Piers, boats and travel times from Phuket Airport, Phuket Town, Krabi and Ao Nang, plus how our pier pickup works when you book direct.
A Short Boat Ride Away
Koh Yao Yai feels a world away from Phuket, but it's only around 30 minutes across the water by speedboat. There is no bridge and no airport on the island, so every journey ends with a short boat ride. That boat ride is the moment most of our guests say the holiday really starts.
This guide covers every practical way to reach the island: from Phuket Airport, from Phuket Town and the beaches, and from Krabi and Ao Nang. It explains which pier to aim for, how long each leg takes, and how we meet you at the pier when you book directly with Yao Bada Badoo.
In short: fly into Phuket (HKT), drive about 30 minutes to Bang Rong Pier, then take a 30 to 40 minute speedboat to Chong Lard Pier, where our team meets you. Allow around two hours from landing to your sunlounger.
Routes at a Glance
Phuket is the easiest gateway for most guests: the shortest crossing, the most boats and the simplest connections. Fares below are for the boat only and change with season and operator.
Phuket Airport: car to Bang Rong Pier, speedboat 30–40 min, about ฿400
Phuket Town, Kata, Karon, Patong: Bang Rong or Laem Hin Pier, speedboat 30–40 min, about ฿400
Phuket Town on a budget: slow ferry from Chianwanich Pier, about 2 hours, about ฿200
Ao Nang and Railay: speedboat from Nopparat Thara or Railay East, 45 min–1 hr 15 min, from about ฿650
Krabi Airport or Krabi Town: Thalane Pier, speedboat about 25–30 min or longtail about 1 hour
Timetables: check the day's boats with the operator or a ticket site such as 12Go before you travel
From Phuket by boat
Three piers on Phuket serve Koh Yao Yai. For most guests, Bang Rong Pier on Phuket's quiet northeast coast is the one to choose. Most speedboats leave from here, run by operators including Koh Yao Sun Smile, Solomon Speed Boat, Suwimol Speedboat and Green Planet. The crossing takes 30 to 40 minutes, and boats land at Chong Lard Pier or Khlong Hia Pier on the north of the island. Chong Lard is our pier, so choose a boat to Chong Lard if you can.
Laem Hin Pier, on the east coast behind Coconut Island, suits guests staying in Phuket Town or around Cape Panwa. Chianwanich Pier, near Rassada Port, is where the local slow ferry leaves for Laem Yai Pier on the west coast. It takes about two hours and tickets are bought on board. It's the cheapest way to arrive, but a long trip with luggage.
Speedboats run in daylight only, roughly every one to two hours
The last speedboat from Bang Rong Pier leaves at 17:00
Many operators collect you from your Phuket hotel for a small extra fee
From November to April, book your boat a day or two ahead
Landing in Phuket
Phuket Airport is in the north of the island, close to Bang Rong Pier, which makes this the quickest door-to-door route. The drive to the pier takes around 30 minutes.
Landing late? The last speedboat leaves Bang Rong at 17:00. If your flight lands in the afternoon, message us before you travel. We'll tell you which boat you can realistically make, or suggest a night near the airport and a morning crossing.
Private car for 2 people: ฿600
SUV for 3–4 people: ฿800
Minivan for 3–6 people: ฿1,300
Speedboat ticket: ฿400 per person. Pier pickup on Koh Yao Yai is included when you book direct
From the Krabi side
Koh Yao Yai sits between Phuket and Krabi, so it's easy to combine with a few days in Ao Nang or Railay. Speedboats leave Nopparat Thara Pier near Ao Nang and the floating pier at Railay East, with operators including Green Planet, Bundhaya Speed Boat, Koh Yao Sun Smile and Tigerline. Many stop at more than one pier, so check yours goes to Chong Lard.
From Krabi Airport or Krabi Town, head to Thalane Pier (Tha Len), north of Ao Nang. From there it's about 25 minutes by speedboat to Koh Yao Yai, or about an hour by longtail. We can arrange your pickup to Thalane Pier: ask us for current Krabi transfer prices.
From roughly May to October the sea on the Krabi side can be rough
Boats run less often and may be cancelled in bad weather
Phuket is the more reliable route in these months
Message us and we'll check the day's boats for you
Welcome to the island
Koh Yao Yai has no public buses and few taxis at the piers, so it helps to have your last few kilometres arranged before you land. Yao Bada Badoo is in Ban Chong Lad, on the north of the island, a short drive from Chong Lard Pier.
Book direct and we'll meet you at the pier. Pier pickup is included when you book directly with us. Send us your boat time and someone from our team will be waiting when you step off. No haggling, no waiting, no guessing.
Most guests explore the island by scooter
We can arrange a scooter for you at reception
For longer trips or evenings out, ask us to book a local driver
Our team can also arrange boat trips to Hong Island and Phang Nga Bay
Before You Go
Aim for a morning or early-afternoon boat: there are no night crossings and afternoon seas can be choppier
Book ahead in high season, from November to April
Pack light where you can: large cases are awkward on small speedboats and wooden piers
Keep your phone and passport in a small dry bag
If a boat looks overloaded or the weather looks bad, wait for the next one
Carry some Thai baht for pier taxis, small shops and some ticket desks
Tell us your boat time so someone is there to meet you
Good Questions
About 30 to 40 minutes by speedboat from Bang Rong Pier. From Phuket Airport, allow around two hours door to door, including the drive and waiting time.
Yes. Speedboats leave Bang Rong and Laem Hin piers several times a day, and a slow local ferry runs from Chianwanich Pier.
Chong Lard Pier, on the north of the island. When you book direct, our pier pickup from Chong Lard is included.
No. Boats run in daylight only, and the last speedboat from Bang Rong Pier leaves at 17:00. If you land late, stay a night near the airport and cross in the morning.
Yes. A private car to Bang Rong Pier costs ฿600 for two people, ฿800 by SUV for three to four, or ฿1,300 by minivan for up to six, plus ฿400 per person for the speedboat.
Yes, but less often, and crossings can be cancelled in rough weather. Phuket routes are the most reliable from May to October.
Your island starts at the pier
The hardest part of getting to Koh Yao Yai is choosing your boat. Book directly with Yao Bada Badoo for pier pickup, breakfast every morning and a team that helps you plan the crossing.
