Koh Yao Yai, Thailand: What to Expect on Long-Tail Boat Trips
Koh Yao Yai is one of those rare islands where time seems to slow the moment you arrive. Set in Phang Nga Bay between Phuket and Krabi, Koh Yao Yai feels like a glimpse of Thailand before mass tourism reshaped so many destinations.
There are no towering resort complexes, no shopping centres, no walking streets lined with neon lights. You won’t find large night markets or nightlife scenes here. What you will find is space, quiet, and a deep sense of ease – the simple joy of just being.
In this article, you’ll find practical tips on where to stay in Koh Yao Yai, how to book private long-tail boat trips with locals, what stops to expect on island and floating village routes. Hopefully it will help you to decide if a private trip is worth choosing over an organised tour. You’ll also discover where to eat and where to enjoy the island’s most beautiful sunsets. Small details that help create a slower, more meaningful stay.
Why Koh Yao Yai Feels So Special
Koh Yao Yai feels like an older Thailand, one that still moves at a human pace.
Life here follows the rhythm of the sea and the sun. Roads are quiet, beaches are open and uncrowded, and the landscape remains largely unchanged. Development exists, but it’s gentle and restrained. The island hasn’t been overtaken by mass tourism, and that’s exactly what makes it so special.
This is a place for:
- Slow mornings and unplanned afternoons
- Empty beaches and long coastal walks
- Listening to the wind, the water, and very little else
Koh Yao Yai isn’t about doing more – it’s about doing less, and feeling more because of it.
Long-Tail Boat Trip #1: Island Hopping Around Phang Nga Bay
The first long-tail boat trip we took focused on island hopping in Phang Nga Bay, and it’s an ideal choice if you want to experience the classic scenery of southern Thailand. Limestone cliffs, clear water, and small islands scattered across the sea. Each stop felt different, offering its own mood and rhythm.
Hong Island
Hong Island is often the highlight of this trip. Surrounded by steep limestone cliffs, the island feels enclosed and peaceful once you arrive. One of the main reasons people stop here is the 360-degree viewpoint. It offers wide views over the surrounding islands and turquoise water. The climb is short but steep, and the view from the top is well worth the effort.
Koh Lao Lading
Koh Lao Lading is smaller and quieter, with dramatic rock formations rising straight from the sea. The water here is calm and clear, making it a beautiful place for swimming. The island feels intimate and sheltered, with a strong sense of being surrounded by nature. As you can see in the photos below, starting early really makes a difference – we had the rare pleasure of enjoying this place in near silence, with the landscape unfolding around us at its own pace.
Pakbia (Pak Bia) Island
Pakbia Island is known for its sandy beach and shallow water, especially at low tide. It’s a relaxed place to step ashore, walk along the sand, or simply sit and take in the scenery. When the tide is low, sandbanks appear, changing the shape of the island and creating beautiful contrasts between land and sea.
Hong Lagoon
The final stop, Hong Lagoon, feels almost hidden. The long-tail boat slips through a narrow opening in the cliffs, revealing calm green water surrounded by high limestone walls. Along the way, you may also spot monkeys resting on the rocks or moving along the shoreline. The atmosphere here is quiet and still – a place to slow down, float on the water, and take in the surroundings rather than rush to do anything.
On our island-hopping trip, fresh fruits and cold drinks – like water, Coke, and soft drinks – were included, which made the day feel relaxed and easygoing. Before you go, make sure you have enough cash prepared for national park entry fees, because most of the islands you visit sit within protected park areas. In our example, they were not included in our boat price. Visiting Ao Phang Nga National Park (which covers much of Phang Nga Bay) typically costs around 300 THB per adult and about 150 THB per child, payable in cash on arrival.
Long-Tail Boat Trip #2: James Bond Island & Floating Village Route
Our second trip followed a different route, combining famous landmarks with quieter stretches of nature. This journey included James Bond Island, Ko Panyi floating village, kayaking through mangroves at Lot Cave, lunch on a quiet island beach, and finally a drop-off in Phuket.
Once again, timing made all the difference. Although many large tour boats followed similar routes, our captain planned the start perfectly. We often enjoyed each stop in calm conditions and saw crowds arriving just as we were leaving.
Here’s what each stop felt like along the way.
James Bond Island
One of Thailand’s most recognisable landmarks, James Bond Island became famous after appearing in The Man with the Golden Gun. A narrow limestone pillar rises sharply from the water, creating a striking scene. Visiting early allowed us to walk around and enjoy the scenery before large tour groups arrived.
Ko Panyi floating village
Ko Panyi is a floating village built entirely on stilts above the sea. Wooden walkways connect homes, restaurants, schools, and small shops. Boats replace streets, and life here is closely connected to the surrounding waters.
However, this stop turned out to be our biggest disappointment of the trip. We were hoping to see a quieter floating village shaped by everyday life, but instead found a place that felt heavily commercialised. Most of the walkways are lined almost entirely with souvenir shops and restaurants catering to tour groups.
While it’s still interesting to see how the village is built and how life functions on the water, the atmosphere felt much more touristic than we expected.
Lot Cave
Lot Cave offers a quieter and more immersive experience. Here, visitors often continue by kayak or canoe, gliding slowly through mangroves and limestone formations where larger boats cannot pass. The water becomes still, sounds soften, and the atmosphere feels calm and enclosed by nature. It was one of the most peaceful moments of the day.
Nearby, we also saw a tourist boat slowly sinking. We felt especially grateful to have arrived early, when the mangroves and caves were still quiet. It did allow us to experience the place in near silence. If you slow down and stay quiet long enough, you might even spot a walking fish moving along the mangrove roots.
Lunch on a Quiet Island
A relaxed lunch stop on a small, quiet island gave us time to swim and rest away from busy routes. These unhurried breaks often become the most memorable parts of a trip, allowing you to simply enjoy being surrounded by sea and limestone landscapes.
Bang Rong Pier
Instead of returning to Koh Yao Yai, we asked to be dropped off in Phuket as we continued our journey. Our captain happily adjusted the plan and brought us to Bang Rong Pier, once again showing how flexible travelling with local boat owners can be.
Rather than recommending a specific tour, we highly recommend booking with a local long-tail boat captain, as we did. It keeps the experience flexible and personal, and you can adjust stops and timing along the way. In the photo below, you’ll find the phone number painted on the boat we travelled with, which you can use to contact the captain directly if you’d like to organise a similar trip. Trips can be arranged not only from Koh Yao Yai but also from nearby Koh Yao Noi, depending on where you’re staying.
If local boats happen to be fully booked on your preferred date, you can still check availability through GetYourGuide, which offers both private and group tours.
👉 CHECK AVAILABLE PHANG NGA BAY BOAT TOURS HERE:
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Where to Stay in Koh Yao Yai
Choosing where to stay in Koh Yao Yai depends less on location and more on the kind of experience you’re looking for. The island is quiet overall, so it’s really about atmosphere, budget, and how much comfort you want during your stay.
These are two places we’d recommend – one we stayed at, and one we seriously considered.
Thiwson Beach Resort – Affordable, Calm, and Comfortable – Koh Yao Yai
Thiwson Beach Resort is where we stayed, and it’s a great option if you’re looking for something affordable, relaxed, and well-balanced.
The accommodation itself was comfortable and well kept, and the swimming pool was genuinely really nice – a perfect place to cool down during the day or unwind in the late afternoon. The atmosphere is calm, without feeling isolated, and it fits well with Koh Yao Yai’s slower pace.
This is the kind of place where you can settle in easily, feel comfortable, and focus on enjoying the island rather than the hotel itself, which, in Koh Yao Yai, feels exactly right.
Best for:
Travellers looking for good value, comfort, and a peaceful base without a luxury price tag.
Santhiya Koh Yao Yai Resort & Spa – Stunning and Peaceful – Koh Yao Yai
Santhiya Koh Yao Yai Resort & Spa is, without question, one of the most visually impressive places on the island. If our budget had allowed, we probably would have stayed here.
We didn’t stay overnight. We went there for sunset – and it was the most beautiful sunset we experienced on Koh Yao Yai. The views are expansive, the location feels secluded and peaceful, and the resort itself offers plenty of facilities, including a striking infinity pool overlooking the sea.
If you don’t want to pay the high price to stay overnight, you can visit for dinner – but there are a few things to know.
About dining at Santhiya – Koh Yao Yai
- There is a minimum spend, so check this in advance
- Food and drinks are not cheap
- The taste, in our experience, was average at best – even the mango sticky rice
We ordered three dishes, and none of them felt worth the price. Honestly, if we were to go again, we’d probably order two overpriced fresh coconuts instead, meet the minimum spend, enjoy the sunset views, and then eat somewhere else on the island.
That said, we truly hope that guests paying the premium price for accommodation enjoy better meals during their stay.
Best for:
Travellers with a larger budget who prioritise views, facilities, and a serene resort environment.
Koh Yao Yai – FAQ
Choosing and Booking Boat Trips in Koh Yao Yai
If you prefer swimming, beaches, and scenic viewpoints, choose the island-hopping trip around Hong Island and nearby islands. If you want to see famous landmarks and kayak through mangroves and caves, choose the James Bond Island and floating village route.
Yes. Private long-tail boat trips allow flexible timing, fewer crowds, and stops at your own pace. Group tours are usually cheaper but follow fixed schedules and visit places when they are busiest.
Visit the pier in the late afternoon when boats return from trips and speak directly with local captains. You can also contact phone numbers painted on boats to arrange a trip for the next day.
Start as early as possible, ideally around sunrise. Early departures allow you to visit popular islands before most organised tours arrive, making the experience much quieter.
Yes. Bring cash for boat payments, national park entry fees, and small purchases during stops. There is an ATM on the island if needed, near 7-Eleven.
Travellers looking for good value often choose smaller beachfront resorts, while luxury travellers prefer resorts with sea views and full facilities. The island remains peaceful regardless of where you stay. We recommend Thiwson Beach Resort or Santhiya Koh Yao Yai Resort & Spa if the budget allows.
Continue Your Journey in Asia
If your time on Koh Yao Yai has inspired you to explore more of the region, here are a few destinations we’ve written about that might help you plan your next adventure. From Thailand’s mountains and islands to some of Asia’s most fascinating cities, each place offers a very different travel experience.
Explore More of Thailand Travel Guides beyond Koh Yao Yai
Thailand is a country you can visit again and again, discovering something new each time. If Koh Yao Yai showed you a quieter side of the country, these destinations reveal other perspectives worth experiencing.
In Krabi, dramatic limestone cliffs rise above turquoise water, and long-tail boats connect beaches and nearby islands, making it one of southern Thailand’s most scenic coastal regions.
Further north, Chiang Mai offers a slower rhythm surrounded by mountains, temples, and night markets, serving as a great base for exploring northern Thailand’s culture and countryside.
Not far away, Chiang Rai surprises visitors with its unique temples and peaceful rural surroundings, making it a rewarding addition to any northern Thailand itinerary.
Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, delivers a completely different energy, mixing street food, temples, markets, river life, and modern shopping districts into one constantly moving city.
And if you’re short on time, our guide to day trips from Bangkok helps you escape the city for a day to explore floating markets, ancient temples, or quieter countryside destinations within easy reach of the capital.
Continue Exploring Asia
If your travels take you further across Asia, these destinations offer equally memorable experiences in very different settings.
Shanghai presents a striking blend of modern skyline views and historic neighbourhoods, where riverside walks and futuristic towers coexist with traditional streets and markets.
In Beijing, imperial history meets contemporary urban life, with monumental landmarks, historic alleyways, and cultural sites revealing layers of China’s past and present.
Meanwhile, Tokyo constantly shifts between ancient shrines and cutting-edge districts, offering endless neighbourhoods to explore, from quiet residential streets to neon-lit entertainment hubs.
And for travellers seeking island life with a different character, Okinawa offers clear waters, relaxed coastal scenery, and a culture distinct from mainland Japan, perfect for slowing down after busy city travel.
