Koh Yao Noi is a small beautiful island located in Phang Nga Bay, very close to Phuket and Krabi. The island is famous for its serene atmosphere and beautiful beaches. If you want to escape from the crowds and enjoy a laid-back lifestyle, Koh Yao Noi is an ideal place to visit.
Koh Yao Noi does not have an airport. The only way to access the island is by water. You can easily catch boats from nearby islands and mainland areas such as Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, and Ao Nang/ Krabi to get to Koh Yao Noi.
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How to Get to Koh Yao Noi from Phuket
It is around 30 minute speed boat ride and a 1 hour long tail boat ride from Phuket to Koh Yao Noi. Boats depart from various piers on Phuket including Bang Rong Pier, Thiensin Pier, and Laem Hin Pier. It arrives at Manoh Pier on Koh Yao Noi.
There are plenty of boats running daily connecting Phuket and Koh Yao Yai, especially in the high season. You can book tickets from local travel agencies, at the pier, or online in advance.
I recommend booking tickets that include transfers from your hotel in Phuket to the pier, and from Manoh Pier to your hotel on Koh Yao Noi. Many boat operators offer pick up at Phuket airport, and popular tourist areas such as Patong, Karon, Kata, and Phuket Town.
If you want to do it yourself, you can Use Grab, Bolt, or InDrive to get to the pier in Phuket. I prefer using InDrive as it always offers the best deals between these apps.
There are no these Uber-like apps on Koh Yao Noi, you can ask your hotel to organise transport for you or book songthaew at Manoh Pier. You need to bargain the price with the driver.
How to Get to Koh Yao Noi from Krabi, Ao Nang, and Railay
It is around an hour ferry journey from Krabi to Koh Yao Noi. Boat departs from various piers on Krabi Province, including Nopparat Thara Pier and Ao Nam Mao Pier near Ao Nang, Floating Pier East Railay in Railay Beach.
Some boat companies running this route include Supaporn Speedboat, Green Planet, and Koh Yao Sun Smile. You can consider booking a ticket that includes a transfer from your hotel in Ao Nang, Krabi Town, or Krabi Airport to the pier, and the ferry ride to Koh Yao Yai.
If the travel companies don’t offer transfer from Manoh Pier to your hotel, you can ask your accommodation to organise transport for you. You can also book Songthaew from the pier to your hotel, but remember to bargain.
How to Get to Koh Yao Noi from Yao Yai
It is easy to get a long tail boat from Koh Yao Yai to Koh Yao Noi. It is only around a 5-10 minute boat ride. You just go to the pier to ask the driver to take you on the boat. The price for a shared boat is around 50 baht, and you need to wait to get enough passengers for the boat to depart.
If you don’t want to wait, you can pay for a private boat. I paid for a private boat that included a ticket for me and my motorbike. It costs around 200 baht one way, if I remember correctly.
How to Get to Koh Yao Noi from Bangkok
Bangkok to Koh Yao Noi by air + ferry
Taking a flight from Bangkok to Phuket then ferry from Phuket to Koh Yao Noi is the fastest way to reach this island from the Thai capital city. The flight is around 1.5 hours, the taxi from Phuket airport to Bang Rong Pier is around 20 minutes, and the speed boat ride to Koh Yao Noi is around 30 minutes.
You can do it yourself by booking a taxi or Grab from the airport to Bang Rong Pier. You can buy ferry tickets at the pier, or online in advance. It is better to book it before arriving at the pier.
Or you can book combo tickets that include transfer to the pier and ferry ride. Call Me Taxi and Koh Yao Sun Smile have many trips between Phuket airport and Koh Yao Noi. They both offer local transfer from Manoh Pier to your hotel in Yao Yai.
Bangkok to Koh Yao Noi by bus + ferry
Taking the bus and ferry from Bangkok to Koh Yao Noi is a budget-friendly option. You can take a night bus from Bangkok and get to Koh yao Noi mid day. The bus departs near Khao San Road, which is convenient for those staying in the Bangkok Old Town area.
You can book a connecting bus + ferry ticket from Bangkok to Koh Yao Noi here.
How to Get to Yao Noi from Koh Phi Phi
It is a 1-3 hours boat ride from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Yao Noi. The boat departs from TonSai Pier and arrives at Manoh Pier in Koh Yao Yai. Many boat operators stop at Railay and Ao Nang to drop off/ pick up more passengers along the way.
You can book tickets from travel agencies and boat companies such as Lanta Super Concord Tour, Koh Yao Sun Smile, PP All Seasons Travel & Tour. You can check all the schedules and book tickets here.
How to get around Koh Yao Noi
Walking
Similar to Koh Yao Yai, tourist amenities in Koh Yao Noi are quite spread out. While you can’t explore the whole island on foot, you can explore the surrounding areas that you are staying on foot.
If you want to have more access to restaurants and shops on foot, I recommend staying in areas such as Pasai Beach, Klong Jark Beach, or near Tha Khao Pier area.
Renting a motorbike
Renting a motorbike is one of the top ways to explore Koh Yao Noi. You can rent a motorbike at a couple of motorbike rental shops near Manoh Pier. You can ask your hotel to organise one for you.
I rented a motorbike on Koh Yao Yai and brought it to Koh Yao Noi on a long tail boat. It is more expensive than just taking a boat to Koh Yao Noi and renting one on Yao Noi. I have to buy a boat ticket for the motorbike, but it guarantees that I have a motorbike that suits me.
If you want to do this, you need to ask the permission of the rental shops. Lots of contracts only allow you to drive on one island itself.
Taking boat trips
From Koh Yao Noi and Yai, you can take shared boat tours to Jame Bond island or Hong islands. If you take a Hong island tour, the boat also takes you to nearby Nok Island.
Using songthaew and private taxi
There are no Grab, Bolt, or InDrive available on Koh Yao Noi and Yai. You can book songthaew and private taxis from travel agencies or at your accommodation.
See more:
- Where to stay in Koh Yao Noi
- Where to stay in Koh Yao Yai
- Stay in Koh Yao Noi or Koh Yao Yai?
- 3-4 Days In Koh Yao Yai & Noi Itinerary
- 15 Top Things to Do in Koh Yao Yai
- 20 Best Things to Do in Koh Yao Noi
These are my recommendations on how to reach Koh Yao Noi from Phuket, Bangkok, Krabi/Ao Nang, and Koh Yao Yai. I’ve also shared the best ways to explore this small beautiful island. I hope you will have a wonderful trip in Koh Yao Noi.