Sunday, July 13, 2008   Koh Yao in July

Getting to Koh Yao Noi
First off, it was very easy to get there. Most resorts of the islands will organize pickup for you form your hotel in Phuket or the Phuket airport. For those with their own transportation -- like me -- it is a beautiful drive past the Heroines Monument and Bang Pae Waterfall (location of the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project). In less than 45 minutes I reached my destination, Bang Rong Pier.

Due to current oil price increases, the person ferry from Bang Rong pier in Phuket to Koh Yao has become more expensive than before, but is still a very affordable THb 150 per person, independent if you want to reach Koh Yao Yai or Koh Yao Noi. Hiring a speedboat is of course more comfortable (and much pricier), but detracts in my opinion very much from the beautiful atmosphere of the passing landscape in the slower ferry.

Ferry ride to Koh Yao Noi
The ferry ride to Koh Yao Noi went on for over one hour. Already a short while after leaving Bang Rong Pier, the limestone islands of Phang Nga Bay came into view. From the boat one had the same view one will have after completion of the monstrous large Cape Yamu project, that stretches over several kilometers of Phuket hillside, which I visited a short while ago.

The first stop of the ferry was Koh Yao Yai, where one could opt to disembark. This is the larger of the two islands, and with several large resorts on it, namely the Elixir Resort on the southern end of Koh Yao Yai on 250 meters of beachfront.

Driving over Koh Yao Noi
Just a hop further on was then Koh Yao Noi, where we got off the boat at Manoh Pier. Like on the mainland, taxis and tuk tuks are the public transport option. If you stay for longer than the day (or even then) it is well wort to rent a motorbike (being aware that fuel is much mor expensive than on the mainland); better still a bicycle.

I took a tuk tuk to Pa Sai Beach, the one with the best view to the limestone cliffs of Phang Nga; for only THb 50 it was a fast 8 kilometer drive. It became quickly apparent that there were currently only very few tourists here, only simple restaurants were open and the beach was totally deserted. Alone on a tropical beach just a few kilometers from Phuket!

Neighboring Pa Sai Beach top the north is Klong Jark Beach, which offers even better views of the limestone cliffs off the coast.

Accommodation on Koh Yao Noi
If you are on a very tight budget or do not mind simple living circumstances, there are a good number of bungalow resorts scattered along Pa Sai Beach. For THb 300 it is easy to find a room, no aircon and a mosquito net. An especially nice place was Sabai Corner Bungalows right on the corner of Pa Sai Beach.

Besides bungalow resorts for the budget-minded, Koh Yao Noi has a number of larger resorts, that have the services matching the dreamlike view from Klong Jark Beach. Foremost, the 4-Star Evason Hideaway Koh Yao Noi with their world-famous Six Senses Spa is here to dazzle you and make you wish you would never have to go away from this small island. Also on Klong Jark Beach is the 3-Star Koyao Island Resort, which offers 15 villas on the beach.

Far to the north of Koh Yao Noi is the Paradise Koh Yao, maybe the most famous resort of the Koh Yao Islands. "The Paradise Boutique Beach Resort is part of a worldwide movement to reconnect people with nature and to restore the simple sensual pleasures of free and fresh living."... and that is exactly what you will find in this 4-Star resort.

Life on Pa Sai Beach and Klong Jark Beach
At least currently, life on those two beaches will be very quiet. As mentioned, large restaurants are closed, there only seem to be a handful of beach bars to begin with and also the bungalows seemed largely deserted. Klong Jark Beach has at least one or two beach bars, namely the Pyramid Bar.

However if one is not after the raging nightlife of Phuket or Phi Phi, then this is the place to go: walks along the beach, bicycling over the island, kayaking with the awe-inspiring panorama of the Phang Nga limestone rocks, this is how you can easily fill a number of days.

Links of Interest:

• Hotel recommendations on Koh Yao
• Koh Yao Noi Image Gallery
• More Koh Yao information