Ao Po, both fit into a day. Hong Island in Phang Nga in detail.
Where do boats to Koh Yao depart from?
Routes into Phang Nga Bay and to the Krabi side are measured from Ao Po Grand Marina in the north-east of Phuket: from there it is about 16 km to Koh Yao against 30 km from Chalong. The hour of running saved stays on the islands themselves. The boarding point depends on where the particular boat is berthed and is confirmed at booking. All Phuket marinas.
Other destinations nearby
- Hong Island, Phang Nga — about 13 km from Ao Po, a lagoon inside limestone walls
- James Bond Island — about 20 km from Ao Po
- Phi Phi and Bamboo — about 54 km from Ao Po, a full day
Frequently asked questions
How far is Koh Yao from Phuket?
About 16 km from Ao Po Grand Marina — roughly 30 minutes on a motor yacht and 20 minutes by speedboat. From Chalong Pier it is about 30 km, almost twice as far.
How is Koh Yao Yai different from Koh Yao Noi?
Koh Yao Yai is the larger of the two, about 30 km long, with rice fields and plantations. Koh Yao Noi is smaller and lies to the north. A private boat can show you both in one day.
Is Koh Yao a good choice if I get seasick?
Yes — it is the most reliable destination on the map: the water between Phuket and Krabi is protected on both sides and noticeably calmer than the open sea south of Phuket.
What is there to see besides the beaches?
Fishing villages, plantations and mangroves — these are inhabited islands with a way of life of their own. How to behave in the local villages is covered above on this page.
Boats that suit this route
Departure marina is the practical filter for this direction:
- Song of Songs — 139 ft, from USD 37,500
- Prada 50 — 50 ft, from ฿45,000
- Azimut 46 — 46 ft, from ฿59,000
- Happy Ours 58 — 58 ft, from ฿95,000
- Princess 65 — 65 ft, from ฿100,000
- Major Affair — 92 ft, from ฿377,000
