Koh Yao Yai is a fantastic alternative to tourist hotspots such as Phuket, Phi Phi Islands or Ao Nang. With its laid back atmosphere, stunning beaches and friendly locals, the island offers a tranquil escape from the crowds. Despite its peaceful vibe, Koh Yao Yai is still very easy and affordable to reach.
We recommend spending 2-3 nights on Koh Yao Yai to see the best spots on the island and fully soak up its magic. The island has plenty of stunning beaches, and we’ve put together a guide to Koh Yao Yai best beaches to help you plan your visit. There are also many day trips you can take, including the nearby island of Koh Yao Noi or you can visit the famous Hong Island from Koh Yao Yai.
Jump to:
- How to Get to Koh Yao Yai
- Where to Stay on Koh Yao Yai
- Food Options on Koh Yao Yai
- Koh Yao Yai Best Beaches
- Koh Yao Yai Best Beaches Final Thoughts
How to Get to Koh Yao Yai
From Krabi
Getting to Koh Yao Yai from Krabi is very easy and budget-friendly. Direct shared speedboats run from Ao Nang to Koh Yao Yai three times a day, currently departing at 11:00am, 12:00pm, and 2:00pm. The journey takes around 30 minutes.
You can book your speedboat tickets online on 12Go Asia, with local travel agents in Krabi or your accommodation in Koh Yao Yai should be able to arrange a transfer for you. The cost of one way transfer is around £15 per person.
From Phuket
Getting to Koh Yao Yai from Phuket is just as easy, with the journey taking approximately 30 minutes. You can also expect to pay around £10 one way per person. In most cases, you’ll be on a boat heading to Ao Nang, with Koh Yao Yai being a stop on the route.
Again, if you want to book your transfer online we recommend using 12Go Asia. However, for the best rates it’s best to book directly with travel agents in Phuket. Payment is usually cash, or you may be charged a small card transaction fee of around 3%.
Where to Stay on Koh Yao Yai
Koh Yao Yai is quite spread out, so getting around usually requires a scooter – especially if you wish to explore Koh Yao Yai best beaches. We stayed at Resting Place Koh Yao Yai and rented a scooter for around £5 per day. It was a great spot, with stunning views, a clean and comfortable room and only a 10 minutes ride away from the nearest beach.
If you’re not planning to rent a scooter, we recommend staying around Loh Pared Beach where you’ll be within walking distance to the beach, local shops and nearby restaurants. Taxis are also available to take you around the island. Another great area to consider is around Thiwson Beach Resort, which has several restaurants within easy walking distance.
Food Options on Koh Yao Yai
We found fewer restaurant options in Koh Yao Yai compared to Ao Nang or Koh Lanta. While there are plenty of places scattered around the island, we found that they could be hit or miss.
Many are also missing vegetarian options, but we found that most were happy to customise dishes – for example, removing fish sauce from dishes such as Pad Thai or Papaya Salad and substituting chicken or seafood with tofu.
Also, alcoholic drinks are slightly harder to find as the island is predominantly Muslim. That said, restaurants and bars in more touristy areas, especially by the beach, would serve beer and cocktails.
Here are some of our recommendations on the top spots to eat out on Koh Yao Yai:
Chada Cafe
Our favorite spot with beautiful views of the sea and incredibly friendly staff. The menu has a great variety, including breakfast waffles, Thai dishes and desserts. They also offer great vegetarian options and prices are very affordable. Most traditional Thai dishes will cost you between £2-£3.
Hinkong Restaurant
This spot was fairly busy when we arrived but we understand why. They serve tasty Thai food, including vegetarian options, priced at around £3-£4 per dish. The menu also includes Western favourites such as pizza and pasta.
Laanmaye Restaurant
A very chilled spot, away from the more touristy areas of the island. They serve mainly traditional Thai food. Prices were slightly higher than in other spots on the island – we paid £4 for Penang Curry which is still very reasonable.
Koh Yao Yai Best Beaches
Ao Sai Beach
Ao Sai Beach is located south of Koh Yao Yai and it feels pretty remote, with only a few tourists visiting. We reached the beach by scooter. While most of the journey was fine, the final stretch is a dirtpath. We recommend leaving your scooter where the road ends and walking 5 minutes down to the beach.
The beach itself is beautiful and mostly empty. It’s quite rocky and when we visited there were some waves, which wasn’t the best for swimming, but it’s a lovely spot to relax and enjoy the scenery. There isn’t much natural shade on the sand, so keep that in mind if you plan to stay for a while.
The surrounding area is completely undeveloped, with no resorts or restaurants nearby. However, there is a little beach bar called Paradise Beach Bar right on the sand. You can use their sunbeds, hammocks and sit in the shade if you get a drink – canned drinks cost around £2.
Lo Chak Beach / Lo Jak Beach
Lo Chak Beach is more developed but still quiet and there is plenty of space and shade to chill, making it easy to spend a couple of hours there. The beach is very easy to access, with well-maintained roads leading directly to it.
If you’re a fan of watersports, this is a great location to try them. They offer jetski rental, kayak rental or longtail boat trips. There’s also a cafe and little resort where you can grab a drink and use the sunbeds.
Overall, the beach was great with nice sand, plenty of shade and lovely clear water. The bottom of the sea is sandy towards the shore but it gets rocky if you want to go deeper. The only downside is that there was quite a lot of rubbish around.
Loh Pared Beach
Loh Pared Beach is probably the busiest beach on Koh Yao Yai. There are some resorts around, restaurants and tourist shops. There are plenty of places right on the sand where you can order food and drinks, making it a convenient choice if you plan to spend the whole day at the beach. Prices are slightly higher though, with meals costing around £3-£5 and soft drinks about £2.
Even though it’s the busiest beach, it’s easy to find quieter areas. If you walk just 5 minutes away from the resorts you’ll have plenty of room, plus lots of shade. The beach still feels very natural, with lush greenery all around, and the water is clear and easy to get in.
Son Bay Beach
Son Bay Beach is one of Koh Yao Yai’s best beaches. This beach is clean, quiet and surrounded by mangrove forest. There are two little restaurants where you can get some food, drinks and sit in the shade.
We came in the evening and there were quite a few sandflies around so it’s best to grab a sunbed in one of the beach bars to avoid itchy bites.
Laem Had Beach
This is our favorite beach but also one of the most popular spots in Koh Yao Yai. Despite the popularity, it’s still very quiet with plenty of space on the sand and lots of natural shade. Laem Had Beach is very easy to get to with well maintained roads leading to it and plenty of parking for scooters.
What makes Laem Had Beach truly special is it’s a long sandbar where you can walk along and take in the beautiful views. There are some day trips arriving from nearby tourist destinations such as Phuket and Krabi but they usually leave after 15 minutes. We waited for the tour to leave and had the full sandbar to ourselves.
You can also very clearly see Koh Yao Noi from Laem Had Beach, almost a swimmable distance! The sea is easy to enter, though slightly murky, and the seabed can be a bit slimy. Still, it’s very refreshing for a swim.
There are no resorts around and the beach is kept very natural. There’s a small beach bar where you can grab soft drinks, beer or a cocktail and sit on comfy chairs. Cocktails are on the pricier side for Thailand at around £5, but they’re well made and worth it.
Koh Yao Yai Best Beaches Final Thoughts
Koh Yao Yai is one of the few remaining unspoiled Thai islands. It’s a great place for those seeking tranquility and wanting to fully disconnect. This island has some truly amazing beaches you can visit and we hope this guide to Koh Yao Yai best beaches has inspired you to visit this relaxed paradise.
