Location and climate

The secluded island of Koh Yao Noi is yet conveniently located only a one hour boat trip away from the very busy island of Phuket with its international airport, numerous shopping centers, world class hospitals and leisure centers such as golf courses, marinas, and tourist attractions.

Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai are a pair of large islands in the middle of Phang Nga Bay, equidistant to Phuket and the Krabi mainland. According to local legend the strait between the two islands was created when a very angry Naga (Sea Dragon) crashed through on his way to Krabi to see his fiancé being married to someone else.

You can get to the island from the airport, by a taxi which will take you to the pier in 25 minutes. Long-tail boat ferries make daily trips to Yao Noi from Bang Rong Pier on the east coast of Phuket. The fare is 80 Baht for the one-hour journey, with daily departures from Phuket at 9.30 am, 12 noon and 5 pm. The boat will make a short stop on Koh Yao Yai, then cross to Koh Yao Noi, only 8 minutes away. Long-tail boats can also be hired at Ao Po pier for charter to Koh Yao.

The island of Koh Yao Noi is a very natural, quiet and easy place to live. It has around 4,000 inhabitants and is one of the largest in an archipelago of 44 islands. It is around 10 x 12km and has one concrete road covering most of the island. The island sits at Latitude 8 degrees north and enjoys a tropical climate characterized by year round high temperatures and fairly little rainfall due to the position. During the months of May-July and again in September-October Monsoon winds refresh the island with evening gusts that see the palm trees swaying and the odd downpour is possible.

The main sources of income on the island is from rubber, sea food, rice, palm oil and coconuts. Sea farms (holding bay for live fish & lobsters) are also popular and a common sight around the island.