Our local guide to things to do on Koh Yao Yai: quiet beaches, mangroves and fishing villages on the island, and speedboat day trips to Phi Phi, James Bond Island and Railay.
Getting around
Scooter or taxi
Best time
November to April
Krabi
25 minutes by speedboat
Koh Phi Phi
About an hour
Trips
Booked by our team
Slow Island Days
Koh Yao Yai is not about nightlife or shopping. The best things to do here are simple: ride a scooter along quiet jungle roads, find a beach with nobody on it, and eat fried chicken and papaya salad at a beach hut.
When you want more, Phang Nga Bay is on the doorstep. Speedboats leave from the island for Phi Phi, James Bond Island and Railay, and are back by mid-afternoon.
Our team can arrange scooters, trips and transfers for you, and point you to our favourite spots.
On the Island
Ride past rubber plantations, jungle and small villages. Most of the island’s roads are quiet; ask us to arrange a scooter, or an ATV trip with a local operator.
Paddle through the mangrove forests of Phang Nga Bay, one of Thailand’s largest, where the forest meets the sea. 1,200 THB per person, with fruit, drinks and transfer included.
See traditional island life: long-tail boats, fish drying in the sun and the lobster farm.
A late-morning trip from the fishermen’s village with two fishing stops, a picnic lunch and time to swim and snorkel.
Try a hands-on batik painting class on the island and take home a piece you made yourself.
Fresh seafood in the villages and the famous fried chicken, sticky rice and papaya salad at Son Bay’s beach hut.
Ethical Elephant Sanctuary
Spend time with elephants at the island’s sanctuary. There is no riding and there are no shows or tricks: you feed and shower the elephants, watch them swim in the sea and visit the local Koh Yao Yai community.
1 hour 1,500 THB · 2 hours 2,200 THB · 4 hours 2,900 THB per adult. Ask our team to book your visit.
The Beaches
Koh Yao Yai’s beaches are long, quiet and often empty. Many change completely with the tide, so ask us for the best time to go.
The island’s most photographed beach: a long, curving sandbar that stretches out into the bay at low tide, backed by coconut palms.
A wide, quiet bay on the west coast. Come at low tide for the long walk across the sand, then eat at the beach hut on the edge.
On the central west coast, with clear water, some rocky sections and lovely sunset views.
A small, hidden strip of sand in Bole Bay, near Loh Jark, about 200 metres down a dirt track. Look for the hand-painted sign.
Day Trips
Small speedboats (14 seats, all shaded) leave Koh Yao Yai at 9:00 and are back by 15:00. Lunch, soft drinks, fruit and an English-speaking guide are included. The national park fee is paid in cash on the day, and we can arrange your transfer to the pier for a small extra charge.
Wednesday, Friday & Sunday · 09:00–15:00
Snorkelling at Koh Bida Nok, Maya Bay, swimming and lunch in Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave, Monkey Beach and Bamboo Island.
3,500 THB per adult · national park fee 400 THB
Tuesday & Saturday · 09:00–15:00
James Bond Island, a mangrove cruise, the floating village of Koh Panyee, sea kayaking and a sea cave.
3,500 THB per adult · national park fee 300 THB
Monday & Thursday · 09:00–15:00
Snorkelling at Poda Island, the Tup Island sandbar, Chicken Island, Railay Beach and Phra Nang Cave, then Koh Khai Nai.
3,500 THB per adult · national park fee 400 THB
Trip Details
Private boat for two · flexible morning start
Koh Hong lagoon, the 360° viewpoint on Hong Island, snorkelling at Koh Lao Ka, Laolading Island and Koh Phak Bia.
5,550 THB for two · park fee, fruit, water, soft drinks, snorkel gear and transfer included
Trip DetailsPrivate boats for two also go to Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island (6,600 THB) and Koh Khai (5,650 THB). Speedboat days and prices are set by the operator and may change; ask us to check and book for you.
Ask Us to Book a Day TripUnder the Water
Phang Nga Bay and the islands around Phi Phi have some of the best snorkelling in Thailand. See the snorkelling and diving trips we can arrange from Koh Yao Yai.
Snorkelling & Diving TripsGood to Know
Most guests explore by scooter, which we can arrange for you, or by taxi. If you’d rather drive, you can bring a car over on the car ferry.
Yes. Tell us which trip and day you’d like and we’ll check availability with the boat operator, book it and arrange your transfer to the pier.
For snorkelling and famous views, Phi Phi. For limestone islands, mangroves and kayaking, James Bond Island and Phang Nga Bay. For beaches and an easier day, Railay and Poda.
November to April is the dry season, with calm seas and sunshine, and the best time for boat trips. May to October is quieter and greener, with some rain and rougher seas on some days.
Yes. There are no bar strips or big resorts, just quiet beaches, local villages and good food. It’s the island to choose if you want to slow down.
Book Direct
We meet you at the agreed Koh Yao Yai pier and bring you directly to the resort.
Speak with the people at the resort about rooms, arrival times and special requests, with no third party in between.
Transfers, island trips, massages and celebrations, arranged with you before you arrive.
If you find a lower publicly available price for the same room, dates and booking conditions on Booking.com or Agoda, contact us directly. We’ll do our best to match it.
Contact Us DirectlyYour Island Awaits
Book directly with Yao Bada Badoo for breakfast included, pier pickup and a team that helps you plan every island day.
