 Ko
Yao simply means 'Long
Island,' which is kind of
funny if you're familiar
with the one in New York. Ko
Yao Noi is 'Little Long
Island,' which is where
you'll find most of the
accommodation and is the
primary destination for most
Backpackers Hostellers while they are
enjoying their
great deals on Family
holidays
vacation.
Rich in natural beauty, and
as with Ko Yao Yai, Ko Yao
Noi constitutes one of the
last bastions of untouched
wilderness in the region.
There are some paved roads,
a lot of them pretty rough,
and many more are simply
made of dirt. There's plenty
of room to roam and explore
in this area, and almost
anywhere you choose to stay
will be in a peaceful
setting surrounded by
nature.
The beach is no good on much
of the coast at low tide --
too many rocks and mud flats
-- but is largely swimmable
at high tide, and a few
beaches are good all day
long. The Thais here are
overwhelmingly Muslim, so
alcohol, while available, is
not ubiquitous. As with
other Muslim areas in
Thailand, nude sun-bathing
and skimpy clothing are
considered very offensive by
locals.
None of the accommodation is
walkable from the pier, so
be sure to call ahead and
they'll pick you up, usually
for no charge. The centre of
town is marked by a
three-way intersection where
you'll find the 7-eleven,
which has a 24-hour ATM
machine, and two internet
places (dial-up only) which
are open until about 21:00.
There aren't any road signs
to be found, but the
hospital is located on the
same road as Amina
Bungalows, quite a bit
further down, on the road
that leads to Pa Sai beach.
The police station and the
post office are near the
centre of town, along the
road that leads to Manok
Pier, where you catch boats
to Ko Yao Yai. Maps of the
island are not readily
available, but a lot of the
guesthouses have some kind
of map -- try stopping in
and asking at Lemsai Village
Guesthouse.
There are precious few
restaurants here oriented
towards tourists, so for the
most part, it's local food
or whatever's on the menu at
the place you're staying in.
In the push to develop every
inch of Thailand for the
tourist industry, the Ko Yao
islands represent something
of a final frontier. Huge
luxury developments are
underway on both island, and
this place won't remain a
well-kept secret for long.
Best to get here while the
going is good.
Backpackers Hostel to KohYao
is available from
Phuket, Phang-Nga
and Krabi, but
leaving from Phuket
is the most
convenient.
From Phuket
Bang Rong Pier
in Tambon Pha Khiok,
Thalang District,
(from the Heroines
Monument to the
tenth kilometer)
There are boats
going to:
-
Manoh Pier on Koh
Yao Noi. The trip
takes 1 hour and
costs 50 baht,
leaving Bang Rong
Pier at 11.00,
12.30,14.30,17.00
hrs.
-
Chong Laad and
Khiong Hia Piers on
Koh Yao Yai. The
trip takes 1 hour
and costs 50 baht,
leaving Bang Rong
Pier at 12.30 hrs.
Laem Hin Pier
in Tambon Koh Kaew,
Muang District,
Phuket.
There are
boats going to:
-
Laem Yai Pier on
Koh Yao Yai. The
trip takes 1 hour 20
minutes and costs 50
baht, leaving Laem
Hin Pier at 2 p.m.
Tien Sin Pier
on the
way to Koh Sirey in
Phuket Town, there
are boats going to:
-
Loh Jaak Pier on
Koh Yao Yai, The
trip takes an hour
and costs 50 baht,
leaving Tien Sin
Pier at 10 a.m. and
2 p.m.
Rassadana Port
in Tambon Rassada,
Phuket Town, there
are boats going to:
-
Loh Jaak Pier on
Koh Yao Yai. The
trip takes an hour
and costs 50 baht.
On Sunday-Thursday
the boats leave at 2
p.m. On Saturday the
boats leave at 6
a.m.
From Phang-nga
Customs Pier in
Tambon Koh Panyee to
Sukkhaphiban Pier on
Koh Yao Noi. The
trip takes 1 hour 30
minutes and costs
100 baht, leaving
the Customs Pier at
12.00 a.m. except
Sunday.
From Krabi
Thalane Pier in Ao
Luek District, there
are boats going to:
- Baan Tha Khao Pier
on Koh Yao Noi. The
trip takes 1 hour
and costs 50 baht,
leaving Laem Sak
Pier at noon.
- Chong Laad Pier on
Koh Yao Yai. The
trip takes 1 hour
and costs 50 baht,
leaving at noon.
Backpackers Hostel from Koh Yao
-
From Koh Yao Noi
to Bang Rong
Pier, Phuket.
The boat leaves
Manoh and
Sukkhaphiban
pier at 7 and
7.30 a.m. There
are 3-4 trips a
day.
-
From Koh Yao Noi
to Thalane Pier,
Krabi The boat
leaves Thao Khao
pier at 7.30
a.m.
-
From Koh Yao Noi
to Customs Pier,
Phang-nga. The
boat leaves at 7
a.m.
-
From Koh Yao Yai
to Bang Rong
Pier, the boat
leaves from
Chong laad and
Khiong Hia Pier
at 7 a.m.
-
From Koh Yao Yai
to Laem Hin
Pier, the boat
leaves from Laem
Yai Pier at 8
a.m.
-
From Koh Yao Yai
to Tien Sin
Pier, the boat
leaves Loh Jaak
Pier at 8 a.m.
and 3 p.m.
-
From Koh Yao Yai
to Rassada Pier,
the boat leaves
Loh Jaak Pier at
8.30 a.m. on
Sunday-Thursday
and Saturday,
and 2.30 p.m. on
Friday.
Note
-
Timetable and
rates may
change.
Apart from those
that run
according to the
aforesaid times,
boats must be
chartered.
-
From Koh Yao Yai
to other small
islands :
Long-tail boat
can be chartered
From Manoh Pier
on Koh Yao Noi
to Chong Laad
Pier on Koh Yao
Yai, Ther are
long-tail boats
running all day
long. The trip
takes 15 minutes
and costs 20
baht.
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