LAST VISITED FEBRUARY 2014
Fishing together with cash-cropping are the primary activities on large sleepy Yao Yai. Big on tourism it aint. Nice for laid-back tourism it is.Yao Yai is a long mountainous isle at ane time southward of Yao Noi together with E of Phuket.
It is much less touristy than (not peculiarly touristy) Yao Noi, despite having nicer beaches, equal scenery together with easier access from the busy parts of Phuket. The quaternary biggest isle inwards Thailand together with solely a dozen resorts.
NOTE I WROTE THE ABOVE PARAGRAPH AFTER MY 2008 VISIT - THE ONLY WORDS I'VE CHANGED ARE THE LAST 4: ORIGINALLY "...only vi resorts".
AREA MAP
Ko Yao Yai (Long Island large - Ko Noi is Long Island small) is 25KM N to southward together with Ikm from Yao Noi at the closest point. - map from Heimat Garden. It's roughly equidistant from Phuket together with the Krabi coast.
Some of the places featured on this page - modified Google world image.CLICK FOR Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 MORE DETAILED ISLAND MAP - from travelfish
BEACHES
Ao Jak - Ao Po La
The southern pier beach - Loh Jak - pic shot from the pier where 2 automobile ferries together with 2 speedboats brand it most days (Fridays 1 automobile ferry 1 longtail ferry - 1 speedboat) from the Jian Warnit pier close Phuket town. The buildings are the Phuket Island Hopper’s Beach Club - this outfit runs speedboat daytrips visiting the modest beach-fringed coral kay Bamboo Island betwixt Phuket together with Yao Yai together with and thus doing luncheon together with some beach fourth dimension hither on Loh Jak, addition a mini-tour of the island.
This is the second-best beach I saw - squeamish sand, H2O deep plenty depression tide for swimming, H2O reasonably clear (Phang Nga Bay H2O farther N gets a flake murky).
Maybe 150m inland from the pier is GARDEN VIEW RESORT, a budget articulation alongside trad bungalows - it looked to receive got been refurbished a flake from travelfish’s scathing report.
Ditto THE WHITE HOUSE (when I outset checked this identify inwards 2008 is was called KO YAO BEACH BUNGALOWS - inwards 2013 it was using FASAI BEACH BUNGALOWS) which is at ane time on the pier side of the Beach Club - the eating theatre has beach views but the bungalows are built slightly farther dorsum over a tidal creek running parallel to the sand.
Beach Bungalow’s accommodation inwards 2008 looked similar it’d got a lick of pigment both exterior together with interior. Inside was basic but tidy, clean, alongside bathroom. If I had non been set off past times travelfish's report, I would receive got been happy alongside this identify walk-in off the ferry inwards 2008.The tidal creek looks a flake daggy depression tide but mayhap you lot receive got your ain trivial Venice when the H2O rises. Beach 30m away. 400baht earlier bargaining when I checked which was fair value inwards 2008 - but plainly prices receive got gone upward since. They receive got also added some aircon to a few bungalows. And a few cheapie smaller part bath places closer the beach.
There is no hamlet correct at the pier. There is a cluster of houses together with a few shops mayhap 600m upward the paved road. HALAVEE RESORT is merely off the route to the left inwards this expanse - okay budget according to travelfish, but ane I didn’t larn to check.
Loh Paret
The nicest beach on the isle I saw is Loh Paret (Pared) virtually one-third the way along the W coast from the south.
This shot shows virtually 20% of Loh Paret beach - the buildings belong to YAO YAI ISLAND RESORT (pix taken from their pier inwards 2008). 
Note: the inwards a higher identify is an epitome I did earlier the 2014 update together with doesn't present SANTHIYA, merely to the left of KY ISLAND RESORT - or BLUE BAY which is virtually where the "..land" of "Island Resort" is. But it takes me virtually xxx minutes to create a novel epitome together with I'm feeling lazy.
I mean value you lot volition notice that the ii novel flash resorts receive got their ain boat access from Phuket. I also noticed a speedboat was at nowadays running ane time a twenty-four sixty minutes menstruum from the Klong Hia pier you lot tin regard inwards a higher identify close the bottom left an E coast pier N of Phuket town.
Some of Island Resort’s diverseness of bungalows - flashpacker prices together with pretty nice.Island Resort now has a novel large beachfront eating theatre alongside modern styling somewhat incongruous alongside the trad bungalows. With prices mayhap 50% to a greater extent than than av budget bungalows it is no doubtfulness aimed at attracting diners from neighbouring Santhiya. When I finally checked, the identify has polarising guest-reports inwards the move forums - some loved it, some were non peculiarly gruntled.
Some budget restaurants together with a diving outfit are 150m out of frame to the correct where the beach access route terminates.
In 2008 I originally planned to remain at Heimat Gardens , a boutique flashpacker inwards the modest hamlet virtually 10 minutes walk upward the route from this beach. But my tentative enquiries savage thru when long-time guests extended their bookings. Nevertheless the lovely Yamalia picked me upward from the ferry, took me on a tour of her identify together with and thus transported me virtually xv km up-island to an alternative room she had negotiated for the same price. No complaints from me, peculiarly when the alternative identify had a rack charge per unit of measurement considerably upmarket from her squeamish accommodation.
Yamalia's Heimat Garden eating theatre - this fronts the beach-road inwards a trivial village.Kinda squeamish watching the ebb together with flow of passers-by. Nice nutrient mayhap 20% pricier than the average budget bungalow together with a practiced number of exterior diners when I had some tucker merely about mid-day, a few of them island-dwelling expats alongside the park bunch of interesting stories together with info.
Yamalia’s rooms are inwards a modern motel-like block set dorsum virtually 100m from the route inwards a actually squeamish tropical garden setting. Very nicely appointed - looked every flake every bit practiced (and newer) than the pricier accomm she organised for me. An alternative rail to the beach leads thru the jungle to the southern completely deserted halt of Loh Paret - 10 minutes.
To La Ma Beach
Koh Yai Village Resort in the epitome is on a divide strip of beach on Hing Kong Bay. This midrange or ameliorate resort gets practiced reviews but was also expensive for me inwards 2014. I stayed at Ban Taranya Resort merely southward - regard downwardly page.
MY ACCOMMODATION ON YAO YAI 2008
TIEWSON BUNGALOW - aka Thiwson, Thewson, Thiw Son, Tue Son - my digs on Yao Yai, all past times itself towards the southern halt of the rattling long To La Ma beach inwards the NE of the island.The shaded eating theatre together with the sitting cabanas are to the right. The other beachfront buildings are novel upmarket accommodation nether structure inwards November 08 - the far left ane a huge line solid unit of measurement affair alongside a large cardinal living expanse together with 2 double bedrooms alongside bathrooms each side. Huge verandas.
The irony is that this is the articulation which initially appealed most to me when doing enquiry into the isle - BUT beingness inwards the middle of nowhere I thought access would live complicated for what was my outset halt off the aircraft.
Thanks Yamalia.
The beach does a deadening bend out of frame to the correct together with goes for virtually 4km to terminate inwards the looong sand spit (low tide at least) which reaches across towards Ko Yao Noi. I jogged a few km upward the beach each morning time earlier brekka - no huts or villages. The primary route is abt 200m behind the trees together with scattered houses are along this.
Mid-tide inwards this shot. High tide goes correct upward to the ocean wall. Lowest tide leaves 100m of sand (not mud) together with actually shallow H2O for some other 60m. Water less clear inwards these northern areas.
My 2nd row garden bungalow at Tiewson.Yamalia negotiated 800 baht without brekka but the rack charge per unit of measurement was 1500 alongside brekka. This bungalow was upmarket from flashpacker - to a greater extent than lower-midrange, alongside aircon, fidge, TV. Spacious, spotless. Glass together with timber bifold doors, polished floors, lots of storage, large indoor/outdoor* bath alongside western toilet, hot water, bidet gun, towels+soap+shampoo+tissues, practiced mirrors.
Big veranda, heavily landscaped garden manicured intensively past times staff, neat tap for sandy feet at pes of stairs.
Value? Umm, despite such practiced facilities I’m thinking the listing cost was a tad high for2008. But I didn't at the fourth dimension receive got also much experience alongside midrange places together with I confess I paid 1500 strange for an inferior but beachfront bungalow on Long Beach Phi Phi LOW SEASON inwards the same year. Thing is, I got the impression from the eating theatre repast choices that this identify was set-up to attract higher earning locals from Phuket. Nevertheless all is non lost for budget travellers - the 3rd row had 2 traditional budget type bungalows alongside bathrooms for 600 no brekka earlier haggling.
* Ladies, don’t worry also much virtually blokes climbing surrounding trees to banking concern check your specifications. Very unsafe activity - I nearly broke my neck.
View from Tiewson’s eating theatre on a hazy day.That is the southward E corner of Ko Yao Noi on the left together with some of the karst islets of southern Phang Nga Bay to the right. Ko Hong, a existent pop daytrip karst islet out of Railay/Ao Nang is at far right. The Railay/Ao Nang landscape was visible farther southward but the bend of the basis hid the lights at night. I got tanked on 90baht large Changs after dinner together with wandered southward virtually 2 km along the primary route to a viewpoint - could kinda regard the lights but when I tried to larn closer to the cliff border on no-moon nighttime I walked into a barbed-wire fence. Well DUH! Imagine an Australian beingness surprised past times a barbed-wire debate ANYWHERE! There are barbed-wire fences inwards the middle of the Simpson Desert 200km from the nearest homestead…… I soundless receive got the scars vi weeks after from the Yai one.Nice regime annotation - on the walk dorsum downwardly the pitch-black deserted route a twain of locals passed me on a motorbike. They doubled dorsum to enquire if I was OK. Nice people on Yao Yai - bulk are Muslim.
More on the eating theatre - my notes state nutrient merely about 20% dearer than the average budget bungalow places I commonly consume in. Some anomalies - modest Chang exxy at 70, large Chang inexxy at 90! My notes also state the stir-fry chicken I had on the finally nighttime was ane of my top v Thai meals ever.
THIWSON REVISITED 2014.
Comparison to Ban Taranya? Well I can't live bothered checking rates together with electrical flow reader reviews but the places sure looked merely about the same criterion - if everything else checks out equal I mean value the cheaper food/beer at Thiwson and the fact that the puddle together with eating theatre positions takes ameliorate payoff of the bay views would win me over.
SOME LATE INFORMATION. In Jan 2015 I got an electronic mail from a individual non also happy virtually Thiwson.
"We chose Yao Yai every bit our destination together with booked past times its meshing website for Thiwson beach resort a 2nd line bungalow that if you lot banking concern check the pictures at their website looks amazing (all made of wood, beautiful bathroom...). Our surprise was that they gave us an absolutely different affair for the same price: I'm sorry I did non receive got whatever pictures, it was way nether the attain of what nosotros saw inwards the pictures. I complained together with they said that my bungalow was the exception but the residue were similar the pictures (mine was B1). They were trying to larn 2.300 per nighttime thus I explained them that this was non what I booked thus nosotros left together with flora somewhere else to sleep."Not existent practiced for that user. So ane time once to a greater extent than check all user reviews on the websites when deciding on a identify to stay. I personally don't permit ane negative review sway me, but to a greater extent than may live movement to hesitate.
Hin Kong Beach
This was shot from the pier side past times side our 2014 accommodation, BAN TARANYA RESORT. Here nosotros are looking N - the rather squeamish ESMERALDA VIEW RESORT is atop that far headland. Behind the photographic idiot box camera virtually one-half every bit far is the rattling pop 4 star KO YAO VILLAGE resort at the southern halt of the beach.
Less than v minutes walk upward on the primary route is a bunch of local shops together with ane restaurant. Unfortunately the last's prices were closer to the resort's than to budget.
Aow Say Beach
There are several other modest beaches on the southern one-half of the E coast, 3 or 4 of which receive got unsealed access roads. But I'd already done 4+km of stone oil dirt alongside a few sections of rattling bad broken upward concrete to larn to the southern line-fishing hamlet thus I didn't bother to banking concern check them.
Loh Poh Noi Bay beach
AROUND THE ISLAND.
Both trips I hired a moped (250 baht 2008 from Thiwson (fair)/400 2014 from Ban Taraanya (a flake high), together with checked the isle out. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 concrete route runs from the southern pier past times the ii northern piers together with and thus merely about to Loh Poh Bay bay virtually 3 quarters of the way along the W coast. In 2008 the route was inwards rattling practiced status but 2014 saw some stone oil patches inwards the to a greater extent than heavily used sections. There is ribbon evolution inwards patches correct along this road, along alongside lots of cash-cropping, together with condom plantations, fifty-fifty some padi areas - together with a lot of unused nation - addition virtually v villages - the largest beingness the north-east pier town of Ban Chong Lad. However this is considerably smaller than Yao Noi’s biggest town - ditto total population.
From the N W bay, the route continues along the W coast to rejoin the primary north-south route virtually mid-island - soundless this subdivision is dirt together with was badly cutting upward after pelting together with I'm no dirt route motorcyclists, thus I gave it a immature adult woman together with retraced my path.
The guy running the eating theatre showed me some groovy pix of kayak tours he runs inwards the mangroves N of Loh Poh Bay - squeamish waterways, monkeys, large croc-like monitors swimming (they are groovy swimmers), a condom plantation, see to ane of the squeamish isolated beaches of the north-west. 1300baht for a total twenty-four sixty minutes menstruum including lunch. In February 2014 he didn't receive got a booking site online or advertise at resorts - this is ane you lot mass walk-in.
https://plus.google.com/116076706945776554719/posts
Google Earth shows several actually squeamish beaches inwards the north-west corner - but both side-roads I took ended upward at trivial estuaries where longtail guys eagerly asked me if I wanted to become to Yao Noi.
About one-half way downwardly the island, Yamalia had shown me where a hiking rail leaves from beside some roadside houses together with climbs the high E coast mount ridge to a viewpoint which looks out towards the Krabi mainland. However virtually 2 dozen roadside houses looked similar following twenty-four sixty minutes menstruum thus I didn’t larn to produce this. Yamalia’s identify runs guided climbs here.
Way downwardly the southern halt of the isle paved roads which shortly plough to dirt caput downwardly both sides of the large southern inlet - the line-fishing hamlet inwards the opening shot was inwards the southward E of this bay.
Back on the side route past times Yamalia’s, Loh Paret Beach together with Island Resort is a the Laem Yai pier together with line-fishing hamlet on a squeamish north-west facing bay .
Not also far southward of the southern pier at some other bay, Bo Le, I came across a existent high halt articulation - GLOW ELIXIR. The cheapest bungalow they quoted me was 5200 (in 2008) together with I notice their website has some 33000 joints! Just the affair for you lot high-rollers. They weren’t existent keen on riff-raff similar me having a await - but the website gallery sure looks nice.
Value? Um when you lot larn into this territory, value aint of import - except inwards mayhap bragging rights: “You paid solely 6000 at the Elixr??”
UPDATE MARCH 2014
I've merely flora out at that spot is some other resort inwards the Bole Bay expanse - the budget Ko Yao Activities Resort. This is set dorsum from the southern-heading route inwards the epitome above, virtually 300m N of the turn-off into Glow Elixr and is supposed to live a pretty squeamish place, upward a measuring or ii on Yai's other budget options. The possessor runs kayak tours through the nearby mangroves to the east.
MONEY
There is an ATM inwards Ban Chong Lad together with some other on the primary route close the Prue Nai Health Center virtually 4km N of Loh Jak pier. I mean value I saw some other inwards a shopping strip on the primary route a flake closer the pier.
ALCOHOL
Yao Yai is a Muslim island. I didn't regard booze on sale inwards whatever of the local stores or inwards modest restaurants catering for locals. There is no 7-Eleven dissimilar Yao Noi. Nearly all resorts together with some restaurants catering for tourists volition sell you lot a drinkable but prices vary. If you lot are on a budget best pick out some from Phuket or Krabi etc.
WHAT TO DO
Yao Noi is the perfect isle for relaxing on the beach or past times the pool, grabbing a repast or a drinkable together with cruising merely about on mopeds or bicycles (note I saw solely a fraction of the bicycles that were cruising on Yao Nao latest trip). An isle for partying, shopping etc it's not.
For the restless at that spot are other Yao Yai activities similar cruising (lots of longtail together with other boat trips advertised to the southern Phang Nga Bay islands such every bit Ko Hong,to Ko Kai Nai together with Koh Kai Nog islets linked below, across to the Krabi beaches together with islands, fifty-fifty every bit far every bit Phi Phi together with Bamboo Island (although a speedboat would cost a bomb to charter that far) There is also diving together with snorkelling the nearby Koh Kai Nai together with Koh Kai Nog.
GETTING THERE
TO THE SOUTH OF THE ISLAND (the southern pier - Loh Jak)
2 automobile ferries at 0830 together with 1400, ane conventional ferry AT grand together with 1 speedboat at1700 brand it most days (Fridays 1 automobile ferry at 0830 1 longtail ferry at grand - 1 speedboat at 1700) from the Jian Warnit/Chianwanich pier close Phuket town.
I used the conventional ferry inwards 2008 - the pier was virtually 500m “upriver” from the pop Rassada pier used past times the Phi Phi ferries, but it took me a piece to notice a motorbike taxi guy inwards Phuket town who knew the location.
On arrival at the southern pier inwards 2008 at that spot was ane sometime guy alongside a motorcycle-sidecar together with ane songthaew similar vehicle waiting to transfer passengers.
Of course of study if you lot are going to the southward of the isle together with the inwards a higher identify times don't conform you, you lot could ever become upward to the Bang Rong pier inwards north-west Phuket for the to a greater extent than frequent transfers (see below). But it is a fair haul dorsum southward on the island.
TO THE CENTRAL LOH PARET AREA
There is ane speedboat per twenty-four sixty minutes menstruum (at 1600) from the Lam Hin pier inwards cardinal E Phuket to the Laem Yai pier on the southern shore of Loh Poh bay a few km N of Loh Paret. Remember also that at to the lowest degree some of the resorts on the beach run their ain transfer boats. And of course you lot tin grab a boat into the southern or northern pier together with grab a pickup truck transfer.
Yamalia offers gratuitous carry from the southern pier to her place. It’s virtually 8km to Loh Paret, thus non a bad create out - image Heimat GardenTO THE NORTH OF THE ISLAND (the north-west Klong Hia pier).
The fairly frequent speedboats together with longtail ferries which become from Phuket's north-west Bang Rong pier to Yao Noi also telephone telephone inwards at Yao Yai's north-west pier. Because it solely takes v minutes betwixt the isle piers, most timetables present same fourth dimension of arrival (and departure). For details regard the Yao Noi page's GETTING THERE section for times together with some information on getting to/from Bang Rong or: (shortcut for times) http://www.koyaonoi.com/Koh_Yao_Noi/Ferries.html - part pf a full general information site which hopefully volition hold upward to appointment alongside changes. Note this tin live a work alongside several of the accommodation places' websites - the information tin live out of date. Last I looked, Heimat Garden's ferry information hadn't been changed since 2008.
In recent years at that spot has been an afternoon (1500) speedboat service operated past times Green Planet joining Phuket's Bang Rong pier alongside Klong Hia - it together with thus goes across to Yao Noi after which the Nopparet Thara pier close Ao Nang inwards the Krabi district. I caught it inwards the opposite management inwards March 2012 together with when nosotros got to Yao Yai at that spot was carry waiting at the pier - some seemed to live from accommodation, some local pickup taxi services (this is the instance when the other speedboats together with longtails brand it too). When nosotros arruved at Phuket at that spot were fare-inclusive minibuses waiting to receive got passengers to the primary beaches together with drome thus I assume they volition pick upward for the outward journey. Green Planet's Phuket tel - mobile 082 42069998 - no doubtfulness merely virtually every move desk on the isle volition live able to mass them. This is a practiced create out considering the rip-off taxi prices from Bang Rong (see pic Yao Noi page), but I receive got an thought Green Planet's may live a flake to a greater extent than expensive Bang Rong to Yai than the rattling reasonable 200 baht for the populace speedboats/100 for the longtails (2014 prices). On our latest trip nosotros didn't consider Green Planet inwards either management - the time's didn't suit.
FROM KRABI
Green Planet's speedboat runs from Ao Nang's Nopparet Thara pier to Yao Noi, together with thus Yao Yai together with finally Phuket's Bang Rong pier inwards the morning time (at 1100) taking merely about a one-half hour. Transport was waiting at Yao Yai pier. The Krabi tel # is +66 075 637 488 together with move desks all merely about the identify were advertising this. Green Planet also run an limited boat inwards the afternoon at 1600 - takes approx ane hour.
Apart from the above, a boat leaves Ao Thalen virtually twoscore minutes slow songthaew ride N of Krabi town, at 1300 inwards the afternoon. Songthaews to Ao Thalen go out from exterior the Vogue department store inwards Krabi town - they become via the coach station together with the lady who runs the modest move way at that spot volition tell you lot when together with where it volition arrive.
Only ane service a twenty-four sixty minutes menstruum is non groovy but you lot could grab ane of the to a greater extent than frequent boats out of Ao Thalen to Yao Noi's central-north Tha Khao pier, grab a songthaew merely about to No's southern Manoc/Manoh pier (150-200 baht inwards 2014) together with and thus ane of the hourly populace longtail ferries across to Yao Yai's Klong Hia pier (see below).
FROM YAO NOI
Longtail taxi boats shuttle to together with from Klong Hia to the other northern pier on Yao Yai (Chong Lad) regularly - 50 baht inwards 2014/10 minutes. You tin charter ane if you lot don’t desire to hold off for virtually v times the cost. Transport waiting at the arrivals pier.
I shortcut the procedure inwards the opposite management inwards 2008 past times going straight from Thiwson’s beach to Laem Seafood Bungalow’s pier on the south-east corner of Noi on Tiewson’s longtail for 200baht which for the greater distance involved I thought a rattling fair price.
FROM PHI PHI - LANTA
See the Yao Noi page for details.
EXTRA INFO - John Bassett sent a Jan 2011
Trip Report on Yao Yai.
--------------------------------------------------
HELP WANTED - I'M FINDING information technology INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO UPDATE THIS PAGE ON Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 REGULAR BASIS. YAO YAI IS Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 LONG WAY FROM AUSTRALIA AND I HAVE OVER 20 OTHER ISLANDS TO KEEP UP TO DATE. IF YOU VISIT AND WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 TRIP REPORT information technology WOULD BE MOST WELCOME - PLEASE DON'T ATTEMPT Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 FULL ISLAND REVIEW - JUST Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 FEW PHOTOS OF YOUR RESORT ETC WITH CAPTIONS SENT TO lajolla22@hotmail.com WILL DO THE TRICK.
--------------------------------------------
If you lot see Yao Yai you lot powerfulness also consider nearby:
KO YAO NOI
PHUKET
KRABI
-----------------------------------------------------
If you lot disagree or receive got extra information, delight burn them inwards below. If you lot receive got questions, delight enquire them on THE FORUM which I banking concern check most days. I solely see private isle pages occasionally.
Sumber http://tezza-thailandbeachesandislands.blogspot.com/