Experience the daily life of local fisherfolk

In Koh Yao Noi, 85% of the inhabitants are seafarers, relying upon fishing to sustain themselves and support their families. The fishers’ colorful boats have become symbols of Southern Thailand, and their close relationship with the ocean is legendary. Nowadays, the Koh Yao Noi community are famous throughout the world for their active commitment to coastal resource conservation. REST and the community of Koh Yao Noi invite our guests to join in with typical daily activities: learn how to make a fishing net, go night fishing under the stars, and help divide the fish after the catch. Are you a good cook? Learn a local recipe or teach your hosts one of your own…

Cooking Making Thai desserts
The local people will teach you how to prepare traditional Thai desserts like “Kanom Tom” and afterwards you can taste them, too!

Discover the rubber-making process

Rubber trees grow in abundance on Koh Yaow Noi, and provide another important source of income for local people. The experience of walking through the rubber plantation in the early morning, making a careful, shallow incision into the tree bark, and collecting the precious sap is fascinating and atmospheric. Later you can even see how rubber is produced and processed.

Sea Canoeing

Phang Nga Bay, where Koh Yao Noi is located is one of South East Asia’s foremost destinations for sea canoeing and kayaking. Explore secret hidden bays, or paddle into sea caves and clear green lagoons. Aah! Life on the crest of a wave!

Trekking to the watershed area
Southern Thailand offers classic jungle scenery for trekkers. Koh Yao Noi’s biodiversity makes it a particularly fascinating island to explore on foot: enjoy rain forest, mangrove, and beach views. While trekking to the watershed, your local guide will explain about the different plants, trees and flowers that you pass. Short and longer walks are both easy to organise.

See Thai boxing (Muay Thai) and try it yourself if you dare!

Thai boxing is a very famous sport and also a revered martial art in Thailand. In Koh Yao Noi there are many enthusiastic local heroes and also a community club where people of different ages come to practice their moves! It is very interesting to see the sport and the ceremony of ‘Muay Thai.’ It’s even more exciting to have a go!

Bird watching
The extensive mangrove forests of Koh Yao Noi are teeming with sea life. This makes them an attractive destination for sea-eagles! As the sun sets, these beautiful eagels return to their nests. This is the perfect time to spot these majestic birds circling above us in the crimson, dusk sky, playing happily in the wind currents on their way home.

Meet the locals and practice the language
Often our most treasured memories are the unexpected moments when we share a smile, a chance meeting, or conversation with local people. The peoples of Thailand are justly famous for their friendliness to visitors. This is particularly true for guests that make an effort to learn a few words of the local language. Best of all, the local people, like all of us, love the chance to be a teacher! You will find that locals are especially interested in your family life. How many brothers and sisters do you have? Do you have any children? For a personal and unique experience bring along some pictures from home and make the extra effort to learn some local language. It’s always worth the effort.