Image: ThailandMagazine.com
BEST ACCOMMODATIONS ON KOH YAO YAI
Koh Yao Yai is a medium-sized island near Phuket and Krabi. An island where you can still experience the real Thai life and where you can really relax. Especially for you we have made a selection of good places to sleep for every budget. Check our list with best places to stay on Koh Yao Yai below.
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We put a lot of time, money and passion in this site… We would love it if you would support us! You can easily do this by using our links on the site to book your hotel and / or domestic trips. It costs you nothing extra but we get a small percentage of our partners like Booking.com, Agoda and 12GoAsia. Even if you decide to book another place to sleep than we mention, if you first click on our link you will already help us. You can also first click on the links in this box to book something (not only in Thailand but anywhere else in the world). Thank you in advance!
BEST HOTELS ON KOH YAO YAI - BUDGET
This hostel is the cheapest one on the list of best hotels on Koh Yao Yai and as a backpacker it is spot on! There are clear rules so the guests behave nicely. The friendly owner is a man who feels very responsible for his guests. He is also willing to do just a little bit more than a normal owner would do. For example, he occasionally brings guests away or shows them around the island with pleasure. Backpack Hostel is clean and there are bunk beds in a mixed dormitory and a room only for women. Do you prefer a bit more privacy? You can also just sleep in a double bedroom.
The name Koh Yao Beach Front says it all… You sleep here by the sea. This budget friendly hotel has simple cabins in the busier area of Koh Yao Yai. The dear family that manages the hotel takes good care of her guests and likes to explain what to do on the island. Near the hotel there are several restaurants and bars. Also, this place to stay at on Koh Yao Yai isn’t far from the most famous beach Laem Had Beach. It’s a 15 minute drive by scooter and you can rent a scooter at the hotel.
YUMMY
Have dinner at the nearby Jikgo Bar & Restaurant. Delicious fresh food, delicious cocktails and very friendly people!
EASILY COMPARE AIRLINE TICKETS
BEST HOTELS ON KOH YAO YAI - MIDDLE CLASS
This fine resort has beautiful views because it is built on a hill. The rooms are clean and spacious. Some rooms of the resort even have a private swimming pool. These rooms are also very suitable for a family because two children can sleep on the sofa bed. In the less busy months (May and June for example) you already have a room with private pool for € 106,- per night. And if you book a room without your own pool, don’t worry, there is also an infinity pool at the Koh Yao Yai Hillside Resort.
The resort staff is extremely helpful and delicious dishes are prepared in the restaurant! Should you wish to leave the hotel anyway, you can rent a scooter for 300 baht per day to explore the island!
BEST HOTELS ON KOH YAO YAI - LUXURY
Our personal favorite place to stay at while visiting Koh Yao Yai! We’ve really had some incredible good days here! Partly because this resort is also located on the most beautiful beach on the island! At GLOW you can completely relax! The staff and the manager are very hospitable and they take really good care of you and the other guests! Here you can book a cottage with private pool where you sleep on the hill or at the beach. You can eat at the private beach and choose from a variety of tasty western or Thai dishes. A nice extra in this resort is that you can see the sunset from here very well! Sit back and relax with a cocktail in your hand! The GLOW Elixir Resort is highly recommended if you want to be pampered!
TIP!
Read more about the GLOW Elixir Resort in our extensive review.
The best known and highest rated resort of Koh Yao Yai is the Santhiya Resort. Many Instagram pictures have been shot in here! It really is a beautiful place to spend a couple of nights. All rooms are beautifully decorated with wooden finishes, real craftsmanship and typical Thai! This gigantic resort has a super nice infinity pool, several restaurants and its own pier. The pier is located on the Loh Pared beach on the west coast of the island. On the beautiful private pier is also a restaurant where you really have a beautiful view over the sea and sunset. This resort is so big that it has its own 24-hour shuttle service so you can be brought back to your room / bungalow!
TIP!
If you are travelling with a large group then we recommend the villa with two or four bedrooms and its own swimming pool.
On the east coast of Koh Yao Yai lies Betterview. A not too big resort with a beautiful garden in which about 15 cottages are scattered. Inside, the bungalow are very spacious of which the “smallest” is still 52 m2. Each room has a rain shower and a jacuzzi bath. Betterview is also ideal if you are travelling with children under the age of 7 – these sleep for free in the room as there is also a sofa bed available. Near the resort you will find all nice bars and restaurants. Betterview is an intimate resort where you can relax for a few days!
YOUR OPINION
The accommodations selected by us are well regarded, yet it may of course be the case that the quality of the location deteriorates due to, for example, new management. We would love to hear from you! If you have a favorite place to sleep on Koh Yao Yai, please let us know via email, Instagram or our Facebook page.
Nice thisng to do while visiting Koh Yao Yai
Besides the best accommodations on Koh Yao Yai, there are of course many other fun things to do on the island! We have picked a number of nice locations for you. Like well-appreciated restaurants, bars and places of interest that are worth a visit, you’re there now anyway! We hope this will make your visit to Koh Yao Yai even more fun! Via the InfoBox below you can find more information about the subject per tab. We wish you a beautiful and great holiday!
Eating and drinking in Koh Yao Yai
- Jikgo Bar & Restaurant
Tasty authentic Thai dishes! A fine reflection of Koh Yao Yai! Also for a cocktail or other drink Jikgo is a top location. - Baan Rim Nam Restaurant
At Baan Rim Nam you can have lunch or dinner with a fantastic view over the sea. - Chill Chill @ Pai
At Chill Chill you eat delicious cakes and cookies but also fantastic dishes. And after dinner, chill out with a cocktail or two! - Iyara Cafe
When visiting the Iyara Cafe you can enjoy delicious shakes and cakes! A top spot for a hot or cold coffee! - Laem Had Bar
Eating and drinking on a special beach in Koh Yao Yai. - Emm Restaurant
The Emm Restaurant is not far from the Loh Jak Pier. A beautiful location in the middle of a beautiful green garden! - Together Restaurant
Whether it’s western or Thai food, here you eat together! - De restaurants van het Santhiya Resort
This immense Santhiya Resort has several restaurants. For example Jettin Teppan at the pier from where you can see a beautiful sunset. Or the Titan Grill for grilled dishes. Besides these restaurants there are also By the Sea and the Saaitara Restaurant. More than enough choice!
Going out Koh Yao Yai
The nightlife on Koh Yao Yai is limited to a single bar, usually in places where most tourists come. Because 90% of the population is Muslim, alcohol is not available everywhere. Small local shops do not sell alcoholic beverages. The Family Shops, 7-Elevens and most hotels do.
Taxi & Scooter on Koh Yao Yai
Koh Yao Yai can be reached from many destinations in Thailand, because the island has no airport you can only get there by boat. Taxis on the island are quite expensive, if you travel on the island from north to south you will soon be half an hour away and will cost you around 500 baht by taxi, one way. For short trips (10 minutes) you pay around 250 baht by taxi. Cheaper and maybe even more fun is exploring the island by scooter.
Boats and departure times Koh Yao Yai
Loh Jark Pier -> Chean Vanich (Phuket)
From Loh Jark Pier speedboats depart 11 times a day to Phuket’s Jain Vanit Pier, the boat trip takes about 30 minutes.
Departure times speedboats: 06:30 – 07:30 – 08:00 – 09:00 – 10:00 – 11:30 – 12:30 – 13:30 – 15:10 – 16:10 – 17:00.
On Friday the boat departs from 13:30 at 14:00.
Baan Larm Yai Pier / Laem Yai Pier ->Chean Vanich* (Phuket)
From the Lam Jay Pier a ferry leaves twice a day to the Chean Vanich Pier on Phuket.
Departure times ferry: 07.30 and 14.00, the trip takes between 1.5 and 2 hours.
*If you want to go to Patong Beach/ Kata Beach, the Chean Vanish Pier on Phuket is the nearest pier. From this pier it is about 30 minutes drive.
Chong Lard Pier -> Thalane Pier (Krabi)
From the Chong Lat Pier longtail boats and speedboats leave for the Tha Len pier, the speedboat takes about 30 minutes and the longtail boat 1 hour.
Departure times speedboats: 06:40 – 09:40 – 14:00
Departure times longtail boats: 07:40 – 08.40 – 13.00
Prices: Speedboat 300 baht, longtail boat 200 baht
Chong Lard -> Ao Nang
From this pier speedboats depart 3 times a day, the trip takes about 40 minutes.
Departure times speedboats: 09:00 – 13:00 – 15:30
Chong Lard Pier -> Phi Phi
From Chong Lat there are 2 speedboats a day to Phi Phi island, you are about an hour away by boat.
Departure times speedboats: 09:00 and 13:00
Khlong Hia Pier – >Bang Rong* (Phuket)
8 times a day speedboats depart from the Khlong Hia Pier to the Bang Rong Pier on Phuket. You’re about 30 minutes away.
Departure times speedboats: 06:30 – 07:50 – 09:30 – 10:30 – 11:30 – 14:00 – 15:00 – 16:00.
*If you want to go to the Phuket international airport the Bong Rong Pier on Phuket is the nearest pier. From this pier it is about a 30 minute drive.
Khlong Hia Pier – > Railay Beach ( Krabi)
Once a day a speedboat goes to Railay Beach,
Departure time Speedboat: 08:30, the speedboat is about 40 minutes away.
Take a scooter and drive along the most beautiful beaches of Koh Yao Yai. Or take a massage from Doctor Saad who is known for his healing powers.
Take a look at our selection of some beautiful pictures of Koh Yao Yai through our fifth Picture This article.
We put a lot of time, money and passion in this site, we would love it if you would support us! You can easily do this by using our links on the site to book your hotel and / or domestic trips. It costs you nothing extra but we get a small percentage of our partners like Booking.com, Agoda and 12GoAsia. Even if you decide to book another place to sleep than we mention, if you first click on our link you will already help us. Thank you in advance!
